I am looking for a 25mm extension tube to use on the Zuiko 50mm f3.5 (wouldn't mind having the 3 piece ste). I have found a few different sets on ebay and other places. My question is, do I need to stay away from the 4/3 tubes? Are they different from what I need?

Also, where else can I find these tubes? The best price I have found is $50!

Thanks

The 4/3 tubes are for the newer, smaller Oly 4/3 mount, which is not the same as the Olympus OM mount of Zuiko lenses. You don't want those.

Your profile says you have the Kenko extension tube set --- why not just use these (using the same Oly->EOS adapter that you use to attach the lens directly to the camera)? They should work just as well.

Thanks for confirming on the 4/3!

I read in a thread here that a Canon mount tube between the adapter and the camera would not work. That is why I was looking for an Oly tube to go between the lens and the adapter. I don't know. Maybe I should just wait until I get the lens and try my tubes?

I have a set of those. What camera do you intend to use it on? If Canon then I can assure you that a Canon mount tube would work flawlessly

Hi Biotar. I will be using the Zuiko with an adapter on the Canon 5D2. Interesting!

This is the thread that says a Canon tube will not work between the adapter and body(6th post down by helimat):
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/780374/0?keyword=extension,tube#7162519

At least if I understand the post correctly.

Also, I was not able to locate the less expensive tubes on ebay.

Hi Rachel,

I just checked my Oly OM 24mm f/2.8 with a 25mm Kenko extension tube and it works fine--well you have to get just a couple of centimeters away with this combo, but it works. I don't see any reason you have to have Oly tubes. I am pretty sure you won't need to. I hope this helps.

rachp wrote:
This is the thread that says a Canon tube will not work between the adapter and body(6th post down by helimat):
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/780374/0?keyword=extension,tube#7162519

At least if I understand the post correctly.

I just tried out my Kenko tubes on my Oly 50/3.5, and they work fine. Indeed, it's hard to imagine how the Kenko tubes could fail to work with any lens --- it's the same physical mount as on the camera body, and a straight pass-through for the electrical contacts (which don't exist on my non-chipped Oly adapter anyway). Just try out the combination for yourself. The Canon tubes may cause problems because they have a bit of extra "smarts" in them that reports the tube back to the camera for the EXIF data, thus they may not play well with lenses without real Canon electronics; just another reason why the cheaper Kenko tubes are a much better buy!

Thanks Steve and Michael! You guys just saved me some money

I will try it for myself once the lens arrives. Thanks again for all the help with this one!

I can't use my Kenko tubes with a non-chipped adapter on either my 5D or 1Ds2. Not exactly sure why the addition of the tube matters, but it does.

The test cases: a 50mm Summicron with chipped HappyPage adapter and tube (fine); a 50mm Nikon f/1.2 AIS with unchipped Fotodiox adapter and tube (no go).

Hmmm, my adapter is not chipped I didn't want to buy another adapter - I was going to use one for two lenses. Switching the adapter off and on would be a pain and if the tubes work with a chipped adapter then this may be the excuse I need to buy a new adapter.

Hey Greg - what is the MFD on the Summicron?

I don't remember, but pretty much every standard 50mm has the same MFD, give or take.

My Oly 28/2 and 50/1.4 work fine with Kenko tubes on my 1D3 (very basic unchipped adapter). I'll try my 5D later.

If for some reason you do have issues when adding the Kenko tube, I would imagine that taping over the electrical contacts would solve the problem.

Greg Feldman wrote:
I don't remember, but pretty much every standard 50mm has the same MFD, give or take.

Yeah, I am finding mostly 18" to 2'. That ZF makro 50/2 would be great at about 9" but I don't think I will splurge for it

bpark42 wrote:
My Oly 28/2 and 50/1.4 work fine with Kenko tubes on my 1D3 (very basic unchipped adapter). I'll try my 5D later.

If for some reason you do have issues when adding the Kenko tube, I would imagine that taping over the electrical contacts would solve the problem.

Thanks for the info! I wanted to get away from taping pins but I will try that before I make a decision to buy anything else.

I thought I would add an update; I have a chipped adapter for my 24mm f/2.8 that works with my Kenko 25mm tube. Perhaps you do need a chipped adapter.

Thanks, Steve. I hope the adapter doesn't need to be chipped but that may be the best option for me. I don't want to use one adapter for two lenses so I could just buy a chipped adapter for the new lens.... This beats buying more tubes.

I think I see what the issue is (Though maybe I don't). The tubes (I believe) just have a passthrough of the pins. So, you won't get focus confirm unless you have a chipped adapter on the tubes. The tubes have no electronics.
Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

I just got home and tried my tubes with my zeiss 50/1.7.
It worked fine! I don't have a chipped adapter on this lens.
Thanks for all the suggestions! Now if it wii just work on
the zuiko

Ok, I just got my Zuiko 55/3.5. I tried it with my cheap, nonchipped adapter and kenko ext tubes and it works fine. I did not have to tape pins for either lens. This has been fun - and I saved some money