New to forum

[tamurman]

Hi i am new to the forum and the pc !!what is a macro tube and how do you use one i have been gave one from my son how is only 8 years of age .My name is Tommy and i would just like to say hi to everyone

[Dave B]

Hi tamurman,

Welcome to both CiC and good luck with using your PC

what is a macro tube and how do you use one

I think you are probably talking about Extension Tubes. An extension tube fits between the camera body and the lens and effectively moves the lens further away from the focal plane in the camera body. This allows you to focus more closely to a subject and magnifies the subject giving macro capability. Extension tubes often come as a set of three which can be used singly or in combination to give more or less magnification as needed.

Tell us what camera, lens and extension tubes you have and someone will be able to help you further.

Here is a fuller explanation
https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tu...es-closeup.htm

Cheers, Dave B.

[tamurman]

I think you are probably talking about Extension Tubes. An extension tube fits between the camera body and the lens and effectively moves the lens further away from the focal plane in the camera body. This allows you to focus more closely to a subject and magnifies the subject giving macro capability. Extension tubes often come as a set of three which can be used singly or in combination to give more or less magnification as needed.

Tell us what camera, lens and extension tubes you have and someone will be able to help you further.

I have a Nikon D40 the tube is just a cheep one it just say hk exceeds it was only £10 but it was from my 8 year old son so it was a great amount to him bless him

[Dave Humphries]

I have a Nikon D40 the tube is just a cheap one it just say hk exceeds it was only £10 but it was from my 8 year old son so it was a great amount to him bless him

Aaah, I bet Mum gave him some help

Hi Tommy,

Welcome to the CiC forums from me.
Do have a read of that article Dave B linked, it'll give you the background. However, when you come to use them, there is more you need to be aware of with that camera, so I'll start there.

I have a similar set of tubes, they will work best with (second hand) film era Nikon lens because your/our tubes don't have any electrical contacts to drive the D40's lens(es) from the camera, nor a ring to set the aperture to stop down.

To summarise; in use, you will find;
Manual focus only, even if you use your kit AF-S lens
You have to use the camera in full manual mode (i.e. not Auto, P, A or S)
You won't have any exposure metering, so it will be a case of take a shot, review the histogram on LCD and manually adjust shutter speed or iso to increase or decrease as necessary.
If you only have AF-S lens(es), you have no means of setting the aperture, so you'll be shooting at the widest aperture, giving an exceedingly narrow Depth of Field. That's why obtaining a second hand, film era lens (e.g. AI-S), which will have an aperture ring, will help.

I don't know how experienced you are, nor what other lenses you may have, so I'll stop now and wait for some answers, before giving too much (possibly irrelevant) information.

All the best,