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How to Use a Close-up Lens With an Extension Tube

Macro photography is the study and photographing of small items. Whether you subjects are flowers, insects or other items of similar size, photographing objects this small requires some specialized equipment, including extension tubes and close-up, or macro, lenses. When used together, these accessories will significantly magnify the small subject you are photographing, providing an enhanced view of it. You should also use a tripod, not because these accessories are too heavy for hand-held shots but because you want to eliminate as much camera shake as possible.

Things You'll Need

Tripod

Instructions

- 1
  Attach your camera to a tripod and remove the lens from the front of the camera. Attach an extension tube to your camera's lens mount. Position the extension tube so the guide dot on the outside of the tube lines up with the guide dot on the camera's mounting ring. Rotate the tube until it clicks into place.
- 2
  Attach the lens you removed from the camera to the front of the extension tube. Modern extension tubes have the same electrical contacts that lenses have, enabling data and power transmission between the camera and the lens. This ensures your lens will work as it did when attached to the camera.
- 3
  Attach a close-up lens to the front of the standard lens. The close-up lens will screw onto the front of the standard lens.
- 4
  Turn the camera on, look through the viewfinder and press the shutter release half way down to activate the metering and auto-focus systems.
- 5
  Position the tripod, move it closer or farther away from the subject until you have obtained the composition you want for your picture.
- 6
  Press the shutter release the entire way down to take the picture.

Photography