By Jim Zuckerman
Extension tubes are known for enabling photographers to do macro work. They are tubes that come in various sizes that fit between the camera body and the lens, and you can use them individually or in combination for extreme close-ups.
These tubes can also be used in conjunction with a telephoto lens to reduce the minimum focusing distance. For example, yesterday I went to the zoo to try out a new lens I bought, the Canon 500 f/4 telephoto. The minimum focusing distance of this lens is 14.8 feet (4.5 meters), and when I was photographing a clouded leopard my close proximity prevented me from focusing on the cat. I was about 10 to 12 feet away.
I took one of the extension tubes from the set of three and placed it between the super telephoto and the Canon body. All of the metering functions work correctly with the tube, and I was now able to focus without changing my camera position. The extension tube reduces the light reaching the chip, but it’s a small price to pay for the frame-filling shot of this beautiful animal.
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