Extension tubes for macro??

while I continue to explore cheap macro options.. I came across the extension tubes. I was wondering what extension tubes do you use on your D5100 ?

Thanks in advance.

Lots of discussion about these in the Macro sub-forum. Go have a look there.

I bought a cheap set off of ebay ($5 or so from China). They work beautifully with an older manual vivitar f2.8 35mm lens that I had lying around. You need to be able to manually set the aperture on the lens, then the only other variables are shutter speed and ISO (have to set the D5100 to Manual mode). Focus is best handled by moving the camera back and forth. You can use live view and a tripod for even better results. Don't forget that you will need lots of light also.

When I first got the tubes, the mount was a bit 'off', but just bending the metal springs/leafs back into position fixed the issue. Also, the focus is only good right in the center of the image.

For under $10, they are fun to play with, so you can't go wrong.

Macro - a set on Flickr

(The spider and praying mantis were taken with an 18-135 AF-S lens which provides almost 1:1.)

Moving the rear element away from the sensor is how ANY magnification system works, aka macro. Fancier lenses merely have that feature built in, but it's the same kinda operation as adding a tube to any other lens. Now, only thing you may bump into is aperture control on AF-S lenses; however, using MF and tubes generally works best on fixed subject and camera position and simply compensating with long exposure will cure that problem. Besides, you want as small of an aperture to capture most details as possible anyway.