Almost made it to 1:1 with my DA*300 (and lots of tubes)

dgaies · 07-13-2011, 08:49 PM - **1 Like**

Well, I almost made it to 1:1 with my DA*300 and lots of tubes w/contacts (I'm guessing somewhere around 150mm).

This was more just to see if it would work as this certainly isn't the most practical combination to shoot with

erangel · 07-13-2011, 08:54 PM

Wild!

Eagle_Friends · 07-13-2011, 08:56 PM

good sir, i applaud you.

Bob from Aus · 07-13-2011, 08:58 PM

Is it bending in the middle? I am bit jealous you have so many auto tubes

adpo · 07-13-2011, 09:11 PM

that is beautiful

dgaies · 07-13-2011, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by Bob from Aus

Is it bending in the middle? I am bit jealous you have so many auto tubes

Yeah, I'm pretty sure there was a little flex in the middle. That's partially why the picture of the setup was just a quick snapshot as I was worried about leaving the K-5 hanging out on the end for too long.

Three of the tubes are 2x TCs (with contacts) and the glass knocked out. One of them has PZ-AF contacts which actually allows for pretty decent AF as well (see this thread). They each were about $20-40, depending on how cheap I could find the TC. The ones with contacts but not AF are generally the least expensive and the ones with the Pz-AF contacts are generally the most expensive.

The other three tubes are a set of 12/20/36mm tubes AT-23 type tubes.

Frogfish · 07-13-2011, 09:24 PM

Cool ! I love my DA*300 and think it's great for pseudo macro - never imagined it could get to 1:1 !

yeatzee · 07-13-2011, 09:29 PM

Maybe I should stick my tak 300mm F/4 on the end of my bellows + all of my extension tubes and take a picture.....though im not sure the bellows could handle all the weight!

dgaies · 07-13-2011, 09:30 PM

Originally posted by Frogfish

Cool ! I love my DA*300 and think it's great for pseudo macro - never imagined it could get to 1:1 !

Unfortunately I don't think I quite got to 1:1, but it was really close! I think the width of that frame was around 25mm, give or take

dgaies · 07-13-2011, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by yeatzee

Maybe I should stick my tak 300mm F/4 on the end of my bellows + all of my extension tubes and take a picture.....though im not sure the bellows could handle all the weight!

Well, I don't think the 6 back to back K-mount connections appreciated the weight of the K-5 hanging off the end either

yeatzee · 07-13-2011, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by dgaies

Well, I don't think the 6 back to back K-mount connections appreciated the weight of the K-5 hanging off the end either

no doubt!

Bob from Aus · 07-13-2011, 09:42 PM

Thanks dgaies for describing the setup. I have two TCs on order for that purpose, but I suppose I don't know how to get the glass out until they arrive. I spent a bit more and got the auto focus.

fuent104 · 07-13-2011, 10:34 PM

That is a sight for sore eyes.

dgaies · 07-14-2011, 03:34 AM

Originally posted by Bob from Aus

Thanks dgaies for describing the setup. I have two TCs on order for that purpose, but I suppose I don't know how to get the glass out until they arrive. I spent a bit more and got the auto focus.

It's not too hard (to get the glass out), at least on the 4 TC's that I removed the glass from so far. There is a retaining ring on the bottom side which is all that holds the glass elements (and spacers) inside the TC. There should be two very small slits 180 degrees apart on the ring. I'm sure there's a better tool for the job, but I just use a small screw driver on one of the two slits to turns the ring counter-clockwise. I've had no trouble getting them off pretty easily so far. Hopefully the ones you bought will similar and straight forward.

Blue · 07-14-2011, 11:56 AM

I only have one tube with af contacts, but it does wonders for allowing the DA* 300mm to be used to close focus.

07-13-2011, 08:49 PM - 1 Like	#1
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	*Almost made it to 1:1 with my DA300 (and lots of tubes)** Well, I almost made it to 1:1 with my DA*300 and lots of tubes w/contacts (I'm guessing somewhere around 150mm). This was more just to see if it would work as this certainly isn't the most practical combination to shoot with

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07-13-2011, 08:54 PM	#2
erangel Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Panama Photos: Gallery Posts: 83	Wild!

07-13-2011, 08:56 PM	#3
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	good sir, i applaud you.

07-13-2011, 08:58 PM	#4
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	Is it bending in the middle? I am bit jealous you have so many auto tubes

07-13-2011, 09:11 PM	#5
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	that is beautiful

07-13-2011, 09:17 PM	#6
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bob from Aus Is it bending in the middle? I am bit jealous you have so many auto tubes Yeah, I'm pretty sure there was a little flex in the middle. That's partially why the picture of the setup was just a quick snapshot as I was worried about leaving the K-5 hanging out on the end for too long. Three of the tubes are 2x TCs (with contacts) and the glass knocked out. One of them has PZ-AF contacts which actually allows for pretty decent AF as well (see this thread). They each were about $20-40, depending on how cheap I could find the TC. The ones with contacts but not AF are generally the least expensive and the ones with the Pz-AF contacts are generally the most expensive. The other three tubes are a set of 12/20/36mm tubes AT-23 type tubes.

07-13-2011, 09:24 PM	#7
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Cool ! I love my DA*300 and think it's great for pseudo macro - never imagined it could get to 1:1 !

07-13-2011, 09:29 PM	#8
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Maybe I should stick my tak 300mm F/4 on the end of my bellows + all of my extension tubes and take a picture.....though im not sure the bellows could handle all the weight!

07-13-2011, 09:30 PM	#9
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917 Original Poster	Originally posted by Frogfish Cool ! I love my DA*300 and think it's great for pseudo macro - never imagined it could get to 1:1 ! Unfortunately I don't think I quite got to 1:1, but it was really close! I think the width of that frame was around 25mm, give or take

07-13-2011, 09:31 PM	#10
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917 Original Poster	Originally posted by yeatzee Maybe I should stick my tak 300mm F/4 on the end of my bellows + all of my extension tubes and take a picture.....though im not sure the bellows could handle all the weight! Well, I don't think the 6 back to back K-mount connections appreciated the weight of the K-5 hanging off the end either

07-13-2011, 09:37 PM	#11
yeatzee Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,675	Originally posted by dgaies Well, I don't think the 6 back to back K-mount connections appreciated the weight of the K-5 hanging off the end either no doubt!

07-13-2011, 09:42 PM	#12
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	Thanks dgaies for describing the setup. I have two TCs on order for that purpose, but I suppose I don't know how to get the glass out until they arrive. I spent a bit more and got the auto focus.

07-13-2011, 10:34 PM	#13
fuent104 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,356	That is a sight for sore eyes.

07-14-2011, 03:34 AM	#14
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bob from Aus Thanks dgaies for describing the setup. I have two TCs on order for that purpose, but I suppose I don't know how to get the glass out until they arrive. I spent a bit more and got the auto focus. It's not too hard (to get the glass out), at least on the 4 TC's that I removed the glass from so far. There is a retaining ring on the bottom side which is all that holds the glass elements (and spacers) inside the TC. There should be two very small slits 180 degrees apart on the ring. I'm sure there's a better tool for the job, but I just use a small screw driver on one of the two slits to turns the ring counter-clockwise. I've had no trouble getting them off pretty easily so far. Hopefully the ones you bought will similar and straight forward.

07-14-2011, 11:56 AM	#15
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	I only have one tube with af contacts, but it does wonders for allowing the DA* 300mm to be used to close focus.