Extension tubes work just like a bellows. They are simply hollow tubes that you mount
between the lens and the camera body. Like using a bellows, an extension tube allows
you to increase the distance between the lens and the focusing screen.
Extension tubes come in various sizes. The following picture has a pencil through one of
the tubes simply to show that there is no glass element involved. It’s only a hollow tube
used as a way to increase the focusing length.
- The next option is to reverse your lens and mount it (backwards) to the camera. The
following image shows a wide angle lens mounted in reverse on the front of a macro lens.
There are reversing rings that allow you to do that. I’ve never used this method, but I’m
told it does a good job.
- There are other close-up methods – such as mounting a microscope element to a lens, but
we’ve pretty much covered the most popular close-up options. Anything more involved
would generally only be used by a professional that has a specific need for that close-up
method.
