Abstract:
In macro-photography, some object or being is captured with life size (1:1) magnification.
By using a macro lens and full frame camera, an accurate and perfect macro
photograph can be captured. However, photographers find macro lenses to be expensive
and difficult to afford. This has led to amateur and professional photographers to move
away from macro photography. Hence, this study was carried out to find whether the
extension tube is a better alternative for taking macro photographs. To examine this,
several macro photographs were captured using both the macro lens and an extension
tube in under similar conditions. Then the quality of the captured photographs was
compared and it was revealed that the photographs that were captured by using an
extension tube has produced results that are identical to the photographs, which were
captured using a macro, lens. However, there were some differences such as lesser light,
lack of sharpness and color reproducing. When zoom lenses were with an extension tube
to take macro photographs, such effects were visible more. There are a lot of advantages
of using an extension tube for macro photography: saving money, ease of use, not requiring
much training from a teacher, and the ability to be used with any kind of lens the
photographer already has etc. This study suggests that photographers who are unable
to afford the expensive price of macro lenses can substitute them with extension tubes.
Amateurs can also use extension tubes to gain experience before using macro
lenses.
