Nikon Extension Tube with Full AFS Contacts

[Erik Lund]

This little thing came about due to our usual collaboration here on NG - It works with all the new E type lenses - Bjørn mentions this little gadget in our recent Norway thread and I just found this snapshot I took of it while testing my D200 [IR] prior to leaving for the party.

_EGL9268 by Erik Gunst Lund, on Flickr

Below a capture with it on the 105mm AFS 1.4 E

_EGL6620 by Erik Gunst Lund, on Flickr

Enigma is that the ring doesn't change focal length in the Exif file like its supposed to - but that is of course handy here since no fl change is happening,,,

On a TC-20E or similar; If you do this hack and need to remove the information ' X teleconverter fuctionality' (that slows down AF speed) you block the rightmost contact on the female end of the 'Extension tube'

[Jakov Minić]

I want one! 

[Akira]

It's nice to see how your "AF-S extension tube" looks like.  So, you needed some work on the internal part to have enough space for the light flux from the large rear elements of fast lenses?  You just can't disassemble the TC and re-assemble it without the optical parts?

[Erik Lund]

You can unscrew the optical cell,,, but I made it all the way to about the inside diameter of the F-Mount - to make it fit any Nikkor F lens,,,

[Akira]

You can,,, but I made it all the way to about the inside diameter of the F-Mount - to make it fit any Nikkor F lens,,,

I see. Thanks for the explanation!

[golunvolo]

I want one! 

  Me too

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Thanks to my good friend, Erik, I got one .... A perfect fit with the AFS 105/1.4 E. Plus probably a lot of other Nikkors.

The added extension brings the magnification of the 105E into a highly useful range, as witnessed by the (admittedly boring) shot of a Campanula latifolia flower on the recent Norwegian trip with Erik. Here I have stopped down a bit, to f/4.5, as the subject itself is 3-D, yet the bokeh of the rather busy background remains commendably smooth. Detail sharpness is up there with the best "macro" lenses.

Only the vestiges of axial colour hint that a non-specialist optic has been deployed. As always, don't think the master lens won't suffer from added extension if such isn't a planned part of the optical design. The claim that extension adds "no glass" is trivially true,; however, the extension in itself alters the conjugate distances and throws them outside the designed range. Since the 105E starts out being such an exceptional lens, it fares pretty well with only small signs of increased field curvature and increased chromatic aberrations.

[Frank Fremerey]

I want one!!!!
I fancy to use it with the 300PF mostly.
How much is it?
Can I pay by Paypal?

[richardHaw]

sorry, I am confused because the image shows a teleconverter

so the TC-14 is now functioning as an extension tube because the optics were removed? kinda slow today, coffee still brewing. sorry

[Hugh_3170]

A neat adaptation - kudos to Erik.

How many millimetres extension is it from the front to the rear flange surfaces?

One great advantage here is that the body of the tube is metal.  Many of the third party extension tubes (e.g. Kenko) that I see being offerred on Ebay have plastic bodies, which don't bode well for use with heavier lenses.

*************************************************************************** 

Does anyone know of Nikon compatible extension tubes with electronic contacts and metal bodies?  Many advertisers say that their tubes are made of metal, but it is just the bayonet and lens mount that are actually metal (and often just alloy at that!) - the bodies are poly carbonate if you are lucky.

Thanks in advance.

[richardHaw]

A neat adaptation - kudos to Erik.

How many millimetres extension is it from the front to the rear flange surfaces?

One great advantage here is that the body of the tube is metal.  Many of the third party extension tubes (e.g. Kenko) that I see being offerred on Ebay have plastic bodies, which don't bode well for use with heavier lenses.

*************************************************************************** 

Does anyone know of Nikon compatible extension tubes with electronic contacts and metal bodies?  Many advertisers say that their tubes are made of metal, but it is just the bayonet and lens mount that are actually metal (and often just alloy at that!) - the bodies are poly carbonate if you are lucky.

Thanks in advance.

I use the Kenko one. I will check if it has anything metal in it. so far for general macro use it is more than OK by my standards. very well built.
I know that the majority do not like to use AF in macro mode but I do to counteract the shifts due to the wind, shaky hands and my breath.

[Akira]

Rick, the contacts are necessary to set the aperture of AF-S lenses and actuate the electric apertures of E lenses.

[richardHaw]

Rick, the contacts are necessary to set the aperture of AF-S lenses and actuate the electric apertures of E lenses.

yes, i found out after a cup of coffee that the aim was to have an all metal extension tube with modern contacts

super slow in the mornings these days because of the visiting family and too much work

[Erik Lund]

I want one!!!!
I fancy to use it with the 300PF mostly.
How much is it?
Can I pay by Paypal?

I use a modified TC-20E for the longer focal length like the 300mm to really make a difference - However not all lenses react equally well to extension! Unit focusing lenses usually works quite well but not most IF designs,,, Voting is still out for the 300mm AFS 4 PF with extension,,,

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,2077.msg24697.html#msg24697

You send me a TC-14E, TC-17E or TC-20E and pay 100€ plus return post via PayPal 

[Erik Lund]

A neat adaptation - kudos to Erik.

How many millimetres extension is it from the front to the rear flange surfaces?

One great advantage here is that the body of the tube is metal.  Many of the third party extension tubes (e.g. Kenko) that I see being offerred on Ebay have plastic bodies, which don't bode well for use with heavier lenses.

*************************************************************************** 

Does anyone know of Nikon compatible extension tubes with electronic contacts and metal bodies?  Many advertisers say that their tubes are made of metal, but it is just the bayonet and lens mount that are actually metal (and often just alloy at that!) - the bodies are poly carbonate if you are lucky.

Thanks in advance.

As a basis the extension tube is now the length it has always been, about 24.7mm but as mentioned a TC-17E or TC20E are candidates as well - Beyond that one could cut down these to any size below that, however you will loose the leavers that convey the aperture value, minimum aperture setting indication and the stop down function,,, We did butcher a TC14B for a special project before - The Enigma.

http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,2820.msg37451.html#msg37451