Can’t take pictures when extension tubes are connected

[goober985]

Hi all, many thanks for all the feedback on my last post, it helped a lot with figuring out my lenses and getting started. 

I am having a technical problem with a set of extension tubes I got. They give me macro, zoom in and out ok, change exposure ok, and focus ok, but for some reason my camera won’t let me take a picture. Nothing happens when I press down the shoot button. It won’t take video either. without the extension tubes it shoots perfectly fine.

At first I thought it was because the lens isn’t focusing, and that the camera might need it to be in focus before taking a picture, but it does appear to be focusing and without the extension tubes the camera is able to take out of focus pictures. i’ve also tried it with both manual and auto focus, but neither change anything.

My camera is an EOS-M and my extension tubes are listed here: 

[Replaced link with image to facilitate discussion.]

any ideas what I am doing wrong? or is it that my extension tubes or camera might be faulty in some way?

[March411 · Accepted solution]

In the menu have you set the release shutter without lens function to enable?If not here is the information from the manual.

Select [Custom Functions (C.Fn)]. the steps are on page 287 of the EOS-M manual.

C.Fn-7 Release shutter w/o lens
0: Disable
When set to [Disable], not only the shutter button is disabled but the
<o> (Movie start/stop) button will be disabled as well. Even if you
press the button, movie recording will not start.
1: Enable
Even when no lens is attached to the camera, pressing the shutter
button completely will release the shutter.

Manual found here: EOS M - Once page loads scroll down for link 

[March411 · Accepted solution]

In the menu have you set the release shutter without lens function to enable?If not here is the information from the manual.

Select [Custom Functions (C.Fn)]. the steps are on page 287 of the EOS-M manual.

C.Fn-7 Release shutter w/o lens
0: Disable
When set to [Disable], not only the shutter button is disabled but the
<o> (Movie start/stop) button will be disabled as well. Even if you
press the button, movie recording will not start.
1: Enable
Even when no lens is attached to the camera, pressing the shutter
button completely will release the shutter.

Manual found here: EOS M - Once page loads scroll down for link 

[goober985]

many thanks for the response marc, this helped me enable shutter without lenses and it solved the problem of not being able to take a pic with the extension tube on! but now i have a new problem which is i can’t change the aperture - it’s stuck on 00. i’m guessing this is because, like wadizzle said, my cheap extension tubes don’t have lens contacts. do y'all think that’s it?

in that case it looks like i’ll probably have to just get a better set of extension tubes… oh well, time to save up some cash

[DougsGraphics]

Yes, without contacts, your camera cannot communicate with the lens to set the aperture. It also cannot understand what lens is connected. Since modern lenses do not have a manual aperture setting, they will be maintained in full open position. Your camera will not know this. You will have to manually measure exposure and adjust your shutter speed and ISO. My recommendation would be to get the Canon extension tubes. I have used enough aftermarket versions to learn the hard way that saving some money will result in regrets. The Canon hardware is built to tighter tolerances and is just more reliable regarding communication linkages.

Doug

[Waddizzle · Accepted solution]

Welcome back!  I am not familiar with your previous post(s).  I see the possibility of two different issues.

Extension tubes come in two basic types, with and without lens contacts.  You seem to have purchased the budget type that do not have any lens contacts.  This is a problem.  

When you use these tubes with any lens the camera will not be able to communicate with the body.  By default, the shutter is disabled when the camera doesn’t detect an attached lens.  This is done to prevent damage to a fully exposed shutter.

Switch the camera to P mode and look for a setting, “Release shutter without lens attached”.  This setting needs to be enabled.

The next problem is figuring out how much distance to use with the extension tubes. You can stack them up.  You want the total length to be 25-40% of the focal length of the lens you’re using.   

[ebiggs1]

"This is a problem."

Yes it is. You will be in manual mode. Some lenses won't work at all.

[Ron888]

There is a trick to adjusting aperture when using electronic aperture lenses on extension tubes,thought it's really clumsy.
Put the lens on the camera and choose an aperture.
Now do one of two things:
Press the stop down button if your camera has one and remove the lens while doing so.
Or set the shutter to a few seconds,take a shot and remove the lens while the shutter is still open.
This should leave the lens stopped down and ready to use for macro.Fit the extension tubes then the lens and use in fully manual mode as others have described above. Note the screen might be dark due to the combined effects of closed aperture and extension tubes.I'm not familiar with the first M body.I may compensate for that,not sure.