T7i - Beginner macro photography challenges

[ravinat]

I bought a T7i recently and I wanted to try macro photography (I am a landscape photographer). I bought a macro extender tube in Amazon and also a Yongnua 50 mm prime lens. 

The prime lens attached tot he T7i is great and works fine at different aperture settings from 1.8 to 22. 

When I attach the extender tube, and the prime lens to it, I am unable to change the aperture as there seems to be no way to do that on a Yongnua. I saw some recommendation that you can lock the aperture by doing a DoF preview. I did that and then when I remove the lens and attach the extender+lens,, the camera now allows me to manually focus, but not change the aperture.

Any suggestions?

[RobertTheFat]

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@ravinat wrote:

I bought a T7i recently and I wanted to try macro photography (I am a landscape photographer). I bought a macro extender tube in Amazon and also a Yongnua 50 mm prime lens. 

The prime lens attached tot he T7i is great and works fine at different aperture settings from 1.8 to 22. 

When I attach the extender tube, and the prime lens to it, I am unable to change the aperture as there seems to be no way to do that on a Yongnua. I saw some recommendation that you can lock the aperture by doing a DoF preview. I did that and then when I remove the lens and attach the extender+lens,, the camera now allows me to manually focus, but not change the aperture.

Any suggestions?

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Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

[ebiggs1]

"Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens."

...and.......

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens.

Return the lens and extension tube, and buy a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. 

[ravinat]

I will perhaps do that after I am sure if I want to be a macro photographer. This is a small $30 experiment and if that works I do not mind spending another $520 on the expensive Canon lens. 

Can someone suggest ways with my current equipment?

[ebiggs1]

"Can someone suggest ways with my current equipment?"

The problem is, not being Canon brand stuff, it may never work.  But we don't or can't know that for sure.

On the other hand the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM is designed to work completely with your Rebel T7i.  Also consider if you wanted a lens in or near this FL, you bought a 50mil didn't you, the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM is great as an all around lens, too.  Not just a macro lens.

They are in Canon's refurb store for $399 and used ones for $299.  You and your camera will like it a lot better.

[kvbarkley]

To pile on ebiggs comment.

With the EF-S macro you have everything you have in the 50mm lens, and 10 mm more! 8^)

Plus, you get a lens that is good for macro and relatively low light.

[jrhoffman75]

Does your extender tube has the same electrical contacts as your camera?

[ravinat]

No, it does not have the electrical contact. Manual focus is not the issue. Setting the right aperture is. This is the case with the prime lens as well as the 18-55mm kit lens of Canon.

[jrhoffman75]

As far as I know you cannot set the aperture manually on an electro-optical lens. There are some manual lenses with a Canon EOS mount where you can set the aperture. For less than $20 you can get an extension tube with contacts. 

[RobertTheFat]

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@ravinat wrote:

I will perhaps do that after I am sure if I want to be a macro photographer. This is a small $30 experiment and if that works I do not mind spending another $520 on the expensive Canon lens. 

Can someone suggest ways with my current equipment?

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The question is: How much is your time worth? You're on a path to expend a lot of effort trying to accommodate an apparently incompatible extension tube. Even if you finally get it to work, it won't be a long-term solution if you find that you like macro photography. If, OTOH, you buy a refurbished macro lens and decide to sell it later, you'll be out some money, but you'll probably have saved a lot of time. When you're as old as I am, you may wish that you'd valued your time more highly now.