Customer Reviews

Kenko Uniplus Tube (extention ring) f/ Canon EOS

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4 star:		(3)
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I love Canon EOS equipment. Their cameras and lenses are as good or better than anything else out there for digital or 35mm. I've recommended Canon equipment to a lot of people and those who have followed my advice have been very happy with the results. But I can't recommend their 12mm and 25mm extension tubes as long as the Kenko Uniplus tubes are available. These tubes work with all EF lenses (apparently not with EF-S lenses--I have no experience with EF-S lenses so I can't say for sure). They function perfectly on EOS cameras with EF lenses. The Canon tube costs about $130, if I remember correctly. That's a lot to pay for a metal ring with nothing inside. Even the Kenko is a bit overpriced for what it does. Simple extension can be made with the cardboard center from a roll of toilet tissue and black tape. It's not rocket science (but neither is taking pictures). But using a cardboard extension tube is not really the way to go these days with electronic aperture controls and autofocus lenses. You need the electronic contacts to let the lens and the camera communicate with each other. The Kenko Uniplus tubes have the necessary contacts to allow the necessary functions to work properly. I must admit that I've never been very happy trying to use autofocus with close-ups so that function is really not of major importance.

One other point to those considering extension tubes. If you are planning on using them on zoom lenses, you should be aware that they can cause a lot of frustration at times. They will work together but they can be a pain. It might be a better choice to go with a prime lens on a tube or one of the better quality screw-in close-up lenses like the Canon 500D. I've had good luck with Nikon 5T and 6T close-up lenses adapted to Canon lenses. They also work great on my medium format Pentax lenses.

Sometime in the last decade, I remember first reading about Kenko Uniplus tubes in a book by one of the Canon sponsored photographers of the time. He used Canon tubes for his book but advised others to get the Kenko tubes since they worked the same and cost less. I guess he used the Canon tubes because Canon sponsored him and he could get them free. Since then I've read on numerous websites and in magazine articles that both the Kenko and Canon tubes were made by the same supplier (possibly Kenko) to the same specifications with only minor differences. I don't know if that's fact or fiction but it is possible. The electronic, photographic and optical equipment from Japan are built of components produced by various suppliers and producers.

The purpose of the tube is to give you more zoom power from farther away, though you do have to be within about ten feet of your subject (depending on you chosen lens), which is a pretty good range in my opinion. So if you're looking for an alternative to a macro lens, this is for you. It doesn't affect image quality even a little.

Hope this review was helpful to you.

What can I say other than it works well. I have had it for over a year and have taken some pretty awesome up close photos of flowers and insects.

This was exactly what I was looking for. It works great with my EOS 50mm 1.4 lens. I am using it to copy old slides with my 5D Mark II. It is amazing how well it works.

First off, an extension ring is a GREAT way to convert a regular lens to an insane macro lens. The Kenko ring is about 1/2 the price of a Canon, but the downside with this particular one is it's only got the EF mount, no EF-S.