On the situation:
Many interested buying intermediate rings to save your money for a "real" macro lens, since they generally (ie the minimum free working distance) Decrease the close range of the lenses and thus increase the magnification of the object on the chip.
Not 1 of my Sigma 105s macros, but I wanted to get no complete manual magnifying lens: I personally handed the scale 1. Reversing rings are beautiful and have their place, but must be handled a bit awkward. So I signed up for the solution 105s MAKROplus Auto Extension Ring (s) chosen.
And do not worry: * Insects have no flight distance *, although this is always happy asserted. One can quietly get closer to them, they let a (if one is quiet, slow and patient enough).
Among the rings:
Three Preliminary Comments:
1) Since I normally insets in the macro range and there focusing manually anyway, I can about the function of auto focus with the rings do not provide reliable data.
2) Logically, the rings change the behavior of a camera-lens combination decisively: Infinity settings no longer work, Solage the rings are placed. But since you anyway want to achieve the opposite, that is to get closer, this should not matter. They can indeed lose weight quickly.
3) I use the rings in the macro range with my Canon EOS 450D and a Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro. Preferred setting with the 31er intermediate ring in combination with a Metz flash AF-48 (slightly limited): Iris F9-11 (the highest resolution of the 450D), ISO 100, and 1 / 200s exposure.
Processing / feel:
They are made of plastic, however, provided with metal bayonet and make me a thoroughly quality impression. The fact that one for locking the bayonet back must "hook" the metal move (towards you), you can quickly get used to, because it's all even with the EOS itself. The snap points are well marked, incorrect connection is therefore almost impossible. Although they sit tight, but not too tight or hakelig, in my opinion, that is optimally implemented.
For me, the rings tightly and firmly seated on the camera, and also the lenses have virtually no play, makes everything a well-thought impression.
Automatic:
Respect. Autofocus so, otherwise f-number, exposure, etc. are displayed in my wonderful and are also properly adjusted. Everything works so as it is supposed to work. Am thrilled because that's when the simple intermediate and reversing rings for about 20, - yes exactly what is missing and I have missed so much EUR.
Optical power:
Of course, (for ring size each 1-3 f-stops) the intermediate rings take away a little light, but under normal conditions, the fall is not too difficult for me in the weight. So to get over, you should only know beforehand and behave accordingly when taking pictures or adjust the camera settings accordingly.
Sure, these rings will be a sensible alternative to buying a pure macro lens even at "normal" focal length and telephoto lenses and practical for many. Nevertheless:
It may sound trite, for some maybe strange, but just in conjunction with a "real" macro play these rings I think their strength from.
An Example:
A bee or fly is in the scale of 1: 1 was added very nice to look at, but if you can recognize real details will and want to depict only the head with antennae and compound eyes possible Full Frame, then you can forget without the intermediate rings. Crop is only half the story; with the rings work in the desired full APS-C format with the above settings if need be even freehand. One must, of course, on the shallow level in extreme macro range sounds obvious, but I sit here times ahead.
The most important thing: The sharpness of the images per se has not suffered from the use of the Rings, I can discover details that were hidden from me so far and if I want the hairs on the eyes individually count. Several attempts - even with several rings and combined with different motifs (orchids, bugs larvae etc.) - all brought optically flawless results, so they appear to be light-tight. The rings appear to me to really serve their purpose well.
Conclusion:
For the price of about 70, - price hikes, I can only recommend these rings and do not regret the purchase. Do they have already convinced the 31 ring is as it were permanently installed on my Sigma macro, the other coming when required for use.
