Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)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.
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KENKO UNIPLUS TUBE (extention ring) is an accessory exclusively designed for use with standard AF lenses to shoot subject at closer distance with higher magnification. Magnification ratio for TUBE 25 is about 1/2 with 50mm standard lens. Perfect coupling with automatic aperture, TTL metering and AE mechanism. Note: not compatible with EF-S Lenses.
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