50-150mm variable macro extension tube (Canon EF/EF-S lens, Sony E/FE camera)

thingiverse

This variable-length extension tube allows you to mount a Canon EF/EF-S lens to a Sony F/FE mount camera. When you twist the middle section of the tube, it expands to vary between 50mm and 150mm of effective extension. When used with a 50mm lens this allows you to reach 1x - 3x macro magnification (focusing to infinity is impossible). I'm using a Pentax K lens with a metal lens adapter to Canon EF (various other lenses including Nikon can be adapted too). Filament should be black PETG or similar (PLA likes to deform under pressure, which can loosen pieces over time). Please note that your PETG should be nice and dry to minimise stringing, since some of these strings would end up gumming up inaccessible threads. TPU filament is required to print the spring for the Canon lens locking mechanism. I'm using Flexfill 98A. Extra parts required: - M3x50mm cap head screw x1 - M3x8mm cap head screw (hex drive), black finish, x3 - Hex driver tool to suit the M3x8mm screws (typically 2.5mm) with >=100mm long shaft, and ball end - M3 hex nut x1 - M3 hex half-nut/jam-nut, brass x1 - M2x20mm countersunk screw x2 - M2 hex nut x2 - [M1.7x6mm plastic self-tapping screws x2](https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B00MIA7EHC) - Silicone grease **Please note that the grease used in this tube is super not good if it comes into contact with optical elements like your lens or camera sensor. At the very least this will require a wet cleaning of your camera sensor, and in the worst case this will render your camera into scrap.** Take care. ## Shooting with the tube To mount a lens to the tube, align the Canon lens' alignment mark with one of the two circles on the top of the printed mount (one for EF lenses, the other for EF-S lenses), and push the lens downwards slightly to push the lens locking plunger out of the way, then twist the lens onto the mount as normal. You may need to press upwards on the bottom of the 50mm lens locking bolt to return the locking plunger to the locked position (which prevents the lens from unscrewing). To mount the tube to the camera, align the hex nut on the mount face of the tube to about the bottom of your camera mount, and twist it on until the camera's lens locking pin engages. You can twist the center section of the tube to collapse or extend it. The collapsed position corresponds to 50mm of extension for Canon lenses, so if you're using a 50mm lens on the tube you will get at least 1x of magnification here. Max extension is 150mm, so you'll get at least 3x magnification. Shorter lenses give stronger magnification and longer lenses give weaker magnification. To disengage the tube from the camera, note that the extension tube overhangs your camera's release button enough that it's impossible to get a finger in there to press the release button (I've included a photo in the gallery above). I pressed it with a toothpick instead. To remove the lens from the tube, looking from the bottom of the tube, use pliers to pull downwards on the head of the 50mm locking screw, which will retract the lens locking plunger, then untwist the lens. ## Looking to go shorter? Or shooting Canon? I also have a version of this tube which extends from 0mm - 35mm to support wideangle macro with 35mm lenses. It even allows them to retain infinity focus! https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4945992 I also have a 62-150mm version of this tube designed for Canon lenses on Canon cameras instead of Sony: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4975686 ## More macro accessories Pictured in the photos above are my [Twin Loc-Line Arm Mount for Camera Tripod Sockets](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4652788), [Diffusers for Canon MT-24EX Macro Flash](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3844481), and [MT-24EX mount system for Loc-Line arms](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3785376).