62-150mm variable macro extension tube (Canon EF/EF-S)

thingiverse

This variable-length extension tube allows you to mount a Canon EF/EF-S lens to a Canon full-frame or crop camera. When you twist the middle section of the tube, it expands to vary between 62mm and 150mm of extension. When used with a 50mm lens this allows you to go from about 1.2x to 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, any material x1 - M3 hex 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 small circle mark on the outer edge of the tube's mounting face with the red dot on your camera's 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 62mm of extension, so if you're using a 50mm lens on the tube you will get at least 1.2x 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 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. ## Want to shoot with a Sony camera? I have a 0-35mm and 50-150mm version of this tube designed for Sony F/FE mount cameras instead if you like: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4945992 - 0-35mm version https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4941924 - 50-150mm version ## More macro accessories To take most of the photos above I used 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).