The 10 Best Extension Tubes
Updated by · How we research
Ten extension tube sets compared by mount, contacts and price, from Sony E to Fujifilm GFX. For most Sony mirrorless shooters, the Meike MK-S-AF3A is the pick. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
An extension tube holds no glass at all. It's a hollow spacer that moves your lens away from the sensor so it can focus closer, and image sharpness stays intact. The costs are lost light and lost distant focus. Tubes suit anyone who wants macro shots without buying a macro lens, as long as the set matches the camera's mount.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
This list is now organized by camera mount, because a tube only fits one, and most of the searches that reach it come from mirrorless shooters. The Meike MK-S-AF3A for Sony takes the top spot as a cheap set with working contacts, and Meike also fills the Canon RF and Nikon Z slots. The Viltrox DG-C covers Canon DSLRs, and Fujifilm X owners get both the Fujifilm MCEX-11 and the JJC AET-FXS.
The Kenko DG and the Fujifilm MCEX-45G WR stay. The Fotodiox Pro Automatic, Neewer Metal AF, Movo Photo AF Macro and Fotodiox Macro 10-MCR-NK are gone because of availability concerns. We dropped the Canon EF 25 II on value, the Promaster 8819 for thin feedback, and the JJC Auto Focus for Canon RF in favor of the Meike.
Lab tests of tubes barely exist, so the evidence here is Fujifilm's lens compatibility notes, one photographer's side-by-side of two Sony sets, photography forum threads on automatic versus manual tubes, and a recall check of every brand. We couldn't find a Micro Four Thirds set we'd recommend right now.
December 09, 2020:
While some third party companies are making macro lenses for Canon and Nikon's RF and Z mount mirrorless camera systems, there's still very little to choose from in either company's lineup for closeup work without using an adapter with something from their more traditional DSLR lens collections. That kept the Fotodiox Pro Automatic and the JJC Auto Focus in prominent positions in our ranking.
Promaster updated their lineup to the Promaster 8819, which is one of the most no-nonsense options you're ever going to find. It makes a reliable electronic connection for focus and exposure automation, and is built to last, but is about as plain to look at as can be. We added a new model to the ranking in the Fujifilm Macro MCEX-45G. Now, I've always loved Fuji's glass. I think it's among the most underrated in the business, likely because the system's best models are built to spec for APS-C sensors instead of full-frame. But this extender is made with the same durability and attention to detail you'll see in those lenses. The only thing working against it is its size, which may actually get the shot too close for many users.
November 26, 2019:
Since our last visit to this ranking, both Canon and Nikon have come out with full-frame mirrorless cameras, and both brands have redesigned their lens mounts to accommodate for the different physics in a mirrorless body. As such, we wanted to find extension tubes offered for each system, especially since neither company has released a true macro lens for their new cameras. (The closest thing is the 35mm 1.8 by Canon, which they call a macro option even though it's a 1:2 magnification ratio, instead of 1:1).
We also saw fit to add the JJC Auto Focus, which offers an option for Sony's E mount that accommodates their full-frame sensor. It's important to remember that Sony's first mirrorless cameras had APS-C sensors, and most of the extension tubes designed for that system are still on the market. To make things more confusing, Sony's APS-C and full-frame mounts are both called their E mount. And if you put an extension tube optimized for APS-C on a full-frame sensor, you'll get significant vignetting.
Match The Mount, Then Check The Lens
A tube with contacts still has to talk to the lens, and not every pairing works.
Every tube is built for one camera mount, so start there: Sony E, Canon EF or RF, Nikon F or Z, Fujifilm X or G. A set made for full-frame bodies also works on the crop-sensor cameras of the same mount, but the reverse isn't always true. In comments under Phillip Reeve's comparison of two Sony sets, readers point out that some tubes sold for crop-sensor bodies darken the corners on full frame.
Then check the lens. A tube with contacts still has to talk to the lens, and not every pairing works. Fujifilm's MCEX-11 page shows a table with some lens and tube pairings greyed out. Third-party makers rarely publish such lists, so treat Fujifilm's table as a guide for budget X-mount sets too.
Contacts Or Plain Tubes
Automatic tubes carry electrical contacts through the spacer, so the camera still controls autofocus, exposure and the aperture. Plain tubes have no contacts and cost much less, but the camera loses touch with the lens. Wikipedia's extension tube article notes that tubes without contacts disable autofocus and that automatic tubes cost more.
Autofocus matters less than you'd think, because most close-up shooters focus by moving the camera. Aperture control matters more. Modern lenses have no aperture ring, so on plain tubes they stay wide open and the sharp zone becomes paper-thin. Photographers in a DPReview forum thread recommend automatic tubes for exactly that reason. Plain tubes still make sense for old manual lenses with an aperture ring, or for a cheap first try.
How Much Tube You Need, And What It Costs You
A handy rule of thumb: the magnification a tube adds is roughly its length divided by the lens focal length. A 25 mm stack adds about half life-size to a 50 mm lens, but only about a quarter on a 100 mm lens. Short primes and the wide end of mid-range zooms gain the most, while long telephotos gain little. Stacking tubes adds more, and at the extreme, Fujifilm says its 45 mm MCEX-45G WR takes the GF120mm Macro lens to life-size.
There's a price for that reach. The lens can no longer focus at a distance, so the tubes come off for everyday shooting. Less light reaches the sensor, so expect a dimmer viewfinder and slower shutter speeds or higher ISO. Depth of field gets very shallow. Since there's no glass in a tube, sharpness isn't affected, a point raised often in a Reddit discussion of tubes versus macro lenses, where the advice is that tubes cover casual close-ups, while a true macro lens is easier for regular work.
How we researched this
We compared about 20 extension tube sets across eight camera mounts, read the makers' specifications and Fujifilm's lens compatibility notes, studied one published side-by-side comparison and photography forum discussions, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls. We found no lab tests of extension tubes. Updated October 26, 2026 by Ezvid Wiki Admin.
Sources (8)
- Wikipedia: Extension tube
- Phillip Reeve: Extension tubes for full-frame E-mount cameras
- Fujifilm: MCEX-11 macro extension tube
- Fujifilm: MCEX-45G WR macro extension tube
- DPReview forum: Which extension tube should I choose?
- DPReview forum: Best extension tubes? (Nikon)
- Reddit r/AskPhotography: extension tubes vs macro lenses
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls
Frequently asked questions
Do extension tubes reduce image quality?
No. A tube has no glass, so it doesn't soften the image. It costs light and depth of field, and the lens can't focus at a distance while it's attached.
Do extension tubes work on mirrorless cameras?
Yes. Sets are made for Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X and Fujifilm GFX. Buy one made for your mount rather than adapting a DSLR set.
Do I need tubes with electronic contacts?
For modern lenses, yes. Without contacts the camera can't set the aperture, so the lens stays wide open. Plain tubes suit old manual lenses with an aperture ring.
Can I use extension tubes with a zoom lens?
Yes. They work best at the wide end of a mid-range zoom, and the focus point shifts when you zoom, so set the zoom first and then focus.
Are extension tubes a replacement for a macro lens?
For casual close-ups, often yes. A dedicated macro lens is easier for regular life-size work because it still focuses normally and needs no stacking.
Are there extension tubes for Micro Four Thirds?
Yes, but we couldn't find a well-supported automatic set on sale right now. Check that any set you buy names Micro Four Thirds and has contacts.
