Five Stars for what you get for such a low price. These tubes are made sturdy and look to hold up for years. For those that gave bad reviews, let me explain a few things. Macro really requires a tripod. For really close-up macro photos, you want tack sharp. For those that said these tubes do not work... it is simply you don't understand the purpose of the tubes, or you do not know how to use your camera outside of Auto, or you do not understand the concept of a focal plane. First of all, there is no way for the tubes to not to work. Their sole purpose is to move your lens further away from your camera. That is it. If your lens attaches to the tubes and your camera attaches to the other end - they WORK! If you can't get a focus, it is operator error. There are many, many instructional videos on Youtube, check them out. B&H, Tony Northrup and Scott Kelby have some really great ones. Secondly, you must understand what you are essentially doing with the tubes. They move your focus plane so a camera lens with a, for example, minimal focus of 3 feet can get much closer. But also understand, you can actually move the focus plane inside the lens itself where you will never get a focus. Those having trouble using these tubes, try using the smallest tube first, by itself. See where your item focuses at ( if using a fixed lens, move back and forth to find where it tries to come into focus). Then as you get use to the smallest tube, move up the line trying each tube. When comfortable, then start adding them together. A lot of the problems I see with these tubes, I would bet, is trying to throw all three tubes on at once and not realizing that your focus plane is probably only an inch from your lens. Also, when using these tubes and getting really close to the object you are photographing, your depth of field will become ridiculously shallow. Watch some instructional videos on 'Focus Stacking' to address this problem. I had to focus stack a nickle because when the nose was in focus, the eyes were not. This isn't the tubes malfunctioning, it is due to the depth of field. I took these tubes out of the box, "Read the instructions" for nothing more than how they attach and how to remove the lens from the adapter. Popped them on my camera as I suggested above, one at a time, and got some fantastic photos. But of course, I studied the process and science of how they work so I wouldn't blame a simple tube for me not getting a picture in focus. And lastly, the complaints on aperture is baffling to me. You would want a wider open for best detail and speed at a close range - a stopped down lens could take a few seconds which you may not have. With an open aperture you will get a very shallow depth of field though but the previously mentioned focus stacking technique takes care of that. But if a different aperture is needed then Canon cameras have a fix, as mentioned previously in other reviews. Simply set your aperture with your lens first, then hold in your depth of field button and remove your lens. Your aperture will stay at whatever you set it on. Then attach your tube(s) and put everything back on your camera. Other camera owners, if you have a similar solution, please post it for the non-Canon users. These are a fantastic item for a great price to get your foot in the door with macro photography. It certainly beats flipping your lens around backwards like I use to do in film days. But just like the first time you took your camera off of Auto... you had to practice, study and shoot to get proficient with the tool. You must do the same with these tubes. Put in the time for practicing and researching, because the result is definitely worth it! Enjoy and good shooting!
