The wonderful thing about macro photography is that there are always compelling subjects within arm’s reach, but on the other hand, it generally requires a dedicated macro lens. If you are interested in macro photography but not ready to invest a lot of money in it, a potentially viable intermediate option is extension tubes. This great video will show you how extension tubes work as well as the pros and cons of using them for macro work. 

Coming to you from Dustin Abbott, this helpful video discusses using extension tubes for macro photography and if they are a decent alternative to a dedicated macro lens. The beauty of extension tubes is how cheap and easy to use they are. You can normally get a set for less than $100, and using them is as easy as placing them between your lens and camera mount. On the other hand, you will not get the same level of magnification with extension tubes as you will with a dedicated macro lens, and their effectiveness generally decreases as focal length increases. Nonetheless, they can serve as a nice bridge to a task-specific lens, and they are easy to toss in a bag for that occasional shot you run across. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Abbott.