Fuji launches duo of X-mount macro extension tubes

fuji fujifilm macro macro photography mcex-11 mcex-16 x-mount

posted Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 3:57 PM EST

Good news, macro fans: If you're shooting with a Fuji X-mount camera, your macro-shooting options just got a whole lot better courtesy of two affordable new macro extension tubes for Fujifilm's mirrorless camera line. Each is made from metal, and both extension tubes feature electrical connections that allow use of autofocus and aperture control with the tubes in place.

Available from mid-December, just in time for the holiday season, the Fuji MCEX-11 macro extension tube works with all current Fuji-branded X-mount lenses, and the and MCEX-16 works with all but one. (Note, though, that some zoom lens / tube pairings allow operation only at the telephoto end, and that compatibility with Zeiss Touit lenses for X-mount hasn't been disclosed.)

Following below is a table showing compatibility, maximum magnification, and both distances from the front lens element (working distance) and from the image sensor (shooting distance) for all XF-mount lenses and the new extension tubes.

	Lens only			MCEX-11 mounted			MCEX-16 mounted
Lens	Max. magnif.	Working distance (mm)	Shortest shooting distance (mm)	Max. magnif.	Working distance (mm)	Shortest shooting distance (mm)	Max. magnif.	Working distance (mm)	Shortest shooting distance (mm)
XF 14mm F2.8 R	0.12	103	180	0.88	3	91	N/A	N/A	N/A
XF 18mm F2 R	0.14	128	180	0.74	25	88	1.01	18	86
XF 23mm F1.4 R	0.1	199	280	0.60	20	113	0.83	10	108
XF 27mm F2.8	0.1	299	340	0.48	76	129	0.66	60	118
XF 35mm F1.4 R	0.17	211	280	0.47	73	153	0.61	55	140
XF 56mm F1.2 R	0.09	612	700	0.29	181	281	0.39	138	242
XF 60mm F2.4 R Macro	0.5	185	267	0.68	153	246	0.76	143	241
XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS	0.07(W)	135	240	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS	0.16(T)	135	240	0.63	24	140	0.85	14	136
XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS	0.08(W)	211	300	0.69	11	111	0.97	4	109
XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS	0.15(T)	284	400	0.37	91	219	0.47	63	195
XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS	0.06(W)	964	1100	0.26	205	352	0.35	149	301
XF 55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS	0.18(T)	905	1100	0.25	665	872	0.28	595	807
XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR	0.05(W)	334	450	0.66	4	131	N/A	N/A	N/A
XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR	0.27(T)	274	450	0.39	171	359	0.45	143	336
XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR	0.06(W)	806	1000	0.28	126	332	0.38	80	290
XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR	0.12(T)	806	1000	0.23	398	603	0.28	318	528
XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS	0.07(W)	217	300	0.75	9	104	1.06	2	102
XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS	0.15(T)	283	400	0.38	88	216	0.49	61	194
XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS	0.05(W)	971	1100	0.27	174	315	0.37	125	270
XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS	0.2(T)	905	1100	0.27	700	907	0.29	636	848

Pricing is set at US$100 or thereabouts for either the MCEX-11 or MCEX-16 extension tubes, and you can see low-res samples shot with the XF35mmF1.4 R and both extension tubes below.