So who uses focusing rails: when and why?

[b.d.bop]

About all I keep reading about in the forum Macro departments lately are flash bracket rigs. I'm impressed because pulling that off with the MP-E 65mm 1-5x lens all stretched out is quite a feat hand-held.

So I'd love to hear from some of you Macro shooters regarding focusing rails - what you have, when and how you use them, are they an integral component of your macro armamentarium, etc. AND - what do you use them ON (what type of support)?

Thanks.

[dpastern]

I have one, used it twice, haven't used it for a good 18 months, don't really intend to use it again. Waste of money imho. Too slow, too fiddly, just not worth the effort, especially with live Insects & Arachnids. With flowers in a studio environment it might be a better option.

Dave

[macro junkie]

there only good for dead subjects or other stuff thats not alive.i dont use them..there pain in the ass..they have there uses tho.just not for what im doing which is shooting insects out in the field.

[racketman]

if you get one it better be very expensive, cheap ones are useless for high magnification macros work.

[macro junkie]

if you get one it better be very expensive, cheap ones are useless for high magnification macros work.
yep..i bought a expensive one for 55£..it was still crap..it needed to be smoother,

[Jon]

Simple rule - if you can use a tripod for your shot, adding a focusing rail will help. It won't let you use a tripod where you couldn't before. Not fast enough.

[coralnutz]

I was looking into getting one. I mostly like to shoot flowers that are indoors so I have plenty of time to setup things and such. But after reading up on some reviews seems like I would need to spend several hundred buckes to get a nice one. The focus stacking script I use on my camera kind of automates the process and eliminates the need for one anyway.

[argyle]

Been getting more and more into macro, and I just can't be bothered trying to move back and forth to maintain focus. Decided to give the RRS macro rail a shot...on top of a rock-steady tripod, it really makes a difference. You can slide the lower rail anywhere along the tripod clamp, then lock it in and use the focus knob for fine tuning.

http://northlake.smugmug.com/photos/263132581_AoXib-L.jpg

[b.d.bop]

Been getting more and more into macro, and I just can't be bothered trying to move back and forth to maintain focus. Decided to give the RRS macro rail a shot...on top of a rock-steady tripod, it really makes a difference. You can slide the lower rail anywhere along the tripod clamp, then lock it in and use the focus knob for fine tuning.

http://northlake.smugmug.com/photos/263132581_AoXib-L.jpgThis is a nice piece, argyle, I've seen it. Looks well crafted as is about everything by RRS.
I'm trying to get a feel for the frequency of use amongst macro freaks for something on this order.
The message seems to be that stationery subjects are the exception and that most macro photography will involve hand holding a flash/camera rig and manually swaying or shifting to get the winning shot - or else post-processing via focus stacking to pull it off.
Truly a mindbending concept for a result seemingly requiring extraordinary precision and accuracy.

[dpastern]

Mark - handheld is reasonably good in terms of quality, providing:

ISO is high enough
shutter speed is fast enough to avoid camera shake and/or motion blur
f stop is set to allow enough light in without compromising shutter speed, providing flash is used.

The swaying technique does take a lot of practice (at least for me it did) to get right, but once you get it right, it becomes 2nd nature and does not seem nowhere near as daunting as it originally did.

Breathing can come into play, as can footwork and upper body stance etc.

You'll end up with a lighter, more portable methodology for grabbing images.

Dave

[b.d.bop]

Thanks macro junkie, Dave, racketman, Jon, coralnutz, argyle and anyone who'll be chiming in. Really an eye-opener for me.

[argyle]

Unless I'm missing something on the photo stacking process, I would assume that you'd be taking several images of the same composition at minutely different focus settings, correct? If so, wouldn't it be extremely difficult to achieve this handheld since you may not be precisely in the same position for each frame? I would think that at least a tripod would be necessary, and possibly some type of focusing rail?

[b.d.bop]

Unless I'm missing something on the photo stacking process, I would assume that you'd be taking several images of the same composition at minutely different focus settings, correct? If so, wouldn't it be extremely difficult to achieve this handheld since you may not be precisely in the same position for each frame? I would think that at least a tripod would be necessary, and possibly some type of focusing rail?Apparently not, according to what I'm seeing on some excellent macro blogs and web articles. My understanding is that the biggest problem is with the edges after the stack, and that's easily remedied with a little cropping.

[jdmturbosol]

Im so glad I read this thread before spending more money!