Macro focusing rail

Hi,
Im planning to buy a new tripod and a mcro focusing rail next month,
Alot of people suggested me to buy the manfrotto 454 (which is kinda expensive for me but I can afford it) but I heard that people are disappointed with it and its overpriced rail.
Yesterday I found a macro rails comparison with manfrotto, cheap ebay rails, and some super expensive novoflex - http://www.birdforum.n​et/showthread.php?t=15​1773
He said that he recommend the cheap ebay rails over the manfrotto one for high magnification photography.
I also read here that this rail is good too - http://www.adorama.com​/MCFRS1.html

I am very confused right now, can anyone tell me what rail to buy?
I use canon 500D with 100mm f/2.8 + extension tubes, and planning to buy a 5D II soon.

What is your budget? The adorama rail is the same as the $10-15 rails you find on eBay. They are decent for light weight applications but very limited in application.

The Manfrotto rail has a lot of sag.

I personally bought a Velbon super mag slider, put a long Arca plate on the bottom and a SunwayFoto panning clamp on top. Total cost was about $225, and now I have a Arca Swiss compatible macro rail that can take collared lenses as well as just the camera.

225$ is too much for me, my budjet is around 100$..
The velbon super mag slider with out those plates cost 100$ which I can afford, is it better than the manfrotto?

I would definitely recommend the Velbon slider over the Manfrotto anyday. Make sure you get the super mag slider, there is an older version which is not as good.

This one moves 4-way but you can very easily remove one part of it that goes left-right if you want more stability. I have never had the need to do so myself.

The problem with focusing rails like much in life is that you pay for what you get. Although some rails may be overpriced a good focusing rail is not a cheap purchase as the gears need a very high level of precision for the rail to be any good for the level of focusing precision required for Macro work. Personally I can not comment on any of the Ebay options however I have used cheap rails in the past and always found them to be lacking in precision so ended up purchasing a Novoflex rail which I can recommend but is probably more than you would wish to pay although once you use this product it is apparent why it costs so much more. I did look at the Manfrotto rail but to may reviewers were complaining about the level of play and movement.

I would be wary of cheap rails on EBay for this reason. As a suggestion have a look at secondhand focus rails on Ebay, Minolta used to make a very good one which you may be able to find at a good price and I would have more faith in an old rail from one of the main camera manufacturers that has been well looked after. Many of these were made for use with the manufacturers bellows systems which were popular in the 70s & 80s although you should be able to fit a QR clamp to them for use with your tripod. I have also seen older Novoflex rails at a reasonable price on Ebay.

Neil

neilgcart wrote in post #15175634
The problem with focusing rails like much in life is that you pay for what you get. Although some rails may be overpriced a good focusing rail is not a cheap purchase as the gears need a very high level of precision for the rail to be any good for the level of focusing precision required for Macro work. Personally I can not comment on any of the Ebay options however I have used cheap rails in the past and always found them to be lacking in precision so ended up purchasing a Novoflex rail which I can recommend but is probably more than you would wish to pay although once you use this product it is apparent why it costs so much more. I did look at the Manfrotto rail but to may reviewers were complaining about the level of play and movement.

I would be wary of cheap rails on EBay for this reason. As a suggestion have a look at secondhand focus rails on Ebay, Minolta used to make a very good one which you may be able to find at a good price and I would have more faith in an old rail from one of the main camera manufacturers that has been well looked after. Many of these were made for use with the manufacturers bellows systems which were popular in the 70s & 80s although you should be able to fit a QR clamp to them for use with your tripod. I have also seen older Novoflex rails at a reasonable price on Ebay.

Neil

I gotta agree with this. I tried a few cheaper ones including the Velbon and Manfrotto, but once I got the Really Right Stuff one I realized why I should have just started at the top! You can get by with ~$100 ones, but they do have their drawbacks.

I'd scratch off the manfrotto from your list, way to much slop.

Have a look at this one - http://www.linkdelight​.com …der-for-D-SLR-Camera.html. I have it and it works quite well. I have never had any problems with it.

WesternGuy

After extensive researching online I bought the novoflex and am quite pleased with it. For my use the RRS was too fine a thread, although if a person were to use it very vertical the RRS would provide more stability. Really just depends on how a person intends to use it.

I realized these are both out of your quoted price range but I think these two products are in a class of their own. And either would last decades of use so price becomes less an issue imo.

I think that used novoflex still wont fit in my budget, I really dont understand why those rails are so expensive, its just a piece of plastic (or in this case - metal)

WesternGuy wrote in post #15178599
Have a look at this one - http://www.linkdelight​.com …der-for-D-SLR-Camera.html. I have it and it works quite well. I have never had any problems with it.

WesternGuy

Isnt it as same as the adorama focusing rails?

Turning wrote in post #15178807
After extensive researching online I bought the novoflex and am quite pleased with it. For my use the RRS was too fine a thread, although if a person were to use it very vertical the RRS would provide more stability. Really just depends on how a person intends to use it.

I realized these are both out of your quoted price range but I think these two products are in a class of their own. And either would last decades of use so price becomes less an issue imo.

what is it rss?

TheNewLegend wrote in post #15182690
what is it rss?

RRS: Really Right Stuff: www.reallyrightstuff.c​om
Highest end support product line out there IMO.

I have this macro focusing rail: http://www.ebay.com …Tripod-Head-/230869662845

It didn't sell because the seller was asking too much. I paid $40 for mine a year ago or so. It's very stable but heavy at around 2 pounds. The adjustments are smooth.

If it gets relisted at a more reasonable price, it would be worth taking a look at it.

The RSS rails cost about 350$, I cant afford it because Im saving for a new phone + 5D II + 17-40 or 17-35..

I didnt find more silk rails on ebay.
Maybe Ill take the velbon super mag slider? what bad at it?

No quick release, not as stable as Novoflex/RRS.

I have the Velbon super mag slider. It cost me about $100 and I was impressed by the quality. I haven't seen the Novoflex or RRS ones, and would expect them to be stellar, but for a quarter of the price, the Velbon is good value.