New to macro - focus rail recommendations please

I searched POTN, and didn’t find recent threads (however, I may have missed some)

I am getting into macro, and plan to learn focus stacking. My research has led me to considering a focus rail. Any recommendations on which ones have served everyone the best? While I am just starting, I have the feeling I might be getting into this genre quite a bit.

Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions!

Keltab wrote in post #18830079
I searched POTN, and didn’t find recent threads (however, I may have missed some)

I am getting into macro, and plan to learn focus stacking. My research has led me to considering a focus rail. Any recommendations on which ones have served everyone the best? While I am just starting, I have the feeling I might be getting into this genre quite a bit.

Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions!

I use a StackShot. Great system.
https://www.cognisys-inc.com …s/stackshot/sta​ckshot.php

Look up Don Komarechka. He does handheld focusstacking.

For motorized and automatic stacking cognisys have a great system. I have a lot of their controller, rotary tables, rails, and sliders.

If you want a manual focusing rail, I would recommend the one from Kirk. If you need to switch the orientation of the clamp (as when you change from a short lens with no foot to a longer one with a foot), you can do that on the Kirk. The Really Right Stuff rail requires an extra accessory, which adds both cost and weight (and the RRS is more expensive to start with).

By the way, you can also capture stacks for focus stacking without a rail. Put camera/lens on a sturdy stand (tripod of some kind, or table-top camera stand) and just change the focus manually in steps. I have done this and it worked fine. What I did is, I manually noted the desired far and near focus points, marking them on the focus ring with a bit of white label. Then I varied the focus in steps, each step being roughly 1/10 of the total focus range. Those focus steps don't need to be exactly the same, nor is the number of steps that important for many subjects.

I still got the rail because it is much better for smaller subjects, plus it automates the process.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will try the handholding first, while I research the rail.
This appears to be a genre I can dig into!

Archibald wrote in post #18830278
I still got the rail because it is much better for smaller subjects, plus it automates the process.

You can get an automated process with a motor on the lens too with cognisys.

I use a Cheap 2 way focus rail from Ebay, Fotomate 2 way. Cost $12
There's better and much more expensive on the market, but mine is still going strong after years of service. Easy way to start.
PS, Zerene stacker is a good program but NOT free as i some how thought

Buy an EOS RP and it will focus bracket for later stacking.

fotopaul wrote in post #18830627
You can get an automated process with a motor on the lens too with cognisys.

Yes, I own one.

mat vanella wrote in post #18830629
I use a Cheap 2 way focus rail from Ebay, Fotomate 2 way. Cost $12
There's better and much more expensive on the market, but mine is still going strong after years of service. Easy way to start.
PS, Zerene stacker is a great free program to stack your shots

It's expensive, not free.

Archibald wrote in post #18830756
Yes, I own one.

Really? Haven't seen many others using the cognisys with a follow focus rig. What parts did you use to get your focus kit together?

True,,i don't know why i thought that. Maybe i was still using an old trial version

TeamSpeed wrote in post #18830650
Buy an EOS RP and it will focus bracket for later stacking.

Doesn't work for the MPE though.

For the OP, it depends on what you want to spend. the Cognisys system is really nice and automates a lot, but it's also costly. There are a lot of options out there for a lot less. Adorama has THIS one that works well through it all manual. There is also the Adorama branded version which looks a bit beefier. That's the one I ended up with but I remember it being a bit less costly.Maybe it was on sale.