New to macro - focus rail recommendations please

I use a Wemacro automated rail and am very happy with it.

I started out using a cheap manual rail from Amazon or eBay. For anything approaching 1:1, it's unrepeatable and excruciating to use. I wouldn't use it with a microscope objective in a million years. I now only use it for fine focus of single images. Any rail good enough for focus stacking at high magnifications is going to approach the price of the Wemacro.

Which one did you have then @archibald?

fotopaul wrote in post #18833984
Which one did you have then @archibald?

StackShot.

Archibald wrote in post #18833991
StackShot.

Think you misunderstood my whole post.

My point was that you can still get an automated process when stacking by moving the lens with Stackshot. By using a stepper motor in a follow focus rig.

Now AF lenses are a hit or miss when it comes to this technique as their gearing/throw often are less than optimal. Manual lenses works much better.

Someone recommended the Qoolrail 250 with the IR controller from MJKZZ to me. Have any of you used this? It’s pretty reasonable at $325 for an automated rail with controller and remote release.

This guy gets good results:

https://www.flickr.com …49673559488/in/​datetaken/

Thanks! He does have great photos.

Thanks for the heads up, I've just ordered one as it looks like we are under house arrest for the foreseeable future and it will give me something different to work on. I'll let you know how I get on.