First try with new SWEBO: I received my new SWEBO LS-001 earlier today and this is my first try with it (wilted rose). Thirty six pics at f5.6, ISO 400, one second exposure. The LS-001...

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First try with new SWEBO

Mar 18, 2020 21:16:13 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I received my new SWEBO LS-001 earlier today and this is my first try with it (wilted rose). Thirty six pics at f5.6, ISO 400, one second exposure. The LS-001 is a screw type focus rail. Each revolution moves the camera 1.0 mm, and it has marks at 0.1 mm and 0.01 mm. I used one full turn (1.0) for each of these images. Captured as RAW files, mass converted to jpegs, then fed to Zerene to do its magic. Very little PP.
The unit feels very solid and the camera sits only about an inch or so above the tripod head. I feel it gives me much more control for these 1:1 shots over just moving the focus ring. Don't know if I will ever use the finer adjustments but they're there if needed.

(Download)

Mar 18, 2020 21:40:45 #

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Very interesting subject, and a nice clean stack. Well done! Thanks for sharing your method, too.

Mike

Mar 18, 2020 21:54:38 #

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very nice work.
--Bob

jackm1943 wrote:

I received my new SWEBO LS-001 earlier today and t... (show quote)

Mar 18, 2020 21:58:17 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Blenheim Orange wrote:

Very interesting subject, and a nice clean stack. Well done! Thanks for sharing your method, too.

Mike

Thanks Mike. I think this thing is going to work very well for me on these 1:1 or higher shots. I noticed there were none of the bright pixel trails that I virtually always get when using the focus ring adjustment method. I have no reason why. Right now all I have is a 1:1 macro lens and a set of auto extension tubes that get me to about 2:1. Don't know if I'll try to get higher than that or not. It gets very complicated at the higher magnification levels as I'm sure you know.
JackM

Mar 18, 2020 21:59:17 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

rmalarz wrote:

Very nice work.
--Bob

Thank you very much for looking in Bob.
JackM

Mar 18, 2020 23:03:45 #

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Very nicely done.
One likely needs a precision rail like a SWEBO for precision stacking like this. They do cost a fair bit more.

Mar 18, 2020 23:08:37 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

Very nicely done.
One likely needs a precision rail like a SWEBO for precision stacking like this. They do cost a fair bit more.

Thanks Mark. It was a hair under $200 but I think it will be well worth it. It appears to be well built and, for me, more practical than a motorized version (at least for now

)
JackM

Mar 18, 2020 23:50:07 #

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

When I was shopping for my $70 rail, I was amused at reviews on Amazon where folks would leave a scathing review of those 'budget' kinds of rails b/c their movement was not precise enough for stacking at 4:1. Of course they are not likely to work well for that! You get what you pay for, usually.

Mar 19, 2020 11:18:10 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

For a long time I've owned a "classic" double deck rail (front-back/right-left) but it was much too floppy for close work, even after removing the right-left rail. Further, I had to add Arca-Swiss plates to use it. Pretty much worthless for me. Don't remember how much it cost, but it goes way back to my 35mm days.

Mar 19, 2020 12:32:41 #

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Absolutely fantastic image! Amazing colors and details. You are spot-on about the features, advantages and benefits of a low profile screw drive macro rail. I've tried several and it was not until I changed to the low profile screw type rail that things started to become consistent and the quality took a large step forward.

Low profile is paramount in keeping the camera as secure and vibration free as possible. Rails where the camera sits up higher tend to produce torque do to the leverage of the camera on the mating of the rail. The difference between sitting flat on the ground and sitting on top of a flagpole.

Better than tripod mounting would be putting it onto a flat sub-straight such as a 30-inch long piece of 2 x 12 sitting on a counter top or heavy bench.

Mar 19, 2020 12:44:15 #

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

sippyjug104 wrote:

Absolutely fantastic image! Amazing colors and de... (show quote)

Thanks for your comments Sippyjug. I'm finding what you're saying to be true. I have a Platypod type plate but I'm not sure it will work any better than my fairly sturdy tripod. I might try to make one out of wood.

Mar 19, 2020 22:47:25 #