ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

I am just dabbling in macro so far... only using extension tubes and a reverse lens mount ring as of yet. I can already see the value of a focusing rail because so much depends on the precise position of the camera and subject. Would anyone mind recommending a starter focusing rail? I've seen four-ways from neewer and oben so far. I don't have a budget yet for a RRS model. I'll consider that when I buy a proper macro lens and jump into it more.

Thanks!

rcarol

I have the Neewer focusing rail. It is relatively inexpensive and serves my needs well. It is smooth - a lot smoother than I expected it to be and is very stable when locked down.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I use a cheap Velbon rail ($65) a lot, and its an ok gadget, not as good as my good one ($699) but it does a decent job!

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

Thanks, I liked the look of that one and it had decent reviews. Good to hear from someone that uses it.

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

Thanks! I will look into that one.

rcarol

You're welcome. Enjoy.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Does your macro lens have a tripod mounting ring and do you use Arca-Swiss type quick release system?

If yes to both, a "poor man's" focusing rail is simply an extra long lens plate that allows you to slide everything forward and backward in a slightly loosened mounting platform.

Or, do you have a monopod? If so, put a monopod head on it (provides a tilt axis only), leave that loose so the camera can tip up and down as needed, then with everything on the monopod lean closer or farther from your subject to focus.

I've got two more advanced rack & pinion geared focusing stages: One is an old Minolta that probably dates back to the 1980s or 70s, bought used years, maybe off eBay but I forget exactly where. The other is a more modern Kirk. The old one didn't have quick release, so added them to it (plate on the bottom, platform on top) to work with all the Arca-type I've got on my cameras and lenses. So while the old rail was cheap to buy used, there was some add'l cost getting it set up to work with modern gear. The Kirk Photo rail was a lot more expensive, but included the quick release setup, top and bottom. Top mounting platform can be oriented in line (for lens plate mounting, lenses that have a tripod mounting ring) or tangentially (for camera plate mounting, with smaller lenses that don't have a t'pod ring).

I haven't used the Oben or Neewer . I think I'd have more faith in the Oben than the Neewer... As far as I can tell, the former is a more "serious" tripod and support manufacturer.... While the latter appears to be cheap-as-possible, made in China stuff that gets relabeled under a bunch of different brand names, Neewer just being one of them.

RRS is really good stuff (slight play on their name intended).... but also really EXPENSIVE stuff.

There are a lot of different choices, in addition to those you've mentioned. Narrow it down to a few specific ones, than search for reviews and ask online for feedback about them:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?setNs=p_PRICE_2%7c0&Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=3067&fct=fct_accessory-type_3060%7cfocusing-rails&origSearch=macro+focusing+rail&srtclk=sort&ipp=48&N=4289360636

ppage Loc: Pittsburg, (San Francisco area)

I don't have a macro lens yet. I use a tripod and an arca Swiss compatible ballhead. I see what you mean about sliding a collar mount but there is no collar or macro lens yet.
Your reply reminds me to check ou eBay. The Open is $120 and the Neewer is $25 but the neewer goes forward and backwards and from side to side. Thanks for the ideas!

MikeT9

I have a Velbon focus rail. It’s a budget item that’s fairly basic but will allow you to move your camera in small steps forwards or backwards.
The one thing I did was to mark knob used to advance the body and measure the movement move over a number of complete turns to get a reasonably accurate figure for how far a complete turn moved the camera. Useful for basic focus stacking. If you measure the distance front to back of your subject and you decide how many pictures you wish to take it easy to work out how many complete turns to make between each picture starting from your first on. All very basic but it works and gets you into macro focus stacking using Photoshop.

awenderoff

I have the Oben and love it, solid and steady

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

Unless I am focus stacking at magnifications greater than 1x, I do not use a macro rail. A good one is heavy. Using a Swiss Arca type plate attached to tripod ring or attached perpendicular to the camera body allows me to precisely slide the camera into optimal position. Consequently my macro rail sits unused in my closet. I do use a motorized very precise rail for stacking at mags greater than 1x because the lenses I tend to use at higher magnifications lack a focusing ring. One added factor. The macro rail lifts the camera up several inches from the tripod attachment point. Although that sounds like a big “so what,” it makes huge difference if you have to flip the camera to the side to shoot a vertical composition. Unless you are careful, that additional weight and size hanging to one side of the tripod can make it easier to flip and send your gear crashing. If you have turn your camera to the side of your tripod, try to have a tripod leg directly under the camera.

chrissybabe Loc: New Zealand

I tried a cheap rail without a screw thread and it was useless. Especially watch for any rails (single or x & y axis) that has any plastic in it because you will be vastly disappointed and waste a lot of time.
I settled for a Sunwayfoto MFR-150s (about USD 100). There are a couple of gotchas with it but nothing that can't be worked round. With any rail you need to consider what you will be hanging off it AND what orientation it will be used. If pointing down much then you will need a lens support bracket especially if you are using a bellows plus lens reversed. It all gets a little unwieldy and weighty but it is workable.
If you start to get serious then you will need to move up the money ladder quite a bit.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

As with anything else, you can pay several hundred dollars, or you can pay under $50. Some comparisons below.

https://lensvid.com/gear/choosing-the-best-focusing-rail-for-macro-photography/
https://www.fotozones.com/live/index.php?/forums/topic/40395-comparing-common-focusing-rails/

Haydon

Look at the Kirk FR2 if you use arca-swiss. Well made and $311.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1213206-REG/kirk_fr2_wbag_focusing_rail_fr_2_with.html

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I would search for a real good used rail, I tried a few very low priced units over the years, they worked but were very sloppy and had to be locked before each shot to make sure they held focus, I finally found one for just a tad over $100 new ( fifteen yrs ago). It's just me, I hate a tool that you have to mess with to get the job done.