Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
Some responses suggesting tilt shift lenses are well-intentioned but likely completely misguided and from shooters who have never used any lens that provided tilt. The Scheimpflug principle illustrates how depth of field can be reshaped from a vertical plane of focus to a tilted, wedge-shaped zone of focus. In practice, with the capabilities of the tilt shift lenses available, their application in macro is somewhat limited. A wide image circle view camera lens in a 4x5 or larger camera equipped with a bag bellows to allow for greater tilt and swing and a lens that you can stop down to F45 makes a whole lot more sense.
TriX wrote:
I have a photography challenge that requires a focusing rail for focus stacking (which I’ve never tried before). It’s an industrial product shoot of an object that is 18” long and ~ 1/4” x 1/4” H & W. If I shoot it at right angles to the long side, I’ll end up with a 100x4000 image, so I intend to photograph it at an angle with a macro lens which will have a very short DOF at this distance. So, my plan is to use a focusing rail, take multiple shots and focus stack. I see focusing rails ranging in price from $40 to $600. This is a one-time application, and the customer is paying for the rail, so my question is: what’s a cost-effective rail of decent quality? ($600 is out of the question). Thanks in advance for any advice.
I have a photography challenge that requires a foc... (
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I have a cheap Velbon rail ($65) that I use quite often and its sufficient in most situations, but it is not very precise. If I need to be precise, I grab my good one, but that one was over $600 bucks!
TriX wrote:
I have a photography challenge that requires a focusing rail for focus stacking (which I’ve never tried before). It’s an industrial product shoot of an object that is 18” long and ~ 1/4” x 1/4” H & W. If I shoot it at right angles to the long side, I’ll end up with a 100x4000 image, so I intend to photograph it at an angle with a macro lens which will have a very short DOF at this distance. So, my plan is to use a focusing rail, take multiple shots and focus stack. I see focusing rails ranging in price from $40 to $600. This is a one-time application, and the customer is paying for the rail, so my question is: what’s a cost-effective rail of decent quality? ($600 is out of the question). Thanks in advance for any advice.
I have a photography challenge that requires a foc... (
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I've never tried stacking either, but my approach to deciding on a rail would be to look carefully at the more expensive models and then check out less expensive ones for the same or similar capabilities. [B&H has all the way from cheap to ReallyRightStuff rails.] We can all appreciate expensive, but also realize that a better price does not always mean sacrificing the ability to do the same job.
TriX wrote:
I have a photography challenge that requires a focusing rail for focus stacking (which I’ve never tried before). It’s an industrial product shoot of an object that is 18” long and ~ 1/4” x 1/4” H & W. If I shoot it at right angles to the long side, I’ll end up with a 100x4000 image, so I intend to photograph it at an angle with a macro lens which will have a very short DOF at this distance. So, my plan is to use a focusing rail, take multiple shots and focus stack. I see focusing rails ranging in price from $40 to $600. This is a one-time application, and the customer is paying for the rail, so my question is: what’s a cost-effective rail of decent quality? ($600 is out of the question). Thanks in advance for any advice.
I have a photography challenge that requires a foc... (
show quote)
Several rental houses will rent them to you by the day, week, etc.
Google 'rent focusing rail for macro photography'
TriX wrote:
I have a photography challenge that requires a focusing rail for focus stacking (which I’ve never tried before). It’s an industrial product shoot of an object that is 18” long and ~ 1/4” x 1/4” H & W. If I shoot it at right angles to the long side, I’ll end up with a 100x4000 image, so I intend to photograph it at an angle with a macro lens which will have a very short DOF at this distance. So, my plan is to use a focusing rail, take multiple shots and focus stack. I see focusing rails ranging in price from $40 to $600. This is a one-time application, and the customer is paying for the rail, so my question is: what’s a cost-effective rail of decent quality? ($600 is out of the question). Thanks in advance for any advice.
I have a photography challenge that requires a foc... (
show quote)
What I would try to use - since I made it. Tilts using an enlarging lens.....made from parts obtained off ebay - some modified slightly. Works better with a camera having an EVF.
..
SusanFromVermont wrote:
We can all appreciate expensive, but also realize that a better price does not always mean sacrificing the ability to do the same job.
Agree, and should apply to TRIPODS also......
..
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
Thanks again for all the suggestions guys - I’m experimenting and will post the results.
Cheers,
Chris
Gene51 wrote:
Some responses suggesting tilt shift lenses are well-intentioned but likely completely misguided and from shooters who have never used any lens that provided tilt. The Scheimpflug principle illustrates how depth of field can be reshaped from a vertical plane of focus to a tilted, wedge-shaped zone of focus. In practice, with the capabilities of the tilt shift lenses available, their application in macro is somewhat limited. A wide image circle view camera lens in a 4x5 or larger camera equipped with a bag bellows to allow for greater tilt and swing and a lens that you can stop down to F45 makes a whole lot more sense.
Some responses suggesting tilt shift lenses are we... (
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If you read the OP you will see
that this is NOT macro work.
As to who might be misguided
about tilting, NO ONE can set up
a view camera faster than I can.
Gene51
Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
User ID wrote:
If you read the OP you will see
that this is NOT macro work.
As to who might be misguided
about tilting, NO ONE can set up
a view camera faster than I can.
Exactly my point. Using a technical camera is preferable, and there are limitations of a small camera with only modest tilt capability that make it less suitable for this kind of work. It would be worst for macro at or near 1:1 magnification, but an 18" x 1/4" x 1/4" subject may not be a macro, but rather a close up situation.
If you read the OP, he is thinking of using a macro lens and focus stacking. Regardless of whether he uses a macro lens or a lens that provides high magnifications at close up distances, using a tilt shift lens to use tilt to reshape the field of focus is less desirable than using a long focusing rail. Nikon PC-E lenses are capable of 1:2 magnification, but I have not used Canon gear so I am not sure what their capabilities are.
So which would you prefer - a lens with tilt, or a long focusing rail for this shot? I don't think that Chris is considering using a technical camera but I could be wrong, no matter how fast it can be set up.
Gene51 wrote:
Exactly my point. Using a technical camera is preferable,
and there are limitations of a small camera with only modest
tilt capability that make it less suitable for this kind of work. .......
So which would you prefer - a lens with tilt, or a long focusing
rail for this shot? I don't think that Chris is considering using a
technical camera but I could be wrong, no matter how fast it
can be set up.
Frankly, I'd go with a technical camera, if I still owned one,
and use a roll holder. But since I don't own such any longer
I'd just turn down the job. The job description, per the OP,
smells bad. Either you're ready to do a job without relying
on collective "wisdom" of online yoyos, or you just decline
the work. The bit about the client having a budget for gear
to do the job is verrrrry sketchy. Smells bad :-(
.
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
User ID wrote:
Frankly, I'd go with a technical camera, if I still owned one,
and use a roll holder. But since I don't own such any longer
I'd just turn down the job. The job description, per the OP,
smells bad. Either you're ready to do a job without relying
on collective "wisdom" of online yoyos, or you just decline
the work. The bit about the client having a budget for gear
to do the job is verrrrry sketchy. Smells bad :-(
.
Actually, I’m doing it as a favor without charge for the aerospace company where I do some part-time consulting, and they offered to purchase a rail if required. I would never take on a paid job for which I was unprepared and inexperienced - this is not a critical task and an experiment for me.
TriX wrote:
Actually, I’m doing it as a favor without charge
...... this is not a critical task and an experiment
for me.
Well thaz a relief ! But I'da still declined, not
risking my professional image with my client
possibly becoming somewhat less shiny.
Nevertheless, rotsa ruck, have fun, and keep
on dodging them yoyos ! !
.
TriX
Loc: Raleigh, NC
User ID wrote:
Well thaz a relief ! But I'da still declined, not
risking my professional image with my client
possibly becoming somewhat less shiny.
Nevertheless, rotsa ruck, have fun, and keep
on dodging them yoyos ! !
.
No yo yos on this thread - just helpful advice from some very knowledgeable professionals whom I admire and whose advice I greatly appreciate.
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