Not a great pic, but it should show the set-up

(Download)

I have a Nikon D7200+105 macro lens (sometimes with extension tube) and a Sigma ring flash mounted on a Stackshot rail which in turn is attached to the vertical post of a copy stand. (See diagram) Because the entire system is quite heavy and extends a considerable distance from the post, it is prone to vibration. Moving the camera up and down the rail, and even taking a shot, cause the system to vibrate enough that I have to include several seconds delay between shots. This may not seem a big problem but I am creating stacks of 50-100 shots across a 2-D scan, for a total of 3-5000 individual shots, so even a 3 second wait adds several hours to the entire shoot.
What I am hoping someone can suggest is a relatively simple (I am NOT mechanically gifted) mechanism to stabilize the system.
Many thanks

Good thought, I had forgotten Dropbox. It should work fine. Thanks

The individual files are that size.

I am looking for a site where I can upload fairly large (~1Gb) files for colleagues to download. It is unlikely there would ever be more than a dozen images at any one time. I have no need for editing or organizing capabilities on the site itself. I am willing to pay a reasonable yearly fee for storage and password protected download.
I would appreciate suggestions.

I get conflicting information. On the one hand a couple of the best-known macro sites highly recommend them, on the other hand multiple sites vehemently warn against adding any additional lenses.
Any forum members have experience with Raynox, and good or bad outcomes?

Well, I chickened out! My local camera store did it in under two hours for $50.00. Incidentally, he said that it seemed more like oil droplets, rather than dust. That might explain why the sensor clean function had no effect. If correct, what would be the source, and how could I limit its recurrence?

Many thanks for all the information. I will watch YouTube, then give it a try. Win or lose, I will post my experiences later.

There should be a PG rating on your description. But, first things first,I am off to get a bottle of single malt s(Glenfarclas 105)

My Nikon 7200 sensor has picked enough dust that it has to be taken care of. Nikon say I need to ship it back to them with a two week timetable, but colleagues suggest I do it myself. There do not seem to be any recent posts on this topic, so I would appreciate input from the forum on the risk/benefits and suggestions for which kit would be best.

Has anyone tried using the Lytro camera for close-up/macro work. As I read it the software will allow an equivalent to focus-stacking with a single shot, but I am not sure about the final quality.

This will be my goal!

It sounds like our interests are similar. I am helping a friend with the biology of the Mojave, with an emphasis on scorpions. Accurate scales would be very useful, both for the naturalists and the taxonomists. I am also working on creating virtual images, using the Cognisys rotary platform.
My interest in the optics is mainly because I have always found I can use any technique better if I understand the underlying theory.

Does anyone know of a site that analyzes the optical difference between creating a stack by keeping the camera still while changing the focus versus keeping the focus fixed while moving the camera?
I have read the post on the Zerene site http://zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker/docs/troubleshooting/ringversusrail
I am interested in the physics behind the two optical processes.

I suspect that, like me, most will have only used one or the other. I have the Nikor, and have been very satisfied with it. The AF feature is not critical to me since everything is done using Helicon Remote and focus stacking.