Thanks, Joaquim! Glad to share, and hope it's useful to somebody. As you observe, I it did seem to be rock solid--I'm using the past tense because I can't resist making it a little bit more so, and making it easier to orient the camera vertically. So right now the assembly is back in the hands of my...

Wonderfully done, Javier. I keep coming back to look at these.

--Chris

. . . but I've never plopped down that kind of cash ever in my life other than for my Pentax K-7 but thats a DSLR! Bet you a beer that a few years from now, if you add up the cost of all the photo gear you then have (lenses, tripods, flash equipment, etc.), you’ll find that your DSLR represents a s...

It might be helpful to get specific: Ebay items 380331674847 and 380331674847 are currently available copies of 40x ELWD finite objectives (both offered by the same vendor, whom I've purchased from a couple of time with good experiences). Here is an image from one of the above listings: http://www.p...

Yeatzee, The StackShot is actually one of the best bangs-for-buck I can think of in the deep-stacking world. I'm amazed at what they are providing for the price they charge. The price may seem large, but it is quite reasonable for what they are providing, at least compared with anything else I've se...

Unable to find a Nikon CFI M Plan, 40x/0.5 ELWD objective. . . . . . .It is, however, difficult waiting for some good, high mag glass to come along. MacroB, I'm a bit confused. From the title of this thread, it appears you are looking for a finite 40x objective. But doesn't "CFI" designate objectiv...

I hear you, Craig--they're painfully dear for me, too. That said, I don't recall ever losing substantial money on a lens--sometimes I buy one second-hand, use it for a while, and sell it--and generally get about what I paid for it, or maybe a little bit more. So I don't worry too much about putting ...

Good read, Andrew. The portion about EMI and RFI emissions from Xenon flashtubes, the impact of factors such as electrode shape on their creation, and the use of a Faraday cage in their suppression, was particularly eyebrow-raising to me.

There are 'soft' lenses produced for portraits. I am aware of one made by Canon; probably nothing that could not be accomplished in post-production, but they appear to sell reasonably well, so there must be some merit to their capabilities. Craig, an overall soft effect isn't really what I meant to...

There is always another side of the coin - instant heating of the subject may have a similar effect of generating air currents and moving the subject (or making it twitch by uneven thermal expansion). As in the example of Crookes’ radiometer , yes? Conversely, I have a friend, an acclaimed physicis...

Craig, that unit does indeed look nice and compact. I’d wonder, though—since that beam splitter is designed for a tube lens that appears to be of smallish diameter, adds considerable magnification, and is likely intended for small sensors--if it would cover a full-sized tube lens and APS camera sens...

Craig, thanks for this nice "swirly bokeh" example. I keep being tempted by lenses of this ilk for portraiture. Should probably just give in and get one. Not sure I'd use it for close-up or macro, but who knows--it certainly works in your example.

--Chris

Thanks for once again carefully and clearly documenting your latest addition. The parts list and pricing is particularly helpful as well as the usual clear photographs and discussion. Chris, I much appreciate your feedback. I always wonder about how much detail is wanted—so it’s useful to hear that...

David and Craig, you're very welcome! Glad to provide food for thought. The filter holder (NT56-993) ...do Edmunds have an iris that could be incorporated within that piece? Interesting question. On quick look, I see irises small enough to fit inside that adapter, but their maximum apertures are not...

Eric, Chris, and Charlie, thanks for your kind words! It's very encouraging to hear that a post like this is considered useful by knowledgeable community members. And Charlie, you're right--I needed a bit of time to dissipate the sticker-shock on the parts-list, and to try a couple of other approach...