Photos for stacking by the moving of the camera or object ?

[Adalbert]

Hello everybody,
I would like to ask you for your opinion about the taking of the photographs for the stacking by the moving of the camera or by the moving of the object.
What do you prefer, which way is better?
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Adi

[ray_parkhurst]

Adalbert...I do coin photography, with the coins lying flat on a surface and camera above (vertical setup), and I move the coin rather than the camera/bellows/lens. The small movements have no effect on light angles so this method work well for me...Ray

[Adalbert]

Hello Ray,
Do you need/use a special diffuser in order to avoid any reflection?
How do you move the coins vertically (by the microscope)?
BTW, what is better and easier: vertical or horizontal ?
Bye, Adi

[rjlittlefield]

BTW, what is better and easier: vertical or horizontal ?

I think that most people use horizontal setups. My own rig can work either way, but I prefer to use it horizontal because a) it's somewhat more rigid and b) I change lenses a lot and that task is simpler and less risky when the lens is positioned beside the specimen instead of suspended over the specimen. Moving the camera away from the subject to change lenses is also simpler when I don't have to fight the weight of the setup.

As Ray mentions, moving the camera versus moving the subject makes little difference for sufficiently short stacks. If you anticipate possibly using wanting to stack larger subjects where moving through the light field would become a problem, then of course moving the camera would be a better approach.

--Rik

[Adalbert]

Hello Rik,

I’m still improving my self-made equipment and would summarize you hints as follows:

1.) horizontal rig:
+ easier to manage the changing of the lenses
+ more rigid
+ less vibrations

2.) Moving the camera:
+ large stacks ( long distances ) because of the light field /shadow

3.) Moving the subject
+ short stacks

Many thanks.
Bye, Adi

[elf]

There is a third option: Use a bellows and change the bellows draw instead of moving the camera/lens or subject. This make it easier to do macro panoramas.

3b: Change focus point using just the lens.

[Adalbert]

Hello Elf,

“Use a bellows and change the bellows draw instead of moving the camera/lens or subject”

This is really new for me. I have never heard about this method before. Many thanks!

3b: I have already asked for that
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... highlight=

BR, Adi