Studio macro setups. Starting over.

Beatsy · Post by **Beatsy** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 9:47 am

After years of incremental bodgery and improvement my macro/micro/diatom setups have densely filled *all* available space and got difficult to optimise or alter further - especially for (what I've gradually learned are) my key priorities.

So I decided to tear everything down, lose most of the heavy desks/tables it was sat on and get some "proper" optical tables as a basis to start over. An extreme macro Spring clean if you will.

That's where I'm at now. I have blank canvases (optical tables) in hand and a whole bunch of existing gear to reconnect in ways that better match where my main interests have settled. Fun times, and really rather energising - now I got over the hump of actually making a start

Lou Jost · Post by **Lou Jost** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 6:58 pm

Good luck with your new designs. Your old results were so good, I am eager to see how you'll improve on them!

JW · Post by JW » Fri Feb 07, 2020 1:00 pm

Looks like fun! I recently completed something similar, its like a breath of fresh air and invigorating, and makes you wonder why it didn't happen sooner.

Beatsy · Post by **Beatsy** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 8:41 am

JW wrote:...and makes you wonder why it didn't happen sooner.

Yup - I'm wondering exactly the same.

Progress made. Heavy lifting all done and main setups in place. Shelves and a wall cupboard to install, and then the (much bigger) job of sorting and storing all the little stuff that "fluffed up" to about 3 times it's original volume when I tore everything apart.

Ongoing...

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 11:33 am

Those are some impressive Newport tables! Based on just the first image and my own setup, I was imagining something much smaller.

--Rik

ChrisR · Post by **ChrisR** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 12:24 pm

I think you need someone to come along and get rid of the clutter on the front desk. I could pass your way if you like?

What's the monstrance on the far left, with the built in screen?

Beatsy · Post by **Beatsy** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:05 pm

rjlittlefield wrote:Those are some impressive Newport tables! Based on just the first image and my own setup, I was imagining something much smaller.

--Rik

Opportunity to buy the 3 at a fair (but not cheap) price arose - I had to have them as they were the perfect size for my limited space (tables are 900w x 600d x 900h). I sometimes wish I lived in the USA so I could get 'em for two bucks a pop, like you guys do

It was a good buy though - I'm really glad I got them. They're uncannily stable and vibration/wobble-proof (given their relatively light weight). It's all in the rigidity (ooo-er missus).

Beatsy · Post by **Beatsy** » Thu Feb 13, 2020 2:10 pm

ChrisR wrote:I think you need someone to come along and get rid of the clutter on the front desk. I could pass your way if you like?

Nah, you wouldn't want 'em Chris, Only 3 are macro, the rest are for mundane stuff

What's the monstrance on the far left, with the built in screen?

Zeiss ICM405 inverted. Not a screen. Just a piece of card blanking the hole where I removed the Polaroid film gubbins. It fouled one of my earlier DSLRs when mounting it on the front photoport.

Macro_Cosmos · Post by **Macro_Cosmos** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 3:15 am

I was lucky enough to acquire a Newport industrial grade 600x600mm honeycomb breadboard from the lab I work at recently. Lugged it home on a $90 Uber trip, worth it considering that shipping would have cost at least $300.

I too envy those in the states, they get these stuff for very cheap prices. I've seen a full blown optical table sell for $90. The scrap metal from it is worth more for sure.

Lou Jost · Post by **Lou Jost** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 9:39 am

Nah, you wouldn't want 'em Chris, Only 3 are macro, the rest are for mundane stuff

I thought that was your tube lens collection. Seriously, why don't you try them? My Canon fluorite 300L 2.8 makes a good tube lens, and my Nikon 400mm f/5.6 is a truly excellent tube lens.