SWEBO focusing rail
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
SWEBO focusing rail
being new this area of macro work, I'm putting my equipment together, and have been looking at the focusing rails.
In my head I keep thinking that a rail that can give you incremented adjustments would be more repeatable and accurate.
SWEBO LS-001, Lead Screw Macro Focusing
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VN ... SQ898HV3OW
my other choice would be the Kirk rail.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007O ... AVE6&psc=1
any input would be great and appreciated.
In my head I keep thinking that a rail that can give you incremented adjustments would be more repeatable and accurate.
SWEBO LS-001, Lead Screw Macro Focusing
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VN ... SQ898HV3OW
my other choice would be the Kirk rail.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007O ... AVE6&psc=1
any input would be great and appreciated.
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
that brings up some questions:
what kind of magnification are you planning to use this on and how deep of a stack?
field use or studio?
horizontal setup or vertical?
and do you prefer manual stacks or do you eventually want to move up to an automated one anyway?
or more generally, what type of macrophotography are you planning to do?
bests
chris
that brings up some questions:
what kind of magnification are you planning to use this on and how deep of a stack?
field use or studio?
horizontal setup or vertical?
and do you prefer manual stacks or do you eventually want to move up to an automated one anyway?
or more generally, what type of macrophotography are you planning to do?
bests
chris
thanks for the help
chris_ma wrote:Hi Kevin,
that brings up some questions:
what kind of magnification are you planning to use this on and how deep of a stack?
field use or studio?
horizontal setup or vertical?
and do you prefer manual stacks or do you eventually want to move up to an automated one anyway?
or more generally, what type of macrophotography are you planning to do?
bests
chris
Kevin
I can't speak to the quality of either but they both look nice.
The Kirk rail could be more steady given the dual guide rails but I have a Sunwayfoto rail that is similar to the SWEBO and I don't notice much side-to-side movement. Most of that comes from the ballscrew and I've had rails with dual guide rails still exhibit side-to-side movement from the ballscrew (when moving back and forward).
On the other hand, if you're dropping that kind of money on a Kirk rail, I'd seriously consider a MKJZZ or WeMacro automated setup. Perhaps not as portable for outdoors but more functionality and for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy.
The Kirk rail could be more steady given the dual guide rails but I have a Sunwayfoto rail that is similar to the SWEBO and I don't notice much side-to-side movement. Most of that comes from the ballscrew and I've had rails with dual guide rails still exhibit side-to-side movement from the ballscrew (when moving back and forward).
On the other hand, if you're dropping that kind of money on a Kirk rail, I'd seriously consider a MKJZZ or WeMacro automated setup. Perhaps not as portable for outdoors but more functionality and for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy.
- Cam
thanks for the review and info.kaleun96 wrote:I can't speak to the quality of either but they both look nice.
The Kirk rail could be more steady given the dual guide rails but I have a Sunwayfoto rail that is similar to the SWEBO and I don't notice much side-to-side movement. Most of that comes from the ballscrew and I've had rails with dual guide rails still exhibit side-to-side movement from the ballscrew (when moving back and forward).
On the other hand, if you're dropping that kind of money on a Kirk rail, I'd seriously consider a MKJZZ or WeMacro automated setup. Perhaps not as portable for outdoors but more functionality and for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy.
Kevin
I just don't know if I want to do the computer or app controlled controllers.chris_ma wrote:agreedkaleun96 wrote:On the other hand, if you're dropping that kind of money on a Kirk rail, I'd seriously consider a MKJZZ or WeMacro automated setup. Perhaps not as portable for outdoors but more functionality and for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy.
Kevin
I think the wemacro looks like the better of the 2, but not sure if this would be for studio only.chris_ma wrote:agreedkaleun96 wrote:On the other hand, if you're dropping that kind of money on a Kirk rail, I'd seriously consider a MKJZZ or WeMacro automated setup. Perhaps not as portable for outdoors but more functionality and for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy.
I seriously think people doing stacks outside are working below freezing, or with insects the sit still longer than I have ever seen.
Kevin
kaleun96 wrote:
"for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy."
I have never felt the need for an automatic rail, but perhaps I have never run 'deep stacks'
I just manually stacked a micro (moth) using 2 flashes. 1st image was at 3.26 pm the 61st at 3.29 pm.
Not sure what I could do in the 3 minutes if my setup was automated; also, I doubt that twiddling the knob on my stacking rig and pushing the camera button used up much energy (on my part).
"for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy."
I have never felt the need for an automatic rail, but perhaps I have never run 'deep stacks'
I just manually stacked a micro (moth) using 2 flashes. 1st image was at 3.26 pm the 61st at 3.29 pm.
Not sure what I could do in the 3 minutes if my setup was automated; also, I doubt that twiddling the knob on my stacking rig and pushing the camera button used up much energy (on my part).
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.
Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.
Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives
I often do 130-200 photo stacks but my flashes can't keep up with a photo every 3 seconds over that many shots.NikonUser wrote:kaleun96 wrote:
"for deep stacks it will really save you time and energy."
I have never felt the need for an automatic rail, but perhaps I have never run 'deep stacks'
I just manually stacked a micro (moth) using 2 flashes. 1st image was at 3.26 pm the 61st at 3.29 pm.
Not sure what I could do in the 3 minutes if my setup was automated; also, I doubt that twiddling the knob on my stacking rig and pushing the camera button used up much energy (on my part).
I mainly like the precision of it and the reduced error. I think my manual macro rail could do maybe 0.05mm increments somewhat reliably (unsure of the +/- error for that) but the added precision to do 0.005mm or smaller is a big bonus. At those distances it seems like you would need to take more than a few seconds to ensure correct positioning for each step but guess it depends on your setup.
I think when I had a manual setup I was taking maybe 10-15 minutes for 80 photo stacks. Most time was spent trying to precisely move the rail for the next photo and giving it time to settle. The monotony of it would prevent me from doing many stacks in a day. Whereas with an automated one, I can try as many configurations as needed to get the right result with little effort.
Edit: plus if your flashes can't keep up, it sucks waiting around for the recycle time! I often give them more time on an automated run to ensure consistency between flash bursts as triggering them too fast gives inconsistent lighting.
- Cam
I guess starting out the stacks will be smaller and less ambitious, and bigger subjects, I'm not sure if I will go with led lighting or use some studio strobes. lots to plan, and decide.
thanks for all the input.
still can't figure out the rail issue, but lens coming in on Tuesday so need to figure this out.
thanks,
thanks for all the input.
still can't figure out the rail issue, but lens coming in on Tuesday so need to figure this out.
thanks,
Kevin
Some other things I like about the SWEBO:chdphoto wrote:I guess starting out the stacks will be smaller and less ambitious, and bigger subjects, I'm not sure if I will go with led lighting or use some studio strobes. lots to plan, and decide.
thanks for all the input.
still can't figure out the rail issue, but lens coming in on Tuesday so need to figure this out.
thanks,
1. A big knob with off-centre handle for quickly moving the rail into position
2. Graduated markings on the handle to help with precision movements
3. Many mounting options. This seems like a small thing but it can be really convenient in the long-run
4. It appears that the other end of the ballscrew allows mounting some attachment, it would be perfect if this was for a stepper motor but that may be asking too much.
So if you're unsure about whether you will go for an automated rail in the future, I'd go for the SWEBO as it's cheaper, looks decent, and has some nice-to-have extras. If you get an automated rail in the future, the SWEBO would be good for moving a specimen holder in the Y-axis.
- Cam
thanks very much,kaleun96 wrote:Some other things I like about the SWEBO:chdphoto wrote:I guess starting out the stacks will be smaller and less ambitious, and bigger subjects, I'm not sure if I will go with led lighting or use some studio strobes. lots to plan, and decide.
thanks for all the input.
still can't figure out the rail issue, but lens coming in on Tuesday so need to figure this out.
thanks,
1. A big knob with off-centre handle for quickly moving the rail into position
2. Graduated markings on the handle to help with precision movements
3. Many mounting options. This seems like a small thing but it can be really convenient in the long-run
4. It appears that the other end of the ballscrew allows mounting some attachment, it would be perfect if this was for a stepper motor but that may be asking too much.
So if you're unsure about whether you will go for an automated rail in the future, I'd go for the SWEBO as it's cheaper, looks decent, and has some nice-to-have extras. If you get an automated rail in the future, the SWEBO would be good for moving a specimen holder in the Y-axis.
for the specimen area this looks pretty useful,
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DV ... EG6U&psc=1
this would hold a background, diffuser material, and the actual specimen itself. funny how may useful things are in the milling area, and soldering/craft area.
Kevin