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vikcious
Joined: 04 May 2016
Posts: 8
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 Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 2:05 am Post subject: Choice of stages & micrometers vs camera & magnifica |
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Hi all,
I am trying to get the best “compromise” when buying a stage and a micrometer for my microphotography. The following assets are already in place:
Camera(s): Canon 5D MkIII & Olympus OM-D EM-1
Lens: Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro
Canon 50mm f/1.4
Raynox DCR-250
Bellows: Nikon PB-6
Targeted magnification:
- Anything from using a reversed 35mm/50mm on the Nikon bellows to 10x-50x (infinity corrected Nikon or Mitutoyo).
Given the above gear and targeted magnification I was wondering what best combination “stage + micrometer” would be? What I am currently looking at is a Newport (M-) 433 Precision Linear Translation Stage with either SM-25 or SM-50 Micrometer, most probably coupled with a Novoflex Castel-L/Q.
Keeping in mind the sensor types used (FF and MFT) and the types of lens / objectives do you think this combo I am looking at would suffice? I mean would it work for high magnifications (above 20x to 40/50x) while still being feasible to work for lower magnifications (1x to 5x)?
While for everything above 10x the finesse of the micrometer is justified I was wondering how much knob turning would be required for lower magnifications and if it’s not a killer task.
Any clues and links to others alternative products would be much appreciated.
Thanks a lot for your help. |
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rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 19180
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
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| Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 8:27 am Post subject: |
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Have you considered automation, such as a StackShot rail or a StackShot-enabled focus block?
I spent quite a few years turning handles. That seemed OK at the time, but now that I have automated stepping, I would not be eager to go back.
--Rik |
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vikcious
Joined: 04 May 2016
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 12:06 am Post subject: |
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| rjlittlefield wrote: | Have you considered automation, such as a StackShot rail or a StackShot-enabled focus block?
I spent quite a few years turning handles. That seemed OK at the time, but now that I have automated stepping, I would not be eager to go back.
--Rik |
Hi Rik,
Of course I have also considered (but forgot mentioning!) StackShot but I am curious if that is an option for the field work? I've never seen any picture depicting a setup for field work based on StackShot and I am pretty sure it would be a very cumbersome/heavy one. Am I wrong?
What gear (stage + micrometer) would there be needed for field work stacking? |
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elf
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Posts: 1351
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 1:54 am Post subject: |
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LordV shoots high magnification focus stacks handheld in the field. Fotoopa has a laser guided field unit. I'd say the sweet spot lays somewhere between the two 
Some of the larger macro panoramas I've done have >3500 individual shots, so manual shooting would be almost impossible to do well. If you have DIY skills, then making an automated focus stacking rig doesn't have to be expensive. |
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vikcious
Joined: 04 May 2016
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 1:58 am Post subject: |
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| elf wrote: | | LordV shoots high magnification focus stacks handheld in the field. Fotoopa has a laser guided field unit. I'd say the sweet spot lays somewhere between the two |
Great info! Else... for now, knowing my own not so stable hands I could only envy LordV! Will look for Fotoopa setup details.
| elf wrote: | | Some of the larger macro panoramas I've done have >3500 individual shots, so manual shooting would be almost impossible to do well. If you have DIY skills, then making an automated focus stacking rig doesn't have to be expensive. |
Ok, I figured I won't get a simple answer.... the more such comments & info I get the better!
Thanks! |
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rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 19180
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| vikcious wrote: | | Of course I have also considered (but forgot mentioning!) StackShot but I am curious if that is an option for the field work? |
I was wondering if you were targeting field work also.
You're right, working with StackShot in the field is cumbersome & heavy. There's an illustration at http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12288.
For field work I think a manual stepper is best.
But if you want a single system that can also work on bench, comfortably, at 50X, then perhaps using a microscope focus block would be the best compromise. See for example http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12722 .
A focus block can also be automated, by the addition of a stepper motor, and it turns out that when the stepper motor is not powered, the focus block is still completely usable by hand.
The big advantage of a focus block over a linear stage + micrometer is that the focus block is effectively geared down a lot farther, so it's simpler to make very small focus steps -- fractions of a micron, if you want. At the same time, the fine focus knob is a lot bigger than a micrometer barrel, so it remains simple to make larger steps also. At 1:1, your typical step size will be about 0.20 mm, which is exactly one turn or exactly two turns of the fine focus knob of most focus blocks.
--Rik |
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Saul
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 1176
Location: Naperville, IL USA
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rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 19180
Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
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| Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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Saul, that's a very interesting idea. That rail represents a class of device that I did not know about, so I very much appreciate the link.
For manual use, I think I would find 4 mm pitch to be too coarse. But I don't know what finer screws are available, or where to get them. Can you share some pointers about that?
--Rik |
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Saul
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 1176
Location: Naperville, IL USA
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Saul
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 1176
Location: Naperville, IL USA
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Saul
Joined: 31 Jan 2011
Posts: 1176
Location: Naperville, IL USA
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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Ebay seller sent me information (his listings) about stages with very fine pitch:
172179504833
182105758257
_________________
Saul
Studio, horizontal and field setups |
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vikcious
Joined: 04 May 2016
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 10:57 am Post subject: Wow! |
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| Many thanks Saul for your great contribution! |
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