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.
Choice of stages & micrometers vs camera & magnifica
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
- rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23621
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
Hi Rik,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
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?
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.
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.
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: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
Ok, I figured I won't get a simple answer.... the more such comments & info I get the better!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.
Thanks!
- rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23621
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
I was wondering if you were targeting field work also.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?
You're right, working with StackShot in the field is cumbersome & heavy. There's an illustration at http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... hp?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/v ... hp?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
IMHO....
Buy :
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/100mm-st ... 087d845169
Swap original stepper with dual shaft 0.9 degree:
http://www.amazon.com/Vexta-Resolution- ... tepper+0.9
Put the knob on the 2nd end and you have auto/manual unit - good for the field and for the studio horizontal setup. There are a lot of Arduino based designs for controls . If step is to big for your purpose (even with 0.9 instead 1.8 stepper and driver divider), you can use different ball screw with smaller pitch.
Buy :
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/100mm-st ... 087d845169
Swap original stepper with dual shaft 0.9 degree:
http://www.amazon.com/Vexta-Resolution- ... tepper+0.9
Put the knob on the 2nd end and you have auto/manual unit - good for the field and for the studio horizontal setup. There are a lot of Arduino based designs for controls . If step is to big for your purpose (even with 0.9 instead 1.8 stepper and driver divider), you can use different ball screw with smaller pitch.
Saul
μ-stuff
μ-stuff
- rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23621
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
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
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
Thanks Rik !
I was looking something to replace my horizontal setup
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... +leftovers
and what could be used for the field also. And this is close ...
Our forum member Michael Pankratz has similar approach:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/_papilio/ ... 16962@N00/
using
http://openbuilds.com/builds/c-beam%E2% ... uild.1955/
http://openbuildspartstore.com/c-beam-l ... or-bundle/
Maybe he'll join our conversation and share his ideas about changing ballscrew ( what he is already mentioned in his Flickr thread). Most probably I'll go with Openbuilds bundle because their ball screw sits on the two bearings and could be bought without stepper motor which one I own already (twin shaft). What I do not like in their design - stepper is attached to the main rail through the two bottom spacers only (maybe it could be fixed adding something on the top of the hC-Beam™ End Mount (if needed)
http://openbuildspartstore.com/c-beam-end-mount/
and connected to the stepper motor.
In my case most probably it will be custom 3D printed NEMA 23 to 17 adapter (my motor is NEMA 17, in the bundle - NEMA 23)
I was looking something to replace my horizontal setup
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... +leftovers
and what could be used for the field also. And this is close ...
Our forum member Michael Pankratz has similar approach:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/_papilio/ ... 16962@N00/
using
http://openbuilds.com/builds/c-beam%E2% ... uild.1955/
http://openbuildspartstore.com/c-beam-l ... or-bundle/
Maybe he'll join our conversation and share his ideas about changing ballscrew ( what he is already mentioned in his Flickr thread). Most probably I'll go with Openbuilds bundle because their ball screw sits on the two bearings and could be bought without stepper motor which one I own already (twin shaft). What I do not like in their design - stepper is attached to the main rail through the two bottom spacers only (maybe it could be fixed adding something on the top of the hC-Beam™ End Mount (if needed)
http://openbuildspartstore.com/c-beam-end-mount/
and connected to the stepper motor.
In my case most probably it will be custom 3D printed NEMA 23 to 17 adapter (my motor is NEMA 17, in the bundle - NEMA 23)
Saul
μ-stuff
μ-stuff
Update:
Macro enthusiast Arda Kutlu is using Del-Tron LRS3-1 Linear Stage:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/masquerade/27037786472/
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... -1&_sop=15
http://www.deltron.com/search/Posi-Driv ... px?pkid=71
I liked small size, what would be great for outdoors comparing with options which I mentioned above (shortest is 100-150mm) and, like Rik mentioned, pitch size is not fine enough. Found some fine screws on the ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272247594728?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
but another problem - nut will not fit to the Openbuilds design.
So bought Del-Tron...
Macro enthusiast Arda Kutlu is using Del-Tron LRS3-1 Linear Stage:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/masquerade/27037786472/
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... -1&_sop=15
http://www.deltron.com/search/Posi-Driv ... px?pkid=71
I liked small size, what would be great for outdoors comparing with options which I mentioned above (shortest is 100-150mm) and, like Rik mentioned, pitch size is not fine enough. Found some fine screws on the ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272247594728?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
but another problem - nut will not fit to the Openbuilds design.
So bought Del-Tron...
Saul
μ-stuff
μ-stuff