WeMacro Focus Rail - a better horizontal macro platform
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- The WeMacro High Magnification Basic Horizontal Build
This is my step by step guide to building a basic high magnification extreme macro photography platform around the WeMacro Focus Stacking Rail. I cover ever step of the process and describe my choices at each decision point during the build. All of this in preparation for the full rail setup video and the in-depth product review.
Most of the components used in the video were purchased from WeMacro directly - They have a great store on the WeMacro Website (www.wemacro.com) and their shipping is the best in the business.
Some of the additional bits and pieces used have links provided below. Some of these are Amazon affiliate links - if you use one of them to shop, Amazon pays me a small commission when you buy something (yay!)
The Black Magic thing I talk about is this… amzn.to/3ryjcs5
The little fish QR plates … amzn.to/3UN1bn1
This is the 2” aluminum bar that I used … amzn.to/3BR3DjF
And this is the 1” … amzn.to/3SIWDfN
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These are the machine screws I use but in 1” and 1.5” … amzn.to/3rcWl4W
These cheap helicoids work really well … amzn.to/3E01WDc
This is a cheap XYZ but no R - looks better than mine …amzn.to/3SGIxeJ
This copper wire is even easier to wrap … amzn.to/3BUkT7D
If you are looking for a lightweight powerful router - the best! … amzn.to/3SH4omo
But use a good straight bit to edge the wood - amzn.to/3BV5JPJ
When in the studio I use the Nikon D850 as my main camera - amzn.to/3zEznWK
It is always wearing a gorgeous black device called a 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom - my favorite video and portrait lens - amzn.to/3zzaoUy
Other cameras that are used as needed include a Nikon D7500 - amzn.to/371KoFe
A Nikon D3400 for emergencies - amzn.to/3xbwXgu
A Fujifilm XT-2, with a battery grip - amzn.to/3l3Agnw
Without any Fuji glass, I use a TS adapter from Kipon and any Nikkor lens I like - it is an awesome TS adapter - amzn.to/2Vikjze
I use Audio Technica shotgun microphones in the studio, - amzn.to/3iQLNnv
but I also have a Pro Caster from Australian mic-maker Rode - amzn.to/3rDPqkx
who also make my DSLR microphone - amzn.to/3iTxfU6
and my wireless microphone system - amzn.to/371C8oD
I record all my sound separately onto the awesome Zoom H5 Digital Audio Recorder. - amzn.to/3BM8aTG
I forgot to mention my trusty GoPro Hero 8 Black, complete with the Media Mod for on the go video - amzn.to/2UScm3J & amzn.to/3l3Desa
That is just some of the stuff I use - if you have any questions about my macro gear, or my recording equipment, just ask.
All my audio, music and sound effects comes for Epidemic Sound - I have been with them for about 3 years and they are pretty awesome - www.epidemicsound.com
All the photography you see on my channel, in my videos and on my website, was done by me. I tell you that so that you know I would never blame another photographer for my photographic mediocrity. But I love taking pictures, so I do.
FIND ME HERE
You want to hang out somewhere else on the interwebs? Here is how you can find me on:
Instagram: / old_dog_new_trix
Flickr: www.flickr.com...
Twitter: / allanwalls
Discord: This is an invitation… come on over and meet the rest of the gang! / discord
My website: www.allanwalls...
SUPPORT ME HERE
If you would like to support my work, you can do so in any of the following ways:
by becoming a Patreon patron - / allanwallsphotography
By making a donation to the video assistance fund on my website www.allanwalls...
You could buy me a cup of coffee via PayPal, but clicking on www.paypal.me/...
If you wanted to help me without having to give me anything, you could use this link when you go shopping on Amazon - that is it, you don’t have to do anything else but you will have helped the channel pay the bills - the link is amzn.to/3eV74vk
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Necessity is the mother of invention, but O.C.D. Is the father of perfection! 😍👍
I once worked in a company that manufactured spinning wheel gyroscope inertial guidance systems. They had a Test Equipment Engineering department that made jigs and fixtures, among the fully automated test equipment. I always was drawn to their jigs and fixtures. Your work is reminiscent of what they did. They had access to a fully calibrated engineering machine shop that could make any of those rings and things you bought to scary tolerances. Yet, I like your designs. I worry a bit about tolerances, but you seem to select good components. You impress with considering various scenarios that will arise, given your aims. Meticulous. Gold Medal stuff. And, your home made helicoil was ingenious. If you had been willing to use the real thing, you would not fear a vertical orientation. And, under some cases, a bit of Locktite might ease your vertical fears, a bit. Best macro channel by far.
Even thou I'm personally not into the type of macro photography that requires an automated rail and associated equipment etc I found this video very informative and educational. It's always good to learn new stuff. A very interesting video.
I'm new to your channel, which I find fascinating. Thank you for your contribution.
Your expression and comment when the unfortunate wasp entered your workspace sent chills down my spine. It made me think of Hannibal Lechter...😂😂
Great video as usual. I saw a rig were they had made an aluminium sq and hung the camera from te top . The sliding rail was fixed at the bottom and lighting to the sides.
Alan I just wanted to quickly say, thank you. Your insight, skill and passion is so helpful to novices like me. I have a WeMacro rail, but, sadly, haven’t found the time to use it properly. Your videos are stimulating me to use the rail in the optimum manner. Once again: many thanks from the U.K. ;-)
For some reason I could not find this, it took me ages to find this video, just perfect, thanks for caring to tell us.
I mentioned if before I think lol. I'm a plumber, them aren't nipples they're bushings. A nipple is basically a short threaded pipe to connect fittings together.
Oh my God I think people get the idea
Allan should have a million subs by now. He goes in to such helpful detail and is an inspiration for macro photographers. If you haven’t subscribed yet why don’t you press the button, it doesn’t hurt, and you will be notified every time Allan uploads which is very regularly. And for a bonus you get his humor! Try macro photography and it’s addictive, great over the winter days, amazing to see the details of plants and animals or whatever! He didn’t pay me to say any of this but I will expect a small cheque if he reads it. Anyway back to making my new rig now.
Alan, you need to learn about medium density fiberboard (MDF). I think it's preferable to plywood for building platforms because it's heavier, stiffer, more uniform in thickness, less prone to warping, and easier to machine without splintering. Available at any home center in 4' X 8' or smaller sheets in a variety of thicknesses. I used 3/4-inch MDF for my platform and stiffened it further by using torsion-box construction. A torsion box is built like an airplane wing -- a lightweight grid or web of uniform thickness sandwiched between two panels.
heard of precision flat ground granite tables. a greater upgrade. its what i will use.
Agree
Wow!😮
Nice moustache 👍
I'm just starting out with photography and I've to say owning and knowing how to operate 3D printer really helps with any kind of hobby. I'm interested in macro and astrophotography. Winter is coming and I live in North Europe so I'm looking to build OpenAstroTracker, it's open source project for astrophotography. Have to see what kind of stuff people have come up with for 3d printing in macro world. I bought Nisi macro rail and I'm having thoughts of mounting small servo on the other end and belt drive it for cheap automated rail after I learn how to use it manually.
Looking forward to seeing the not so clever wasp pics lol
I've found Allan's videos to be amongst the best I've ever watched on TH-cam and I'm about half way through watching them. But forgive for being dim as I've not come across an answer to a question I have. That is when stacking you move the camera on a rail to focus if you are moving your camera forward does that not lead to an increasingly larger image on the camera sensor as you are moving the camera closer to the subject.
Allan, (or any viewers) when using the helicoil have you found the "slop" that exists in the helicoil to be a problem? [if you extend the helicoil say, 10-20+ mm and grab both ends you can move these ends axially independently of each end by several mm]! Could this be a problem when doing extreme macro? I have just discovered this slop exists in my helicoil, which I purchased because I am not usually a fan of bellows! When the helicoil is properly mounted and held in the lens-extension clamps, the camera can still move relative to the axis of lens setup, all be it by the small(??) amount mentioned above?? Cheers, Ian
I just have one question. Why did you fill the shelves with old cheap cameras? Sell them for $0.99 each. Empty shelves are easier to clean from dust.
Does the wemacro rail support taking multiple shots between each movement for things like pixelshift?
Do you have any links for the 2 black accessory support tubes to screw onto the base shown at minute 15.20?
What is your board dimensions
what not use Birch ply?
Hot damn. Walls bought the sniper scope equivalent of macro rigs 😅. I would have done this using old Sinar rail camera components and called it a day. The more that I start to dick around with macro setups the more I start to hate life as those few axes are a pain the butt to nail .
Btw I use wet towel corners and snap wasps and flies with them in my house ( thrill of the chase); the physics of locker room towel snapping shenanigans allow you to compensate for the superior dog fighting manoeuvres of nimble insects . Spray Windex on the wasp so that he can’t summon the rest of the gang with his pheromones.
@Allan where did you get your itl200? I saw the adaptor on wemacro’s site but not the lens. I know you can get it from thorlabs but I recall you saying somewhere that you found it for way cheaper, I just can’t find the video and place in the video where you mentioned from whom.
What is your take on using a Mitakon Zhongyi 20mm f/2 4.5x Super Macro Lens for Nikon F to shoot pics of a snowflake with off camera flash angled on a focus rail?
What size are the open quick release clamps, that the rail slides in
What is that second device in front (New Port?) on top of the WeMacro base beneath the XYZ?
Curious; how did you do automated macro image stacking before WeMacro? Thanks!
A prayer for the poor wasp
sorry Why.