Olympus Focus Stage & Rail Wanted (Macro Rail)

Hi folks,

I am chasing a second Olympus Macro Rail to update my homemade pano-
head to something a little more hi-tech.

I managed one off eBay Oz for $50 recently, but a second is proving
rather elusive. If anyone knows where one is hiding please let me
know.

Cheers

Rusty

 

PixelPix wrote,on my timestamp of 15/04/2008 7:53 AM:

Photographic Trader?

 

Have been looking there.... but you know, I bought the latest a day or
two ago and totally forgot about it. Der!!!!

Now where did I put it???

 

PixelPix wrote,on my timestamp of 15/04/2008 8:13 PM:

is it out already?
Darn, gotta swing by the newsagent
tomorrow morning!

 

It's the March-April edition, so a bit old now, but still the latest
for a couple of weeks.

 

Oly bellows would do also. ;-)

 

So what's the setup like then and how are you calibrating it?

r

 

Here's a pic with my single row bracket attached to put the cam into
horizontal posi.

http://pixelpix.com.au/samples/PanoHead_v3.jpg

I don't actually use it like that, I was just having a play.... when
used like that it creates a little flex in the main bracket, so
normally the cam would sit in portrait orientation direct on the macro
rail and this eliminates the flex, thanks the center of gravity being
not so far out.

Calibrating...... the horizontal off-set that allows for the
"base2lens axis" distance was simply measured and the mounting hole
drill accordingly (allowing for macro rail). The vertical height to
the macro rail can be anything and I have simply allowed enough room
for the rail to rotate through a full 360 degrees.

The nodal points (as adjusted for with the macro rail) have been found
by conducting tests and comparing near and far objects with changed
camera rotation. Once found, the offsets for these have been marked
on the rail.

I want the second rail so that I can use it (base & rail only) as the
bottom arm of the large black angle. I intend to machine an alloy
bracket that mounts as the vertical arm to hold the top most macro
rail. This will make for a lighter/stronger setup that can be adjust
for different "base2lens axis" distances.

BTW... as you see it, if I remove the large black bracket and place
the macro rail direct on the tripod, I have a single row pano head.

Cheers

Rusty

 

PixelPix wrote,on my timestamp of 16/04/2008 8:25 PM:

Wow! Impressive.

Ah, OK! Makes sense. Tried similar setup
once and it's just too much to keep steady
with a heavy camera+lens.

 

Thanks that's where I'm sort of up to. Just looking at your solution to
see if you solved the problem. Guess not at this stage.

I have mounted the rack on the tripod and next getting an Al angle.
Looks as if your right angle brackets are a bit light for the camera. My
intention is to get a 120mm x 6mm thick, angle then machine it up with a
steady at the lens end.

The biggest problem is to anchor the camera and stop it pivoting around
on the bottom mounting hole.

I pulled out some Mamiya brackets to use - without success.

r

 

It's strong enough for the 1DS2 when not configured with the second
small bracket. (as I mentioned... the small bracket is not part of it
anyway, its a "separate single row" pano bracket.)

I have used adhesive camera seal foam between the small bracket and
cam (when configured in single row mode) and adhesive camera seal felt
between the macro rail and bracket.... so nothing moves unless the
mount screws are loosened. The macro rail comes with a rubber mount
for the camera, so that stays put also.

I got the foam and felt in a kit off ebay for 10 bucks. I resealed my
OM1 and still had more than enough to do the pano head.

 

You don't expect to get that lucky twice do you?
I'm sure the many other brands would do the job nearly as well.

MrT.

 

I am hoping too ...but realise I will need to pay the going rate
which seems to be 100-120 at the mo. (am watching one on eBay)

I have been looking at some Canon and Pentax ones that are quite
similar and would do the job, but being a anal retentive retard my
first pref would be to have ones that match... just so it looks like a
complete & planned "unit". lol

 

Hey Rusty, I have just received a 4-way focusing
rail from Link-delight.oz , which I purchased from
ebay. It looks real plasticy on the ebay pic, but
is actually a quite sturdy all metal construction!
I bought this after reading your Pano-head
article. Here is a picture of the bracket I
whipped up.

www.members.optusnet.com.au/mjwyllie/Pano_Bkt.JPG

The bracket itself is strong enough & I have
rubber coated the underside & face where my camera
mounts to. I have also welded a little side piece
on the bkt to stop the camera moving, but the
rubber does hold everthing quite still!

Thanks for the advice, can't wait to get out & use
it!!!


--

 

Looks good its those holes in the bottom of the camera nowdays which are
missing, these stop the camera twisting. Noticed your little side piece
to stop the twisting.

Wonder how much there selling the Manfrotto pan head for in Australia.

r

 

Thanks for the report on that one... I was only looking at that this
morning thinking I could use it, but not knowing how well it was built
was an issue.

I see that you have set it up as a single row pano head. When I was
considering it, my plan was to remove the top slider and mount it
sideways on a bracket that bolts to the bottom slider. That way nodal
rotation could be done in two axis for multi-row panos.

Looking at the break down images here http://tinyurl.com/4blr5s it
seems to be suited to making a multi row.

Cheers

Rusty

PS: I hope this post is not formatted to wacko and actually gets
through. I am trying something new to bypass the Google issue at the
mo.

 

Pixe> rotation could be done in two axis for multi-row panos.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/4-Way-Macro-Shot-Focusing-Rail-Truck-for-Nikon-Canon_W0QQitemZ200214343284

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/4-way-Macro-Focusing-Rail-Slider-for-Nikon-Canon-FD-K1O_W0QQitemZ130197924026


Check the price difference.

 

I got the 2nd one!

--

 

Russell

Sorted out my mounting bracket which is solid and functional.

Manfrotto camera mount plus a 5/8" rod 150mm long, brazed onto a plate
into which I tapped a hole, to mount it onto the rail.

Lot less effort than what you have and no need for a second rail.

There you go thats cryptic.


r

 

Any pix?