Focus Stacking Rail.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

I'm still not convinced though, that such a device would stand up to the rigours of "on-site" use (weatherproofing / dirt & grit ingress, etc. etc.).

Especially when I consider some of the wet & muddy situations I find myself (and more to the point, my camera kit), in when doing focus stacks of fungi & myxomycetes.

It's no more vulnerable than the majority of non-environment protected cameras. Also as I made it myself, I can strip, clean and repair it if needed.

Jim

[Meta menardi]

What a clever idea, and so well thought out and put together.

[glsammy]

Very impressive bit of kit Jim. I like the look of it a lot.
Fancy making one for me?

[RobSutton]

It sounds and looks like a brilliant bit of kit way beyond my technical capabilities so if you want someone to trial a second version for you ........

[Andrew C]

I am seriously impressed! It is a well thought out and crafted piece of gear.

Like others have already said here, I am keen to see your results from now on and would equally be keen in having one made if possible.

I am looking for old microscope focussing rails to make something for myself but obviously not as intricate or as good as your's. Would you know where to get one?

Regards,
Andrew.

[Jim Ford]

Here's a sample from my focus stacking rail:



It's a stack of 10 images, processed with 'Helicon Focus'. The lens aperture was 5.6 and the depth of field 1.96mm. Best viewed at the larger size.

Here's a composite showing the first, last and an intermediate image. This shows the narrow DoF. The last image is the same as the one above.




Helicon Focus seems pretty good with fewer 'artefacts' than 'CombineZM'. In fact, I couldn't see any artefacts in the above image. It's also very much faster. It's quite expensive though, and I'm not sure I'll sport the money when my trial period expires.

I look forward to when I can get out for the early Spring flowers!

Jim

[waxcap]

That's a very impressive bit of kit you've put together Jim.

I'd had a look at a commercially available rail StackShot but it's expensive.

Last night I had a go with Helicon Remote . I put the software on my netbook and conected my Canon 40D. It worked really well, taking 24 images which were then imported to Helicon focus for stacking. I'm thinking of getting a cheapish 7 or 8 inch Android tablet, putting Helicon Remote on it, and using that in the field for fungi/flowers. Of couse that wouldn't work with a lens like the Canon MPE65 where you would need a focus rail.

Dave