Using a Macro Focus Rail in Macros
Using a Macro Focus Rail in Macros
Macro focus rail systems are simply for larger pictures. Tapping into the lens a bit more tightly and achieving the same tight focusing framing with an ordinary tripod lens isn't accurate enough and still takes too long when using live subjects. For most people, the biggest problem when shopping for macro focus rail systems is that large high-end systems cost up to $600, which is simply ridiculous for pieces of plastic. However, you can get smaller, more versatile options that allow you to focus on even the tiniest of subjects and still get a sharp picture.
The first thing you should do before buying a macro focusing rail system is to make sure you buy a system made specifically for macro lenses. These systems are made for the lens alone, so they cannot be adapted to other lenses. Many a time, people who have used these systems have found out that they simply can't adapt them. If the photo you want to focus on has a very tiny subject, then the lens can be opened a little and the macro focus rail can be attached, but for large, open backgrounds, you will find that this doesn't work. It's a simple matter of getting a new macro lens.
If you are shopping for macro focus rail systems, you should also take a close look at the other macro lenses that are available for your camera. There are many different types of lenses on the market today, but you need to make sure that each lens is capable of focusing onto its own individual subject. Many times, this isn't possible, but there are also many photos that were taken with a macro lens on a regular zoom lens that were also focused onto their own subject. This is because the zoom was used in conjunction with the focus rail. The result was very visible, and many images were obtained.
Another thing to consider is the quality of the photos. A macro focus rail is not going to ruin your images unless it is attached improperly. For example, a lens that is made of plastic will crush against the object you are trying to take a picture of. On the other hand, some micro wave/lens combination lenses do not crush easily under pressure. Therefore, you should always make sure to check the quality of your lens before purchasing one.
After you have decided what type of macro camera rail you are interested in buying, then you need to decide how you are going to attach it to your camera. A good idea would be to utilize a tripod. Many professional photographers use a tripod with their photography equipment, and the rail system is no exception. Tripods allow the camera and the lens to be stable while the tripod holder remains free. Many people choose to use a tripod because it allows them to photograph moving subjects with more ease.
Other cameras such as digital cameras may not have this feature available. The benefit of this is that the macro photography settings can still be set to manual mode, and this is usually the preferred setting for macro photography. If you do not want to mess with setting the focus manually, you may want to consider purchasing a focusing rail. Focusing rails usually have two knobs that enable you to focus on an object without using the focusing wheel. This is another nice feature to consider if you do not like having to use the focusing wheel with the camera.
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