Hello

alben

Hello all, just joined, recently bought my first macro lens, canon 100l. I am now thinking I need a focus rail and am leaning to the Velbon mag, I am prepared to spend more if it would be worth it?

Alan

lensmole

alben wrote: »

Hello all, just joined, recently bought my first macro lens, canon 100l. I am now thinking I need a focus rail and am leaning to the Velbon mag, I am prepared to spend more if it would be worth it?

Alan

A focus rail is good for static subjects .

Lord Vetinari

I would hold off purchasing one until you get used to shooting macro and then see if you need one. Many of us shoot without a tripod or focus rail.

Brian v.

GOLDENORFE

Hi Alan, what subjects are you intending to shoot ?
If you are going to shoot bugs like most of us hand held shooting with flash the only way to shoot !
Focus rail would only be usefull for high magnification shooting of still life subjects when focus stacking large numbers of frames .
Just practise shooting first and see how u get on first , and decide what will be the main type of subjects that will interest you

alben

Thank you all for the advice, I mainly hope to shoot bugs, but there are not too many around here in Essex at present, plenty of chavs. I am thinking to get some experience on bought flowers, maybe household objects. If you guys can do focus stacking on insects! hand held I will take your advice, read the stickies again and wait and see how I progress.

Regards, Alan

basflt

welcome Alan
handheld is easier than tripod , especially for bugs , believe me
looking forward to your first results

while browsing the stickies : pay attention to flash
flash is really usefull for macro , more useful than tripod i d say