Customer Reviews

Adorama Budget Macro Focusing Rail Set with 4 Way, Fine Control, Camera Focusing Rail for Macro Photography.

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This product is very good for macro photography. Moves left and right, foward and back so you do not need to move your tripod to get in position again to reframe or focus the subject. Smooth and very small fraction of an inch foward and back movements allow for macro subject to become in focus without having to go back to lens focus ring after you have previously set the len's depth of field. Great for when an insect moves in any direction as you do not need to move the tripod and miss the shot.
One thing Adorama missed. A quick release instead of the screw to attach the rail to the camera so if you need to walk to the next shot you do not find yourself walking with your camera dangling around your neck with the bulky 1 1/2lbs. rail. The rail should have a quick release and be attached to a ball head with a quick release that is attached to a macro photography type tripod. The rail quick release will allow you to walk with it attached to the tripod and have no need to break it down or keep it attached to your camera.
Over-all a very good product.

I bought this for my at-home photography and am evaluating it in comparison to a much more expensive unit I use at work. The long and short of it is that this is a very good value for the price you pay. I have three minor design criticisms. First, the mounting hole on the bottom is not centered - it's located towards the rear of the base. I have no idea why they designed it that way, but it should be in the middle. I've mounted a quick release plate onto the bottom and I just wish it was more centered. Second, the locking screws to set the rail once it's in position could be a little sturdier. Finally, I'm not certain this would be true for other brand cameras, but I have to take the camera off of the rail to get the battery out. That's a very minor point, especially since I've added a quick release to make this part easier.

I have a D80 w/ a 50mm lens reversed onto the front of a 70-300MM VR zoom. The whole thing is sitting on top of a second quick-release plate so that I can pop the rail on and off the tripod, and pop the camera on and off the rail very easily. With this setup, I have about a 5:1 enlargement, so the tolerances are pretty tight, and my DOF can be less than a MM. In use, I find the controls plenty precise for the macro work I do. You could pay 5 times as much for other rails, but you wouldn't get even a 2X improvement in the controls. In terms of rigidity, my setup is pretty heavy and even at full forward extension (maximum torque), it's nice and stable. If there's any wobble, I more suspect my ballhead and tripod sitting on carpet than the rail.

At work, I have a top of the line D300, VR macro lens, Gitzo tripod, Martins ballhead, and Novoflex rail. At home I have this focus rail, a D80, a reversed lens hodge-podge, Manfrotto 488RC2 ballhead w/ a couple of integrated RC2 connectors and bases incorporated into the system, and a Giottos tripod. In price comparison, the work setup is at least 2X more expensive than the home setup. Comparing these two configurations, I actually get more extreme macro with plenty of pixels for cropping out the darkened corners, and can do focus stacking to get more DOF. It takes a little longer, and the whole system is a little clunky, but hobbies are supposed to take up time, right?

I'd have no trouble recommending this macro rail to anyone. You can save enough on the rail to get yourself a very nice slave/ring flash (I got the SB600). The side to side movement is a nice feature and works pretty well. Marking are nice and clear and the whole thing feels pretty solid. I'd say this one follows the 80:20 rule (80% of maximum resutls for 20% of the investment). It's a compromise in some minor respects, but I'm not at all sorry I got it. I'm glad to have spent my savings on other equally critical system elements.

I just received my focusing rail fro Adorama. Very well built, smooth travel on either axis and made of heavy duty materials. Best of all, it says "JAPAN" on the outside - What do you know! A product not made in China! All in all, performs well and is a real tool that will last for many many years.

Worth every penny for macro work. I've tested mine and it does a wonderful job.

I like to do macro photography, and this makes the job much easier. No tripod head I have ever owned lets me make minute adjustments in centering the subject like this macro focusing rail. Most of its competition is either flimsy, or way too expensive.

Got almost an identical set from Hong Kong on eBay for 1/4 of the Adorama price. Very solid build, smooth travel, etc. No quick release here. (Didn't see it on the picture of the Adorama set either). I do need to manually screw the camera or lens mount onto this rail. But once tightened, it's solid like a rock. I moved by Canon 40D+grip+Tamon 180/f3.5 on the rail all the way to the end in both directions, nothing loose, shake, or vibrate! Check out on eBay if you like. Again, I have no relationship to any of the sellers on eBay. I think the Adorama set is just my cheap set with a brand name label.

P.S. Now I mounted a Manfrotto 323 RC2 Rapid Connect Adapter on top permanently and I got my quick release rail set!

One could take photos to "stack" for good depth of field macro photographs of tiny things without this by setting up on a tripod and making incremental changes in the focus by hand, but this makes it a lot easier, also the cross pieces give you some flexibility in places where it's difficult to set the tripod. It makes the process easy and doesn't add a lot of weight to the whole set-up. I use the Zerene stacker program.

Does the job as advertised and is well made. Would buy it again or recommend it to friends.

I don't do much macro photography but when I need to, I found it a bear to move the tripod around until I got the subject exactly in position.

This unit does exactly what it says it will do -- gives you the ability to move the camera in small increments in the X & Y axis.

I haven't found any negative aspects about the unit. I'm very satisfied with the unit.

The best focussing rail for amateur and professional macro photography, constructed in aluminium for a long life, fine and precise adjustment control nob.

I tried the rail out when it first arrived. Worked great and saved time focusing on the shot. Hard to beat for the price