My wife and I have a Cognisys Stackshot rail and controller. We have fitted a Novoflex bellows to the focusing rail and use a Nikon enlarging lens (reversed) and microscope lenses adapted to fit the bellows. Our bellows provides back and forth movement for the camera/lens as well as focusing movement. The rail and controller have worked faultlessly for a number of years but for the last couple we have used the controller connected to a stepper motor to focus a microscope. We now use Zerene Stacker (our stacking software) to run the controller via a laptop instead of using the built-in screen.
mjkzz.de website quote “This Ultra Rail is already fully assembled and ready to use! With the 2mm pitch it offers the best precision and highest quality. It is completely wobble-free and super stable and together with the included MJKZZ stand alone IR remote controller the minimum step size is 0.078125 μm (yes, it's really μm, so 0.000078125 mm) and can be used for magnifications up to 100x!” (https://www.mjkzz.de/collections/ul...th-mjkzz-ir-controller?variant=18210497462387).
Yes it says that, but there is no way the rail nor controller can achieve anything close to that minimum step size.
Hi Mike,
Excellent post, and your wife has taken some impressive photos!Ive used the Stackshot, WeMacro and MJKZZ older type rails & controllers. The Stackshot is the most versatile and the WeMacro best value. Never used the MJKZZ rail because at that time the controller didn't support a Mac, later a controller was offered which didn't require a computer and works well, but the rails were bypassed because better rails were available. All the rails can be operated with different controllers if you prepare a proper interface cable to the stepper motor (they all use 4 wire steppers), and setup the proper motor parameters.
Later developed custom rails based on the THK KR20, 15 and 26 surplus linear rails. These are precision devices and can be operated with various controllers, including a set of custom developed controllers based upon the Trinamic chips that offer exceptional performance.
Eventually this evolved into Stack & Stitch setups, below shows some of the THK rails and custom controllers. Much has been posted on these developments over at the mentioned Photomacrography site.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4342999
Best,
Horizontal setup on modded WeMacro Stand and THK KR20 focus rail
Vertical setup shown in back.
The THK KR20 are the best performing rails I have come across for focus stacking, coupled with the Trinamic based controller is about as good as it gets for any price IMO.
Agree a computer controlled stage is the best approach IMO.Excellent post, and your wife has taken some impressive photos!Ive used the Stackshot, WeMacro and MJKZZ older type rails & controllers. The Stackshot is the most versatile and the WeMacro best value. Never used the MJKZZ rail because at that time the controller didn't support a Mac, later a controller was offered which didn't require a computer and works well, but the rails were bypassed because better rails were available. All the rails can be operated with different controllers if you prepare a proper interface cable to the stepper motor (they all use 4 wire steppers), and setup the proper motor parameters.
Later developed custom rails based on the THK KR20, 15 and 26 surplus linear rails. These are precision devices and can be operated with various controllers, including a set of custom developed controllers based upon the Trinamic chips that offer exceptional performance.
Eventually this evolved into Stack & Stitch setups, below shows some of the THK rails and custom controllers. Much has been posted on these developments over at the mentioned Photomacrography site.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4342999
Best,
Horizontal setup on modded WeMacro Stand and THK KR20 focus rail
Vertical setup shown in back.
If I ever get into stacking, beyond doing it hand held, I'm gonna do it right and get a microprocessor controlled rail. But I'm more interested in stacking larger subjects (like bees and beetles, for example).
Actually I think that most of my stacking would be in the 4x and higher range. Below 4x diffraction isn't that big of a deal, and I can control where the area of acceptable focus falls so that I'm not wasting any of it.Agree a computer controlled stage is the best approach IMO.Excellent post, and your wife has taken some impressive photos!Ive used the Stackshot, WeMacro and MJKZZ older type rails & controllers. The Stackshot is the most versatile and the WeMacro best value. Never used the MJKZZ rail because at that time the controller didn't support a Mac, later a controller was offered which didn't require a computer and works well, but the rails were bypassed because better rails were available. All the rails can be operated with different controllers if you prepare a proper interface cable to the stepper motor (they all use 4 wire steppers), and setup the proper motor parameters.
Later developed custom rails based on the THK KR20, 15 and 26 surplus linear rails. These are precision devices and can be operated with various controllers, including a set of custom developed controllers based upon the Trinamic chips that offer exceptional performance.
Eventually this evolved into Stack & Stitch setups, below shows some of the THK rails and custom controllers. Much has been posted on these developments over at the mentioned Photomacrography site.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4342999
Best,
Horizontal setup on modded WeMacro Stand and THK KR20 focus rail
Vertical setup shown in back.
If I ever get into stacking, beyond doing it hand held, I'm gonna do it right and get a microprocessor controlled rail. But I'm more interested in stacking larger subjects (like bees and beetles, for example).
If you are interested in larger subjects like your bees, then you'll likely be around 1X. The old Nikkor PN105mm F2.8 reproduction lens on a FF camera is about as good as it gets at 1X. This lens was used to reproduce 35mm film for movie theaters, so highly optimized for 1X. This lens is shown on the horizontal setup above.
Best,
The THK rails with a Trinamic based controller are not as easy to setup and use as the Stackshot, which along with the WeMacro is probably the best for P&P. The THK based setups are more DIY types, but not that difficult for someone with moderate electronic & mechanical skills.
A lot depends on what you want in the final image. Diffraction begins to eat into your IQ around 18, this is where most of the excellent Mitutoyo objective lens have a effective aperture (EA) of ~18. Remember EA is actual lens aperture times magnification + 1. Most cameras like Canon (Nikon reports EA) do not report EA, only Lens Aperture, so when you are at 4X with a lens aperture at F11, this equates to an EA of F55!!Actually I think that most of my stacking would be in the 4x and higher range. Below 4x diffraction isn't that big of a deal, and I can control where the area of acceptable focus falls so that I'm not wasting any of it.Agree a computer controlled stage is the best approach IMO.Excellent post, and your wife has taken some impressive photos!Ive used the Stackshot, WeMacro and MJKZZ older type rails & controllers. The Stackshot is the most versatile and the WeMacro best value. Never used the MJKZZ rail because at that time the controller didn't support a Mac, later a controller was offered which didn't require a computer and works well, but the rails were bypassed because better rails were available. All the rails can be operated with different controllers if you prepare a proper interface cable to the stepper motor (they all use 4 wire steppers), and setup the proper motor parameters.
Later developed custom rails based on the THK KR20, 15 and 26 surplus linear rails. These are precision devices and can be operated with various controllers, including a set of custom developed controllers based upon the Trinamic chips that offer exceptional performance.
Eventually this evolved into Stack & Stitch setups, below shows some of the THK rails and custom controllers. Much has been posted on these developments over at the mentioned Photomacrography site.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4342999
Best,
Horizontal setup on modded WeMacro Stand and THK KR20 focus rail
Vertical setup shown in back.
If I ever get into stacking, beyond doing it hand held, I'm gonna do it right and get a microprocessor controlled rail. But I'm more interested in stacking larger subjects (like bees and beetles, for example).
If you are interested in larger subjects like your bees, then you'll likely be around 1X. The old Nikkor PN105mm F2.8 reproduction lens on a FF camera is about as good as it gets at 1X. This lens was used to reproduce 35mm film for movie theaters, so highly optimized for 1X. This lens is shown on the horizontal setup above.
Best,
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to roughly 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.
Understood, but diffraction by itself really isn't that bad. Lens sharpness (or more importantly a lack of it) and motion are actually a bigger problem because they have a synergistic relationship with diffraction. As long as I can take as much control over the motion as possible, and freeze what's left with a short duration flash, and use a sharp lens then diffraction softness is manageable. I'm not printing 100% crops, and no one is saving them to their PC or phone as wallpaper...A lot depends on what you want in the final image. Diffraction begins to eat into your IQ around 18, this is where most of the excellent Mitutoyo objective lens have a effective aperture (EA) of ~18. Remember EA is actual lens aperture times magnification + 1. Most cameras like Canon (Nikon reports EA) do not report EA, only Lens Aperture, so when you are at 4X with a lens aperture at F11, this equates to an EA of F55!!Actually I think that most of my stacking would be in the 4x and higher range. Below 4x diffraction isn't that big of a deal, and I can control where the area of acceptable focus falls so that I'm not wasting any of it.Agree a computer controlled stage is the best approach IMO.Excellent post, and your wife has taken some impressive photos!Ive used the Stackshot, WeMacro and MJKZZ older type rails & controllers. The Stackshot is the most versatile and the WeMacro best value. Never used the MJKZZ rail because at that time the controller didn't support a Mac, later a controller was offered which didn't require a computer and works well, but the rails were bypassed because better rails were available. All the rails can be operated with different controllers if you prepare a proper interface cable to the stepper motor (they all use 4 wire steppers), and setup the proper motor parameters.
Later developed custom rails based on the THK KR20, 15 and 26 surplus linear rails. These are precision devices and can be operated with various controllers, including a set of custom developed controllers based upon the Trinamic chips that offer exceptional performance.
Eventually this evolved into Stack & Stitch setups, below shows some of the THK rails and custom controllers. Much has been posted on these developments over at the mentioned Photomacrography site.
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4342999
Best,
Horizontal setup on modded WeMacro Stand and THK KR20 focus rail
Vertical setup shown in back.
If I ever get into stacking, beyond doing it hand held, I'm gonna do it right and get a microprocessor controlled rail. But I'm more interested in stacking larger subjects (like bees and beetles, for example).
If you are interested in larger subjects like your bees, then you'll likely be around 1X. The old Nikkor PN105mm F2.8 reproduction lens on a FF camera is about as good as it gets at 1X. This lens was used to reproduce 35mm film for movie theaters, so highly optimized for 1X. This lens is shown on the horizontal setup above.
Best,
Tech Specs: Canon 80D (F11, 1/250, ISO 200) + a Canon MP-E 65mm macro lens (set to roughly 2x) + a diffused MT-26EX RT (E-TTL metering). This is a single, uncropped, frame taken hand held.
That's a really cool concept, and I'm waiting for the day when the camera can do that level of processing.
Understood.
I know that once I really dive into it I'm gonna have a lot to learn.
That's a very basic PI reference, good for someone new to these types of controllers to read. The details are quite a bit more involved, and producing a close loop system with excellent stability, position and repeatability is very involved.
That was probably me (Mike at Mike's Labs), here's some links over at Photomacrography on the development of the Piezo Stages for focus stacking.
