Posted by Carol Hyman on March 13, 2009 at 1:02 AM
Folks, I've got a question.
I have been doing a lot of experiment recently with macro shooting. So far the most satisfactory results have come about using a 70-200 lens with a Canon 500D. The downside is that I have to be exactly 17.5" from the front of my lens to the POF. Indoors this isn't too bad because I can slide the foot of my lens forward and backward on the Wimberly Head.
Now, is there a way to mount a focusing rail on a Wimberly Head or do I need to buy another head to go with the rail.
You can mount a single-axis rail, for sure. I don't know if the Wimberley Head has enough room to the side to accommodate a double-axis focussing rail; I'm fairly sure that it would limit movement to the right (if your knobs are on the right). But if you had a double-axis rail, you could take it apart and use half for just the forward-back movement of the camera & lens.
Two issues:
1. How close to the ground can you get your camera with the Wimberley Head?
2. How does the Wimberley Head do when it's supporting something that is very definitely not in balance? Because, as soon as you start moving the camera and lens forward and backward, you're going to change the combined center of gravity. That will result in "macro droop."
For which geared heads are the solution. Bogen-Manfrotto 410 ("Junior") Geared Head. Truly amazing for close-up and macro work.
I assume you have an Arca-Swiss plate system. What about just using a really long plate on the lens when you're doing macro? I had a geared macro rail, but I sold it years ago because the ability to make adjustments in the AS clamp was good enough for me. I sometimes put a 6" plate on my 200 macro when I know I'm going to doing a lot of extreme close ups.
Pete D.
Pete D.
Posted by William Brozy on March 14, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Carol - Do you plan to use the 70-200 zoom on a rail? If so don't waste your time and money. Rails are designed for camera/smaller lens combos like a 105 or 60mm. I also use a long plate (just like Pete) on my 180mm. But with my 105mm my Kirk geared rail works flawlessly.
Posted by Carol Hyman on March 14, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Thanks for the ideas, folks. Pete, my plate is one I purchased when I got the Wimberly Head. It's about 2 and 1/2 inches long. The idea of picking up a longer plate might be the solution. Not geared but sill workable.
Will, I sent you some questions using another venue.
Rosemarie, whether the camera is in balance is a moot point because all can be locked in place. The tripod goes fairly flat to the ground and the Wimberly head on top of the tripod + camera probably would place everything about 10" to a foot above ground level. I'll have to research the idea of the junior head. And, thanks for all of your ideas.
Discussion
4 repliesI have been doing a lot of experiment recently with macro shooting. So far the most satisfactory results have come about using a 70-200 lens with a Canon 500D. The downside is that I have to be exactly 17.5" from the front of my lens to the POF. Indoors this isn't too bad because I can slide the foot of my lens forward and backward on the Wimberly Head.
Now, is there a way to mount a focusing rail on a Wimberly Head or do I need to buy another head to go with the rail.
Thanks for your help.
Two issues:
1. How close to the ground can you get your camera with the Wimberley Head?
2. How does the Wimberley Head do when it's supporting something that is very definitely not in balance? Because, as soon as you start moving the camera and lens forward and backward, you're going to change the combined center of gravity. That will result in "macro droop."
For which geared heads are the solution. Bogen-Manfrotto 410 ("Junior") Geared Head. Truly amazing for close-up and macro work.
Pete D.
Pete D.
Will, I sent you some questions using another venue.
Rosemarie, whether the camera is in balance is a moot point because all can be locked in place. The tripod goes fairly flat to the ground and the Wimberly head on top of the tripod + camera probably would place everything about 10" to a foot above ground level. I'll have to research the idea of the junior head. And, thanks for all of your ideas.
Carol
Thanks