Helicon, macro and focusing rails

I've started using Helicon to get more DOF with macro work. Up to this point I've manually focused my lens at different points until I feel I have it covered. I'm considering getting a geared macro focusing rail and was wondering if the same results can be achieved by moving the camera along the rail to get different portions in focus rather than moving the lens' focus ring.?? What I'm thinking of doing is marking the rail with the closest and furthest focus points for the "scene" and then shooting my Helicon series by moving the camera set distances along the rail between these two points.

Don't see any reason why your proposed technique would not work, Mark. In fact even for single shot photos (without stacking, that is) a Focussing Rail is of immense help.

Mark,
moving your camera over a focusing rail will give you better and more consistent results then changing the focus ring. Because if you turn your focus ring on the lens, how minute it might be you are actually changing the focus length of your lens, and with macro those small changes have a large impact.

With a focusing rail you are not changing focal length but are moving the focal plane which will yield better results especially for focus stacking trough helicon or photoshop cs4

Wim

although my experience with Helifon Focus is that it handles the slight changes in focal length absolutely wonderfully