Manfrotto 454 Positioning Plate (#3419)

2020-08-16T23:39:08

I bought this in response to a review I read. If I would have had one in hand I would have purchased something different. I need something that I can move longer distances more quickly. This is great for photographing coins and things of that nature.

Lloyd R.

2020-06-02T09:30:27

After trying the lower cost versions of focus rails I ended up trying this unit from Manfrotto. Overall it’s a much better choice with much more precise movements due to the fine threaded adjustment mechanism. Short of moving to a motorized rail (Wemacro, Stackshot) this is probably the best option when doing close focus/ macro photography.

JAMES W.

2019-11-27T08:18:27

I have a Manfrotto tripod and a number of other accessories for it. I bought the positioning plate for macro photography and to find the nodal point for panoramas. The design is a bit clunky and not quite up to the quality of other Manfrotto items. However, the quality is okay, considering the reasonable cost. My only real complaint is how the camera mounts to the rail. The screw has a large-flat screwdriver type of head. I don’t understand why Manfrotto didn’t use an allen wrench fitting like used for the Manfrotto L bracket?

BRUCE J.

2019-05-31T05:42:45

The product is ok but the online product registration for Manfrotto is lousy. As long as you never have to use the warranty you are fine. I would not buy another Manfrotto product because of my experience with trying to register this product and the poor support when just sent me e-mails on how to reset my password.

Marvin R.

2018-09-24T08:31:45

Is sturdy. Works great in one direction, very precise. But is loose when changing directions. It is a minor pain. Saves me a ton of time but not having to adjust the subject or the camera. Should have got it years ago

ALLEN A.

2015-02-09T19:00:00

This Positioning Plate has made my macro work much easier. I'm a professional photographer, getting quality images, even in macro, is a must. I spent lots of time in the past, tipping the tripod, adjusting the fore leg of a tripod and of course, focusing the macro lens only to find out I was too close and therefore OUT of the focal range of my lens. The Manfrotto 454 Micro Positioning Plate is a must have for me. There really isn't anything else out there at the moment, that is dedicated to this type of photography. It's best on the level... if you tilt up, and hope to focus (advance) up, you'll find it ratcheting and not advancing IF you are using a heavy bodies FX camera... Advancing the focus down, is fine, but back up at a 20 degree angle and it ratchets again. Even after snugging up the brass side adjustment screw. What it does best for me, is on the level, when I want that absolute 1:1 closest focus length. I set the camera at the closest focus point, then use the positioning plate to get me right on that leading edge. Then, I advance the adjustment screw forward, taking an image at each focal plane, until I have all the images I need to stack later on. There is play in the adjustment when changing from advancing to retreating the lens. After moving the camera/lens forward, when you turn the screw in the opposite direction, there are several turns before the place begins to move in the opposite direction. Plan for that and you'll be fine. Put this Micro Positioning Plate on your HEAVIEST tripod. There is too much wiggle activity in my lighter manfrotto tripods. I rely on my good old Manfrotto model 3033 with the 3047 head. For using TWO Micro positioning Plates (set at 90 degrees to one another) for forward/back and side to side control, you won't want a light weight support system. This system is best of course, for stationary objects, such as fine jewelry, snowflakes, dead insects, or water droplets on plants in very still air and so on. You'll go mad, if you attempt to shoot moving insects and so on. So, why four stars? Well, precision machining is wanted. Even with the brass tension adjustment side screw tightened up, there is play. The "dead zone" which occurs when changing from forward to back, is definitely noticeable and somewhat frustrating. I would recommend it, because, there just isn't anything better that I've found yet. Remember to get two of them for total fore/aft, side to side, control.

FREDERICK D.

2012-01-20T19:00:00

Bottom line, up front: this rail is useful for the 1:1 macro photos I take as an enthusiast. This piece is a nice start because the screw drive allows for very small movements (1.25mm per revolution) in one axis that would not be achieved with a (similarly priced) rack and pinion design. It comes with both 1/4 and 3/8 mounting screws, and the 3/8 screw stores neatly in the tensioning knob. The adjustment does not rely on friction so it is very stable while still being easy to adjust, but there is about 1 mm of backlash in the adjusting screw. Furthermore, the slide doesn't fit the base very tightly so there will be lateral and vertical errors in framing while making fore and aft adjustments. The tension spring presses directly on the adjusting screw, so they chatter when making large adjustments using the release lever. I intend to make a follower (flat on the spring side, concave on the adjustment screw side) to go between the two to improve the precision and eliminate the noise. Manfrotto should send this design back to the drawing board.

James S.

2011-10-09T21:00:00

Because of it's remarkable horizontal capability, I enjoyed shooting landscapes, But my requirement was to shoot vertical also so I had to order an other product which has horizontal and vertical capabilities. and is cheep also. But Overall Manfrotto did a good job.

Manj

2011-09-18T21:00:00

This is the product for you to use in extreme macro photography. It is not good for you to take picture of moving objects such as bugs at outdoor. It is the time to use it when you focu on one eye of lady bug and other eye blur out. You have no way to adjust the tripod back and forth for the accurate focus. Since it is not made in China but the great quality from Italy with such joyful price. I bought it immediately when I saw it and without any regret in more than 10 times of usages.

Chris

2011-06-14T21:00:00

This positioning plate can be excused for its insufficiencies by noting that it isn't a macro focussing rail. Everyone I know who uses one uses it to adjust focus for macro photography, though. It is not rack-and-pinion but uses a long bolt or screw that is not exactly round in cross section; the result is that, as one moves camera and lens forward or back, they wiggle side-to-side and up-and-down; at 1:1 and closer, the framing of the photo changes. "Frustrating" is extreme understatement. One cannot count on getting aligned images for a focusing stack. One cannot count on a precisely framed macro image. (One can count on getting the focus right.) Its other disadvantage is the way one has to attach the camera or the lens's tripod collar. The procedure is difficult to do without looking at the attachment screw, and looking at that while the whole rig is on a tripod often requires some gymnastics and often results in scraped fingers. This is not to say I haven't used it to get some really satisfying macro images, but at the initial relatively high monetary cost and continuing cost in inconvenience and frustration, I cannot recommend it. The good news is that people in the eastern hemisphere are now making a similar item that is half the weight (but still 8 oz, not too flimsy), has a rack and pinion movement, a quick-adjustment feature like Manfrotto's, a much better screw for attaching the camera, and they're selling it for 22% of what I paid for mine.

D_Spider

2010-02-07T19:00:00

It is all that I whish!

Reinaldo

2010-01-09T19:00:00

You may not need it that much for 1:1 macro photography. However, it is a must if you want to do something more than that. It will give you fine tune of the adjustment. It is solid and easy to use without the need of mannul. The only problem I ran into is that my camera (Olympus e520) may be blocked by its extruded knob at some position and it can be took care of easily by readjustment. Since your camera is fixed on it you have to make sure that your lense and its hood is not too big to block the attachment. The good news is that it is not made in China but Italy so that you can rely on its quality.

SAN C.

2009-08-18T21:00:00

I like the rail. It serves its purpose well. I put two rails together so I have movement in two axis. My only complaints are 1. A QR2 plate on the second rail limits movement (because it does not clear the bottom rail completely). 2. I would like bigger knobs for turning the adjustment screw. 3. Better lens caps

JERRY B.

2009-05-26T21:00:00

Well built. Operates as advertized. I use this for macro photography and photographing 2D artwork.

Brad H.

2008-09-04T21:00:00

This is a fairly inexpensive macro rail. I wish it had lateral movement which it doesn't seem to. It will work well for my use in macro photography.

Marvyl

2007-03-25T21:00:00

An invaluable tool for macro photography, this plate permits you to precicely locate your camera and lens without continually shifting the tripod forward and back...a definite time-saver!

EricBB

2007-02-07T19:00:00

After receiving focusing slide, mounted it on a 3036 Manfrotto tripod,mounted Nikon F3 with 105mm Nikkor Micro, focused lens with barrel, when trying to move the depth of field to where I wanted it was impossible. Once you loosen the locking knob, the top half of the slide floats around laterally and fore and aft.It's imposible to nail down a tack sharp image with your original composition, even with the locking knobsnugged just short of locking. Every time the locking knob gets tightened the composition and the fine focus is gone.The problem with this unit is poor design, no preloads on adjustmet its not precision enough for Macro photography.I returned it imediatly[...]. I found good results using the rails from an old Vivitar bellows focus rail modified.

Dan

2007-02-04T19:00:00

I use mine to take detailed Macro Photos of gemstones, for the purpose of illustrating "Identifying Characteristics" (i.e. internal/external inclusions) It allows for precise, concrete identification of individual stones.

DJ