Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail Fine Control, for Macro Photography

2022-02-10T08:20:06

I will be travelling to Costa Rica soon for a nature photography class. One of the units is macro photography. I didn't want to bring my rather large and clunky focusing rail, so I went looking for a smaller unit that would be adequate for focus stacking. This unit was inexpensive and looked like it would fill the bill. It does. The gearing is good enough for collecting a series of images to stack. The locking mechanism is not very good -- if I were to try to hold the camera in place on an incline, it would require too much torque to tighten to keep the camera in position for the series. But, if you are just shooting a horizontal series without tightening the track between shots, it gets the job done. And it takes only slightly more room in my bag than a QR plate.

TOM C.

2022-01-17T11:24:24

Basic, reasonable quality and a very affordable Macro Slider. I mounted a Canon 5D with a Macro lens on it. Horizontally it works well enough. However, Vertically, it is a challenge to hold in place prior to tightening as both slider and holding screws are on the same side. Well worth it for the price though.

ROBERT K.

2021-03-24T10:12:48

Works great for macro photography of snow flakes. Greatly improved my keeper rate and cycle time.

JEFF L.

2020-09-01T09:22:25

Great product, works well, meets and exceeds expectations

CURT M.

2018-08-21T09:08:46

This is too loose to do the job. There's a lot of play on account of poor tolerances, so there's no way to refocus accurately. I can't see using it for any conceivable purpose. Too bad.

Owen D.

2018-03-11T06:10:53

Honestly this focus rail sucks but I really can't complain because I get what I paid for. The tuning is not fine, and you have to get to the know the rail to be able to use it efficiently. For the price it does it main purpose. It's easier to move the camera back and forth rather than the whole tripod and I can do that with this focus rail. I will only recommend it for people that are not willing to spend a lot of money yet.

John G.

2018-02-23T14:47:50

The focus rail was unusable if pointed down. Camer puts too much pressure to allow for precise adjustments. The rail also has too much slack side to side for consistency. In addition, the adjustment screw falls out when moving the rail and must be pushed back in firmly to assure good contact with the rail.

Clyde S.

2017-03-27T18:19:54

This is an excellent addition to your tool bag if you are shooting any kind of close up macro images. After hand focusing, you can turn the knobs on the rail and sharpen the focus to the max.

TIMOTHY E.

2017-02-01T15:35:57

I bought two of these slides and used a L bracket to make a panorama bracket. The slides make it easy to fine tune the adjustments for non parallax point.

BRION W.

2016-11-28T09:29:49

I suggest saving your money to buy something better. When you tighten the knob the rail shifts. Tighten the knob, then fine tune the lens focus. The whole thing is a bit wonky. I gave three stars because you get what you pay for.

Barbara C.

2016-09-27T13:37:53

For the price this is an excellent product. Since Macro is not something I do exclusively, it's there when I need it, particularly when is reverse a lens. I would purchase again.

LINDA W.

2016-07-23T20:23:10

If you need a super accurate, fine-tuned instrument for macros, then pay the $$$EXTRA$$$ money for a really good tool for the job. I am a little more interested in focus stacking, and I don't need super accurate adjustments, just something better than blindly turning the focus collar on the lens barrel and then trying to remember which direction I need to turn it after tripping the shutter. This suits that purpose without spending $100 to $300.

Alan G.

2016-04-26T08:58:31

For the kind of macro work I do, I really wanted to be able to focus straight down on the subject, and to be able to fine tune focus for photo stacking.. This rail seemed to 'fit the bill' for that purpose from descriptions, despite the low cost. However, even with the tightening screw cranked down, there is a little bit of 'sag'. You focus, and then the camera goes a fraction of a millimeter out of focus as the heavy lens weighs down the camera. So far it seems to behave ok on the horizontal. It is also good for adjusting to new subjects more easily than readjusting the tripod. However, most of my focus (when vertical) remains by the lens control, not the rail as I was hoping.

Michael P.

2016-04-25T09:12:10

You get what you pay for. Although perfectly serviceable, this focusing rail's gears are a bit clunky and don't provide really fine control.

Mauricio M.

2016-01-22T09:25:14

No frills but it does what it needs to do. Great for focus stacking macro shots. I've also used it to balance a SteadyCam Jr when the camera was too light.

Nick S.

2014-05-20T21:00:00

Surprisingly well built for the price. You can feel a little coarseness when adjusting over a distance but not on the small movements. Lockdown appears to hold ok, but time will tell on that one.

mike

2014-04-28T21:00:00

I was pleasantly surprised with this precise and nicely finished product. I used it and am happy with the rail. I did not feel the need for lubricating track as others have mentioned. I do wish I had gotten the dual track. That may very well be my next purchase. I would definitely recommend the rail. I'm not a five star rater unless it just blows me away.

JAMES I.

2014-03-31T21:00:00

Just what I needed to set my Nodel point for my separate lenses using Canon 5d. It states for macro photography, but can be used for setting Nodel without having to spend tons of money. Great product at a great price. Plus, Adorama's on time shipping.

WAYNE P.

2014-03-03T19:00:00

to start with this rail is 100% metal. it has a good range of travel and it has adjustable gibbs (this allows you to adjust the amount of tension). i don't have any problems with this unit works fin e all the time. you can pay more for a similar device but your wasting your money.

CHARLES R.

2013-12-23T19:00:00

This is just what the doctor ordered for close work. A reasonable priced, solid focusing rail. I use this thing for most all my non flash macro. It is also useful for any focus stacking where it is done visually. The rail moves smoothly there is a fair amount of grease on the gear rail. Which aids in its smooth movement. There is a little slop in the knob's movement which I don't mind as it enables me to anticipate its movement. The lock knob is good and also can be used to creat drag tightening things up. There are plenty of mounting points. I bought three of them and have combined two to make a four directional unit. All in all very Usful and surprisingly we'll made for the price. If you do much macro you owe it to your self to get some of these.

MIKE K.

2013-07-15T21:00:00

I use this for nature Micro photography. Very easy and smooth to use, Good design but the screw holding the adjustment knob, keeps falling out. Needs screw tip design update.

CHANNI S.

2013-07-04T21:00:00

This little gadget works great. Smooth focusing and stable. I don't know how you can do macro without something like this and at this price, you can't go wrong.

Rod R.

2013-06-05T21:00:00

It looks like it will do the task very well stacking focus shots with a macro lens. However, the "allen screw" that would hold the adjusting knob in place is too short or defective, and as a result, the knob will fall out. Adorama is shipping replacement - no need to return defective part (low cost item) This is excellent service.

LES L.

2013-05-27T21:00:00

A simple device for a simple purpose. This focus rail makes it easier to accurately position the lens/camera for macro shots without repositioning the tripod, and makes focus stacking possible.

MIKE B.

2013-05-27T21:00:00

The knob to adjust the rail not funtioning weel, It loose from it's base inside so when we turn instead of moving the dent to slide the rail, it turns inside the core by itself, I have to pull it out, seal it by the superglue to fix it.

LB

2013-05-21T21:00:00

Great for macro photography. Saves time. Love the low price.

ALFRED T.

2013-05-07T21:00:00

Got this to use for both macro and panoramic photography. Happy with the value!

RICK C.

2013-04-08T21:00:00

This focusing rail does a great job for macro photography at a very reasonable price. Even better, it can also be used to adjust the position of the camera to find the lens nodal point for panorama shots.

THOMAS J.

2013-04-01T21:00:00

I bought it as an adjunct to stacking, and it worked very well for this.

Russell B.

2013-03-25T21:00:00

For the cost this product is well made and usefull. There are more sophisticated rails, however the price is 4 times or more than what this rail costs.

Bruce J.