Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail Fine Control, for Macro Photography

SKU: MCFRSS

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Questions & Answers

D G : I'm thinking of getting a macro rail to make detailed photos of my artwork and paste them together using stitching. Will this work for that purpose? I'm currently just jacking my tripod up and down to take 3 or 4 photo segments of my artwork. But it seems as though the tripod shifts slightly each time I jack the tripod. Thanks.PAULETTE S : DG - I don't think this would really benefit you very much. The adjustment is on the order of inches, and would not jack up your camera enough to give several shots to stitch together. It works great for ultra fine precision focusing and stability, but I would think you would need a longer rack to do what you're intending. Just my opinion.TIMOTHY E : I'm not sure how you are moving your tripod to achieve your objective. I would suppose that if you are moving in a straight line horizontally or vertically, you could use the rail to achieve precise movements of the camera without moving the tripod. This rail is mainly designed for macro focusing. Instead of turning the lens back and forth, you can adjust the rail and move the whole camera to 'fine tune' your focus. I'm guessing if you turned the camera sideways instead of perpendicular to the rail, you could use it to finely move the camera sideways. I hope this helps you. At this price, you certainly can't go wrong. :)D G : Thank you to everyone for your very helpful and thoughtful answers. It appears that the rail will not work for my intended purpose. I need a longer track than 4 inches. But William S makes a good point, that I will need to orient the camera vertically to go up and down the track, losing the extra detail I would get if I could move the camera up and down in a horizontal and landscape orientation. Oh well, perhaps there is a rail system that would allow me to change direction of camera, or maybe I need to look into a more sturdy tripod. Thanks to everyone!SHARON O : Can't answer the question directly about photo stitching for artwork but I can say that this particular rail is great for macro work , works smoothly and is very stable. Buy it, try it, send it back if it doesn't fit your needs. I've never had any problem returning items to Adorama. Good luck !GROVER H : MY BEST GUESS WOULD BE TO LEAVE CAMERA ON TRIPOD...HAVE ART WORK ON A SOLID BASE...MOVE ART WORK INSTEAD OF CAMERA...BY THE WAY I USE MY FOCUSING RAIL FOR ALL MY MACRO WORK...WORKS GREAT...CAN'T BEAT ADORAMA'S PRICE...TAONIAN C : Yes?you can use this rail to fulfill your task. If you would like to spend $40 more money to get a 4-way rail, it'll be perfect.ERNEST E : DG, This is more for moving your camera forward and backwards using manual focus to be able to macro focus on your subject. I don't think it will work very well for what you are trying to do.WILLIAM S : Not unless your artwork is pretty small. The total adjustment range is only 10 cm, or about 4 inches. But if 10 cm of travel is sufficient for your needs then it should work. Do note that you will have to rotate the tripod head to 90 degrees to position the rail vertically and this will put the camera into portrait position, vertical format. I usually use mine horizontally with the lens pointed toward the end of the track. This allows me to move the camera toward or away from the subject, changing the focus without touching the focus adjustment ring on the lens. That's what this gadget is really designed for.JOSEPH M. L : I use this exclusively for Macro photography. This rail system takes the camera in toward or way from the subject. It does not go up or down, so not sure this is what you are looking for.RAY L : I dont see how the focusing rail will help you. The rail allows the camera AND lens to closer and further from the subject...in a horizontal plane. Its best used in making tight closeups. Can you leave the camera in a fixed position and move the subject matter?...as you would when making copies. This might work. Good luck. Ray
Jay S : Can you attached a 2nd one of these to the top of another for fine side to side adjustment as well as fine front-to-back adjustment?RAY L : I have not tried your suggestion/question but it seems like the logical thing to do. Go for it. RayMIKE B : I assume two Rails can be connected at right angles but I have not tried it.TAONIAN C : Yes, you can. Why not buy a 4-way trail? It moves back-and-forth and right-to-left as well.PAUL L : Yes you can however your access to the lower units "focus" knob may be slightly tricky to get to. this is a great unit I have one and bought one for my brother and we attempted to do the very same thing you are asking about. It will work. The rail is a bit stiff to move but I find that a plus as it helps me avoid going past the focus point. If you are going to use your "double rail " system alot you may want to fork over a bit more cash and get the one that is designed for that purpose. but this is definetly the best "inexpensive" way to go. PJOSEPH M. L : I don't know if it is possible or not since I've not tried this combination. Interesting question though.HENRY K : Yes you can. By using the 1/4 -20 mounting screw remaining on the rail after mounting the camera, you can mount the other rail. You will then have left to right and backward-forward motion at the same time. Good idea. Hope this helps, call back if needed. Henry KeplerJIMMY L R : I have not done it myself, but I see no reason why you couldn't. The hole on the bottom is the same size as the screws on top.SAUL G : I don't see why not. I only have one though.NORRIS C : I have not tried to do this but it should be possible.DAVID M : Probably so, it has a tripod socket single screw thread on the underside which will connect to the threads on top if you had a second rail control, make the camera unstable due to mount but probably would work OK.LYNN G : While I don't have any experience doing this, I did find a reference to this in the reviews (Imageon, 12/24/2013): "There are plenty of mounting points. I bought three of them and have combined two to make a four directional unit."DAVID K : Good question. However, due to my lack of expereince with it i can't answer it. Call Adorama and they may be able to help.
WAYNE P : can this rail be used to et the Nodel point?Laurence G : This is an interesting idea. YES! The rack allows the camera to be positioned fore/back about three inches, more than enough to calibrate most wide angle to normal lenses and short zooms. You can also lock the rack after you have done the alignment. For exceptionally long lenses bodies, a full size 300mm telephoto, for example, there might not be enough depth to mount the camera far enough back from the pivot. I assume you are interested in doing panoramas. It is important that you mount the focusing rail on a panorama style tripod head that is leveled such that the centerline of the camera lens points to the head pivot point, otherwise, you might have the nodal point dialed in, but the camera is orbiting around the pivot, thus not rotating around the nodal point. Another note: The nodal point alignment is most required if you have part of your image much closer to the camera than other objects at a distance. The farther away your image objects are, the less parallax problem is expressed. If all the objects are far away, the importance of nodal alignment becomes minimal.HAL B : It looks like can. It will take some trial and error, unless you know the nodal point with respect to the focal plane or the tripod screw fitting. The device has an adjustment range of 10 cm plus 2.8 cm minimum between the two screws. If you nodal point is more than 12.8 cm from the tripod screw fitting, then it probably won't work. Good Luck.THOMAS J : If I understand your question correctly, you want to know if this rail can be used to locate the camera on a tripod at the nodal point of the lens. The answer is yes, it can. I use this rail to adjust the camera's location on my tripod so that the nodal point of the lens is over the pivot point of the tripod. I use it this way to take panorama shots and actually purchased the rail for this purpose.ROBERT S : No unless your tripod screw on your camera is the center of the lensM KENNETH J : Yes, it could. If you mount the camera on the screw at the far end of the slot, the nodal point will be adjustable up to 4-3/8" from the base thread (axis of slider rotation). This will accommodate my 12-24mm lens at 12mm. Longer focal lengths will be within this range. If you mount the camera on the other fixed screw the adjustment is 4". Use the scale on the side of the slider to record reference settings for each lens and focal length.DUSTY S : Sure. You mount the camera on the rail so the camera slides forward & back and rack it to the point you want.JOSEPH S : It is used to make small movements in the position of the camera mainly while in manual focus mode, typical for photo stacking in Macro photography. Basically it alter the camera to subject distance in small increments

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2022-02-10T08:20:06

Rated 3 out of 5

Cheap, compact, good enough for what I want to do

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Bargain for the price.

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

Rated 5 out of 5

In Focus

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

JEFF L.

2020-09-01T09:22:25

Rated 5 out of 5

Works really well, does everything I expected

Great product, works well, meets and exceeds expectations

CURT M.

2018-08-21T09:08:46

Rated 2 out of 5

Not so hot

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Does it job

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

Rated 2 out of 5

Just OK

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

Rated 5 out of 5

adjustable slide rail with fine control

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Well worth the money

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

Rated 3 out of 5

OK for the price

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Macro Magic

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Does the job for my focus stacking

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

Rated 3 out of 5

Doesn't work too well vertically

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

Rated 3 out of 5

You get what you pay for

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Basic and functional

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

Rated 2 out of 5

cheap and basic

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Single Focusing Rail

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

Rated 5 out of 5

What I needed

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

Rated 4 out of 5

good value

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Great rail

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Excellent but :(

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

Rated 5 out of 5

Great little macro aide

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

Rated 4 out of 5

Excellent service - part defective.

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

Rated 4 out of 5

good value for the money

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

Rated 2 out of 5

loosing the core

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

Rated 5 out of 5

A big help at a nice price!

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

ALFRED T.

2013-05-07T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great rail

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

RICK C.

2013-04-08T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Focusing Rail Does Double Duty

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

Rated 4 out of 5

It looks modest but works well

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

Russell B.

2013-03-25T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Adorama Single Focusing Rail

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.

About Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail Fine Control, for Macro Photography

FEATURED REVIEWS

Great rail

By MIKE K.

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 tigh...

View full Review

Perfect!

By John J.

Smooth scrolling and that's a must. I was supprised at how well it was built considering the cost. Then again, no sidewasy scrolling but I really didn't need that.

Enhance your macro photography experience with the Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail Fine Control. Precision-engineered for photographers who demand exacting detail, this durable and sturdy focusing rail is the ideal companion for capturing the minute intricacies of your subjects.

Crafted with a robust build quality that belies its cost, the Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail offers smooth scrolling functionality, essential for achieving the perfect shot without vibration or shake. The rail's fine control mechanism allows for precise adjustments, ensuring that your focus is sharp and your images are crystal clear.

Versatile in its design, this focusing rail is not only adjustable but also portable, making it a valuable tool for photographers on the go. Whether you're in the studio or out in nature, the Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail adapts to your needs, facilitating easy and smooth transitions between subjects.

Users have praised its solid construction and ease of use, especially for nature micro photography, where stability and control are paramount. While designed primarily for horizontal use, it also accommodates vertical adjustments, enabling you to focus straight down onto your subject with ease. This feature is particularly beneficial for photo stacking techniques, where fine-tuning focus is critical.

Although some users have noted a need for a design update regarding the adjustment knob's screw, the overall feedback highlights the rail's good design and the value it adds to macro photography setups.

Choose the Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail Fine Control for its reputable brand heritage, known for high-quality photography equipment, and its single focusing rail fine control that delivers the precision required for capturing stunning macro images. Elevate your photography and achieve the professional results you desire with this indispensable tool.

Flashpoint Single Focusing Rail Fine Control, for Macro Photography Features

  • With standard 1/4" screw hole -mounts on all tripod heads
  • Material: Metal
  • Color: Black
  • Length: 160mm - 6.5"
  • Width: 93mm
  • Height: 24mm
  • Move Range: 100mm

Warranty Information

This product has a limited warranty of 12 months.

Key Features

  • Achieve pinpoint accuracy with this Flashpoint focusing rail for macro photography.
  • Enjoy smooth, precise adjustments for perfect focus stacking with this focusing rail.
  • Enhance your macro photography with fine control adjustments using this focusing rail.
  • Built with high-quality materials, this focusing rail ensures durability and stability.
  • Maximize your camera's potential; this focusing rail is compatible with most setups.
  • Unlock creative possibilities; ideal for intricate macro shots with this focusing rail.