Posted by Andre Torng on January 23, 2009 at 1:14 PM
I recently bought a macro slider, it can be screwed to my tripod, and has a screw to attach to my camera. But I can't tilt my camera if attached this way. I have another tilting tripod head I usually attach to my monopod for big lenses for sports and birding. Currently I attach this tilting tripod head in between the macro slider and camera for tilting up and down, and loosen my tripod center column to shift left and right.
Any other recommendation? Thanks for your advice in advance.
Posted by Randall Quon on January 23, 2009 at 3:43 PM
It sounds like you normally use your tripod without a tripod head. I would recommend a ball head, but if you do a lot of macros, a 3-axis pan/tilt head would give you greater control.
Posted by David Bostedo on January 23, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Currently I attach this tilting tripod head in between the macro slider and camera for tilting up and down, and loosen my tripod center column to shift left and right.
That doesn't sound like a normal setup to me Andre. What you should have is a head on top of your tripod, the macro rail on top of the head, and your camera on top of the macro rail. This would allow positioning the camera and macro rail at whatever angle you need. Then the macro rail can be used to focus the way it's intended.
You should never have to do anything with the center column at all - the head should take care of all adjustments in any direction.
If you're head doesn't allow movement in all directions, as Randall said, you should probably be looking into a new tripod head.
Posted by Andre Torng on January 24, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Oh! I got it. I should screw the micro slider to my camera, then put the quick release plate under the slider, then clamp the plate on the tripod head. Thanks for your suggestions.
If this is the right alternative, and I want to switch from macro lens to long lens, I'll have to unscrew the slider from the camera. Is that correct?
Posted by David Bostedo on January 24, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Assuming the long lens can't be mounted with the slider in place, then yes - you'll have to remove one to use the other. If the slider doesn't interfere with the lens, it wouldn't hurt much to have it on there, but I'd remove it myself.
Discussion
4 repliesAny other recommendation? Thanks for your advice in advance.
That doesn't sound like a normal setup to me Andre. What you should have is a head on top of your tripod, the macro rail on top of the head, and your camera on top of the macro rail. This would allow positioning the camera and macro rail at whatever angle you need. Then the macro rail can be used to focus the way it's intended.
You should never have to do anything with the center column at all - the head should take care of all adjustments in any direction.
If you're head doesn't allow movement in all directions, as Randall said, you should probably be looking into a new tripod head.
If this is the right alternative, and I want to switch from macro lens to long lens, I'll have to unscrew the slider from the camera. Is that correct?