Vertical-rise Macro Photography Platform

[Kevin Childress]

Looking for DIY ideas on designing a vertical-rise platform for composing macro subjects. Whatever the design encompasses, it must be able to be adjusted vertically in minute increments. I can't think of any off-the-shelf product that meets this need that wouldn't cost a bundle. 

I made the drawing below to illustrate a concept I have. My original idea was to size the vertical-rise platform surface to 12 inches square. But I've now considered that 12 inches deep may be too deep and may prevent me from being able to get the lens as close to a subject as I would like. 

Ideas?

[David Humphreys ( formerly Galatas )]

I mount my macro platform on a Velbon tripod that has a geared centre column. That gives me fore and aft , side to side , and vertical adjustment.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/111670274

Or are you planning on raising and lowering your subject NOT the camera ? In that case something like this would be ideal   

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-4-Aluminum-Lab-Lift-Lifting-Platforms-Stand-Rack-Scissor-Lab-Jack-Lab-Lifting/1811192631.html

[hvbemmel]

edited Davids post, made the last link work.

[Kevin Childress]

David Humphreys ( formerly Galatas ) wrote:

I mount my macro platform on a Velbon tripod that has a geared centre column. That gives me fore and aft , side to side , and vertical adjustment. ... Or are you planning on raising and lowering your subject NOT the camera ? 

Dave,

Yes, I want to control raising and lowering of the subject out in front of the camera. And you nailed it with that lifting platform. That thing is perfect except for not raising above 5.5 inches tall. I'll look around for another size of that type of equipment that'll get to around 10 inches in height (for whatever flexibility I might need down the road). 

As for mounting the camera, I took the table-top approach for that. Remember the days of slide projectors? I was given a piece of equipment that was used for photographing the film slides for creating the slide presentations. The equipment is designed to position the film slide very precisely and I figured it could be adapted into a "macro table"/camera base. I removed the film slide holder from the center of the table and installed a strap that I attach a tripod head to (my Manfrotto 3-way head so I can also control landscape or portrait orientation). The first image below is the table alone. You'll see an adjusting screw on the rear and right side used to adjust the X and Y axis. Those adjusting screws can move the table in 1/50th a millimeter increments. Also notice the round bit in the table - it can also measure exact increments of 360 degree rotation if needed. The second photo below shows the rig in action with ne off-camera flash.

 

[David Humphreys ( formerly Galatas )]

You're taking this macro business seriously , aren't you ?   :-)
P.S.  Did you see the link that I e-mailed to you ?

[Kevin Childress]

David Humphreys ( formerly Galatas ) wrote:

You're taking this macro business seriously , aren't you ?   :-)
P.S.  Did you see the link that I e-mailed to you ?

 Yeah, sort of taking it serious right now. I'm beginning to think that really good macro photography does indeed have something to do with the gear.  

I just fired up my email for the first time since early last Friday afternoon, and I do see your email. That is a fantastic website. I found that site last week while researching methods of collecting and preserving specimens. It is fantastic that someone would take time to share all that knowledge!

[Lady GooGoo La La]

Kevin, assuming your macro subject is small and light, maybe this design might give greater access.

The platform could be any shape, but the post and base must obviously be heavy enough to prevent vibration.


Lady GooGoo LaLa

If you have a heavy tripod with a 3/8" post, the hole in the platform could be 3/8" and wingnut used to tighten platform to the tripod.
My tripod has a removable 3/8" post so I could make it longer, I made something like this when I first started making panoramas it worked OK, and could easily hold my camera and lens so that the lens was directly over the point of rotation (but could be adjusted for different lens lengths).

[Kevin Childress]

Thanks for the drawing, Lady. I appreciate the help!  

I built the piece yesterday that I had originally thought of. Its very simple and will be very effective. But I then realized that I overlooked a major part of the puzzle ... what to do with my flashes?!  I use three off-camera flashes and light stands are too large for this table-top macro work. So I use the small plastic stands that came with the flashes (like little plastic feet). But they aren't tall enough to reach the elevated subject. I now need adjustable-height stands for table-top flashes. Uggghhhhh!!!  I think I'll modify my original design to include two folding wings (one on each side) to support the flashes, that can be adjusted for height along with the platform.

[Kevin Childress]

  Added folding/adjustable wings to the stand to support off-camera flashes at subject height. And then, it was done ... ready to start shooting!! Now all I need is a bug.  :)

[Lady GooGoo La La]

Use duct tape as a hinge for a supporting leg! ;-)

Lady GooGoo LaLa

[© Tom Cooper]

I hear they have a lot of bugs on Panoramio.  And word is, the new Views is filled with them as well.  You probably want dead bugs.  That would be Panoramio.

 

Tom

[David Humphreys ( formerly Galatas )]

Remember I suggested keeping the camera fixed and moving the subject ?  Today I came across someone with the same idea.

http://midmarsh.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/heath-robinson-meets-heather.html