Backlash in Extreme Macro Photography

[@dougsmit1]

Most value packed, minute for minute, of all your videos! Thank you.

[@mauriciogarcia6724]

Hi. Alan. Very interesting video. I didn't approach the backlash issue on my home made stacking rail. I use to make the initial corrections the same way you explained. Go back enough and then advance to the starting point. One thing I think could solve the issue when in horizontal is use a long spring retaining some tension between the moving part and the rest of the rail. (Making an axial force on the screw). I didn't implement this because I think it will introduce more wear on the screw and nut. (Mine are not ball bearing nuts just stainless steel and brass nut). There are lots of part that could introduce wobbling... The backslash itself. But wear on the bearings too. I do have some ideas on implementing backslash free rail but with a realy short total displacement. Something like 2mm max. To be used in conjunction with the screwed rail. That's for the v 2.0 of the home made rail 😁

[@floriancernescu]

2 videos in one day, this is awesome!

[@ulrichnordhoff6748]

I fasten a rubber band to the Stackshot that always exerts a pull in the forward direction and I found that it solves the backlash problem.

[@hanklevesque426]

Thanks Allan - I was listening, rather than watching, your video when you mentioned shooting vertically with a Stackshot doesn’t experience backlash. That got my attention, but rewound and saw your red disclaimer and settled back to listening. Can’t recall when I started using method 2, manually returning past the start point, then manually going forward slightly without passing the start point, but always believed I was removing the “lag” that any screw might have. Thanks for describing what I intuitively felt was happening at high magnification. Further proof that even a blind squirrel …

[@alegomanYTPs]

I experience backlash on my telescope mount, same premise, however there are screws that move the shaft closer or further away from the gears to fix it, but over time, they change. Pity the rails don't have that as the shafts are a lot longer so pushing it up wont work.

[@19Photographer76]

Reading some of your comments I'm wondering if you should have addressed Preload adjustment?

[@edwardwalker3229]

As a retired machinist I think you have explained it perfectly Allan. One question I can think of if you have had a rail for a while and it has had a bit of wear to the mechanisim including the bearings do you suffer with any form of over throw as these motors I assume are quite strong. ie it should move the carriage I micron but because of the wear it actually moves the carriage one micron plus a further micron into the backlash space as the push from the motor was strong enough to built some free flowing momentum?

[@wolfie26121]

hi allen, another great video explained and made perfect sence, im using a zeapon micro2 plus which is belt driven ive not come across this issue, id like to here your thoughts on this type of motorized slider.

[@eagle2032]

I just program in more shots than I need and don’t even try to introduce another imperfection variable from going fwd to rev in that mode.

[@waynestock300]

I am using the "Stack/Rotate" function with Stackshot 3 and after watching this I think the problems I am facing are related to backlash. It looks like the rail starts in a different spot each stack. I am wondering if you have any experience using the "Stack/Rotate" feature or could share any insight on making that workflow more accurate.

[@BlueLineofthesky]

I am using stack photos from time to time but I do not have rails. My photos are only for my use. I do stacking by manually changing the point of focus and then I use Lightroom and Photoshop. With a better dslr I think it is possible to move the focus point in a digital way with good results. Anyway, product photography is not a great way to make pictures. The result is kinda ....dry and lifeless. Of course, for the kind of macro photography you are doing here...you need amazing precision. Your explanation is so deep and in high detail. I remember back in the days, I was using a lathe machine and it is always a problem with how precise are the rails and the compensation you need to do in order to always achieve a good, valid starting point.

[@floriancernescu]

Allan, there is someone pretending to be you replying to comments. Better watch out for these.