Re: Macro Taz

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 09:41:26 -0800
>From: P3D H a r o l d  B a i z e  writes:
>>Wed, 08 Jan 1997 12:24:13 
>>Sandman  writes:
>>
>>Lets say I have Tazmanian Devil Figure that is 6" high (I don't,
>>but lets say I do)... Do I need to use my SLR with a macro lens...  
>
>and Larry Berlin responds:
>
>>An SLR with macro would work nicely. A slide bar would help maintain
>>accuracy of alignment. It's definitely cheaper to make your own.
>
>I am wondering if a "macro/wide-angle/close-up" lens is necessary
>here. I was planning to make similar photos with my SLR but I 
>only have a standard 50mm lens on it. I find that I can focus
>as close as 15 inches, and at that distance a 6 inch figure pretty
>much fills the viewing area. Is there still an advantage to using
>a wide angle/close-up lens in this case? I was hoping that I 
>wouldn't have to buy another lens (penny wise and pound foolish? :)).

******  In the case you describe here you could get by without further
expense. Wide angle would reduce the size of the object in the image and the
closeup would allow you to have the freedom to get in closer and do
additional detail work should you feel inspired to do so. If you don't have
another lens and you do intend to continue doing photography, the
investment, if possible, would be worthwhile.


>
>Also, I had an idea for making a slide bar. It occurred to me
>that the print head assembly in an old dot matrix printer 
>would be perfect as a slide bar since the print head needs 
>to move horizontally while being precisely positioned on all 
>other axes. I bought an old Epson at the flea market and wasted
>a few hours- it didn't work. Not steady enough. Not strong enough
>to support the camera weight without bending slightly. Maybe with
>a really heavy duty old printer?
>
>Harold
>Harold R. Baize, Jr. Ph.D.                       
>    baize@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
>

Look in your area for a source of recycled industrial hardware. I've got one
near me that has all kinds of bars, and other materials any handyperson
would find useful for this kind of fabrication. The cost is usually pretty
low compared to the technology inherent in already tooled substances or the
same materials as *new*. I'd probably work with Aluminum, but this local
place has stainless steel, brass, copper and other stuff less identifiable
or more complex than single materials.

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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