Oben CT-2491 Tripod, GH-30 Gimbal and MFR4-5 Macro Focus Rail Review

Macro Focus Rail

The Oben MFR4-5 (that's a mouthful) macro focus rail again uses a proven approach.

Two sets of rails, at right angle one to the other, allow the apparatus to move in two directions. A large base plate holds the camera.

Smooth and regular displacement is ensured by two rods which guide the base plate on each axis.

The use of these two rods makes a huge difference for the stability and accuracy of the movement. When compared with a cheap macro rail (like the one pictured above), the difference is obvious. Cheaper products use a wide crenelated plate, with the adjustment screw acting directly on it. This yields a coarse precision and strong backlash.

By opposition, Oben's product uses a screw with a narrow thread, offering a fine level of precision. The threads never have to be lubricated.

The knobs used to adjust the position are a two-steps affair. The smaller diameter allows the user to rotate the knob faster, while the larger diameter makes it easier to adjust the position with more precision. The knobs have a rubbery texture and are positioned on each sides. This makes it easy to differentiate between them, but requires two hands to fully adjust the rail.

The base of the focus rail is wide. It offers two standard holes which allow direct attachment to a tripod or, more conveniently, to a tripod plate. The included plate can be used for this.

This plate is the same as the one included with the gimbal, with one difference. The rail's plate features one screw while the gimbal's has two. It has a large surface and offers a good grip.

The base plate which holds the camera is, for the most part, similar to the one on the gimbal. It offers a long surface and uses an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp. It is closed by a screw. Just like on the gimbal, there are two grooves meant to prevent the camera from falling down when the screw is loosened. Note that the clamp is oriented sideways relative to the long axis of the rail. Proper orientation of the tripod plate (or use of a 4-sided plate) is required.

The base plate also offers two bubble levels. The one at the top will be hidden by the camera almost every time.

The rail offers a decent movement range. Front to back, it can move by 7 cm (2.75 inches). It can also move by 3.2 cm (1.25 inches) to the side.

Moving the base plate is easy and accurate. There is a bit of backlash when changing direction, but in use it's easy to miss. Fine-tuning the position is easy and accurate, with a good level of precision offered by the finely threaded screw. As will be seen in the following section, there is no movement once a position is set. The rails do not offer a locking screw but, after testing thoroughly, we can confirm that such a lock is not needed.

Verdict

The Oben MFR4-5 macro focus rail is a well-made and reliable tool for macro photographers. It is stable, sturdy, well-assembled and allows precise positioning of the focus point. It holds it position steady, which is after all its principal function. Its range of movements is adequate. The rail's only flaw, a small one, is that both adjustment screws are each on a different side, requiring both hands to use.


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