Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg)

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I needed a sliding plate for macro photography. It looks really nice in the photo and description, many people seem to be happy with it.
However, the problem is that when moving the plate backwards and forwards it moves up and down and from right to left until you tighten the screw to secure it in one position. Even if the movement is slight it still makes getting exact positioning very difficult because the position where you have to secure the plate, will not necessarly be the final position after you have secured it. This was the main reason I bought it for so it is of little use to me.
I don't know what Manfrotto were doing when they released this, they are usually pretty innovative and normally produce good, solid equipment. Not on this occasion.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I use it for focus stacking shooting technic

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

Not as easy to use as one may think but non-the-less a very good accurate piece of equipment.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

does exactly what its designed for. inching your camera forward and back tiny amounts perfect for macro work.
Even more useful is for focus stacking - where you shoot and move the camera to focus a little further over your subject, shoot and repeat as much as necessary.
Into photoshop and merge photos and you have a focus stacked photo, with a great depth of field at macro level!

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

Everyone else seems to think that this is for close ups. I use it with Tilt/Shift (perspective correcting) lenses to perfectly splice two images into a super wide panorama, precice enough for architectural interiors. Mount the camera crosswise to the slide screw axis (not as in close up applications). Shoot first with the lens shifted to the right, then shift the lens to the left and slide the plate to the right until the lens is back on the same center line axis. Shoot second image. Done right the two images splice perfectly without a lot of computation.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

Good for macro photography and making fine focusing adjustments. Easy to use and in a good price range for the serious amateur.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I am a macro freack, work as a medical photographer. This is my second plate from manfrotto. It does the job perfectly. A little bit of play but easyly control by the friction screw. Perfect for obtaining the right composition of your subject.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

Just got two of the positioning plates for Christmas, which I will use at right angles to one another in macro photography. I am very please with the design, quality and design of the items.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I haven't had this long enough to put it through it's paces, so to speak, but from what I've seen so far it's going to be a great addition to my macro "arsenal". I've owned two different "macro sliders" by two different manufacturers in the past and not been satisfied with them. This item is very well made and there is no "slop" when tightened. I think I will invest in another one and attach them perpendicular to each other, making a very solid, stable slider.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I have received the Sliding Plate and have tried it on my tripod and it works great. I have been helping a friend who has a jewelry collection and this will make it much easier to get the pics I need. As always, packing and delivery from B&H was great.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

If the function you are looking for is being able to offset a camera lens to put focal point over tripod head, well then this will work, but it isn't really the right tool. 1) there is no fixed point for affixing the camera so as to calibrate for repeated use. Yes you can just push it against the back of the slot and use that for your fixed point but it is pretty kludgy, though works. 2) 1/4" mount fixture is off center so you better have a 3/8" head (which fixture is centered) or it is worthless.
But it is solid, smooth, and workable if not easy.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I photograph things smaller than insects so with my macrophotography it is important to make minute adjustments. This economic device does the trick nicely and is well worth the price. It's not perfect but works very nicely.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I didn't realize until I took my first macro course that going to manual focus and using one of these was the way to go - as a matter of fact, the teacher had rigged 2 of these together, perpendicular to each other. Great value.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

Manfrotto continues to reinforce their reputation of manufacturing quality photographic products. I have owned hundreds of Manfrotto products over the years, from tripods, to ballheads, to lightstands and more. Like all my other Manfrotto products, this Micrometric Sliding Plate, although simple in its design, is solid and dependable. I use it primarily for accurate macro focusing and I have absolutely no complaints. It does what it is intended to do.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

Pretty straight-forward and simple rail. Quite strong. No unnecessary gimmicks.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

This is a great tool for macro. You will need this for inmage stacking.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

I require very precise focusing capabilities for doing fine art reproductions. This plate does exactly what I need to do and has much finer focus capabilities than the focus rings on my Canon lenses.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

THe product is used to focus in a macro photo situation. I use it when taking close-up photos for a local nature society and found it to be extremely helpful. It enable process focusing in situation with very little depth of field. The quick release accelerates the transition from position to position and from speciment to specimen. I can't say I found anything bad about the device other than the fact that one needs to be patient when using it.

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

just new to Macro , very helpful have Canon 7D , big difference from trying to use a monopod to shoot the Macro images

Comments about Manfrotto 454 Micrometric Positioning Sliding Plate - Supports 17.7 lbs (8kg):

This is a superb aid in macro focusing, solid and yet affordable! If you acquire two units you will be able to fine-adjust the position of your gear in X and Y coordinates (front/back and left/right). I acquired two of these units to aid in focusing a Canon 7D with a Canon MP-E 65mm 2.8 manual focus macro lens in its 5x magnification setup. If you expect to use similar setup in a tripod with the camera looking down, it is very important to select a very solid (and low) tripod! I also recommend using a remote shutter release as the shutter pressing may shake things up. For that matter I use a Canon RC-6, but one can also use a timer instead. The rails do accomplish their goal. I am a happy buyer!