NiSiNM-200S Macro Focusing Rail, Precision Focus Slider for Macro Photography , Universal Tripod Mounting, 360-Degree Rotating Clamp with Quick-Release Plate, Detachable Feet, Arca-Swiss Compatible

This was easy to attach to my tripod, easy to attach my camera to, and easy to use. I especially like how fine and smooth the actual thread is —- the thing I actually need to work. I’ve read there are far more sophisticated, far more expensive focusing rails out there, but if you just want to play with macro photography as a beginner and not spend a lot of cash… but still have a tool that is pleasant enough to use that it makes you want to take more macro photos… this is the one. Also, as the other reviewers have noted, just discard the feet. They are easy to remove, and they just get in the way.

A great rail. Very smooth and precise.

This is NiSi's 2023 iteration of their macro rail. To start off, it is really nice and has some QoL improvements over the previous version. I love it, after I've made some adjustments.The little stem that sticks out of the large turning knob is a gimmick and has zero practical use. When you're fine tuning the distance of your shot, you will always do better to twist the large knob because it offers much more control than the wiggly stem. Unfortunately, the detent ball they use is really flimsy so half the time you're paying a lot more attention keeping it perpendicular to the knob than you should have to. Using it also puts a lot of energy into the position of the camera, not rotating the large knob. This is easy to get around, I just removed it all together.The system that adjusts the rotation of the A-S plate isn't very refined out of the box. The knurled knob is really aggressive and the the grease they use to lubricate both the screw and the rotation of the plate is very thick and sticky, which means you have to apply an unreasonable amount of force to turn it. I found it pretty uncomfortable and it only gets worse if you're in the cold. I had to clean the sticky gunk off the threads so that it turns easier, not perfect but better than out of the box.The screw and knurled brass block that tightens and stops the plate rotating is unrefined. The brass block is sticky and doesn't bite the base plate so it doesn't take much work or weight to overcome to lock. The screw is kinda ineffective since the difference between locked and unlocked is about a quarter turn. I cleaned off some of the sludge and used a file to roughen the face of the block so it bites better. Now it locks really solidly even with a heavy lens/body combo. When I get home I'm going to make a pair of pins to replace the ball detents for when I really need to lock the plate from turning.Movement along the rail isn't consistently smooth. Mine is almost as smooth as butter in one direction, and rough and a bit gritty in the other direction, which means it's best to just use it in one direction, but still a little unrefined.Despite all of this, I do think it's a fantastic buy and absolutely worth it if you're focus stacking beyond 1:1. I just had to clean, tighten, and refine it before it was perfect.

This rail is just what I needed, a light, compact rail that I can take out into the field to shoot focus stacks of plants, flowers, fungi, insects and other in situ subjects. Yes, I do own a StackShot rail and controller and yes, I have put everything into a backpack and used it in the field, but holy crap is it ever a lot of gear to haul around! I have also done stacks by simply turning the focus ring of a shorter macro lens but to get close to a subject in the wild I really need my ED Micro Nikkor 200mm, and to try to turn the focus ring by an amount equivalent to 10μ is next to impossible. Did I mention that I also carry a pair of LED light panels in a Fanny pack? This NiSi rail makes field work possible and enjoyable.

No complaints, this little gadget took my macro photography to the next level - for stationary subjects, anyway. It's too slow and cumbersome for anything that moves (live bugs, etc). I was prepared for grease like many reviews warned about. My rail, however, came with *no* lubricant at all, and was gritty and gross to turn. I used some clipper blade lubricant and now it's smooth and not at all messy.I echo the other cons noted by previous reviews - the legs are pointless and the handle moves the whole rig so much that I don't use it, but no big deal to me. I'm glad I purchased this rail and for now it's all I need!

When the head is perpendicular to the rail, the locking screw interferes with the adjustment knob as does the plate lock. And even with the head parallel with the rail, the head itself would interfere with the knob before hitting zero on the scale. Also, the rotating head does not lock terribly well when the screw is all the way in. It will probably meet my needs, but it's a flawed design.

Rail permits precise, calibrated camera movement to produce macro images with very limited depth of field for image stacking. Seems well made.

First, full disclosure, this is my first purchase of a set of focus rails. I found the NiSi unit to be of good build quality and I think that is important for focus rails. They have given thought to the overall product including the packaging. The packaging is attractive very modern like an Apple product. The product is well made, parts fit together well. It's expensive but it includes an good Arca Swiss Camera plate which is a nice touch. Comments about the grease are correct. It's easy to touch grease. When mounted to my tripod and with everything clamped, it is solid. I have been getting great results when focus stacking and in macro work. I find that the screw knob is easy to use for fine focus adjust and the crank is for corse adjust. I am a happy customer.