Mitutoyo M Plan Apo - Quick Start Guide for Macro Photographers

The Mitutoyo M-Plan Quick Start Guide

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Think of this video as the big sheet of drawings that falls out of the box when you buy some new tech gadget. The device will be obsolete before I have any idea how to operate it, were it not for the amazing quick start guide - three stick figure drawings that will get the thing running without me needing to go to hospital or even have stitches.

CHAPTERS
01:42 Introduction
03:00 The Problems
05:00 Focusing at Magnification
09:56 A Stable Platform
12:00 Mounting the Rail
14:20 Alignment is Key
21:35 Camera & Lens
24:39 Adapters & Objective
30:14 Camera Settings
34:17 Adding Diffusion
36:30 Speedlight Choices
39:08 SmallRig Announcement and New Products
43:43 Battery Awareness
44:20 Timing your Flash
45:08 Flocking and a Work Light
46:44 Wrap up and nap time

GEAR & SUPPLIES FROM THIS EPISODE

Please note that many of these are Affiliate links - meaning that if you follow the link and make a qualifying purchase (doesn’t matter what you buy… if you use one of these links to get into the store, it helps me out at no cost to you), I might make a little bit of money.
With some videos there will be no links and with some there will be a ton of them. Special offers and codes from equipment manufacturers will always be listed first.

Use the code 5CODEALLAN for an added discount from SmallRig!
SmallRig 9” articulating arm (new) - this link has an old picture, without the large rubber “O” ring, I will check to make sure this is the new clamp (2066) https://amzn.to/2UYIYsH
SmallRig 2070 ballhead clamp (new) - https://amzn.to/3f3rYs5
SmallRig super clamps - to hold your napkin! (2058) https://amzn.to/3rDFs2R
After this episode was edited, SmallRig sent me the very thing I mention in the video - a double 2070, called the 2109. I will demo it in a coming video - in the meantime check out the picture on the Amazon/SmallRig website! https://amzn.to/3zIKz4w
Turns out SmallRig also has a very cool looking follow focus device - it might be just the ticket. I will give it a proper endorsement when I am sure that it can be used as a focus stacking hardware solution - but I don’t see why not! Check it out… https://amzn.to/3f5NdJE
Go by the SmallRig shop on Amazon to see all of the fantastic photography gear and camera accessories they have added.

Mitutoyo M-Plan 5X infinity corrected microscope objective - for the best deal I have ever seen on a brand new objective for an insanely low price of less than $450, call Mr. Jeff McDowell, optical expert and main dude at Lightglass Optics. His number is 505-235-9468 or you could visit his website at www.lightglassoptics.com

My new Godox V350 - https://amzn.to/3iTgSXM
A good Godox X-trigger - https://amzn.to/3rKvk8r
A better Godox X-trigger - https://amzn.to/3rFpeWJ
The fantastic 70-200mm lens used as a relay lens in this video - the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 - https://amzn.to/3laNy1s
If you don’t follow directions, you will need a Raynox of two - https://amzn.to/3BHsohz and https://amzn.to/3x6BxNa
Some good extension tubes, - https://amzn.to/3zMLeC9
Or some less fancy ones - https://amzn.to/2VdZlBx
You will need a full set up of step and down rings - if you are serious about your macro, get two sets - https://amzn.to/3kZdcXb
The rails I recommend are either the NiSi NM180 that I reviewed - https://amzn.to/3f4n91x
Or the Manfrotto 454, that I did not - https://amzn.to/3l3BWO0
Some rubber feet - https://amzn.to/3iYsusz
The new Neewer Z-lifter, that really is a better piece than mine, by quite a bit - https://amzn.to/3l6HmaS
But I wouldn’t use one of these Z-lifters unless I had a good leveler underneath. I love this Leofoto - https://amzn.to/2UXuSYz
as did these stainless steel bolts for holding the rail - they are expensive but they will last forever and hold the rail strongly - check you are getting the right size for your rail - https://amzn.to/3l2hAVb
Here is the drill I like - Makita - the Nikon of Drills (just made that up) - https://amzn.to/2VcpD72
and the bits I like - note that they already have the countersinking part incorporated - https://amzn.to/3zJtxmY
If you buy this rail, it is your own fault - https://amzn.to/3iRfiWs
Here is an excellent base rail, if you need to get your focus rail up of the deck - it is a little bit costly but it is built like a tank and perfect for increasing stability https://amzn.to/3BX9NOL
These QR plates are the go-between (the NiSi has a Arca Swiss dovetail on the base) - these ones are bidirectional - https://amzn.to/375dweE
If you do what I do, use this adapter and finish the adapter with the four smallest step down rings - https://amzn.to/2VayvtU
This the cheap faux-flocking stuff I use to limit reflections - https://amzn.to/3ylEs5K
and here is some real Koyo flocking for using inside your tubes, bellows etc. - the real thing - https://amzn.to/3BNx4m0