It is still a Linear Motion - Lead Screw focusing macro rail with an Arca-Swiss® compatible dovetail but the first in the world with a Digital Scale attached on its side.
Due to the higher cost, production quantities will be limited, nevertheless it is already available for preorder at the Hejnar Photo Store.
The MS5_DS4 is based on the MS-5_8 mentioned above using exactly the same lead screw concept, the same sliding bars and maintenance-free self-aligning Linear Sleeve Bearings.
The specific lead screw offers 1.06 mm travel (0.0417") per one full rotation of the knob(s) with a little longer than the MS-5_8 maximum travel distance of 4.0 inches ( 10.16 cm ) instead of 3.5" (8.89 cm).
Now, what really makes the difference is the addition of the digital scale which permits movement of the carriage in precisely 0.001" ( 0.025 mm ) increments.
The Rail structure
| Manufacturer Specification: | |
|---|---|
| Model: | MS5DS4 |
| Rail Length: | 225 mm (8.895 ") |
| Overall Length: | 297 mm (11.70") |
| Overall Width: | 149 mm (5.90") |
| Height (Thickness): | 57.6 mm (2.27") w/o QR clamp 73.7 mm (2.90") with F63b QR clamp |
| Weight: | 1400 gr (3.1 lbs) |
| Materials: | Precision C.N.C. machined 6061-T6 Aluminium, Black hard coat anodized, Stainless Steel and Self Aligning Linear Sleeve Bearings (slider). |
| Hardware: | Stainless Steel |
| Made in: | U.S.A. |
The outer shell is aluminum with a 0.002" thick ceramic coating for added corrosion resistance and endurance at a temperature range of –400° F to +375° F (-240° C to +190° C ).
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| The Hejnar MS5_DS4 is larger in all dimensions than the MS5_8 on which it is based. Although it comes with the same wider Hejnar F63b QR clamp by default, its drive is extended by .5" (1.27 cm) while more width and height are needed in order to accommodate the Digital Scale and the driver mechanism. As standard, the lead screw is driven by two large knobs one at each end of the screw, providing access from both sides. All the corners and edges are rounded for safety reasons in order to prevent from accidental injuries or damages to other equipment in your bag. Another small detail is addition of some extra large holes for elimination of some weight, but still the mechanism of the Digital Scale adds 400 gr to the weight of the MS5_8 model, totaling now 1400 gr. |
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| Same as with the MS-5_8, fast positioning of the slider is provided by just pressing the brass slider release lever shown protruding below the carriage. The Self Aligning Linear Sleeve Bearings featured by the MS5_DS4, have a nonabrasive, chemical-resistant PTFE liner which doesn't require any additional lubrication, consisting them virtually maintenance free. |
The Digital Scale
Of course the most important part of this macro stage is the Digital Scale which offers a quite useful number of functions.
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| The Digital Scale consisting of a Reading and control head and a slide beam, is finely integrated with the Macro stage structure residing on extensions of the stage's front and rear walls. |
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| The Digital Scale Reading / Control Head is driven by an extension protruding from below the carriage. It features several buttons which control the functions. A red [OFF] button, a green [ON] button with [0] (zero) function when pressed twice, (meaning it can zero the reading at any point of the scale so a + or - reading can start from there), a white [mm / in ] button which allows selection between metric and imperial digital reading and one orange and one blue buttons responsible for the reading in increasing or decreasing order. |
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| As mentioned in the beginning the MS5_DS4 has a longer drive reaching 4" (10.16 cm) at its far end. |
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| The Digital Reading is easy to convert between Inches (imperial system) and... |
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| Millimeters (metric system) with the press of the [mm/in] button. |
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| The Digital Head slide beam is made from hardened stainless steel sporting a printed metric and imperial scale on the top face. The MS5_DS4 extension that holds the digital scale slide beam is equipped with small feet on both sides in order to maintain the stability of the stage if used flat on a table. |
The F63b Quick Release Clamp
| Manufacturer Specification: | |
|---|---|
| Model: | F63b |
| Jaw Length: | 3.25" (82 mm) |
| Weight: | 135 gr (4.7 oz) |
| Countersunk/threaded holes: | Three (1 x 3/8"-16 center hole and 2 x 1/4"-20 outside 45 mm apart) |
| Safety Stop Relief Grooves: | Two |
| Long Captive Screw Knob: | Stops at maximum opening |
| Material: | Precision C.N.C. machined 6061-T6 Aluminium |
| Color: | Black hard coat anodized |
| Hardware: | Stainless Steel |
| Made in : | USA |
As all Hejnar QR clamps, the F63b is compatible with virtually any Arca style Quick Release plate. Since it is offered as an add-on unit, it can be removed and mounted on other equipment at users will.
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| The slider is equipped with the larger Hejnar Photo F63b 3.25" (82mm) long Arca Swiss® compatible Quick Release clamp, where b at the end of the model name stands for long black knob. The clamp can be easily reoriented at users will, in 90° increments, so as to place the clamp jaws either parallel or perpendicular to the slider and the srew-knob at any side proves more convenient to the end user. When the clamp is set perpendicularly to the slider as shown in the illustration above, then the large clamp area becomes a convenient wide platform for lateral adjustment of the camera within the clamp. |
The Arca Dovetail
As all Hejnar Macro Stages, the MS5_DS4 is equipped with an Arca style dovetail, compatible with almost any brand Arca compatible QR clamps even RRS® lever release clamps.
Additionally an 1/4"-20 threaded center hole on the center brace of the rail allows for direct mounting on a pod with an 1/4"-20 stud.
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| When the MS5_DS4 Linear Motion lead screw adjusting macro rail is mounted on a Tripod Head equipped with an Arca-Swiss® compatible clamp, then the camera to subject distance can be first adjusted by moving the whole stage within the clamp limits via its bottom Rail and further engage in extra-fine adjustments using the lead screw knobs. M3 safety stop screws are found at both ends of the bottom rail not allowing the large stage to fall off from a loosely tightened quick release clamp. |
According to Hejnar Photo, their lead screw rails operate in vertical orientation (perpendicular to the ground) with a load up to 10 lb (4,53 kg), while in horizontal orientation (parallel to the ground) the load can be increased up to 15 lb (6,80 kg).
The MS5_DS4 is at the moment the top macro stage from Hejnar Photo, nonetheless judging from the acceptance of the MS5_DS4, Chris Hejnar plans top release also an MS5_DS6 model with a longer 6" ( 15.24 cm ) drive.
I hope you found the article useful, thank you for viewing.
All Photos by courtesy of Hejnar PHOTO, © 2015 Chris Hejnar
Price & Availability:
The announced price for the MS5_DS4 Lead Screw Macro rail with Digital Scale is US$ 625.00 (+Shipping where applicable) and is available for preorders from the Hejnar Photo online Store.
If you are interested in the product, do check the Recommended Sellers page for the current valid Hejnar Photo discount coupon before placing your order.
Update June 2016
Updated Linear Motion MS5 DSP Macro Rail with Digital Scale from Hejnar PHOTO
The Slider release mechanism was updated resulting in a lower more affordable price.
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