Macro work? Focus rail vs focus shifting.

[AndyG123]

Just wondering what everyone's preference was.
I'm really lacking inspiration at the moment with photography and trying new and interesting things to give me some spark.
So I've started looking into macro photography. The last few nights I've been using a focus rail and stacking using Helion focus.

I've just found a tether cable In my camera draw so had a go at helicon remote (absolutely amazing how it works by the way) you can set your near focus point then your furthest focus point and it just shifts focus for each shot.

Anyways I was just wondering what types of focus srakckng you guys use?

Obviously using a rail you get 1:1 macro throughout the subject, but risk distortion.
Focus shifting keeps the correct "size" of the image front to back, but you lose the 1:1 macro at the back of the image.
Just wondering what everyone's preference was?

 

[LCPete]

I’ve never tried a focus rail
I do focus stacks normally about 3 shots handheld by varying focus mostly on damselflies don’t very often get the chance to set up a tripod they are very flighty

 

[Tricky01]

Used a focus rail a lot in first month of lockdown (was my photographic escape in amongst furlough and home schooling). Just picked up the laowa 2.5-5x 25mm and got it out again this eve. Helicon focus is wonderful though not tried the remote app (not that it would work with the laowa).

I do instinctively prefer the fixed 1:1 (or 5:1) throughout the frame but you're right that distortion does creep in. i should do some more experimenting, thanks for the nudge. It does depend on the framing though, can work of the subject is smaller and central. This wasp was around 14 shots I think:

Sharing that pic reminded me - buy a sheet of black acrylic, makes a fantastic reflective surface for doing macros on. This was actually shot on my iPhone screen, but an A3 black acrylic sheet gives you more room to work on and was about £15 on Amazon