Macro Clamp Thingy?

Sorry for the vague subject - that's my problem I don't know what the thing
I want is called.

I've seen a thing that has two or more flexible arms attached to a base,
with little spring clamps for "hands". I think the original purpose of the
device might be to hold electronic components in position for soldering.
What are they called?

Any other ideas for holding things like insects for studio macros? (I'm
aware of Plamps, but I'm looking for something finer.)

Thanks.

Wilba wrote:
Sorry for the vague subject - that's my problem I don't know what the thing
I want is called.

I've seen a thing that has two or more flexible arms attached to a base,
with little spring clamps for "hands". I think the original purpose of the
device might be to hold electronic components in position for soldering.
What are they called?

I've got one here. It's got "Multi Clip TM" written on the top of the
base. I stuck mine on a 6" ceramic tile - first thing I laid my hands
on that seemed like a reasonably stable but portable base.
The aluminium wire inside the tubes breaks in the end, but it took a few
years for that to happen, and it only cost a few $$ to begin with.


Any other ideas for holding things like insects for studio macros? (I'm
aware of Plamps, but I'm looking for something finer.)

Thanks.

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:19:03 +0800, "Wilba"
wrote:

Sorry for the vague subject - that's my problem I don't know what the thing
I want is called.

I've seen a thing that has two or more flexible arms attached to a base,
with little spring clamps for "hands". I think the original purpose of the
device might be to hold electronic components in position for soldering.
What are they called?

Yes, I have one on my desk at this very moment. I know where you can buy
them online for only $6. But I'm a P&S camera owner. I'm not supposed to
give advice and answers in a DSLR newsgroup to all those stick-up-their-ass
DSLR camera snapshooters.

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:19:03 +0800, Wilba wrote:

....
I've seen a thing that has two or more flexible arms attached to a base,
with little spring clamps for "hands". I think the original purpose of the
device might be to hold electronic components in position for soldering.
What are they called?

Some of the names are "Helping hands" or "third hand"
http://rogersystems.com/holders.html
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/a4bb/

--
Mike Russell - http://www.curvemeister.com

Wilba wrote:

Any other ideas for holding things like insects for studio macros? (I'm
aware of Plamps, but I'm looking for something finer.)

"flexible arm"
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ed=0CDMQrQQwBw

Google says the plamp is 12 inches long, is it reasonably stable? I'd
guess it bounces too much, you need something shorter, and another level
of control for fine adjustment:
http://edgehill.net/Misc/misc-photos...nkyard/pg2pc10
Here's one nice source for used scientific gear:
http://www.lightglassoptics.com/Newport_c_12-2-3.html
The general search terms here are x,y,z "positioning stage" (although
those terms might not help much on that particular web site). Poke
around there with the parameters you need handy, how many milimeters do
you want to move and how finely? Some of those only have a very very
very small degree of movement. A "focusing rail" for photography is
probably the most sensible/affordable starting point, then add components.

Some kind of very short 'plamp' could be useful for tilt, rotation,and
coarse positioning, without that, you will need more components and have
to figure out how to put them together. The basics are xyz positioning
but tilt & rotation can add a bunch more levels. It's worth thinking
about various old junk gear that has these abilities like an old broken
microscope or cheap kiddie microscope.

I guess the best way to mount is on a pin from behind with some
superglue or a hot glue gun so the mounting mechanism goes out of focus
in the background?


--
Paul Furman
www.edgehill.net
www.baynatives.com

all google groups messages filtered due to spam

On Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:17:09 -0700, Paul Furman
wrote:

Wilba wrote:

Any other ideas for holding things like insects for studio macros? (I'm
aware of Plamps, but I'm looking for something finer.)

"flexible arm"
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ed=0CDMQrQQwBw

Google says the plamp is 12 inches long, is it reasonably stable? I'd
guess it bounces too much, you need something shorter, and another level
of control for fine adjustment:
http://edgehill.net/Misc/misc-photos...nkyard/pg2pc10
Here's one nice source for used scientific gear:
http://www.lightglassoptics.com/Newport_c_12-2-3.html
The general search terms here are x,y,z "positioning stage" (although
those terms might not help much on that particular web site). Poke
around there with the parameters you need handy, how many milimeters do
you want to move and how finely? Some of those only have a very very
very small degree of movement. A "focusing rail" for photography is
probably the most sensible/affordable starting point, then add components.

Some kind of very short 'plamp' could be useful for tilt, rotation,and
coarse positioning, without that, you will need more components and have
to figure out how to put them together. The basics are xyz positioning
but tilt & rotation can add a bunch more levels. It's worth thinking
about various old junk gear that has these abilities like an old broken
microscope or cheap kiddie microscope.

I guess the best way to mount is on a pin from behind with some
superglue or a hot glue gun so the mounting mechanism goes out of focus
in the background?


Too funny. Macro-photography advice coming from someone who can't even get
one whole pin of a CPU in focus!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, this is better than the comedy network!

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Wilba wrote:
Sorry for the vague subject - that's my problem I don't know what the thing
I want is called.

I've seen a thing that has two or more flexible arms attached to a base,
with little spring clamps for "hands". I think the original purpose of the
device might be to hold electronic components in position for soldering.
What are they called?

Any other ideas for holding things like insects for studio macros? (I'm
aware of Plamps, but I'm looking for something finer.)

Gooseneck clips?

Too funny. Macro-photography advice coming from someone who can't even get
one whole pin of a CPU in focus!

OK, Mr. Thumbnail-sized-examples.
BTW, those pins are 2mm long in a 5mm tall frame wide open intended to
have a wildly shallow DOF look ...
....with a stopped down glimpse at the end now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0r-HKzVpeg

Show us your work. Let's see a millimeter scale with 5mm counting
vertically and a full size crop.

On Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:16:58 -0700, Paul Furman
wrote:

Too funny. Macro-photography advice coming from someone who can't even get
one whole pin of a CPU in focus!

OK, Mr. Thumbnail-sized-examples.
BTW, those pins are 2mm long in a 5mm tall frame wide open intended to
have a wildly shallow DOF look ...
...with a stopped down glimpse at the end now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0r-HKzVpeg

Show us your work. Let's see a millimeter scale with 5mm counting
vertically and a full size crop.

Oh, heavens no. Of course that's easy to accomplish and get it all in
focus, using available light, and even doing it with shutter-speeds that
can be hand-held. No focus-stacking even remotely required. I even have
sample-shots sitting right here on my hard-drive that already prove what
you wish to see. No need to even take my time to do new photos to prove it.
Frame-sizes even tighter than what you request. Macros of a machinist's
scale when I was testing DOF with various lens arrangements. 2.4mm vertical
FOV. All done HAND-HELD by the light of my normal fluorescent desk-lamp
without even moving the scale and camera closer to the lamp, done just as a
passing curiosity one day. Easy to post! Hell, I even have a 3.1mm long
INSECT IN FLIGHT TAKEN HAND-HELD in shadowed woodland light that would make
your all crap DSLR snapshots look like total ****, if I took the time to
hunt it down in my archives.

But then you'd jump around just as all wannabe snapshooter DSLR-Trolls
always do, hiking up your skirts, jumping up in your chairs, wildly and
insecurely yelling,

"IT'S STOLEN!"

"IT WAS DONE WITH A DSLR!"

"IT'S CROPPED!"

"THE EXIF WAS EDITED!"

"THE SKY IS FALLING!"

etc. on ad-infinauseum.

Why waste my time playing that ****ed-up idiotic DSLR-Troll's game of yours
again?

You're a complete and total moron and idiot. You do know that by now, don't
you?

Your whole ****ed-up life was a waste of flesh and time. You do know that
by now, don't you?

Mike Russell wrote:

Some of the names are "Helping hands" or "third hand"
http://rogersystems.com/holders.html
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/a4bb/

That's exactly what I was thinking of, thanks a bunch.