MFT: Tabletop photography setup

[Ned]

Hey, the group's named Festool Owners Group, not Festool Woodworking Group.

It seemed to me that the MFT would make an excellent table for photography.  Sturdy, stable, lots of attachment points.  The cutout I'd made for a table-mounted router looked like it was 3/4 of the way to being a light table.  Best of all, compared to tables offered for the purpose, the MFT Basic is not expensive.  And last, if at some point you're not using it for photography, replace the top and you own yet another woodworking MFT.  Can't lose.

I've attached some pics, pretty bad but they'll give you some idea.  If anyone wants details, ask and I'll post them.

Ned

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[Eli]

That's cool. I give you the Local 80 stamp of approval for tabletop production.

 

[clintholeman]

I used to do product photography and the MFT would make a great shooting table!  Never thought of it then though... 

Sometimes old clients still want me to shoot for them - Now, I'll use my MFT instead of my old shooting table.

 

[Dan Clark]

Ned,

Now I'm embarrased.  I'm the picture cop after all!  ;D

That is excellent!  Lots of great ideas!

Many thanks for posting.

Dan.

 

[Corwin]

Absolutely fantastic!!!  This is an idea I most certainly will barrow -- I'll want to do a similar setup to shoot my stepson's glass art.  Great idea!

Corwin

 

[Anthony]

Neat Ned.

What about illuminating from underneath through an translucent surface. That can't be done as far as I can see.

Or do you have a clever idea for that as well?

 

[Michael Kellough]

Neat Ned.

What about illuminating from underneath through an translucent surface. That can't be done as far as I can see.

Or do you have a clever idea for that as well?

I'm not Ned but this is how he addressed that in his understated way.

"The cutout I'd made for a table-mounted router looked like it was 3/4 of the way to being a light table."

By the way Ned, great idea!
How about posting some of the resulting product photos?

 

[Dave Rudy]

Great way to use the MFT Ned.  Thanks.

 

[Ned]

What about illuminating from underneath through an translucent surface. That can't be done as far as I can see.

That's what got me thinking about the MFT in the first place.  I'd already cut a hole for a router insert, so all I needed to do was get a piece of 3/8" (9.5mm) Plexiglas 2447 the size of the router plate (8inx11-3/4in, ~200x300).  This was only a trial, because I would want a larger area than the insert size.  If I get a dedicated photo MFT, I'll be cutting it for an insert approximately 400x400.  Want to leave at least one row of holes around the plate for attachment points.

A while ago I posted about putting nuts into the bottom and inside channels of the MFT.  My intention was to provide attachment points for under table lighting.

While the MFT-mounted translucent plate would be elegant, I've found that with the camera/lens combination I'm using (Canon Rebel XT, aka 350D, and 100mm Macro (effectively a 160mm)) I can't get far enough away from even the small plate without nearly banging my head on the ceiling.  Thus the 3rd pic in the the first post, where the underlit plate is on the floor and the camera mounted on an 80/20 extrusion and cantilevered off the front of the MFT.

Ned

 

[Dan Clark]

Ned,

Hi.  I have a similar lens for my Nikon D70.   It's a Tamron 70-300 I believe (I don't use it much).   In macro mode, you have to be about 5 feet away.  Overall, the lens is decent, the the macro mode stinks.   When I have more free time, I'd like to get a nice Micro-Nikkor.  Unfortunately, like the nice Canon lenses, they are pricey. 

Hmmm....  Lens?  Kapex? Lens?  Nah...  Kapex it is!   ;D

Dan.

Edit: On last line, I wrote, "Hmmm... Kens?"  I think my Freudian slip was showing.

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi Ned,

I use my MFTs for photography all the time - most of the closeups in the manuals were taken on a MFT - but I had not thought of the pipe on the side copy stand idea.  Good thinking, I will make one.  It will be great for flat art, maps and the like.  I also have a large sheet of milky white plastic that I cut to be the same size as the MFT table tops.  Place that on instead of the perforated wood top, place 5000 degree (Kelvin) cool lights below and you have a great large light floor.  A couple of pieces of white foam board for a backdrop and you have a nice light box as well.  I also like the screen stands you show for side lighting.  May make a few of those as well.  Thanks for the tips.

Jerry

Hey, the group's named Festool Owners Group, not Festool Woodworking Group.

It seemed to me that the MFT would make an excellent table for photography.  Sturdy, stable, lots of attachment points.  The cutout I'd made for a table-mounted router looked like it was 3/4 of the way to being a light table.  Best of all, compared to tables offered for the purpose, the MFT Basic is not expensive.  And last, if at some point you're not using it for photography, replace the top and you own yet another woodworking MFT.  Can't lose.

I've attached some pics, pretty bad but they'll give you some idea.  If anyone wants details, ask and I'll post them.

Ned

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[Ned]

I'm still aiming to make the entire setup attach to the MFT--camera, lighting, everything.  I think that true macro work will be made easier with everything positioned relative to a convenient reference surface.  Larger work will still require lights & camera off-table.

Here are some details of the pieces that make the MFT tabletop studio possible.

The blocks are made from 1-1/2" (38mm) square stock, German beech I think.  The rods are epoxied in.  The mounting holes are 5/16" (8mm) and accommodate both bolts for attachment to the extrusions and the toggles for attachment to the MDF tabletop.

All the aluminum rod is 5/8" (16mm) rod.  The stage lighting industry calls 5/8" fittings "Baby".  There is a wide variety of bits and pieces available for this size. 

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The offset base shown below is specifically for mounting a background support.  Standard background paper in the US is 53" (1350mm), 26" (660mm) is also available and the size shown here.  The offset bases allow handling paper wider than the MFT.  You could make the upright rods long enough to be the columns on which the paper clamps are mounted.  I chose to make them studs to which adjustable MSE lightstand extensions are fitted.

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This is an experimental vertical camera mount.  The 80-20 brand aluminum extrusion is bolted to the side and top of the MFT extrusion, and it's secure.  The horizontal piece mounting the camera is the vertical column from a tripod.  The 2 pieces are joined by a right angle Manfrotto Super Clamp.  It's not an ideal arrangement.  I'd like the ability to make fine adjustments more easily (and safely).

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[Ned]

...I also have a large sheet of milky white plastic that I cut to be the same size as the MFT table tops.  Place that on instead of the perforated wood top, place 5000 degree (Kelvin) cool lights below and you have a great large light floor.

Jerry, I really like that.

Ned

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Ned,

I am curious about your blue lever action clamp.  What is the size (OD) and source for the rubber? bushing that expands when you cam the bolt upwards toward the beech block?  Any issues with pullout or stability of that type of expanding bushing clamp?

Dave R.

 

[Ned]

Dave,

Here's the thread:
MFT: Cam Clamps

Ned

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Got it!  Thanks, Ned.

Dave R.