At the heart of the CASTEL-M is a spindle that drives the sliding camera mount forward with extreme accuracy for each image. It also has practical indexing steps for magnification factors of 2:1; 3:1; 4:1, and 5:1.

Progression through the sequence of images is carried out via a single click of the focus wheel, which advances the camera assembly clockwise in precise incremental stops to the focus point of the next image.

No need to worry about calculating the step size and precise overlapping of the individual pictures; the rail does this for you automatically. The click stops have been calculated in such a way as to avoid the negative effects of lens diffraction.

For use in product photography, the CASTEL-M can be equipped with the CASTBAL-PRO bellows attachment, transforming it into a fully-fledged technical camera.

In commercial product photography, objects with a depth greater than 100mm can also be stacked in this way without difficulty, since only the focus is adjusted, in contrast to the usual stacking methods where the entire distance must not be covered. The advantage of this stacking technique in comparison to the classic tilt adjustment according to Scheimpflug is understandable. With focus stacking, uniform, and maximum sharpness can be achieved over the entire subject area (from front to back and simultaneously from top to bottom), in contrast to the Scheimpflug method, where maximum sharpness can only ever be achieved in a single plane irrespective of adjustment. 

The  CASTEL-M is, of course, completely integrated into the ARCA-compatible NOVOFLEX Q system on the top and bottom, which means the CASTEL-M accommodates compatible interchangeable plates and NOVOFLEX bellows. It also is compatible with other NOVOFLEX focusing rails for setting up a cross-rail system, which can be repositioned by 90° and at the same time can be directly inserted and clamped in matching coupling mounts.  

Technical Specifications:

Length: 20,5cm/8.07“
Width: 6,5cm/2.6“ at moveable camera mount, 5cm/1.9“ at the rail, 5,5cm/2.2“ at the Focus wheel
Height: 5,5cm/2.2“ at the Focus Wheel, 4,5cm/1.8” rail with moveable camera mount
Weight: 679g/1.5 lbs.
Max travel: moveable camera mount: 100mm
Revolution: One full revolution of the Focus Wheel equates to 0.8mm of travel
Scaling: Laser engraved scaling with 0.01mm division
Max. Payload in vertical position: 4kg/8.8 lbs
Quick release unit: ARCA-compatible, can be turned in 90° angles, Spirit level, Safety-Pin for NOVOFLEX-coupling plates
Rail: at the bottom ARCA-compatible over the entire length of the rail, 1/4"-20 and 3/8”-16 sockets