Focus Stacking

[Guest DaveW]

Doing one of my usual trawls through the Web I came across this article on focus stacking:-

http://mortenaagaard...eginners-guide/

He says the first fly image does not work in Internet Explorer, but it does in the latest version I use if you run the mouse arrow over the image.

DaveW

Edited November 14, 2012 by DaveW

[annie]

i have tried and tried focus stacking, but just cannot do it. i have book marked this to see if it will help me crack it!

[FUJI]

Annie.........Please don't give up.....it isn't that difficult, just fiddly, get good results......and you are hooked.

My advice is before you send money on expensive rigs or getting your vest in a twist.............Do this....

1: Camera on tripod, .....macro (or RAYNOX) lens fitted........camera set to f16 s160 .......flash on....use hot shoe flash if you have one......diffuse the flash with paper towel to avoid flare........ENSURE CAMERA IS ON MANUAL FOCUS.

2: Use a stationary subject such as an interesting flower bud, or a seed case cut open to reveal the seeds.......ensure a good plain background.

3: Compose your shot then focus your lens on the point nearest to camera........take a shot to test settings....adjust camera delete shot it if all is well.

4: Focus on point nearest to camera, take first shot taking great care not to kick the tripod leg...wind the focus ring to achieve focus a little further down ....take a shot.......repeat this moving the focus for each shot.......take at least six frames for a start.

5: Have more than one go until you feel happy.........then have a cup of coffee or a brandy.

6: At the computer, load the frames into your Stacking Software and let it do its stuff.........choose the best set........YOU WILL BE AMAZED!........I promise.

Results by this evening please.

FUJI

[Guest DaveW]

Fuji gives the basics required Annie, here's a couple more sites that may help too:-

http://zerenesystems...als/tutorial001

http://zerenesystems.../tutorialsindex

http://dgrin.com/sho...ead.php?t=61316

For fairly low magnifications you can use the twisting the lens focusing method, but at slightly higher ones a focusing rail moving the camera is a better method. There are plenty of focusing rails on EBAY, but some at the cheapest price come from outside the EU, so if you are unlucky you could get duty and VAT slapped on them later by Customs, though the same rail can often be found from a UK EBAY source.

http://www.ebay.co.u...cat=0&_from=R40

The above are rails also good for general non stacking macro photography, but if you go in for much higher magnification stacking they are not precise enough, then you need a rail that can accurately move the camera in millimeter or submillimeter steps. But you would be working at many times life sized on the sensor to need those. For instance for the Velmex:-

"Velmex is a company which produce very good quality “slide” which can be used for macro and micro photography as these slide are allowing very tiny movement of the camera. For example, some of these stages needs 40 turns for a displacement of one inch. In the metric field each turn moves the camera of 0.635 mm or 635 µm. For 1/12° of turn we go down to 53 micrometer of movement. The Velmex Unislide can be found in 2.5, 5, 10, 20 & 40 turns per inch and in the metric series in 5 or 10 turns per cm."

The Rolls Royce of automated precision stacking slides is the StackShot, but expensive and made in the USA though I believe they now have an EU agent.

However you obviously don't want that type of precision yet and Fuji's method is all most focus stacker's require at reasonable magnifications. I just list the others for completeness for those wanting higher magnifications.

How many shots do you need for a stack. This is a recommendation from the Web:-

"1. Average to long distances require one to three shots.

2. Short to average distances generally require up to five shots.

3. Close-ups are best taken with special equipment for macro photography and usually require four to ten shots.

4. “Real macro photos” require a great of number of shots that depend on the image you choose – the more detailed and focussed your final photo should be, the greater the number of shots you need to take!"

There are three main focus stacking softwares for the computer. Helicon Focus, Zerene Stacker and Combine ZP, only the latter being free, but most allowing a trial download.

I already linked to Zerene Stackers site so here is Helicon Focus and the free Combine ZP

http://www.heliconso...liconfocus.html

http://www.hadleyweb...uk/CZP/News.htm

As with all things, start simple at lower magnifications as Fuji says and if you like it take it further.

DaveW

Edited November 18, 2012 by DaveW

[Guest DaveW]

A couple more I found that may be of interest Annie. I suppose it helps in the first link if the butterflies are mating, otherwise they normally fly away that close:-

http://www.dgrin.com...ad.php?t=177982

http://www.rodolfocl...custutorial.pdf

DaveW

Edited November 18, 2012 by DaveW

[Guest DaveW]

Found this site showing examples of extreme stacking:-

http://www.nicolasre...47145&k=dNpfNFc

I like the bug on the match head for scale.

DaveW

Edited November 26, 2012 by DaveW