I had never heard of this technique until yesterday and the result's are amazing when done properly.

For anyone who is interested here is a link with a full step by step description, examples and software to lay the images on top of each other.

http://www.wonderfulphotos.com/articles/macro/focus_stacking/

A very handy tool for macro work which i certainly will be using in the future to increase DOF when up close.

Cheers, H.

Hmm - a kind of HDR for DOF!!! I feel the need for a new tripod head - one with a micrometer adjustment!

Can you show us your results of your HDR technique Imp?

Not much point leaving irrelevant images cluttering up the thread since we were at cross purposes anyway! :)

Hi Imp, and thanks for posting your images.

I'm scratching my head head a little here though, and here are the reasons why.

In my mind, the focus stacking technique is used when you can't get the depth of field through your aperture that you require for a final result. Now in image one, you can achieve this depth of field by selecting f18 and on ward's, so there is no need to use this technique in the first place, and image three the depth of field is so flat again there is no need for focus stacking as the dof can be achieved by using around f8.

Image 2 in my opinion is exposure stacking and not focus stacking, the dof again can be achieved through normal use of your aperture.

Have you any macro shot's to demonstrate your technique to achieve a high level of depth of field, like the examples in the link that i posted.

Cheers, H.

Hi Imp.

I'm scratching my head head a little here, and here are the reasons why.

In my mind, the focus stacking technique is used when you can't get the depth of field through your aperture that you require for a final result. Now in image one, you can achieve this depth of field by selecting f18 and on ward's, so there is no need to use this technique in the first place, and image three the depth of field is so flat again there is no need for focus stacking.



f18 is beyond the diffraction limit for many cameras and will result in softening of the image

The DOF stacking software is good and i've used it. The only thing to be aware of is that if you move the camera back and re focus then the perspective tends to be slightly different leading to a soft looking stack. I've tried it and if you use a focus rail to move the camera to get 1mm staged shots the resultant stack is much crisper.

Your right there Pete, but Imp's image can still be achieved by way of normal aperture use, focus stacking is used when you can not get the DOF by aperture use. There are some fabulous examples out there.

Your right there Pete, but Imp's image can still be achieved by way of normal aperture use, focus stacking is used when you can not get the DOF by aperture use. There are some fabulous examples out there.

Ah, I thought you were talking about image 1 on the link. Imp's image 1 has nowt to do with focus stacking, does it?

I have never been much good with word's lol, Imp said that he could achieve the same result through HDR and i just wanted to see some examples of his technique.

The DOF stacking software is good and i've used it. The only thing to be aware of is that if you move the camera back and re focus then the perspective tends to be slightly different leading to a soft looking stack. I've tried it and if you use a focus rail to move the camera to get 1mm staged shots the resultant stack is much crisper.

Yes it said something along those lines in the link but personaly i would just manually focus (as i like to do in some situations) for three images. One near focus shot, another middle focus shot and a third furthest focus shot having the cam tripod mounted without changing the perspective. Would this work?

Those shots I posted are HDR not focus stacking. I said I thought focus stacking sounded a bit like HDR but for depth of field rather than exposure. I thought it a bit strange when you asked about my HDR technique! :huh:

Can you show us your results of your HDR technique Imp?

I've not used a macro lens for years but I have just bought an extension tube so I'll have a go at this when I get the chance - but don't hold your breath!

Lol Imp....... did you really read the article?
Personally i couldn't imagine how HDR would get the same results as focus stacking to increase depth of field due to the processing of HDR. Look forward to seeing your results when you have them Imp.

Has anyone else out there got experience of focus stacking who could offer a little advice?
Cheers, H.

Yes it said something along those lines in the link but personaly i would just manually focus (as i like to do in some situations) for three images. One near focus shot, another middle focus shot and a third furthest focus shot having the cam tripod mounted without changing the perspective. Would this work?

Yes it will still work. The only down side is

1) it may be slightly soft. The distance between each focus will be the desiding factor. On the whole its not a big problem unless your getting really proffesional.

2) Your borders of the picture will be iregular. Make sure you leave enough space to crop it once you've done the stack. Just a inch or so to get a proper square edge.

Its good fun but macro is very addictive. Have fun and let us have a look once your done. I know everyone tries the water drop with reflection but its been done to death so let your imagination run wild.

I did some really interesting stuff with marbles but cutting down the reflection from the flash was tricky.

Yes it will still work. The only down side is

1) it may be slightly soft. The distance between each focus will be the desiding factor. On the whole its not a big problem unless your getting really proffesional.

2) Your borders of the picture will be iregular. Make sure you leave enough space to crop it once you've done the stack. Just a inch or so to get a proper square edge.

Its good fun but macro is very addictive. Have fun and let us have a look once your done. I know everyone tries the water drop with reflection but its been done to death so let your imagination run wild.

I did some really interesting stuff with marbles but cutting down the reflection from the flash was tricky.

Have you got examples Cuey?

Not on me. I'm sat at work. But i may be able to post something tonight.

You should have a card full of your own stuff by then :D

The Helicon Focus software is pretty good apparently

http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html

3D models sound rather groovy. And as for "hyperfocal landscape photography"...

They have a forum where customers post their pics - see here

http://forum.helicon.com.ua/index.php?c=4

There are some people that use the software there for images from microscopes, some great images to be seen there :)

I am really confused. There are no images on here, so which ones are you referring to? and secondly, Imp has stated twice now that the he wasnt claiming to achieve the same results with HDR, but that the process of taking multiple shots and merging them together was 'a bit like HDR' but for 'DOF'. I've never heard of this technique...but i'm sure it will fall by the way side just like HDR (The FUTURE of photography) did...all looks like good fun though! worth a try...

Not sure about that. HDR might be rendered obsolete by improvements in the dynamic range of sensors and display technology tho I doubt it will disappear completely - just like ND grads haven't (?) Focus stacking on the other hand, looks like a way of overcoming a fundamental DOF limitation caused by the optics.

BTW - I removed the pics as they were irrelevant to the thread and just wasting space (You'll note from other threads that I don't like wasting space with spurious pics!! :D)

As the weather is so rubbish today i thought i would have a go at this focus stacking malarkey to see if i can do anything with it.

For this first attempt at focus stacking I used f14 for three shot's that gave me about a third of DOF on the torch. I set the Sony to manual focus and exposure with the cam tripod mounted, focusing the 1st shot in the middle, second to the right and the third to the left of the torch.

I tried using the software in the link that i posted but i couldn't get on with so i did it in PS using layers and the rubber to get the final result.

Not the best i know but it is my first un-automated attempt.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3431085199_e41fa7fb56_b.jpg
Cheers, H.

This is interesting. Microscopes tend to be limited by their narrow plane of focus. This could really facilitate the quantification of cells in tissue sections and a few other bits and bobs... Maybe I can persuade work to buy it (can always hope!)

"facilitate the quantification of cells".........steady on Crayfish, it's sunday morning :hihi:

Sorry, I'm finding it harder and harder to snap out of the SciSpeak... One day I'll be trapped in an endless limbo of fourteen-syllable words; finding it impossible to hold ordinary conversations or transactions. Quite frankly, I expect that day to be completely awesome.

Hummmmmm... interesting