In-Camera focus bracketing - how difficult would it be?

It's sorta like a hologram but not requiring coherent light. With all the resolution issues, no doubt.

Also a solution here ... maybe another reason to buy another make of camera.

I don't think so Mike. This is all pretty marginal stuff for most people.

I should think macro shooting is one of the most popular aspects of photography (from what I have seen anyway). Probably a reason Canons MP-E65 is one of their most popular lenses .. hardy marginal I would have thought.

Maybe I should have put:

maybe another reason to buy another make of camera if you are a serious macro shooter.

though.

Anyway, just tried Helicoid Focus stacking software and it is excellent.

Still don't agree, but that's OK.

With focus stacking, in theory every time the focus point was changed the magnification would change. I presume the software corrects this, but does it do it seamlessly or are there odd side effects?

Just did a 4 stack shot of a moth .. handheld so not as steady as I would like and the flash is a bit harsh but even so ...



Moth : 4 stack Macro by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

All I did was take 4 shots in quick succession while moving the camera back slightly and then loaded them into Helicoid software.

I would defiantly like focus stacking built in to my camera, especially if it helps me get shots like the moth!

I now need some alkaselzter after being told "You are a beautiful, unique snowflake. " and followed by "With a Lytro, you unleash the light."

Whatever the quality of this product they aren't employing a decent PR team.

I'd actually like a system to (remotely)switch between a number of preset focal distances.

When I'm drive by shooting I normally use the hyperfocal distance to get everything from the pavement (around 1m ) to as close to infinity in focus. Although in practise anything upto 20 metres does the job.

Problem is this means using smaller apertures and the associated increase in in ISO.

if i'm driving along a road where there's a larger distance between camera and pavement then there's no need to focus as lose as 1m, and may be 3m will do. I'd like toe be able to instantly ( and safely of course ) switch between preset focal distances, and thus use a wider aperture.

I though about constructing a mechanical system, a bit like focus pulling on movie cameras, but it would be great to do it electronically

Looks like it's done a great job on the moth, but what on earth's gone on in the background?

Dan

Background wasn't good to start with but it is pretty dire I must admit.

I may spend some time and clean it up a bit.

Tanner (Yeatzee) over on PF must be the king of this technique.

From 3 or 4 stacked images for a regular 'macro' look: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5623475026_7b30e4efaa_z.jpg

Or many images deep stacked for ridiculous detail: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/5765764029_79fc958e5a_z.jpg

He does it hand-held I believe!

Interesting pictures, but horrible backgrounds. The second looks fmore like a SEM image than a photograph.

I quite like the background... but that has nothing to do with focus stacking, it's just what he has chosen to shoot the subject against (orange OOF flowers presumably, and pink in the second). The first one shows how dof can be extended modestly without it looking unnatural, and works very well IMO. The guy's only 17, btw! Perhaps he'll ease off on the saturation slider in a few years!

I'm starting to get into bug shooting more. I've had my first go with focus stacking and it went OK, but I can see how in camera focus bracketing would be immensely useful.

I personally wouldn't change brands for that alone. But for a serious macro shooter I think it probably would be a reason to change brands.