This link is helpful = a grey background can become whatever you want

Matt

Very nice images
But the work involved

For example, this is a focus stack of 66 - sixty six! - images!

And this is a stack of 93 images! Yikes! That's dedication!!

(uses Zerene Stacker)

Check here.

Matt

[BUMP]

Still available

Absolutely nothing to do with photography -

Mine was given me as a nickname by a friend who loved Thunderbirds et al.
It comes from Fireball XL5, and one of the characters - Professor Matthew "Matt" Matic.

It stuck as I wear specs and love mathematics

...it's also helpful that usually it's a free username

Matt

You mean this stick thread?
Matt

I first used it on the film Z1.
The *ist-D had it, the K10D and K20D, and of course the K7.
It can be handy, but I tend to work with just Av more and more (having ISO on the other control wheel).
Matt

Just checked the Kx manual - doesn't look as though you can change the Program Line.

Not a big problem. Personally, I use Av mode almost all the time and have a 'feel' for the MTF of each lens I use. Often the best aperture on a modern lens is around one stop down from wide open (e.g. f/4 for an f/2.8 lens etc), but depending on the lens YMMV.

Just experiment and don't worry too much
Matt

Just to clarify:

The DoF calculator will give you the hyperfocal distance. That shows you what will be acceptably in focus.

The MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) of the lens is another thing again
That's the point at which the lens exhibits the best resolving power - effectively the point at which the lens 'shines', or its 'sweet spot'. The MTF will vary according to focal length, aperture, and lens.

Not sure if the Kx has it, but there is an custom option to choose the best aperture according to the MTF (it's called the 'Program Line') - then the camera will use info stored in the lens to try and pick the sweet spot automatically.

Matt

Thanks. Slow brained here
Matt

They do indeed. It's not unacceptable, and easily removed with a graduated mask in Photoshop.

Even my Cokin Z-pro filters will give some magenta cast when stacked, but definitely not as much as the HiTech ones.

That said, I'm using grads less and less - making more use of careful exposures and bracketing and sorting it out in Photoshop.



Another, very interesting approach, is "Tony's Magic Cloth" technique.
See here and a sample image here.
Definitely a technique I have to try when I have the time & energy

Matt