Stacking question.

[u8myufo]

I read with interest the method of stacking photographs to achieve close up but totaly in focus shots. I am confused somewhat as to the method mentioned though. It suggests moving the camera slightly whilst taking up to 30 shots, and to avoid twisting the lens either to the left or right. Would it not make more sense considering the shallow dof, to set the camera up from the subject at a fixed distance but allowing enough leeway to focus each time manualy on a different part of the subject, surely that way the perspective of the subject stays the same in each shot. Any tips on stacking would be appreciated.

[racketman]

moving the camera in without manually focusing seems to work better - I wouldn't try more than 4 shots to begin with.

[LordV]

I read with interest the method of stacking photographs to achieve close up but totaly in focus shots. I am confused somewhat as to the method mentioned though. It suggests moving the camera slightly whilst taking up to 30 shots, and to avoid twisting the lens either to the left or right. Would it not make more sense considering the shallow dof, to set the camera up from the subject at a fixed distance but allowing enough leeway to focus each time manualy on a different part of the subject, surely that way the perspective of the subject stays the same in each shot. Any tips on stacking would be appreciated.

Whichever method you use - fixed focus move camera (either manually or on a tripod with macro stage) or fix camera move focus, you will get a slightly changing FOV and perspective. Stacking software allows for this a bit by realigning and resizing each picture before trying to stack them. Oddly some of the very big stacks are done using a fixed camera,fixed focus and move the subject.
Tutorial here on how I do mine
http://www.wonderfulphotos.com/articles/macro/focus_stacking/

brian V.

[canonloader]

surely that way the perspective of the subject stays the same in each shot.
It actually changes a small amount that you don't see till you stack them. I did not know the program allowed for that. There is still a lot I don't know about the program though. :)

[u8myufo]

Thanks guys, I was looking at using CZm for stacking, and I must admit I did not realise it made slight allowances for aligning the pictures.

[Plant McCloud]

Would somebody be kind enough to make some recommendations about which stacking software to use, both free and $ ?