Focus staking questions

[Martin G.]

I tried to make a search but I could not find answers.

I am completly new at this and curious about a few things. I downloaded the trial of Heliconsoft today and made a few tests... that were not so convincing.

I was wondering if there is a preferred aperture by people who focus stack? I shot my pictures at f4.

Also was wondering if there is some kind of "rule" (or approximate calculation) about the number of pictures you should be taking? I guess the more the better, but is there like a minimum. I presume this would be according to the chosen aperture (should take more pictures at f2.8 then at f4 to render the same subject in full focus)

My first attempts look "wavy" with gaps all over, so I guess I should have taken more pictures right?

I hope my questions make a bit of sense.

Thank you for your time

Martin

[LordV]

Hi Martin,
There are only really 2 reasons to use focus stacking. either to get more DOF than you could get at any reasonable aperture setting or to try to avoid diffraction softening caused by small apertures and still get "normal DOF".
Sounds like you were shooting at far to wide an aperture. If shooting at 1:1 or smaller then apertures around F8-F11 would be more normal. At F2.8- to F4 the DOF would be extremely thin and you would need an awful lot of shots to cover the subject.
Brian V.

[Martin G.]

thank you for your time and answer Lord V

I will make new tests when I get the chance!

Martin

[esotericman]

Martin,

It seems everyone loves one program or another, and I don't have a comment to make up them, but I do have a review article of some of the software.

http://www.microscopy-analysis.com/magazine-article/use-software-enhance-depth-field-and-improve-focus-photomicrography?c=

Christian

[alessandro2009]

I don't known how good are the software used to increase DOF but I think this technique requiring that the subject is stationary it is very impractical.
Even the flowers are moving with a slight wind alone an insect would be dead.

Note:
The eventually use of the glue i don't think is good for the animal and the respect of the nature.

[LordV]

I don't known how good are the software used to increase DOF but I think this technique requiring that the subject is stationary it is very impractical.
Even the flowers are moving with a slight wind alone an insect would be dead.

Note:
The eventually use of the glue i don't think is good for the animal and the respect of the nature.

Difficult perhaps but not impractical - I'd guess about 50% of the shots in my recent posts are focus stacked. Often this involves holding part of the plant the flower or bug is on and then resting the camera lens on the same hand - this mechanically links the camera to the subject helping to reduce camera to subject movement.

Brian V.

[Martin G.]

I don't known how good are the software used to increase DOF but I think this technique requiring that the subject is stationary it is very impractical.
Even the flowers are moving with a slight wind alone an insect would be dead.

Note:
The eventually use of the glue i don't think is good for the animal and the respect of the nature.

Well it depends what you photograph I guess. I mostly photograph tarantula spiders that I am keeping in captivity at home. After their original burst of running insanity when disturbed, they usually will be immobile for at least 15 minutes at a time, so perfect for this kind of technique.

Chris, thanks for the link, I will look it up.

Brian, I am a little discouraged that you are able to focus stack with hand held taken pictures, I thought it was only possible with tripod shots!!! I need a lot more practice, I do not think I am steady enough for that, but I will give it a try.

Thank you again everyone for giving inputs!

Martin