focus stacking questions

[schlagle]

Thanks to this great forum I started doing macro photography. I would have never even thought of a reversing ring for my 18-55 but after reading the sticky I saved my pennies (because those things are so expensive) and after digging through my couch for $6 worth of change I bought one. I am very pleased with the quality so far, especially considering the price!

So onto my questions:
1. When you guys /gals focus stack do you actually use the focus ring or do you move your rail incrementally?

2. Say you have 20 images. Would stack 5 (or any other number) then save/check results and do another chunk of images or do you do all at once?

[LordV]

It doesn't really matter whether you used fixed focus and move the camera or fixed camera and move the focus. I tend to use the former.

I don't tend to do very large stacks but usually do them all at once. I gather there can be situations however when it is better to the break the stack into 2 or 3 sections, stack those and then stack the results but that tends to be with stacks of >100 shots I believe.
Brian v.

[schlagle]

Thanks for the response.