Q about Focus Bracketing

The new Canon RP is the first Canon camera to have focus bracketing. I find this intriguing since the RP is full frame and the focus bracketing will work with the awesome 100mm IS Lens; also, the focus bracketing is customizable within the camera’s Menu (number of shots & focus intervals). However, focus stacking must take place in external software.

I’m wondering how many of you use in-camera focus bracketing (or stacking), & if so, which camera you use & why you chose it. I’m just wondering what alternatives are available right now (I have never done focus bracketing/stacking but recognize its value for macro).

Pretty much all my macro shooting is bracketed. I have used Magic Lantern in the past as it has a fairly decent implementation of focus bracketing but for macro shots I preferred to do it manually using my focus rail instead. I haven't played around with Magic Lantern recently but I believe they still have that feature.

Been reading a bit about Canon's focus stacking implementation. Gotta say it's nice to see Canon finally, after over a decade, implementing some of Magic Lanterns features.

Mainly I use the internal focus stacking feature of my Olympus but it is limited to 8 shots. Less often I have used the focus bracketing feature where you can shoot up to 999 shots to stack in external software like Helicon.
Very useful feature and good to see Canon have finally adopted the second one at least.
I wonder if they will make a firmware update for their full frame DSLRs or have it as a selling point in their next gen (knowing Canon the more likely scenario).

If only the MPE65 was autofocus.

racketman wrote in post #18823438
If only the MPE65 was autofocus.

It is. Set it the right distance from the subject and it's automatically in focus.

That is a very cool feature. The RP will likely become the suggested camera for macro shooters now.

Does the EOR-R truly not have this feature? I was just poking around the web trying to find out and it looks as if it's missing. The RP would be a nice macro camera because of the stacking feature, but the sensor of the R would be so much better. Why would Canon leave this out?

racketman wrote in post #18823438
If only the MPE65 was autofocus.

Well, the focus peaking of the RP (choice of 3 colors: red, yellow, or blue) is also a desirable feature, & would complement the MPE65 quite well.

So it seems that the RP might be a pretty good choice for macro in more than one way, especially if you are already a Canon shooter.

gjl711 wrote in post #18823454
Does the EOR-R truly not have this feature? I was just poking around the web trying to find out and it looks as if it's missing. The RP would be a nice macro camera because of the stacking feature, but the sensor of the R would be so much better. Why would Canon leave this out?

The R doesn’t have focus bracketing. Maybe it will become available in a firmware update though.

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18823288
The new Canon RP is the first Canon camera to have focus bracketing. I find this intriguing since the RP is full frame and the focus bracketing will work with the awesome 100mm IS Lens; also, the focus bracketing is customizable within the camera’s Menu (number of shots & focus intervals). However, focus stacking must take place in external software.

I’m wondering how many of you use in-camera focus bracketing (or stacking), & if so, which camera you use & why you chose it. I’m just wondering what alternatives are available right now (I have never done focus bracketing/stacking but recognize its value for macro).

I tend to manually stack in photoshop using layers (for live subjects that might move I find this gives less artifacts) so would it still be possible to access the individual frames?

ozziepuppy wrote in post #18823456
Well, the focus peaking of the RP (choice of 3 colors: red, yellow, or blue) is also a desirable feature, & would complement the MPE65 quite well.

So it seems that the RP might be a pretty good choice for macro in more than one way, especially if you are already a Canon shooter.

Focus peaking certainly a boon with fast primes, don't know how well this would work with the MP-E at 3x or more, so any experience with the pair would be interesting to hear about.


On a general comment on the R and RP, for me it is just a shame they put them on a new RF mount so you have to use an adaptor with an old EF, MP, TS lens.

Lester Wareham wrote in post #18823465
On a general comment on the R and RP, for me it is just a shame they put them on a new RF mount so you have to use an adaptor with an old EF, MP, TS lens.

Not sure why the adapter would negatively affect the MP lens. It's not like focus speed will suffer. Kind of the same with the TS lenses. They require so much setup and adjustment that any speed impacts would be negligible. Also, I believe Canon was including the EF adapter as part of the kit, yes? If so, no cost impact either.

You will definitely have access to the individual frames to stack manually in PS or to drag into Helicon or Zerene software.

Looks likely a firmware for the 5DMK4 & EOS R will be coming:
https://www.dpreview.c​om/forums/post/6231179​6

racketman wrote in post #18823498
Looks likely a firmware for the 5DMK4 & EOS R will be coming:
https://www.dpreview.c​om/forums/post/6231179​6

5DIV!!! Yes!!!