Some focus stacking examples with the EM5.3

[pdk42]

All these are taken with the Olympus EM5.3 and 12-40 using focus stacking/bracketing. All are stacked in camera, apart from the rhododendron which was stacked from raws using Photoshop (because the in-camera stacking screwed up!).

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Octopus-style Fern by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Drumstick Primula by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Silene by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Rhodedendron by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Tree Peony Flower by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

 

[WhidbeyLVR]

All these are taken with the Olympus EM5.3 and 12-40 using focus stacking/bracketing. All are stacked in camera, apart from the rhododendron which was stacked from raws using Photoshop (because the in-camera stacking screwed up!).

View attachment 338942
Octopus-style Fern by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Drumstick Primula by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Silene by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Rhodedendron by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

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Tree Peony Flower by Paul Kaye, on Flickr

These are great stacks, Paul! My limited attempts at using focus stacking required a lot of trial and error with step size and count to get the results I was seeking (mostly with the 60mm macro). Any tips?

I usually prefer to do the stacking in Affinity Photo due to several in-camera stacking failures.

 

[pdk42]

These are great stacks, Paul! My limited attempts at using focus stacking required a lot of trial and error with step size and count to get the results I was seeking (mostly with the 60mm macro). Any tips?

I usually prefer to do the stacking in Affinity Photo due to several in-camera stacking failures.

Thanks Lyle. Not sure I have any tips in particular. As regards step size & count, if you use in-camera stacking then the number of shots is fixed (usually 9) and the step size I usually leave at the default setting of 5. My understanding is that the actual step size will vary depending on lens and focus distance - in other words it's a relative not absolute setting. A step size of 5 with the 60mm macro at 10cm focus distance will move focus more than if you're using the 12-40 at 30cm.

As regards in-camera stacking I find it does a reasonable job in many circumstances, but it won't beat a good PP package. Helicon Focus is probably the best, but I'm done with paying for yet another piece of PP software! Photoshop does a reasonable job, even if it is a pig to use!

 

[Taneli]

Cool! I tried also when I had the 5.3, it works really well