@@LandscapePhotographyiQ By the way, Helicon Focus now offers a lifetime license option that allows a one-time purchase although it's more expensive than Zerene Stacker.
I see the advantage of in camera stacking, but I still use my good old TS-E lenses for maximum DOF, although setting it up is also taking it's time. Good video, Tom, take good care!
Hi Henk, yes I always liked using TS-E lenses as it was a fresh reminder of my years using large format cameras, but the focus stacking technique can be used in several other ways such as the more common macro photography and also when using telephotos to compress the subject yet obtain critical sharpness throughout.
You need to get “Mousepose” software for your mouse demonstrations - see David Grover on Capture One Webinars - so much easier to follow whats going on.
Hi Tom, been a long time admirer of your work for almost 20 years. So rare to see an American movin to UK for landscape photography. I was expecting you'll be back to US permanently ten years ago but you're still here. I like this tutorial but since I own Canon 5dmk4 I don't know if Canon did firmware for mk4 to be able to set focus stacking automaticaly in the menu. I would appreciate if anyone knows that. I know Canon RP can do that but I'm wondering if by any luck Canon listened to their customers and made same option for mk4 users. Anyway, I wanted to ask for advice. I was manualy bracketing focus points when I shot one of the oldest olive trees over here in Croatia. The problem is that there are no obvious plans in the frame. That tree has a very wide and big treetop with branches coming from every possible direction and it's impossible to distinguish which branch goes with what focus point so it's imposible to stack it manualy and PS auto-blend layers option is doing bad job so I guess buying Zerene Stacker is my next move but I would still have to focus it manualy:( Anyway, i would appreciate any advice. Best regards from Zagreb, Croatia.
No plans to move back to the US as I like living here in Europe (even close to it). There are apps that you can get for Canon that will do an auto focus shift, though you should be able to do a manual focus shift. Just focus on the closest part of the frame and move through the focus ring in small increments until you reach the end. Let me know how you get on with it.
@@LandscapePhotographyiQ Hi Tom. Thanks for your answer and time. I did download trial version of Zerene and compared it with Canon's latest DPP which feature Depth Compositing stacks. DPP works only with raw files and no matter how much you edited photos it only takes raw as shot from camera. Since I shoot wide landscapes with my Sigma 14-24mm unfortunately Canon DPP does not provide third party Lens profile though you can get rid off CA. It works pretty good and simple though. Zerene is able to stack tiffs even with edits done in Lightroom. Unlike Canon DPP's you can stack heavily edited tiffs in Zerene which can save a lot of time. Also, I found out that if you don't click Enable Lens profile option in Lightroom tiffs look way more sharper in 100% zoom. Now, this can be very good if you're not shooting architecture where you'll need that wall to be perfectly straight though I will try without Enable Lens profile even on that kind of shots soon. When you export tiffs cyan colour can look odd on some shots (shots I got around midday). Anyway thank you very much for your time. I will purchase Zerene stacker. I realy like it how it works. Thanky for recommendation. Best regards from Croatia.
I use Focus Projects by Franzis software. Does a pretty decent job and is a lot cheaper when it is on special. Does Zerene Stacker align hand-held focus stacking? Because Franzis doesn't. In that case, it would be worth it.
I haven't come across Focus Projects, but more importantly, why would you not use a tripod to do a focus stack? Trying to hand-hold when doing this procedure only creates more problems.
I think you'll find the in camera focus stacked image is a jpeg, though you will have all the RAW files to compile using software later. Also, this is fine as long as nothing is moving in your scene like the sheep in my example, then you will have to use software to fix this. Thanks for watching!
Informative video Tom. I 'll be trying it out. F.Y.I. the links to your gear above aren't working. (except Amazon) Incidentally, I see I'm in good company with some images from us both published in Ellen Bowness's Photographer's guide to the Norfolk coast and Broads. Kind regards, Andy Hughes.
Apologies Tom, I was trying to be a smart ass. Great videos. Would love to see you work at your own pace in a video to see how fast you set up, shoot and pack up.
Really helpful video, thanks Tom. Will be trying this out on a trip planned for next week.
Glad it was helpful!
I love the Focus Stacking feature on the Nikon D850 and Nikon Z series. Makes life so much easier.
One of the best features that Nikon came out with.
@@LandscapePhotographyiQ By the way, Helicon Focus now offers a lifetime license option that allows a one-time purchase although it's more expensive than Zerene Stacker.
After your video, Tom, I checked my recently purchased Canon R6 and found that it had this capability. Thanks!
Great to hear! It makes the process so much easier.
I see the advantage of in camera stacking, but I still use my good old TS-E lenses for maximum DOF, although setting it up is also taking it's time. Good video, Tom, take good care!
Hi Henk, yes I always liked using TS-E lenses as it was a fresh reminder of my years using large format cameras, but the focus stacking technique can be used in several other ways such as the more common macro photography and also when using telephotos to compress the subject yet obtain critical sharpness throughout.
Great videos Tom
Glad you like them!
You need to get “Mousepose” software for your mouse demonstrations - see David Grover on Capture One Webinars - so much easier to follow whats going on.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi Tom, been a long time admirer of your work for almost 20 years. So rare to see an American movin to UK for landscape photography. I was expecting you'll be back to US permanently ten years ago but you're still here. I like this tutorial but since I own Canon 5dmk4 I don't know if Canon did firmware for mk4 to be able to set focus stacking automaticaly in the menu. I would appreciate if anyone knows that. I know Canon RP can do that but I'm wondering if by any luck Canon listened to their customers and made same option for mk4 users. Anyway, I wanted to ask for advice. I was manualy bracketing focus points when I shot one of the oldest olive trees over here in Croatia. The problem is that there are no obvious plans in the frame. That tree has a very wide and big treetop with branches coming from every possible direction and it's impossible to distinguish which branch goes with what focus point so it's imposible to stack it manualy and PS auto-blend layers option is doing bad job so I guess buying Zerene Stacker is my next move but I would still have to focus it manualy:( Anyway, i would appreciate any advice. Best regards from Zagreb, Croatia.
No plans to move back to the US as I like living here in Europe (even close to it). There are apps that you can get for Canon that will do an auto focus shift, though you should be able to do a manual focus shift. Just focus on the closest part of the frame and move through the focus ring in small increments until you reach the end. Let me know how you get on with it.
@@LandscapePhotographyiQ Hi Tom. Thanks for your answer and time. I did download trial version of Zerene and compared it with Canon's latest DPP which feature Depth Compositing stacks. DPP works only with raw files and no matter how much you edited photos it only takes raw as shot from camera. Since I shoot wide landscapes with my Sigma 14-24mm unfortunately Canon DPP does not provide third party Lens profile though you can get rid off CA. It works pretty good and simple though. Zerene is able to stack tiffs even with edits done in Lightroom. Unlike Canon DPP's you can stack heavily edited tiffs in Zerene which can save a lot of time. Also, I found out that if you don't click Enable Lens profile option in Lightroom tiffs look way more sharper in 100% zoom. Now, this can be very good if you're not shooting architecture where you'll need that wall to be perfectly straight though I will try without Enable Lens profile even on that kind of shots soon. When you export tiffs cyan colour can look odd on some shots (shots I got around midday). Anyway thank you very much for your time. I will purchase Zerene stacker. I realy like it how it works. Thanky for recommendation. Best regards from Croatia.
I use Focus Projects by Franzis software. Does a pretty decent job and is a lot cheaper when it is on special.
Does Zerene Stacker align hand-held focus stacking? Because Franzis doesn't. In that case, it would be worth it.
I haven't come across Focus Projects, but more importantly, why would you not use a tripod to do a focus stack? Trying to hand-hold when doing this procedure only creates more problems.
Buy an Olympus if you want focus stacking. It is build in the menu system. Pure and simple.
I think you'll find the in camera focus stacked image is a jpeg, though you will have all the RAW files to compile using software later. Also, this is fine as long as nothing is moving in your scene like the sheep in my example, then you will have to use software to fix this. Thanks for watching!
Informative video Tom. I 'll be trying it out. F.Y.I. the links to your gear above aren't working. (except Amazon) Incidentally, I see I'm in good company with some images from us both published in Ellen Bowness's Photographer's guide to the Norfolk coast and Broads. Kind regards, Andy Hughes.
Thanks Andy, news to me about this book. Are you sure some are my images?
Felt I was learning to drive while sitting in the car behind.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Apologies Tom, I was trying to be a smart ass. Great videos. Would love to see you work at your own pace in a video to see how fast you set up, shoot and pack up.
We'll be doing more videos as soon as we can get out and about. Thanks for the suggestion.