AFFINITY PHOTO: GET TACK SHARP CLOSE-UP SHOTS WITH FOCUS STACKING

Do you like to take close up shots? Do you find that the result is not sharp throughout. While that is a limitation of the camera, there is a solution to overcome this difficulty. It's called focus stacking and Affinity Photo has a great tool for this type of computational photography. In this video we demonstrate how to focus stack from camera setup, photo bracketing and merging

[@rpigeon8]

Well Sony finally did it! The new A6700 has automatic focus bracketing! And, so far it works very well. I use Affinity Photo for the processing. Thanks for the video.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for sharing. Good for Sony! A reason to upgrade. How does it compare to manual methods? Can you shoot handheld?

[@rpigeon8]

It is easier than manual. I shoot handheld bracketing most of the time, but a tripod is really easier if you have the time and the space. @@takebetterphotos8132

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the info. I Should have bought a camera with this feature! So the the stacking is done in-camera or do you have to export to your PC?

[@rpigeon8]

@@takebetterphotos8132 You have to export the stack to your PC and use a software to blend. I use Affinity Photo and it works just fine.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

thanks! apparently another user said OM-1 could do the stacking in camera. So Sony still has a different approach or maybe they are not satisfied with the incamera results.

[@johnsharples6641]

While manual bracketing is an option, it is a bad option. Software such as Digicamcontrol, free, or Helicon Remote, paid, will achieve a much better result.
I normally take between 50 and 100 shots of a subject with a depth of 10 to 15mm. This leaves no aria of the subject out of focus.
Manually focusing , on the other hand, is prone to missed areas.
A second, and better, manual option is to utilise the auto focus capability of the rear screen. This allows you to select different parts of the subject and have the camera focus to that part.
Doing the stacking in Affinity photo has the advantages of auto align, you can stack raw files and Affinity Photo does a very good job of exposure blending as well, so slight variations in exposure between shots is not a problem.
I do lots of focus stacking and never manually adjust the focus ring. It is too hit and miss.
I enjoy your videos and the information in them is quite helpful.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Hi John thanks for sharing. Always glad to learn from an expert! 😊Didn't know all of this could be automated in Windows. After checking I don't think my Sony A7s camera is supported by Helicon but I'll gladly try the autofocus for a better workflow.

[@tkarlmann]

My OM-1 Camera can do focus-stacking in-camera; and it also gives you the individual images.
Olympus / OM Systems has been providing this capability for years.
Still, good video.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the info. I suppose for handheld shooting you should just go for 3 shots? Anyway that's a nice feature. Can't believe Sony never put that in.

[@tkarlmann]

@@takebetterphotos8132 The OM Systems OM-1 has many many features you may not find with Sony.
I can vary the number of shots with the OM-1, but the camera has a "Differential" setting to decide where the shots are taken. It would be even better if I could specify the nearest & furthest point I want in focus, and let the camera fill in the rest -- but that is not what the OM-1 does -- just to be clear.

[@takebetterphotos8132]

Thanks for the info. I think thats where the manual method would have its advantage. Anyway hope they continue improving this feature.