FZ2500: In camera Focus stacking - First try

Digital Nigel · Jan 6, 2017

spike29 said:
dkirk7000 said:

......One i learned from the guy on you tube. His is longer but is necessary if you are shooting hand held as it auto aligns the layers as you bring them in.

......

Click to expand...

nice clip for understanding.

one problem, you need photoshop CC. :-(

It is fun for playing with this future but out of the camera control needs software and CC is a bit strong step for just a go around the block.

there is a workaround to use pse 13 but this link is down.

So i searched for free stacking programs but the "good one's" are all not downloadable some how. (CombineZM, zerene isn't free anymore.)

does anyone knows a freeware product to play with?

Further i understand out of earlier post's that fz2000/2500 does not full 20mp raw merging or even full 20mp jpeg merging. This can only be done in focus bracketing modes which is not in the fz2000 available. correct?

Yes, Focus stacking and Post focus are both based on 4k video photo modes, so the input images are 8mp crop JPEGs.

TwoMetreBill · Jan 9, 2017

It appears that while the camera has focus stacking, it does not have focus bracketing. Is this correct?

Satyaa · Jan 9, 2017

It does. There are four options under bracketing:

Exposure (+/-)
Aperture (indicated by an 'f' in a wheel)
Focus
WB (this is disabled on my camera right now; probably because I'm shooting in RAW)

The only one I have tried is the exposure. I have no idea how the others work.

Stan Still · Jan 10, 2017

If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

Satyaa · Jan 10, 2017

Stan Still said:
If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

This is useful info. Do you mind elaborating with some more details?

Is it a third party add-in for PSE that can be downloaded from its developer's site? Or, it is an Adobe add-in?

I use PSE 15.

Thanks

TwoMetreBill · Jan 10, 2017

That's good news.

A previous review stated that the only Panasonic camera with focus bracketing was the GX80/85. While several models have focus stacking based on 4K video. Maybe the reviewer meant ILC cameras.

I was interested in the GX8 at the time, it was the most capable body for the 100-400 lens. But, no focus bracketing on this body.

panovision · Jan 10, 2017

Satyaa said:
Stan Still said:

If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

Click to expand...

This is useful info. Do you mind elaborating with some more details?

Is it a third party add-in for PSE that can be downloaded from its developer's site? Or, it is an Adobe add-in?

I use PSE 15.

Thanks

--
New FZ2500 album: https://flic.kr/s/aHskQU7Thb
All Flickr albums: https://www.flickr.com/photos/satya_a/albums

You can check details in link below. There is a trial version available and the full version is $12.

About Elements+

This is how it appears in PSE 15:

Stan Still · Jan 10, 2017

Yes it is a third party program that will install itself in Elements. It contains many of the features of the full Photoshop program, many more than you will need. After you install it, go to "Window" on the top line of Elements, click "Effects" and a panel of icons will appear as in the previous screen shot. Click on Scripts and you will see "photo stacking" in the menu.

Stan Still · Jan 10, 2017

I have just found the Help file which explains how to load Elements+

Elements+" (hereinafter, "E+") is an add-on that powers up Adobe Photoshop Elements (hereinafter, "PSE").

For placing all the necessary files on your computer just run the E+ installer (elements+14.exe) and follow its instructions. The first PSE launch after the E+ setup usually takes several minutes, because the application has to rebuild its cache file.

Thereafter, you can find the E+ features in the PSE Editor's "File > Automation Tools" menu.

For example, "File > Automation Tools > E+ Layers", "File > Automation Tools > E+ Scripts", etc..

If you prefer graphic icons:

Go to the "Effects" palette (Window > Effects).
Display "Photo Effects" (Effects) tab.
From the drop menu, choose the "Elements+" category (fig. 1).

Another way to use "Elements+":

Open the Actions panel (Window > Actions).
In the palette menu, select "Elements+" item (fig. 2)

If you can't find "Elements+" item in the flyout menu:

In the same menu, click "Load Actions" line.
Browse to "C:\Elements+\14.0\Actions" folder and choose "Elements+.atn" file.

Satyaa · Jan 10, 2017

This is helpful. Thanks.

Satyaa · Jan 10, 2017

Thanks Stan.

Yannis1976 · Jan 10, 2017

Hi,

Wonder whether you noticed any artifacts in focus stacking final pictures. In my case there were such issues...

Satyaa · Jan 10, 2017

I'm not sure that I understand. Which final pictures, and what kind of artifacts?

Do you mean the individual pictures that were used for stacking?

TwoMetreBill · Jan 10, 2017

Stacking and bracketing "can" both produce focus artifacts if an insufficient number of images are stacked. Using the ruler image that started this thread, close examination could show it going in and out of focus as you scan down the ruler. Not saying that this happens with this image, just an example of what could happen.

spike29 · Jan 10, 2017

Stan Still said:
If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

Thanks.

i searched for free download but all i see is a free demo...

site

panovision · Jan 10, 2017

spike29 said:
Stan Still said:

If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

Click to expand...

Thanks.

i searched for free download but all i see is a free demo...

site

The demo is free and the full version is $12.

Satyaa · Jan 11, 2017

I understand now. Thank you.

spike29 · Jan 11, 2017

panovision said:
spike29 said:

Stan Still said:

If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

Click to expand...

Thanks.

i searched for free download but all i see is a free demo...

site

Click to expand...

The demo is free and the full version is $12.

ok i understand but i ment, is what's the difference? i can't see a future list of demo and full. (normaly the demo is navigational and open to play with but export will not happen or it gets stamped by "elements plus demo" or something.

i found introduction video. but that's about full i think.

(has any one this elements+ installed? to do screenshot or so?)

panovision · Jan 11, 2017

I posted a partial screen shot 1 day ago.

spike29 · Jan 11, 2017

panovision said:
I posted a partial screen shot 1 day ago.

This:?

spike29 said:
Stan Still said:

If you want a freeware focus stacking program for Elements, you can try Elements+. I think it is still free. You will find it under "Scripts"

Click to expand...

Thanks.

i searched for free download but all i see is a free demo...

site

The demo is free and the full version is $12.

This is the site, (can't find stacking)

i just try to see that "focus stacking" app in elements+

FZ2500: In camera Focus stacking - First try

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