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Fuji AF bracketing in macro photography - How useful is it?

Started Mar 2, 2020 | Questions thread
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Rightsaidfred
Rightsaidfred Senior Member • Posts: 2,179
Fuji AF bracketing in macro photography - How useful is it?
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Dear macro friends

I'd like to ask you: how big is the advantage of AF bracketing for focus stacking in macro photography? When do you use it? Why do you use it?

One advantage could be speed. How fast is the auto function compared to using a classic stacking rail? How about it in the 1:1 range? Does AF bracketing work in that magnification range at all, or are you better off with a rail anyway there?

Another advantage of (manual/auto) focus bracketing is the better control of perspective. My experience is that this aspect does not really matter in the 1:1 range but more in the 'not-so-close-up' range, let's say, for a family of mushrooms. What is your experience with AF bracketing?

Here comes the context:

I currently call an X-T20 my own that lacks the AF bracketing function but one day will upgrade to an X-T4 or similar.

Today, all my three macro lenses are manual (Laowa 15 mm, 25 mm, 60 mm). I'm currently thinking about selling one of them, the 60 mm f/2.8 2:1 full frame lens to replace it with the lovely new Laowa 65 mm APS-C lens. But then again, I'd have no chance to do AF bracketing with a future body!

Alternatives with an AF motor are the XF 80 mm f/2.8 1:1 or the Zeiss Touit 50 mm f/2.8 1:1 (the XF 60 mm f/2.4 is not an alternative for me because I'd really like to have at least the 1:1 magnification).

Btw, I do my stacks with Zerene.

Here's a former thread about AF bracketing speed but it's not about macro that's why I'm now specifically asking for experience with close-up photography.

BR,

Martin

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