Canon 400D - Photo Stacking

Hi All,

I've been watching countless youtube videos regarding different aspects of photography.  One such item was on Photo Stacking.

All the videos I watched the photographers had Live View and touch screen focussing, which isn't available on my Canon 400D.

I love landscape photography and would like to master Photo Stacking, but I'm not sure how I go about it seeing I don't have Live View or touch screen focussing.

Am I able to do this?

What kind of photo stacking do you want to do? There are a number of reasons you might want to stack photos:

• High dynamic range (HDR)
• Noise reduction
• Focus stacking to increase depth of field
• Increased resolution (similar to pixel-shift)

There may be more reasons. Those are the ones that come to mind.

Hi Doug,

Thanks for your response.  The reason is increased depth of field and focus.

For focus stacking, you could simply refocus the lens by hand. Manual focus is a bit of a challenge on a straight DSLR like the XTi/400D, though.

The optimal solution is to get a rail that allows the camera to be moved in and out in small increments. This also avoids any issues with the lens changing focal length when you change the focus distance ("focus breathing", it's called). But a focus stacking rail will cost more than upgrading your camera.

In the end, there's a reason that focus stacking wasn't a "thing" back when your camera was made, and you're running into that reason.

Doug Pardee wrote:

For focus stacking, you could simply refocus the lens by hand. Manual focus is a bit of a challenge on a straight DSLR like the XTi/400D, though.

The optimal solution is to get a rail that allows the camera to be moved in and out in small increments. This also avoids any issues with the lens changing focal length when you change the focus distance ("focus breathing", it's called). But a focus stacking rail will cost more than upgrading your camera.

In the end, there's a reason that focus stacking wasn't a "thing" back when your camera was made, and you're running into that reason.

Hi Doug,

Mate, thanks for your response.  I thought that was the answer but thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone had an answer.

Have been looking at the new Canon 90D, just have to convince the wife.

Once again thanks for your reply.