Focus stacking with Z7

[SrMi]

Didn't do side-by-side comparison while switch, but one thing I noticed though, is the focus step width is much shorter than I experienced ( or at least in my memory ) on my old D850.

Per memory, I can do focus stacking from half-meter to infinity with step width 6 with around 5 shots, but now on Z7 even with step width set to 10, I need much more shots from half-meter to infinity.

Not sure if it's due to the lens difference or else. I was using Tamron lens on D850 but now S-line kit lens on Z7.

Note that the required number of shots for a given step size depends both on focal length and aperture.

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

Adding a bit of hands on clarification to focus shifting with D850 or Z 7

1/ Decide how many steps you need and what focus step distance you need.

With a few test runs with different numbers of exposures and different size steps you should quickly learn what is "about right" for the types of subject you want to focus shift.

2/ Set the camera and lens to AF

3/ Although perhaps counter intuitive to those who may not have done focus shift, use the focus ring to focus just in front of the subject even though the lens/camera are set to AF

Do not touch the shutter button (or back button focus) as, if you do, AF will refocus where you do not want the sequence to start.

4/ press start in the menu

The rear monitor goes blank, briefly displays each image taken, and eventually displays the final image in the sequence.

5/ One "trick" is to photograph your hand at the start and end of a sequence to separate shifted images in a sequence from others.

6/ download the shifted images, and edit them as a group in your preferred software.




Helleborine - Green flowered - still to sharpen etc - taken in windy conditions.



--
Leonard Shepherd
In lots of ways good photography is much more about how equipment is used rather than the equipment being used.

 

[jh82]

Thanks for the instruction. Can I take raw photo with focus stacking?

 

[jh82]

Since you have both D850 and Z7, have you compared them in focus stacking to see which one does the better job? Thanks!

 

[JimKasson]

Since you have both D850 and Z7, have you compared them in focus stacking to see which one does the better job? Thanks!

I've tested both. Except for a bit of strangeness in the step size selection for the Z7 (detailed in my blog posts), they are peas in a pod.

 

[JimKasson]

5/ One "trick" is to photograph your hand at the start and end of a sequence to separate shifted images in a sequence from others.

Or tell your stacking software to split the stacks based on time between the exposures.

 

[Ke Liu]

Didn't do side-by-side comparison while switch, but one thing I noticed though, is the focus step width is much shorter than I experienced ( or at least in my memory ) on my old D850.

https://blog.kasson.com/nikon-z6-7/calculating-the-nikon-z7-fss-step-size/

https://blog.kasson.com/d850/calculating-the-d850-fss-step-size/

22 um vs 25 um is probably within experimental error.

Per memory, I can do focus stacking from half-meter to infinity with step width 6 with around 5 shots, but now on Z7 even with step width set to 10, I need much more shots from half-meter to infinity.

Not sure if it's due to the lens difference or else. I was using Tamron lens on D850 but now S-line kit lens on Z7.

Lens' factor then.

What is "Lens' factor"?

I never used Nikkor lens on my old D850, Tamron all the way.

Jim

Dont know, purely guess. Can't think of why I got width difference in these 2 bodies

 

[JimKasson]

Didn't do side-by-side comparison while switch, but one thing I noticed though, is the focus step width is much shorter than I experienced ( or at least in my memory ) on my old D850.

https://blog.kasson.com/nikon-z6-7/calculating-the-nikon-z7-fss-step-size/

https://blog.kasson.com/d850/calculating-the-d850-fss-step-size/

22 um vs 25 um is probably within experimental error.

Per memory, I can do focus stacking from half-meter to infinity with step width 6 with around 5 shots, but now on Z7 even with step width set to 10, I need much more shots from half-meter to infinity.

Not sure if it's due to the lens difference or else. I was using Tamron lens on D850 but now S-line kit lens on Z7.

Lens' factor then.

What is "Lens' factor"?

I never used Nikkor lens on my old D850, Tamron all the way.

Jim

Dont know, purely guess. Can't think of why I got width difference in these 2 bodies

I’m asking what you mean by the words “lens’ factor.” I’m not familiar with that terminology.

 

[Ke Liu]

I’m asking what you mean by the words “lens’ factor.” I’m not familiar with that terminology.

Apologized if I didn't get the language right. Ignore it please

--
Photo album @ https://500px.me/keliu

 

[SrMi]

Didn't do side-by-side comparison while switch, but one thing I noticed though, is the focus step width is much shorter than I experienced ( or at least in my memory ) on my old D850.

https://blog.kasson.com/nikon-z6-7/calculating-the-nikon-z7-fss-step-size/

https://blog.kasson.com/d850/calculating-the-d850-fss-step-size/

22 um vs 25 um is probably within experimental error.

Per memory, I can do focus stacking from half-meter to infinity with step width 6 with around 5 shots, but now on Z7 even with step width set to 10, I need much more shots from half-meter to infinity.

Not sure if it's due to the lens difference or else. I was using Tamron lens on D850 but now S-line kit lens on Z7.

Lens' factor then.

What is "Lens' factor"?

I never used Nikkor lens on my old D850, Tamron all the way.

Jim

Dont know, purely guess. Can't think of why I got width difference in these 2 bodies

Are you sure that you used the same focal length and aperture?

 

[kybruno]

I love the Z7 for most stuff its easy to use and oh so light in the hand and takes awesome photos but I will still keep hold of my D850 for those occassions when I know I will need the speed and for wildlife thats not saying that the Z7 cant take action or wildlife shots it can do it very well but for me I find the D850 copes better but thats probally because I am more used to handling dslr