In-camera focus stacking question for macro

[kodachromed]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

 

[Woody Meristem]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

I've never used Helicon, but focus stacking in my Olympus E-M1 ii is quick and easy. However, I can't stack more than 15 images in-camera; to stack more than 15 I'd have to use other software. The book says the limit is eight images, but mine will stack 15 -- Why???

 

[David5833]

It's really convenient and can result in some excellent stacks. It's limited to a maximum bracket of 15 frames and the output is a JPEG. You have to set the initial focus point about a third or halfway into the depth of the subject and then it steps the focus in front of that point and behind that point to make the stack. Setting the correct step size usually requires trial and error to get the whole subject in focus. I don't think it's a really great implementation, but it does work and you can get some good stacks with the limitations I mentioned. It is simple and limited compared to Helicon or even Photoshop, but I'm sure some people are happy with it. For me, using the focus bracketing feature and stacking in post is far more useful and straightforward.

 

[Sam Bennett]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

It depends on the camera. For instance, the E-P7 will do focus bracketing, which you could use with something like Helicon, but it doesn’t do in camera focus stacking. Note that even in stacking mode, you get the bracket as well (which I personally find annoying since I would never use third party software for this).

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

No idea. I like using focus stacking, but I’m not experienced enough with macro to have needed it.

 

[Michael Meissner]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

There are 2 different things provided on the mid/high end bodies:

There is focus stacking where the camera takes a given number of photos (3 to 15) and merges them in camera to provide a single combined JPG file. This only works with certain lenses (the OM/Olympus 3 macro lenses plus most of the high end Pro lenses). The camera does leave the individual photos that were combined in the camera on the SD card, so you can always go back and do the combination yourself if desired.

There is also focus bracketing, where the camera takes up to 999 pictures, varying the focal length, and then you combine these images together in post processing. You can use any native micro 4/3rds lens with auto focus support.

Here are some articles about focus stacking and bracketing that I've clipped (some of these are older, so they might not mention the newest cameras):

• https://learnandsupport.getolympus....ips/macro/focus-stacking-bracketing-with-om-d
• https://learnandsupport.getolympus....ng-focus-bracketing-and-stacking-in-landscape
• https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2016...ith-olympus-micro-43-cameras/#google_vignette
• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/58266769
• https://support.jp.omsystem.com/en/support/imsg/digicamera/qa/products/om1/#10

I've only used focus stacking with the 60mm f/2.8 macro lens. It works well and is convenient. I would have to imagine that using focus bracketing will give you more control, but of course you will have to do the combining in post processing.

 

[Sylvan120]

I use the OM-1ii with the 60mm and 90mm macro lenses. The limit is 15 shots in the stack. The focus differential can be set from 1-10 which is an index of the distance between the shots in the series. It works fine within the limitations of the camera and photographer.

When shooting at true macro 1:1 or greater magnification, handheld, I find it difficult at times to get a good series of shots that will stack. The issue is me not keeping the camera still enough as the higher the magnification gets, the more tiny movements result in the subject moving across the image sensor, and the camera says “I can’t stack that”. I am also shooting outdoors with air movement and insect movement to deal with too. Add in awkward camera angles and the difficulty rises more. That though, is the challenge of macro. With tripod and a still subject, no problems. I find it much easier to use hand held doing close-up photography, which a lot of people call “macro” photography. For true macro, I find it easier to just shoot a series of focus bracketed shots (can shoot up to 999 in a series) and then stack on the computer.

If you are just starting macro, you will probably also want a good high speed flash and diffuser too.

 

[Michael Meissner]

I've never used Helicon, but focus stacking in my Olympus E-M1 ii is quick and easy. However, I can't stack more than 15 images in-camera; to stack more than 15 I'd have to use other software. The book says the limit is eight images, but mine will stack 15 -- Why???

Looking at the E-m1 mark II firmware releases, version 3.0 of the firmware that was released on June 19th, 2019 adds the ability to select the number of shots used for focus stacking from 3 to 15.

I believe the E-m1 mark II was the first body to support full focus stacking.

 

[James Stirling]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

 

[Skeeterbytes]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[James Stirling]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

I agree it is great fun, when I first got my OM-1 , I was doing stacks of all kinds of random stuff from biscuits to landscapes

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

For higher magnification macro with very small subjects , where you need a lot of shots for stacking , I find you can do a lot better using raw captured files and stacking in post, though more time consuming

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

I think the close focus abilities of several m43 zoom is a genuine advantage that often goes unnoticed . The 12-45mm has a lot going for it , I still have both versions of the 12-40mm as well as a Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 so for standard zooms I could do with cutting them down. The 12-45mm with an OM-5 is a great combo, reasonably compact , still feature packed camera and a high quality lens

Cheers,

Rick

 

[gary0319]

I use the in-camera focus stacking routinely in shooting flowers at botanical gardens. I used to use Halicon but once I got the hang of the in-camera version I let Halicon lapse.

In addition to what others have noted, I would add that the in-camera image alignment prior to the stacking, is pretty finicky so keeping the camera still during the shot sequence is paramount. It will adjust for some minor movement in the same focal plane, but any movement for and/or aft of the focal plane gets a ghosted image. This takes some practice and faster shutter speeds are your friend here. Of course I’m talking about handheld.

Even the lowly OM TG7 compact does a decent job of in-camera focus stacking. This is an 8 shot stack from the TG7.

 

[Sam Bennett]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

This caught me out the other day when I tried using it with the 25/1.8 and was like “What the heck is going on?!” but then reached for the 14-45/4!

Anyone know if the new 17/25 f/1.8s work with stacking?

 

[Skeeterbytes]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

This caught me out the other day when I tried using it with the 25/1.8 and was like “What the heck is going on?!” but then reached for the 14-45/4!

Anyone know if the new 17/25 f/1.8s work with stacking?

Per the OM-3 Q&A they are not.

https://support.jp.omsystem.com/en/support/imsg/digicamera/qa/products/om3/#04

ETA a little weird so few primes are compatible.

Rick

 

[Sam Bennett]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

This caught me out the other day when I tried using it with the 25/1.8 and was like “What the heck is going on?!” but then reached for the 14-45/4!

Anyone know if the new 17/25 f/1.8s work with stacking?

Per the OM-3 Q&A they are not.

https://support.jp.omsystem.com/en/support/imsg/digicamera/qa/products/om3/#04

ETA a little weird so few primes are compatible.

Rick

Booooooo, that's a bummer. That makes it much less useful for me for my farmer's market trips, since I'm often going between doing macros and taking photos of people and dogs. :/

 

[Sdlv]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

This caught me out the other day when I tried using it with the 25/1.8 and was like “What the heck is going on?!” but then reached for the 14-45/4!

Anyone know if the new 17/25 f/1.8s work with stacking?

Per the OM-3 Q&A they are not.

https://support.jp.omsystem.com/en/support/imsg/digicamera/qa/products/om3/#04

ETA a little weird so few primes are compatible.

Rick

Booooooo, that's a bummer. That makes it much less useful for me for my farmer's market trips, since I'm often going between doing macros and taking photos of people and dogs. :/

Not all is lost. These lenses can still be used with focus bracketing.

. . . Steven

 

[Sam Bennett]

I am interested in exploring macro photography and found that only Olympus/OM SYSTEM cameras offer true in-camera focus stacking i.e the camera both brackets and merges the images internally; no need for software after shooting to merge the images.

I don't have much experience with Olympus/OM SYSTEMS and was wondering how well this feature works compared to using software like Helicon. Any advice/opinions much appreciated.

In camera stacking is a genuinely fun feature and I used it quite a bit when I first got my OM-1 . It is handy and quick but comes with the limitations previous posters have mentioned ( max number of frames and jpeg output. For higher magnification macro or you need deeper DOF capturing the images using the in camera bracket with raw output , which can definitely give you more control and flexibility with the possibility of better results . With the downside for some being the extra processing efforts needed

Love stacking, especially beginning with the OM-1 which can shoot and create the stack much faster than before, giving me a higher success rate.

Each scenario demands fiddling with the interval and carefully selecting the starting focus point. The finder frame marks are easy to miss but vital to getting the subject in frame--the stacked image dimensions are reduced compared to the component images.

Frustrating that more lenses don't access the feature, e.g., the 1.2 Pros. OTOH my favorite lens for it is the 12-45. Its near focus is very short across the zoom range.

This caught me out the other day when I tried using it with the 25/1.8 and was like “What the heck is going on?!” but then reached for the 14-45/4!

Anyone know if the new 17/25 f/1.8s work with stacking?

Per the OM-3 Q&A they are not.

https://support.jp.omsystem.com/en/support/imsg/digicamera/qa/products/om3/#04

ETA a little weird so few primes are compatible.

Rick

Booooooo, that's a bummer. That makes it much less useful for me for my farmer's market trips, since I'm often going between doing macros and taking photos of people and dogs. :/

Not all is lost. These lenses can still be used with focus bracketing.

. . . Steven

I do the vast majority of post processing on my phone - I don’t have the time or desire to do extensive work on a computer. If I was super serious about macro photography I’d probably approach it differently, but I’m just taking casual detail pics of fruits and veggies for the most part.

 

[Bassam Guy]

I use the in-camera focus stacking routinely in shooting flowers at botanical gardens. I used to use Halicon but once I got the hang of the in-camera version I let Halicon lapse.

In addition to what others have noted, I would add that the in-camera image alignment prior to the stacking, is pretty finicky so keeping the camera still during the shot sequence is paramount. It will adjust for some minor movement in the same focal plane, but any movement for and/or aft of the focal plane gets a ghosted image. This takes some practice and faster shutter speeds are your friend here. Of course I’m talking about handheld.

Even the lowly OM TG7 compact does a decent job of in-camera focus stacking. This is an 8 shot stack from the TG7.

Gary, I'd like to focus stack or bracket more frequently than I do but don't always have a tripod or don't want to bother setting it up.

Is focus stacking reliable [fairly steadily] handheld with ~E-M1 III level IBIS?

Focus bracketing?

I see you used a TG-7. I had a TG-3 but gave it to my friend before his honeymoon in the Amazon rain forest. I do miss it for swimming & heavy rain, and, judging by your photo, it looks like the IQ has dramatically improved.

 

[gary0319]

I use the in-camera focus stacking routinely in shooting flowers at botanical gardens. I used to use Halicon but once I got the hang of the in-camera version I let Halicon lapse.

In addition to what others have noted, I would add that the in-camera image alignment prior to the stacking, is pretty finicky so keeping the camera still during the shot sequence is paramount. It will adjust for some minor movement in the same focal plane, but any movement for and/or aft of the focal plane gets a ghosted image. This takes some practice and faster shutter speeds are your friend here. Of course I’m talking about handheld.

Even the lowly OM TG7 compact does a decent job of in-camera focus stacking. This is an 8 shot stack from the TG7.

Gary, I'd like to focus stack or bracket more frequently than I do but don't always have a tripod or don't want to bother setting it up.

Is focus stacking reliable [fairly steadily] handheld with ~E-M1 III level IBIS?

Focus bracketing?

I see you used a TG-7. I had a TG-3 but gave it to my friend before his honeymoon in the Amazon rain forest. I do miss it for swimming & heavy rain, and, judging by your photo, it looks like the IQ has dramatically improved.

First off, all my focus stacking is handheld, even with the TG7 which doesn’t have the best image stabilization. So, your E-M1 III should be fine. Just keep the shutter speed up and use good handholding techniques and it works well.

I’ve had my TG7 for about a year and it always amazes me. It’s become an almost permanent side kick camera when out with my “real” cameras….. and of course does a great job on its own. The sensor is still only 12 mpx, but takes readily to uprezing for good size printing. I have entered three 12x16 prints from cropped and uprezed TG7 prints for our annual club exhibition and they are just fine. Uprezed and printed at 300 dpi.

 

[Bassam Guy]

 

[Michael Meissner]

I see you used a TG-7. I had a TG-3 but gave it to my friend before his honeymoon in the Amazon rain forest. I do miss it for swimming & heavy rain, and, judging by your photo, it looks like the IQ has dramatically improved.

Focus stacking was first added to the TG-3.

The TG-4 added RAW support, AF selection, and more macro support.

The TG-5 reduced the picture size from 16 megapixels to 12 megapixels. I believe it was claimed to do this to improve the picture quality. I have the TG-5, but I don't use it much.

The TG-6 added a higher resolution LCD, more macro modes, including focus bracketing, and improvements to reduce ghosting and flare.

Dpreview doesn't say much what the TG-7 adds, except I think one feature is switching to USB C so it can continue to be sold in Europe.