Infinite focus for you dSLR....

[Tim Gray]

I had a chance to look at an alpha version of the new Helicon - basically at the same time combine-z version 5 came available as beta....  in any event I'd suggest taking a look at the current combine-z version 5 - which is still free...

[Lin Evans]

Hyperfocal landscapes are common with large format cameras, but dSLR shooters have had a tougher time of it for a variety of reasons.

I've found what I think is an ideal solution for me at least. The recent heavy rains in California have presented a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to shoot a virtual sea of wildflowers against the rugged landscapes of Death Valley. This potential got me to thinking about ways to enhance depth of field. We've always had software such as CombineZ, Helicon Focus and others which help do this with photomicroscopy. A few months ago I found I could use these techniques to greatly improve my macro depth of field for small art objects, but until now I've not found software which could really do this for landscapes.

The new version of Helicon Focus has an incredible ability to register different frames and correct for the normal size differentials. I decided to give it a try with the aim of producing an infinite focus landscape. A quick trip to the front yard with my Canon 1DS, Sigma 15-30 zoom and an old Nikon on a tripod as a close-up subject has convinced me that this can not only be done, but can be done very well.

Below is the result of a four frame capture using different focal points. The Nikon on the tripod was about 14 inches in front of the lens, so this frame is essentially an infinite focus using Helicon Focus (about 15 seconds) to combine the four into what you see below. A pesky reflection on the LCD of the Nikon was cloned out and the image you see below was sharpened a bit in PhotoShop but otherwise it's as it came from the combining of the four frames. The four component shots are linked if you want to see them.

Below is a link to the Helicon site where they have a free 30 day trial if you want to try it for yourself...

Lin

http://heliconfocus.com/pages/?focus_overview



http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/hyperfocalresult.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/1.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/2.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/3.jpg
http://www.lin-evans.net/hyperfocal/4.jpg

[Lin Evans]

Combine Z is a great product - I've used it for a long time and really love it - but I've not been able to get the same ability to "register" objects of different size. I couldn't do that with the older version of Helicon Focus either, but this new version is really dynamite...

Lin