Focus

[armand]

Playing again with Helicon Focus, I ran a couple of sequences that I shot some time ago.

Overall it still gives plenty or errors, not a lot better than Photoshop (I do have to play with the settings more though), but it's easier to correct and in the end, after the same amount of time, the shot looks mostly ok vs still has obvious errors. Still very time consuming though, this is where a Wacom would be helpful.

[kers]

I would suggest first surge for the right way ( steps and aperture) to shoot without gaps.
The try the standard B and c option - both have their problems, but different ones... you can combine the strong points in photoshop.
 

[armand]

I would suggest first surge for the right way ( steps and aperture) to shoot without gaps.
The try the standard B and c option - both have their problems, but different ones... you can combine the strong points in photoshop.

These are a little challenging because of significant focus breathing, but I wanted to test with something that’s not easy. I don’t plan to get a focus rail. The coverage between the shots is enough.

With the newer focus shifts implemented in camera it’s easier because the steps are even vs my manual focusing. The Fuji and Oly still have significant focus breathing, the Nikon Z lenses less.


Overall every time I try this I recall how much time they actually take to properly adjust, particularly with lots of small but clear details.

[kers]

These are a little challenging because of significant focus breathing, but I wanted to test with something that’s not easy. I don’t plan to get a focus rail. The coverage between the shots is enough.
With the newer focus shifts implemented in camera it’s easier because the steps are even vs my manual focusing. The Fuji and Oly still have significant focus breathing, the Nikon Z lenses less.
Overall every time I try this I recall how much time they actually take to properly adjust, particularly with lots of small but clear details.

Yes i would take the B as the base layer - it has the best gradients and colour- then work on the problems with the C content..
Also in the case of the photo's shown i would use f11.

[armand]

Both were shot with the Nikon macro 105 2.8, the fungus @ F8 and the other @ F16. Both were stacked in Helicon Focus 7 using method B.

Here is a different version of the second stacked in the Photoshop from 5 years ago.

[kers]

very nice photo !  like it better than the new ones...

[armand]

very nice photo !  like it better than the new ones...

Thank you