PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

You good people helped me with an earlier stacking problem so I’m hoping you can come up trumps again.
I’m looking for advice regarding an issue I’ve encountered while photographing large stacks, by large I mean 70 to 100 shots. To be honest this issue has blunted my enthusiasm for Focus Stacking which is a pity as I’ve enjoyed focus stacking for about two years using my canon 6D and 100mm macro lens (average size of stack around 25).

The problem arose when I started pushing the limits with the Canon MPE-65 macro lens and the number of shots in each stack increased to 70+. Roughly the first 50 or so shots in a stack were fine then I noticed that every third shot was black, then every second. I assume the batteries were losing some of their charge and the recycle times were getting longer than the delay between shots. I tried increasing the time between shots which helped a little but did not solve the problem.

I’m hoping others have encountered this issue so any advice or workaround would be appreciated.
My Kit: Canon 6D, MPE-65, 430 EXII flash, Stackshot Rail, mounted on a homemade rig.
I think my options may be:
- new batteries every time (expensive)
- increase the time between shots even more (total shoot time unacceptable long)
- fully charged rechargeable batteries every time
- constant lighting (tried this but not happy with results but could persevere if advised)
- mains powered studio flash (a bit over the top maybe).

I’m prepared to be embarrassed if I’ve missed the obvious.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

you might try multiple slaved flash heads firing at very low power

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Ditch the speedlight and switch to using a studio strobe. For macro there are several advantages, such as more consistent light levels from shot to shot, consistent recharge times when shooting large stacks, and no need to have a fresh set of batteries. Plus since a high power speedlight delivers only about 80 Ws of power, even an inexpensive 160 Ws strobe can be set to half power for fast recharge and provide the same light. Larger lights, though heavier too, can provide either faster recharge or the ability to use a wider aperture for the same DOF (or maybe both).

And while there are many inexpensive 160 Ws strobes available today, there are also many used strobes available with higher power at very decent prices that deliver a few nice to have bells and whistles.
Examples of recent sales on eBay are 3 different Paul C. Buff Ultra1800 900 Ws lights selling at less than $105, 3 Ultra1200 600 Ws lights each at less than $150, and many AlienBees B400 160 Ws units at $50 each.
There are a variety of new models, 160 Ws to 660 Ws, costing from $300 to $500. The high power lights are a nice convenience.

napabob Loc: Napa CA

I've never shot any stacks but the most important thing for me is fast recycle times, I use an exterior 8 cell Bolt brand (CBP-C1) battery pack and have two sets of batteries (eneloop) for the pack(I bought two Bolts so I have the batteries already in the battery rack so all I do is slide the dying one out, then the fresh one in and hardly pause) and the on camera flash, have NEVER run out of power.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

How old is your speedlight? A new a Canon 430EX II has a tested GN of 34. As a speedlight ages, recycle time increases, and the measured GN diminishes. If you can borrow a more powerful speedlight to test, you may find it requires a Manual setting lower than your 430EX II, which will allow a quicker recycle time, and more flashes per charge.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Thanks Apaflo, that would be a neat solution and could be cheaper that a new flash. I’m sure I could find other uses for studio strobes to justify, to myself, the expense.
One option to seriously consider.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Thanks napabob, I did consider an external battery pack with eneloops but I couldn't find one you could use with Canon Speedlites. I’ll have another look.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Thanks Douglass, I’ve had the flash too long to remember when I bought it so five or six years at least.
Another option to seriously consider.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

Multiple high intensity lamps with variable output, (microscope type) then batteries aren't a problem. Rig up diffusers as required.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Now that’s something I haven't considered.
Thanks Carl D I’ll look into it.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

I use those cheap high intensity desk lamps. Move em where you want and there on a goose neck. Make up all sorts of diffusers out of household stuff. Get it the way you want it easily.

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

These are what I use. I just put diffusers between the subject and the light based on the light needed. Easy, cheap and very flexible. I'm sure Amazon in Wales will carry the same or something similar.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018HN1D8E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

What about continuous LED lights?

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Thanks for the link WayneT.
Amazon UK sell LED Gooseneck lamps from £10 and Ebay have intensity adjustable Gooseneck Microscope LED lamps from around £110 (the microscope lamps have a pair of LED lights).
In the past I’ve had better results with flash than continuous lighting although for £10 or £20 it may be worth giving LED a go.

PaulBa Loc: Cardiff, Wales

Thanks for the suggestion Dan, LED lights have been added to my list of options for consideration.