Stacking for focus.... Using, well, stacking: Well, the title is weird, as is the method first described in DPR. You shoot several frames of the same thing then all load the captures...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Well, the title is weird, as is the method first described in DPR.

You shoot several frames of the same thing then all load the captures as stack to finally align all the images. This does not change the dof as the static camera settings and focusing stays the same.

I am trying this with a D850, using raw and 19 images...

The initial file is 19.3gb. Loading the stuff was easy. Aligning it taking f.o.r..e.v.e.r....

More later...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Difference is not worth the effort.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Rongnongno wrote:

...You shoot several frames of the same thing then all load the captures as stack to finally align all the images. This does not change the dof as the static camera settings and focusing stays the same....

So you're just overlaying the same image without shifting the focus? Not really sure just what you expect to happen.

Kozan Loc: Trenton Tennessee

If you are using the D850 Focus Tracking, the focus point does change slightly with each frame. I took a picture of a small model of a 1957 Chevy Bel-Air and I set the number of pictures to 50, I believe. Let the camera do its thing, then combined the images in Photoshop. Alignment took less than a minute. Easy-peasy. I think you must be doing something wrong. The hardest part I found was adjusting the tripod for the field of view I wanted and the initial exposure.

Kozan

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Stacking for focusing for all intentional purposes is used for a greater depth of field. Why would anyone for any reason take 19 images at the same DoF and hope for better focus?? In Stacking your are Stacking Slices of Focused areas on top of each other giving a greater depth in the final image. I use Zerene stacking software for all my needs, it would work great with your images as well. I can process 30 images in a few short minutes. Touch up takes a little longer depending on how anal you are, but not really time consuming and well worth the effort. http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-352039-1.html

Rongnongno wrote:

Well, the title is weird, as is the method first described in DPR.

You shoot several frames of the same thing then all load the captures as stack to finally align all the images. This does not change the dof as the static camera settings and focusing stays the same.

I am trying this with a D850, using raw and 19 images...

The initial file is 19.3gb. Loading the stuff was easy. Aligning it taking f.o.r..e.v.e.r....

More later...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

The DPR article mentions using this instead of shift focus. For fun I tried it and found the experience lacking.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Do you have a link to the article? I can't see how stacking images with the same focus would do any good. What software are you trying to use?

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

I think the stacking is to reduce noise when you stack the same photos. It can also be used to remove moving objects like people or to replicate a long exposure.
Focus stacking is to focus on different points and then blend the photos with each in focus area on the final photo.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/0727694641/here-s-how-to-pixel-shift-with-any-camera

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Rongnongno wrote:

Well, the title is weird, as is the method first described in DPR.

You shoot several frames of the same thing then all load the captures as stack to finally align all the images. This does not change the dof as the static camera settings and focusing stays the same.

I am trying this with a D850, using raw and 19 images...

The initial file is 19.3gb. Loading the stuff was easy. Aligning it taking f.o.r..e.v.e.r....

More later...

Ron, how do 19 46MB files turn into 19GB?

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Sounds almost like an HDR effort.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

TriX wrote:

Ron, how do 19 46MB files turn into 19GB?

Load then into a single stack and you will see.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Rongnongno wrote:

Well, the title is weird, as is the method first described in DPR.

You shoot several frames of the same thing then all load the captures as stack to finally align all the images. This does not change the dof as the static camera settings and focusing stays the same.

I am trying this with a D850, using raw and 19 images...

The initial file is 19.3gb. Loading the stuff was easy. Aligning it taking f.o.r..e.v.e.r....

More later...

After reading the article I think your camera is too nice to benefit much from this routine. This is similar to techniques used in Astrophotography.

You could do a more challenging test in low light at high ISO and see what the benefit is.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Rongnongno wrote:

The DPR article mentions using this instead of shift focus. For fun I tried it and found the experience lacking.

That stacking technique is usually used to cancel out noise in low light/high ISO shots. The idea being that the noise pattern would be different on each frame. I think I saw a mention of it by astrophotographers to make the night sky black without noise speckles. Or airplanes passing by.
It is also used to eliminate people from shots. The article I read long ago said take shots of static subjects with the people in different locations, the erase the people from each frame, stack and the result is a scene without the people. The reverse is also true, you can add/duplicate people by the same method.

As to your problem aligning the shots, most dedicated stacking software has an "align" function, even PS's fairly simple stacking function.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Rongnongno wrote:

Load then into a single stack and you will see.

Ron, 19 x 46MB is less than 1GB. Think about that - how can that turn into 19GB? Something is wrong here.