chemdoc Loc: West Coast

I decided to try out Helicon Focus for focus stacking on my D850 and have run into an issue. When I tried to open two raw files the program says "failed to open image". However, when I use the jpeg versions of the images it works fine. The website says that the D850 is supported. I'm sure some of you have used the program with the D850 and was hoping you might have a suggestion. Thanks.

Phil

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Doesn't only their PRO version do RAW files?

chemdoc Loc: West Coast

I'm not sure, but perhaps that is the case.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

That is what Helicon Focus’ website says.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Combining focus stacked images is incredibly easy with Lightroom and Photoshop.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Yes. Easy peasy.

Andy

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Except for those times when the Photoshop makes mistakes. Helicon Focus has a number of settings and three rendering choices that makes it more accurate, and it is considerably faster than Photoshop. Lightroom does not do focus stacking, but if you use LR in your workflow, you can use it to prep the images before opening them as layers in Photoshop. Helicon rarely messes up, and the results are generally better than with Photoshop. It also does a great job when the stack is created with a lens that has considerable focus breathing. Photoshop has a hard time with that.

But the website is pretty clear - only the Pro version will work with D850 raw files. It can also work with a motorized focus rail, or you can use Helicon Remote to have the software step the focus on the lens automatically. I use Remote sometimes, controlling it with my smartphone. Only downside of my version of Remote is that it only works with jpegs.

Photoshop's stacking capability is more of a show of what is possible than a solid solution for stacking. It's a bit unfinished.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

I concur wholeheartedly. Also, why not process the raw to your liking then change them to JPEGs at 12 quality and then stitch them together?