Barn Owl

I am in Manual Mode. Lighting is set for AWB. Ambient lighting. I shoot RAW and have The Focus Bracketing set for Enabled; Focus Increments on 4 (Default); Exposure Smoothing—Enable; 22 shots series. Yes, I am on a tripod. Using Canon Macro 100mm 2.8 L. In the sequence, ever when I have set F/5.6 or F/8, every pic has a light horizontal band across it and the band moves up with each of the shots sequence. Have tested with One Shot and Servo—no difference. Have tested for Smoothing and no Smoothing. I have tested with IS turned off the lens and the camera. The banding is consistent. It is probably something simple but I'm out of optiions.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Have you tried turning off AWB????

Barn Owl

Thanks for your post. Yes, I was testing with Sunlight mode before I set for AWB.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

AWB could adjust for the slightest change in the lighting characteristics.
When I do panos, I turn off AWB and lock the exposure in manual so there is no (or minimal) variation between shots.
Did the Daylight WB exhibit the same problem?

r1ch Loc: Colorado

I have an R5 and an ef 100 2.8 non L. I have not seen this issue BUT..

When using focus bracketing the camera uses electronic shutter. While the R5 has anti flicker for artificial lighting in mechanical mode, I don't believe it has it in electronic shutter mode and I don't think the R6 has it either (I could be wrong) so I did a little google for you. These two links support my assertion, no anti flicker for Electronic Shutter specifically for the R6 and banding in general for all cameras in Electronic shutter mode.

You could change shutter speed and see if the behavior changes, or you can swap out your artificial lights for the sun or try different artificial lights. Good luck, let us know if that is the issue.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4543808#forum-post-64711934
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4348448

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

What is the light source? Could you post an example of one of the shots?

clickety

Just a couple of thoughts
1 the upward movement of the banding infers that it is moving with the focus points.
2 is the problem limited to only these specific apertures?
3 what shutter speed are you setting? As mentioned and linked by previous posters the answer may be related to lighting and shutter speed. I’m not technical enough to explain the theories, but have a feeling thats where your solution lies.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I don't know if it could be causing your problem, but make certain that you have the camera set to not view each exposure after each shot.

Barn Owl

Thanks for your response. Okay, after some long exchanges with Canon techs and mainly watching this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XgLgKgDnpU&t=25s I finally am understanding the concept and details involved with macro Focus Bracking. In the video, Jason is address the R5 but all of the info applies to the R6 as well. Part of my problem is I'm old school and have always thought in terms of f/8 for my macro photography. With Focus Bracketing in macro, just completely forget about f/8. I suspect I can set for f/2.8 or f/4 and have impressive results. I will spare you the details but I was also was frustrated in that my R6 would not take as many photos as I had set for the sequence of shots...such as 42. Now, I finally understand where I was lost in the maze. The only additional change I may make is to completely disable all my IS settings in both the lens and the camera. That may not be necessary but seems necessary in my pilot testing.

Barn Owl

rich, Thanks for your efforts in trying to provide me with links to resolve my Focus Bracketing problems. Much appreciated. Here is a summary of what I now know: Okay, after some long exchanges with Canon techs and mainly watching this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XgLgKgDnpU&t=25s I finally am understanding the concept and details involved with macro Focus Bracking. In the video, Jason is address the R5 but all of the info applies to the R6 as well. Part of my problem is I'm old school and have always thought in terms of f/8 for my macro photography. With Focus Bracketing in macro, just completely forget about f/8. I suspect I can set for f/2.8 or f/4 and have impressive results. I will spare you the details but I was also was frustrated in that my R6 would not take as many photos as I had set for the sequence of shots...such as 42. Now, I finally understand where I was lost in the maze. The only additional change I may make is to completely disable all my IS settings in both the lens and the camera. That may not be necessary but seems necessary in my pilot testing.

Barn Owl

DaveJ, Have discovered the light bands I have seeing in my slide show via Breeze Browser Pro are not showing up in the final Focus Bracket in PhotoShop. Plus, I found a YouTube about Focus Bracketing on the R5 that completely helped me formulate the concept of how Focus Bracketing in macro works. Thanks for your help.

r1ch Loc: Colorado

I have seen that video before and I have focus bracketed before. I have never had banding. I am assuming you changed to F2.8 and then changed your shutter speed that either eliminated the banding or changed the behavior.

I am sure most software would see the banding on each frame and remove it, but better not that have the banding. If you are happy with your current results no need to change the process. Good luck to you. I found a jumping spider I am going to photograph using focus bracketing. I will see how that turns out. But in this case the faster the bracketing, the less chances the spider will move. Meaning faster shutter speed and wide open lens.