Hello all, I have been reading a lot online recently about "stacking" multiple images. I don't really know what this is or how one might accomplish it, or why? I looked in the Nikon D850 Users Manual index and did the same thing in David Busch's D850 guide book and found nothing on the subject. There really isn't much I could find on here either. Could someone provide a brief explanation and how this might be done (within the D850 or in PS/LR) or steer me in the right direction. Thanks, as always, Dick
bkyser
Loc: Fly over country in Indiana
It's generally "focus stacking" You take several shots of something (like a flower) and each shot is a focused from one part of the flower to the next (really important in close up, or in macro photography), then stack them up and only show the sharpest part from each photo. In close up and Macro, the depth of field is very narrow, this way, you get sharp focus from front to back.
There are other reasons to stack images, like take several images of a busy area, and then stack the photos all together, and use the photos without people in each section... or, you could always add people that way as well.
The key is to have your camera rock steady, best on a tripod.
Focus stacking is a technique used by macro photographers (and others) to increase depth of field.
A series of images are shot at different focus points of the subject.
The images are then combined in software using the in focus parts of each image to make up a single image that is (mostly) in focus.
To see samples of focus stacking visit the 'true macro' and 'close-up sections of UHH.
You take your shots with the camera on a tripod and set your iso, shutter speed and aperture manually so they stay the same for the whole series of shots. Then you manually focus on different parts of the same image (eg. front to back) getting each part of the image in sharp focus. Usually 6 to 10 shots will be sufficient to cover the whole image. You can use Photoshop to focus stack the images.
DirtFarmer
Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA
HDR (High Dynamic Range) is a form of stacking, using different exposures.
Focus stacking used different focal points on the same image
Panoramas are sometimes considered a form of stacking, using overlapping views.
Exposure stacking (HDR) has been included in a lot of camera bodies. Panoramas (view stacking) are included in a lot of cell phone cameras these days.
The D850 is the first camera I know of that includes focus stacking. There may have been others, and there have been external attachments around for many years to do that.
Except for the cell phone panoramas, you have to have some software to combine the different images to stack them. I use Photoshop, but there are other programs out there.
rdrechsler wrote:
Hello all, I have been reading a lot online recently about "stacking" multiple images. I don't really know what this is or how one might accomplish it, or why? I looked in the Nikon D850 Users Manual index and did the same thing in David Busch's D850 guide book and found nothing on the subject. There really isn't much I could find on here either. Could someone provide a brief explanation and how this might be done (within the D850 or in PS/LR) or steer me in the right direction. Thanks, as always, Dick
Hello all, I have been reading a lot online recent... (
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Read this thread:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-519956-1.htmlGoto
www.backcountryphotography.com and view the D850 review.
The D850, Lightroom Classic CC and Photoshop CC make this relatively easy, as complex post processing routines can go.
rdrechsler wrote:
Hello all, I have been reading a lot online recently about "stacking" multiple images. I don't really know what this is or how one might accomplish it, or why? I looked in the Nikon D850 Users Manual index and did the same thing in David Busch's D850 guide book and found nothing on the subject. There really isn't much I could find on here either. Could someone provide a brief explanation and how this might be done (within the D850 or in PS/LR) or steer me in the right direction. Thanks, as always, Dick
Hello all, I have been reading a lot online recent... (
show quote)
Understand that there are a number of different stacking techniques, and each one is for a specific purpose.
1. Focus Stacking - already mentioned, allows a series of images where the point is changed from image to image to product a resultant image that has a broader focus range.
2. HDR - already mentioned, a method to take several images using different setting to capture a broader dynamic range.
3. Super Resolution - a number of images that are stacked to allow a resultant image to have greater resolution. See PhotoAcute.
4. Reducing noise - A stacking method to increase the signal to noise ratio resulting in much lower noise. Many cameras can do this in camera. Also used for astrophotography.
focus stacking can be used even for landscape photography.but you definitely need a tripod.
Back in the film days with my 4x5 view camera we could adjust the focal plane so that the image was in focus front to rear. When digital cameras came out one started to see some of the product in focus and most of the set out of focus-the lazy way out in advertising.
For Macro photography at f-8 (the sweet spot of most lenses), a 1/16" difference in focal distance can cause an area of the photo to be out of focus. Today I shoot 13 images of a ring or diamond front to rear of the piece with a Canon 5DSr and 100mm f-2.8 macro lens, focus stack the 13 images, and print a 24 x 36 image of the ring for store displays. Lightroom will allow you exact click adjustment in focal length for accurate photos front to rear.
It is called focus shift on thr d850 and works great. You tube has it covered.
There are tons of videos on U Tube and the internet. The procedure is actually much easier than it sounds.
Hi Brent,
I also shoot an sr and 5D Mkiv. with a 100 mm macro...but in the ocean doing close-ups of design there. Having never done any stacking and with no opportunity with a tripod....it doesn't sound like I can avail my self of this procedure, does it? I am quite good and hovering over my subject, but invariably I move a bit. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Bruce
Go to YouTube, ask you question and be as specific as you can. I have learned more on YouTube than any instructional manual.
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