cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

I have loved using the focus bracketing (stacking) feature on my Canon R5. Having the process automated on a mirrorless camera substantially reduces the time needed to acquire the images. Saving time in acquiring the images, is more than mere convenience. It can markedly changes the success rate in stacking, particularly from the days of turning the lens ring manually, when I waited for the camera to settle in between shots. Even after I automated the process by using a CamRanger, I programed a resting period between shots to allow settling after the movement caused by the shutter opening and closing. (It can make a difference shooting fine hairs at macro magnifications.) Shooting time has now been condensed to a mere fraction of the time it used to take me to shoot the stack, meaning that the mischief caused by a slight breeze ruining the stack is less likely. Also, it minimizes the problem of bringing a live plant into the studio where the flower may begin to close due to changes in the light's intensity and direction.

The stacking program worked wonderfully when I used a wired remote, but when I used the Canon software (Camera Connect) that allows my phone to act wirelessly as a remote trigger, a problem arose. The camera refocused to wherever the focus block was. This is a major problem. Due to the difficulty of determining the nearest point that could be in focus in complex subjects, starting the stack a frame or three before anything is in focus has prevented many surprises and much subsequent disappointment when you find that the closest part of the subject is not captured in any image in the stack. In practice I manually set the initial focus closer than any part of the subject.

What made the refocusing particularly shocking was that I programmed my camera for back button focusing. Pressing the exposure button will not cause my camera to refocus. As I did not process the stacks immediately, I did not know the camera was refocusing. I lost two days of stacks due to the refocus problem.

Yesterday, I spoke to a Canon tech yesterday to determine whether the problem is in the firmware, the app, or a defect in my camera that needs repair. The techs, who are working at home most days, are a bit hamstrung. Instant access to the R5 and certain tools to
diagnose problems are limited to office days. Hopefully I will find out today what the problem is.

While using a manual trigger isn't a great effort once I knew there is a problem, I'd still prefer to do it wirelessly. The trigger is just an additional piece of gear to carry that can break, or malfunction. I'd also prefer not to hold the trigger steady with outstretched arm while the stack completes. Hopefully I will hear from Canon today.

ggenova64

I have two questions:
Are you using an OEM trigger or generic? Have you tried another remote shutter release cable?

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

The wired shutter release, which worked beautifully, is generic. The non wired remote, which was my iPhone using the Canon app "Camera Connect" did not work properly. I tried my CamRanger 2 in two separate modes. In the mode where the CamRanger controls the stacking and the internal stacking program of the camera is not engaged, the Camranger worked perfectly. When the internal focus bracketing program of the R5 was engaged and the CamRanger was used as a shutter release, it refocused. It should be noted, the traditional wired shutter release plugs into a different port in the camara than the CamRanger.

I only have the one generic shutter release; but since it worked fine, I did not see the need to borrow one from a friend and try it.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

The problem with refocusing by the R5 extends much further than using the internal focus bracketing with the Canon wi-fi app, Canon Connect. I manually focused the lens and used Camera Connect and my iPhone as a shutter release for a single shot. The focus shifted to where the focus square was. When I used the CamRanger 2 as a shutter release, it too moved the focus. Therefor, I don't think the problem is with the Camera Connect app. It seems to be a problem with using manual focus with either a wi-fi shutter release or a release that plugs into the USB C port. Have any Hogs experienced a similar problem?

bleirer

I'm curious if it varies with one shot vs. Servo or with which autofocus mode you used? Also with whether lens switch is set to manual or auto focus? Is this an RF lens or EF? So many possible combinations to try.

cactuspic Loc: Dallas, TX

I will try one shot versus the servo I have it set on now. For all automated focus stacking, the lens switch must be set on autofocus, otherwise there is no way to advance the focus other than manually turning the focus ring. I am using EF lenses with an adapter as Canon has not yet made a RF macro that has sufficient magnification or allows sufficient distance from the subject for my needs. When I get back from lunch, I will also try an RF lens.

Unfortunately, there was a snowstorm in Virginia that shut the Canon repair facility. So I won't get an more information from Canon until Monday as they only are in the facility on Mondays and Thursdays.

User ID

Looks like you’ve run into a typical example of the engineering of remotes and tethers. Certain limited assumptions are made about the possible pool of users. Engineering a remote app is not as important and therefore not as thoroughly accomplished as engineering the core firmware in the camera.

I’m not even curious about the outcome of this. Acoarst I wish you the best but I really don’t expect it. Fortunately you have your wired remote, which adds no additional code or app to the mix.

Sounds like you really know your stuff ... but users such as yourself are often beyond the imagination of the planners of these apps. Planners aren’t the engineers. Planners tell the engineers what’s needed. Seems that users such as yourself never occurred to the planners.

IOW the app is prolly for things like a “wedding selfie booth” or similar uses, and for such use has total customer satisfaction. Basically you’re a victim of “fool proof” tech. It sees you as a fool attempting risky or illogical operation, and so it “protects” you.

bleirer

Just fooling with my Canon RP, which I'd expect to be similar to your R5. I get results similar to yours with both rf and ef lenses. Without camera connect i can engage focus stacking while having autofocus disable as in bbf, so focus manually and shoot stack starting from my manual focus point. I can set shutter delay to avoid vibration.

But in camera connect when I try that it won't fire the shutter while I am focusing manually, it just says 'busy.' It only fires if it acquires an AF target. So the only workaround seems to be to focus the af point on some other near object in the corner of the scene that will later get cropped or take care to place the point on the nearest part of the scene. Or easier just push the shutter manually with a 10 second delay.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Seeing this post, I forwarded a link to a friend with an R5, and he suggested you consider this:

" When the camera is told to start shooting, if it is set for autofocus (which it must be in order that the focus be changed for each shot in the stack) the first thing it does is autofocus on the nearest object, and then it proceeds. To prevent the camera from autofocusing and overriding the focus that you have manually set, you half depress the shutter release, then manually adjust the focus to where you want the stack to begin and then complete pushing the shutter release. (Note, that to be able to manually override the autofocus, the camera must be set to allow this. In tab 4 of the menu, in Lens electronic MF, set One-Shot enabled to On.) To keep this from jiggling the camera, also use a two or ten second shutter release delay. If the user's remote allows the equivalent of half-depressing the shutter release, he should be fine. Otherwise, he or she likely will need to use the timed shutter release. "

Hope this helps.

User ID

Apparently your friend failed to read the OP’s query. Maybe he should join UHH. He’d fit right in.