Focus Stacking with Helicon FB Tube
Feb 11, 2021 20:16:23 #
I just got a Helicon FB tube. For those of you not familiar with it, it is a 12 mm extension tube that includes electronics that shift the focus with each shot in a sequence. The image below is a stack of 62 images shot with a Canon 5Div and a Canon 100/2.8L macro lens. I set the drive to continuous, focused on the closest point and held the shutter release down until the furthest point was in focus. The image stacked in Helicon Focus and a few global exposure and contrast adjustment were done in Lightroom. There are a few odd artifacts but overall I think it worked quite well.
Feb 11, 2021 20:31:05 #
Looks like a good system to take the pain out of focus stacking! Thanks for sharing. Please stay safe and keep on sharing.
Feb 11, 2021 21:07:34 #
Very good! I have the Fb tube as well. This is a great option for portable focus bracketing without buying an entire camera that has that ability. Although now many recent cameras do it.
The artifacts are common (halos, especially). If you stack something with lots of dense hairs or spines, it can get pretty bad.
The artifacts are common (halos, especially). If you stack something with lots of dense hairs or spines, it can get pretty bad.
Feb 12, 2021 06:33:58 #
Great result.
" I set the drive to continuous, focused on the closest point and held the shutter release down until the furthest point was in focus."
How were you able to tell that the furthest point was in focus?
" I set the drive to continuous, focused on the closest point and held the shutter release down until the furthest point was in focus."
How were you able to tell that the furthest point was in focus?
Feb 12, 2021 06:59:50 #
DRM
Loc: NC
pquiggle wrote:
I just got a Helicon FB tube. For those of you not... (show quote)
Can you provide a link to this device, please? I was unaware such equipment exists.
Feb 12, 2021 07:56:13 #
rv8striker
Loc: St. Louis, MO area
pquiggle wrote:
I just got a Helicon FB tube. For those of you not... (show quote)
Please provide a link to this device. Sounds like something I'd be interested in.
Feb 12, 2021 09:43:54 #
Heather Iles
Loc: UK, Somerset
pquiggle wrote:
I just got a Helicon FB tube. For those of you not... (show quote)
I would be pleased if this was my photo.
Please enlighten us further.
Feb 12, 2021 10:24:49 #
dwmoar
Loc: Oregon, Willamette Valley
rv8striker wrote:
Please provide a link to this device. Sounds like something I'd be interested in.
https://www.heliconsoft.com/helicon-fb-tube-share-it/
Feb 12, 2021 11:47:55 #
Jrhoffman75 wrote:
Great result.
" I set the drive to continuous, focused on the closest point and held the shutter release down until the furthest point was in focus."
How were you able to tell that the furthest point was in focus?
" I set the drive to continuous, focused on the closest point and held the shutter release down until the furthest point was in focus."
How were you able to tell that the furthest point was in focus?
I judged it by looking through the viewfinder.
Feb 12, 2021 12:10:27 #
Feb 12, 2021 14:04:39 #
I'm saving for one with the software package. 2 more months and I'll have a new toy. Lol. Would have had it already but I replaced my ancient 80 200 f2.8 which was the push pull model with the new Tamron model. Lol
Feb 12, 2021 15:18:49 #
The Helicon FB (automated Focus Bracketing attachment) works great and is ever so handy to take to the field. It works by progressively moving the focus point in extremely fine increments. In contrast other means of focus stacking move the entire camera (or subject) in fine increments while taking a shot at each step.
My tabletop setup does the "move the camera" method. Personally, I believe that the "change the focus" method produces better results for the areas of the subject viewed do not change. The move the camera method works good except for when it comes to deep stack sessions where many of the early images taken end up out of the view of the stacking processing for the final image result.
My tabletop setup does the "move the camera" method. Personally, I believe that the "change the focus" method produces better results for the areas of the subject viewed do not change. The move the camera method works good except for when it comes to deep stack sessions where many of the early images taken end up out of the view of the stacking processing for the final image result.
Feb 12, 2021 17:16:39 #
Heather Iles
Loc: UK, Somerset
dwmoar wrote:
https://www.heliconsoft.com/helicon-fb-tube-share-it/
Thanks for the link but it is in $.
I am hoping that pquiggle would respond as he is a UK resident and his link might be slightly different. I note that it is only for Nikon and Canon cameras.
Feb 12, 2021 21:20:53 #
Heather Iles wrote:
Thanks for the link but it is in $.
I am hoping that pquiggle would respond as he is a UK resident and his link might be slightly different. I note that it is only for Nikon and Canon cameras.
I am hoping that pquiggle would respond as he is a UK resident and his link might be slightly different. I note that it is only for Nikon and Canon cameras.
Actually I am a US resident and that is exactly the same link I was about to send before I saw that I was beaten to it. Yes, only Canon and Nikon cameras are supported and then not all of them nor all of their lenses. You also need a relatively modern smart phone to run the app. I would have bought one a couple of years ago but I had an old iPhone that was needed to be upgraded before I could use the tube. So far I am very happy with the tube and the experience with Helicon and it's people. The whole process of ordering, downloading software, shipping, etc. was flawless and easy to use. The tube works exactly as advertised. My only complaint is that the mount between the tube and the lens has some play in it; not enough apparently to effect image quality but annoying.
Feb 12, 2021 22:35:28 #
Heather Iles wrote:
Thanks for the link but it is in $.
I am hoping that pquiggle would respond as he is a UK resident and his link might be slightly different. I note that it is only for Nikon and Canon cameras.
I am hoping that pquiggle would respond as he is a UK resident and his link might be slightly different. I note that it is only for Nikon and Canon cameras.
Clear violation of the Sherman Act, although not applicable in the UK.
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