Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Hi guys, I'm having a problem focus stacking with both my FL700WR and STF-8 flashguns. My OM1 focus stacks perfectly without flash: but I just can't get it to work with either flash gun - I just end up with a dreadfully out of focus final JPEG - I am using a tripod - not handheld. I have read the manuals for the flash guns (both of which are compatible with focus stacking and focus bracketting) and the OM1 user manual. I have searched YouTube and carried out a Google search, but I cannot find anything detailed information on how, exactly, to set up either flash for focus stacking. As per camera menu, the flashguns do not require a charge time to be set. The FL700WR does fire for every frame but the STF-8 does not activate at all! I have been using TTL, which works perfectly for both flashguns in single frame mode, so I am at a loss as to what I must be doing wrong. I will be most grateful to anyone who finds the time to put me on the right track. Thanks a lot.

User ID

Is there any reassurance or confirmation anywhere in all your research indication that TTL is usable for stacking ?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The invisible protocol of TTL autoflash is more complex ever since digital sensors replaced film. With film the TTL directly read the light, right on the film, during the exposure.

Today we have a weak preflash for the purpose of measurement that then sets up the flash output for the anticipated photograph. I wonder if this protocol cannot accommodate the sequential nature of stacking ?

*IF* thaz the problem, maybe FP synch (aka "HSS") is the solution ? Olympus pioneered both Off-The-Film autoflash and FP synch many decades ago.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Using flash with computational modes like focus stacking/bracketing is different. There is a limitation on the shutter speed. For my PenF it is 1/20 sec and for the EM1 MkII I think it is 1/60 sec max of a second. When using a computational mode you are using the silent shutter. You must also set another menu to allow flash to be used with the silent shutter. There is a discussion of this in the manual.

The focus bracketing mode allows for a pause between exposures to allow for flash recycling otherwise the exposures proceed very quickly when using faster shutter speeds. You must set the pause length.

Try using focus bracketing first as you will see the progression of the focus points.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Thank you for answering. Idiscovered my error this morning. I should have had my flash set to manual, though there is nothing to suggest TTL cannot be used. I realised that to be successful, the light from the flash needed to be constant.

Jerrin1 Loc: Wolverhampton, England

Thank you for responding. I should have set my flash to manual, though I have been unable to find any instruction to that effect. But the light from the flash needs to be constant. It worked perfectly on manual a few minutes ago.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

One more source that can provide answers is the customer service on line. There may be a way to use TTL, but it may require a specific setting for all the equipment. Write them and see if there is more than one way to "skin the cat" for what you are trying to do. You already have one way but there could be other easier ways to do the same thing.

User ID

BINGO !!!

You got it going on. Things will almost always get simpler if algoriddems are prevented from meddling :-)