Grahame Loc: Fiji

It would be useful if you use the 'Quote Reply' option then we can see who's comment/suggestion/question you are referring to.

lrm Loc: Sarasota, FL

Yes

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Fyi.... Use the quote as I did here so we can tell who you are replying to. It helps a lot.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

There are a pile of variables that affect the focus stack operation. Lens focal length, subject distance, chosen aperture, step size and number of images to sequence. However if you are looking at images and nothing is in focus, then things are not working right. No post processing will cure that. You should be able to obtain a set of images that on review with some magnification shows the plane of sharp focus shifting from front to back as you move through them. Focus of course, has to be set to autofocus for any of this to work.

In general, with macro style distances, you will want more slices and a smaller step interval. Try something around 2 or 3 and start experimenting.

With more landscape type work, try step level 5 and go from there.

The idea is to take advantage of your lens's sharper apertures and to have overlapping zones of decent focus. Probably best to start at f8 and experiment.

For a wider aperture (say 2.8) prepare for a much larger number of slices and smaller step sizes to make it work seamlessly.

Engage and begin by hitting start, rather than your shutter release.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

With my Olympus cameras, focus stacking only works with supported lenses. If you use a non-supported lens, it won't work.

Could this be your problem?

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

yes, that could explain everything if it is a 3rd party lens such as sigma, tamron etc. The camera would not be communicating sufficiently with the lens to make it work.

lrm Loc: Sarasota, FL

using Z 24-200 lens

lrm Loc: Sarasota, FL

Thanks, done all that multiple times. Nothing works. Photos are 100% out of focus. Auto focus works fine for normal shooting, but not for Focus Shifting. Sent a set of photos to Nikon and awaiting their reply.

CaptainPhoto

Is it possible you are using the wrong lens. I have an Olympus MK III and it does in camera focus stacking. But it has to be with certain Olympus lenses. Never with any of my Panasonic lenses. Just a thought.
I'm not familiar with Nikon equipment.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Grasping for straws here. Could it be that the camera doesn't understand interval 0? Try interval 1.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

You don't tell us the venue: still life or landscape. When something similar happened to me with my Z7 it turned out that I had not refocused to the front-most area that I wanted to be in focus. When shooting a focus stack with the Nikons, the focus is left on the last image obtained. HTH.

Milkweed focus stack shown below was made with a Z7 and the 24-200 S mount zoom by Nikon.

(Download)

BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh

First of all what are you shooting?
You can set up the function before you begin shooting. The step size is driven by the DOF for your shooting conditions; set it to small for macro work (i.e. 1) because the DOF is very narrow and therefore so should the step size and to a larger number for landscape (i.e. 5) or lower if using a wider apature. Leave the number of shots at 300; it will stop short of that when focus reaches infinity. I would also set lock exposure on and for convenience set starting storage folder to new folder. Leave the menu and go back to compose your image and focus on the nearest point you want in focus, go back to the focus shift shooting menu and press start. Focus stacking doesn't work well if there's motion in the shot, use a tripod, avoid windy days or subjects with motion in the field (traffic, pedestrians etc.). It's a good technique for improving detail if the conditions are right. Have fun!

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Did you accidently have the lens set to manual focus?

Canisdirus

Auto focus shifting is sort of a marketing gimmick.
It works...well not for you in this case...but it does work.

I shoot macro all the time...I don't even consider using AF.

Any subject which is moving around will usually defeat focus stacking...manual or auto.

Any subject which is still...you have more than enough time to FS manually...and probably with better results.

I'm sure it works...just a bit gimmicky...how many times will it ever make the difference...very few.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

So...as we play stump the panel fishing around for answers, we have now learned which camera and lens is being used. Which focus shift parameters have you been using? And, no, don't simply say all of them. Specifically how many images in the series and the step range? which lens apertures? and the range of desired focus (for instance 3 feet to infinity at 40mm)?