Focus Stacking Question: Just wondering what the consensus is regarding the movement of the camera or the subject when macro focus stacking, or does it even matter? My current set up...

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Just wondering what the consensus is regarding the movement of the camera or the subject when macro focus stacking, or does it even matter? My current set up is camera is stationary and my subject moves.

Things to consider would be lighting consistency and stability of the subject mounting.

Looking for some clear thinking here please.
Thank you.
RL

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Robertl594 wrote:

Just wondering what the consensus is regarding the movement of the camera or the subject when macro focus stacking, or does it even matter? My current set up is camera is stationary and my subject moves.

Things to consider would be lighting consistency and stability of the subject mounting.

Looking for some clear thinking here please.
Thank you.
RL

I would say you do not move the camera or subject.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Focus stacking works just fine with the camera on a focussing rail for macro. In effect moving the subject in fine increments accomplishes the same effect. Usually moving the camera is more practical than moving the subject.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Architect1776 wrote:

I would say you do not move the camera or subject.

One moves the point of focus.

Moving either the camera or the subject changes the perspective of the subject.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Longshadow wrote:

One moves the point of focus.

Moving either the camera or the subject changes the perspective of the subject.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Robertl594 wrote:

Just wondering what the consensus is regarding the movement of the camera or the subject when macro focus stacking, or does it even matter? My current set up is camera is stationary and my subject moves.

Things to consider would be lighting consistency and stability of the subject mounting.

Looking for some clear thinking here please.
Thank you.
RL

Whichever you move, sensor to subject distance (or more precisely, sensor to focal plane) will be the same.

Lighting variation (if lighting is not moved as well) is going to have some affect when moving the subject, but if just a short distance unlikely to be of any concern.

Stability, same concerns whatever you move.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

Longshadow wrote:

One moves the point of focus.

Moving either the camera or the subject changes the perspective of the subject.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Robertl594 wrote:

Just wondering what the consensus is regarding the movement of the camera or the subject when macro focus stacking, or does it even matter? My current set up is camera is stationary and my subject moves.

Things to consider would be lighting consistency and stability of the subject mounting.

Looking for some clear thinking here please.
Thank you.
RL

Your Z9, Z7, and D850 all do focus stacking automatically so why would you even want to move either the camera or the subject? What's the point?

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

fredpnm wrote:

Your Z9, Z7, and D850 all do focus stacking automatically so why would you even want to move either the camera or the subject? What's the point?

I do not believe that in camera focus stacking works with manual lenses or microscope objectives, which I use mostly for macro. Therefore, I must move either the subject or the camera.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Robertl594 wrote:

I do not believe that in camera focus stacking works with manual lenses or microscope objectives, which I use mostly for macro. Therefore, I must move either the subject or the camera.

Well by golly, that is a darn good reason to move either the camera or subject...I wish you luck in finding the best solution.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Grahame wrote:

Whichever you move, sensor to subject distance (or more precisely, sensor to focal plane) will be the same.

Lighting variation (if lighting is not moved as well) is going to have some affect when moving the subject, but if just a short distance unlikely to be of any concern.

Stability, same concerns whatever you move.

I don’t follow. When moving either camera or subject, the focal distance moves, that’s the whole reason for focus stacking, to shift the focal plane so that each one is in focus. I do agree that unless the light stays the same angle and distance from the subject, there will be slight variations in lighting. So maybe, the lighting should move as well as the subject. Given the short distances, I question whether it really makes a difference however.

I do believe that focus stacking software does account for slight changes in perspective as the distance changes.

I currently move the subject, not the camera. For compelling reasons, I could reconfigure my rig. Here are some pics of my home made rig with various lens configurations.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

fredpnm wrote:

Well by golly, that is a darn good reason to move either the camera or subject...I wish you luck in finding the best solution.

Thank you Fredpnm! That’s kinda what I figured as well.

fredpnm Loc: Corrales, NM

Robertl594 wrote:

I don’t follow. When moving either camera or subje... (show quote)

WOW!!!

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Robertl594 wrote:

I don’t follow. When moving either camera or subject, the focal distance moves, that’s the whole reason for focus stacking, to shift the focal plane so that each one is in focus.

Maybe I should have expanded it more;

"Whichever you move (being either camera or subject), sensor to subject distance (or more precisely, sensor to focal plane) will be the same (in each case, e.g. giving same result and perspective)".

With respect to perspective changes, discussions can be found regarding difference between bodily moving the camera/subject as opposed to focusing the lens.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Longshadow knows!