Technique Suggestions

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Playing with Macro using 100mm macro lens. The scenario is that I want to focus stack some shots of say a very small flower. I want the flash to provide the total lighting so the camera is set so that the exposure without the flash is black. I have been increasing the ISO to see well enough to manually focus in live view, then move the ISO back down and take a shot. Then do it all again only focusing on deeper into the flower, etc. It is tedious and I'm not getting the results I'm looking for using the manual focus in live view. Short of rails etc. does anyone have any tricks or suggestions? Maybe figuring out how much to turn the focus ring for each increment and marking with tape or something. TIA As a side note, part of my problem may be that I lost a contact and the replacement I am using until I can get into an eye doc is scratched and not the correct prescription. ;)
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Here's a thought... Shoot and stack like you would normally and then change the background in post using something like Topaz's Masking program...
 

TwistedThrottle

Senior Member
@cwgrizz
First, focus on the closest part you want sharp in the shot and make a mental note of the distance window. Next do the same for the furthest part you want sharp and make another note. divide the difference by the number of shots you would like in your stack and try to turn the ring equally that many times for each shot. If its a 10 stack, itll get moved equally 10 times between your marks, 50 times for a 50 stack. Hope this helps.
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Here's a thought... Shoot and stack like you would normally and then change the background in post using something like Topaz's Masking program...

Fred, that would work if the lighting was good enough for the shot, but when I have to increase the ISO to 6400 or more to get the shot (or see to focus), that is where the problem comes in and flash is required. Thsnkd
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
@cwgrizz
First, focus on the closest part you want sharp in the shot and make a mental note of the distance window. Next do the same for the furthest part you want sharp and make another note. divide the difference by the number of shots you would like in your stack and try to turn the ring equally that many times for each shot. If its a 10 stack, itll get moved equally 10 times between your marks, 50 times for a 50 stack. Hope this helps.

This is a good idea that I had not considered. I had thought along those lines using tape on the focus ring to mark, but spaced out using the two extremes (closest and farthest points) as starting points. I'll have to give this a try. with bugs I'll have to work fast. Ha!
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
The flash is no hinderance... You want the subject in focus and properly lit... You don't care what the background is because you're gonna replace it with a black or any other color fill...It gives you more control because you're only concerned about the subject... Think of it as a composition... and you're only concerned about the foreground/subject... and you're creating the background in post.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
You can also get a CamRanger and do focus stacking... CamRanger lets you select the close and far focus points and then it calculates and manages the focusing in between... Look at this week's Contest Juxtaposition... That shot was made using CamRanger and I believe about 40 images stacked... took about 3 minutes...
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
I know you said no macro rails, but this is one that several Nikonites have used.

https://www.amazon.com/Cowboystudio...ocus+rail+cowboy+studio&qid=1590265386&sr=8-2

Have you considered a ring light? I don't use one myself. but they are specifically for macro photography. Stop down far enough to get your flower in focus and use a flash.


I have looked at the rails in the past when it was discussed and this one was posted. I am trying to get by for now without it. Ha! As for the flash, I am using a Yongnuo with a small softbox modifier attached on the camera. Lighting has not been the problem per se, just the focusing in the dark. Ha!
 

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
You can also get a CamRanger and do focus stacking... CamRanger lets you select the close and far focus points and then it calculates and manages the focusing in between... Look at this week's Contest Juxtaposition... That shot was made using CamRanger and I believe about 40 images stacked... took about 3 minutes...

Thanks Fred, I'll have to take a look at CamRanger as well as what Cindy suggested with the rails. I now am wondering if I can do the same with my ON1 software as it has tethering capabilities even though I haven't used it yet. I have actually tried to avoid tying myself to the computer. :rolleyes: In early Aug. I am having shoulder surgery and will lose the use of my right arm for about 6 weeks or so. It might be a good time to play with Macro using the computer tethered to the camera. Ha!
 

Needa

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Thanks Fred, I'll have to take a look at CamRanger as well as what Cindy suggested with the rails. I now am wondering if I can do the same with my ON1 software as it has tethering capabilities even though I haven't used it yet. I have actually tried to avoid tying myself to the computer. :rolleyes: In early Aug. I am having shoulder surgery and will lose the use of my right arm for about 6 weeks or so. It might be a good time to play with Macro using the computer tethered to the camera. Ha!


Wishing you a short and speedy recovery!
 

Danno

Senior Member
@cwgrizz, you know you could always just buy a Z6. It has focus stacking built in. It is also amazing how well it will focus in extremely low light.
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