Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiskyBottle  ....Do you find moving the camara better than adjusting focus?.... |
I haven't done very much of this sort of thing at all. My few previous image combining attempts were done by setting the camera up on a tripod, and then taking three or four frames, adjusting the focus in-between, rather than keeping focus constant and moving the camera+lens.
Attempts at combining those images were by selective use of opacity & layers, in either Paintshop Pro or Photoshop Elements. (This is the first time I've used proper stacking software.
I must admit the previous results were far from adequate, because as you mention, keeping the camera static seems to have an effect on the relative image size with each change of focus.
I think moving the camera+lens and keeping focus constant will be the way to go, as there were no "artifacts" whatsoever in main image area of the above stack of 9. The only thing I needed to do was crop a tiny amount from all four sides of the image, as there were some strange overlaps & image deformation at the extreme edges of frame. (From what little reading I've done on the subject, that is apparently quite usual).
I don't think I'll make much use of stacking per-se, but it might just come in handy if I were to find a particularly photogenic example of, for example, a very tiny fungus in situ, as the technique will lend itself well to very small static subjects. (I look in awe upon those who can manage this technique with insects etc.).
Regards,
Mike.