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focus stacking

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2021-08-31 Testing the Leica SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL, Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL, Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL

2021-07-12 Can the Fujifilm GF 30/3.5 Deliver a Fully Sharp Image with Focus Stacking?

2021-06-19 Can the Fujifilm GF 30/3.5 Deliver a Fully Sharp Image with Focus Stacking?

2021-05-30 Fujifilm GFX100S Focus BKT 'Auto' Mode: Usage and Example: Welcome to California

2021-05-10 Fujifilm GFX100S/100 FOCUS BKT: Workaround for Failure to Reach Infinity Focus

2021-05-09 Fujifilm GFX100S/100 FOCUS BKT Feature still has can’t-reach-infinity-focus Bug dating back to 2019 (FOCUS BKT feature)

2021-05-05 Fujifilm GFX100S: Focus BKT Auto Mode for Focus Stacking (Bicycle Drivetrain)

2021-04-03 Voigtlander 65mm f/2 Macro APO-Lanthar Aperture Series: Fruit Platter (Sony A1, pixel shift)

2021-03-15 Reader Comment: Fujifilm GFX100S/GFX100 Focus Stepping / Focus Stacking FOCUS BKT Algorithmic Error? Far Too Many Tightly-Focused Frames

2020-12-09 Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: Focus Stacking (Colorful Boulder in Dry Wash, Death Valley)

Pages at other diglloyd sites:

See also 17 pages at macperformanceguide.com

2020-01-10 2019 Mac Pro: Focus Stacking with Zerene Stacker, 28 X 45-Megapixel Nikon D850 TIF

2020-01-09 2019 Mac Pro: Focus Stacking with Helicon Focus, 28 X 45-Megapixel Nikon D850 TIF

2020-01-09 2019 Mac Pro: Image Scaling with Topaz Labs Gigapixel AI

2019-12-22 2019 MacBook Pro 16-inch: Focus Stacking with Zerene Stacker, 28 X 45-Megapixel Nikon D850 TIF

2019-05-03 2019 iMac 5K: Zerene Stacker Focus Stacking

2019-05-03 2019 iMac 5K: Helicon Focus

2018-08-09 2018 MacBook Pro: Focus Stacking with Helicon Focus, 28 X 45-Megapixel Nikon D850 TIF

2018-08-09 2018 MacBook Pro: Focus Stacking with Zerene Stacker, 28 X 45-Megapixel Nikon D850 TIF

2018-03-07 2017 iMac Pro: Zerene Stacker

2018-03-07 2017 iMac Pro: Helicon Focus

2018-01-15 Helicon Focus 7.0: Huge Improvement in Scalability for High Core Count Machines

2018-01-12 iMac Pro: Speed with Helicon Focus

Depth of Field Mitigations

Increasing Depth of Field by means other than stopping down..

1. Example: Focus Stacking For Infinite DOF (Wagon)

Focus Stacking Overview

Bypass the limits on depth of field and diffraction..

1. Overview of Focus Stacking
2. Focus Stacking = ONLY Solution for Full Resolution with High-Res Digital
3. Focus Stacking Gains in Sharpness vs Single Frame, File Size as a Proxy Measurement
4. Automated Focus Stepping for Stacking (Nikon D850 in Particular)

Focus Stacking Shooting Tips

Best practices for shooting stacking frames..

1. General Shooting Tips for Focus Stacking
2. Tips for Focusing for Focus Stacking
3. Choice of Aperture for Focus Stacking
4. Why Lens Performance Matters for Focus Stacking

Focus Stacking Post-Processing

Post-Processing software and Technique..

1. Overview of Focus Stacking Software/Processing
2. Zerene Stacker: Retouching Stacked Images

Focus Stacking Examples

Examples of Focus Stacking..

1. Example: Near-Macro Focus Stacking (Shimano Cassette)
2. Example: 3-Frame Stack (Warm and Cool Aspen, Nikon D810)
3. Example: Medium-Far Range (Two Bristlecone Logs on Hillside)
4. Example: Stacking at 135mm (Unicorn and Cathedral Peaks)
5. Example: Near Far at 28mm (Hardy Pine View of Unicorn and Cathedral Peaks)
6. Example: Vista at 85mm (View North in Blue Dusk from Pothole Dome)
7. Example: Handheld (Dana Lake)
8. Example: Close Range to Distance at 18mm (Backlit Boulders)
9. Example: Subject Movement (9050 Pine Creek Rd Waterfall)
10. Example: Extreme Range Perfection (Weathered Bristlecones)
11. Example: Dual Not-Quite-Enough Examples (Bristlecones Near to Far)
12. Example: Shallow Stack for Sharpness in Narrow Zone (Blue Engine on Green Machine)
13. Example: Two-Frame Stack (Spuller Lake, Zeiss Loxia 35/2)
14. Example: Two-Frame Stack (Huge Boulder, Sony 85/1.4 GM)
15. Example: Getting Close to 50 Megapixels in Real Photography (Spotted Boulder, Canon 5Ds R)
16. Example: Getting Close to 50 Megapixels in Real Photography (Lundy Beaver Pond, Canon 5Ds R)

Leica 75mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH

Fast short telephoto lens for L-Mount cameras..

1. Examples: Focus Stacking in Multi-Shot High-Res Mode

Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL ASPH

Fast short telephoto lens for L-Mount cameras..

1. Aperture Series: Painted Rock (Focus Stacked)

Nikon D850 Focus Stacking

Unprecedented support for focus stacking in full-frame DSLR..

1. Nikon D850 'Focus Shift shooting' feature for Easy Focus Stacking
2. Examples of Focus Stacking using Nikon D850 'Focus Shift shooting' for Focusing

Nikon D850 Image Quality

Oustanding image quality, but with some limitations..

1. Examples of Outstanding Resolving Power
2. Nikon D850 as a Black and White Camera

Nikon D850 Monochrome Conversion by MaxMax.com

D850 with the RGB Bayer matrix removed for a true monochrome sensor..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra
2. Examples: Eastern Sierra Man-Made Structures

Nikon AF-S 28mm f/1.4E ED

Nikon’s finest wide angle lens..

1. Aperture Series: Fishing Boats at Dawn, Lundy Lake

Nikon 19mm f/4E ED PC-E

Ultra wide tilt/shift lens.

1. Aperture Series: Frosty Wood Round: Tilt and Focus Shift (Nikon D810)

Pentax K-1

36-megapixel full-frame DSLR with SuperRes Pixel Shift Mode..

1. Focus Stacking in SuperRes Mode (Pair of Pears)
2. Focus Stacking in SuperRes Mode (Ultegra Cassette)

Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art

Superwide optimized zoom lens..

1. Aperture Series @ 14mm: Sand Dunes Junction, Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley

Sigma 24-35mm f/2 DG HSM Art

Mid-range optimized groundbreaking f/2 zoom..

1. Shootout: vs Sigma 35/1.4A: Cottonwood Canyon Rancher’s Cabin

Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art

A whopping 4/3 stop faster than other lenses in its range..

1. Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Dead and Live Aspen, Dusk
2. Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Precocious Cluster of Yellow Aspen Leaves
3. Focus Stack: Two Aspen at Beaver Pond, Sunset
4. Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Boulder View to Sub-Peak of Mt Conness
5. Examples: Eastern Sierra

Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

Extraordinary optical efforts for outstanding performance..

1. Aperture Series: Green Chairs at Sunset, Laws Railroad Museum

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

Sigma’s best portrait lens..

1. Examples, Focus Stacking: Eastern Sierra (Nikon D850)

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art

Fastest 135mm lens yet, with ultra high performance..

1. Aperture Series: Rodin Burghers of Calais, with focus stack (Nikon D810)
2. Examples: Eastern Sierra (Nikon D850)
3. Aperture Series: Quad at Dusk (Nikon D810)

Nikon AF-S 60mm f/2.8G Macro

Comparing the new Nikon 60mm to its predecessors, and the Coastal Optics 60/4 APO..

1. Examples: Focus Stacking

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III

Is the 3rd time the charm?.

1. Examples #2 of 3: Lundy Canyon Morning
2. Examples #3 of 3: Lundy Lake and Meadows

Nikon AF-S 105mm f/1.4E ED

Nikon’s best-ever f/1.4 lens?.

1. Aperture Series: Lundy Canyon Meadow, Pre-Dawn (Nikon D810)
2. Aperture Series: Orange Aspen by Towering Monolith (Nikon D810)

Medium Format Magazine

Articles written for MediumFormat.com..

1. Maximize Image Quality with Shot Discipline, Part 2: Depth of Field and Diffraction, Focus Stacking (December 2018)
2. Maximize Image Quality with Shot Discipline, Overview with Key Tips
3. 100 Megapixel Medium Format: Perspectives from Field Use of the Hasselblad H6D-100C (April 2019)
4. Incredible Detail with the Fujifilm GFX100: Focus Stacking for Immersive Imagery (September 2019)
5. Phase One IQ4 Medium Format: the Summit of Image Quality (March 2020)
6. Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5: Awesome First Choice for Fujifilm Medium Format (May 2020)

Phase One XF and XT Full-Frame Medium Format

Phase One XF System, Phase One IQ4, Schneider Kreuznach Lenses.

1. Phase One IQ4: Focus Stacking Commentary

Schneider Kreuznach LS 35mm f/3.5

Wide angle 24mm equivalent for Phase One XF system.

1. Examples: Death Valley Area (Phase One IQ4)
2. Examples: Alabama Hills and Mt Whitney Area (Phase One IQ4)

Schneider Kreuznach LS 80mm f/2.8

Compact normal 54mm equivalent for Phase One XF system.

1. Examples: Death Valley / Eureka Dunes Area (Phase One IQ4)
2. Aperture Series: Last Light on Cottonwood Tree, View to Mt Whitney (Phase One IQ4)

Fujifilm GFX100S

100 megapixels in a body the size of a 35mm DSLR!.

1. Fujifilm GFX100S: Why I Bought It, and Why I Sold It
2. Fujifilm GFX100S: Initial Impressions
3. Fujifilm GFX100S Focus BKT 'Auto' Mode: Usage and Example
4. Fujifilm GFX100S: Focus Stacking / FOCUS BKT (Drivetrain)

Fujifilm GFX100

100 megapixels in a portable package!.

1. Fujifilm GFX100: Bugs and Issues

Fujifilm GFX100 Focus Stacking and FOCUS BKT

100 megapixels in a portable package!.

1. Fujifilm GFX100: Focus Stacking is All But Mandatory for Landscape and Similar
2. Fujifilm GFX100: Using the FOCUS BKT Feature for Focus Stacked Images
3. Fujifilm GFX100: Bug and Issues with the FOCUS BKT Feature, How to Mitigate
4. Fujifilm GFX100: Selected Focus Stacking Examples
5. Fujifilm GFX100: Focus Stacking for Selfies, or People

Fujifilm GFX100 Sensor Stabilization / IBIS

Sharp images at low shutter speeds..

1. Fujifilm GFX100: Focus Stacking Handheld with IBIS

Fujifilm GFX 50S Image Quality

Image quality assessments..

1. Real World Dynamic Range: Lundy Canyon Boulders and High Clouds

Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 R WR

Ultra wide angle equivalent to 19mm f/3.3. .

1. Examples: Dana Lakes (GFX 50S)
2. Examples: Cerro Gordo (GFX 50S)
3. Focus Stacking Examples, Eastern Sierra (GFX100)
4. Focus Stacking Examples, White Mountains (GFX100)
5. Aperture Series: Tenaya Creek View to Half Dome (GFX100)
6. Aperture Series: Dark Rocks and Flowing Water, Upstream View (GFX 50S)

Fujifilm GF 30mm f/3.5 R LM WR

Compact wide angle.

1. Can the Fujifilm GF 30/3.5 Deliver a Fully Sharp Image with Focus Stacking?
2. Aperture Series: Mining Cabin Interior
3. Aperture Series: Boulder amid Suncups, view to Mt Conness

Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR

Mid-range zoom lens equivalent to 26-53mm f/3.3..

1. Focus Stacking Examples, Various (GFX100)
2. Examples: Cerro Gordo Mine (GFX 50S)
3. Focus Stack @ 33mm: Sunlit Picnic Table in Snow Squall (GFX 50S)
4. Focus Stack @ 32mm: Barroom Interior (GFX 50S)
5. Aperture Series @35mm + Focus Stack: Decrepit Truck (GFX 50S)

Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR

Moderate wide angle equivalent to 37mm f/2.3..

1. Focus Stacking Examples, Various (GFX100)
2. Early Winter Examples in Eastern Sierra (GFX 50S)
3. Examples: Lundy Canyon Just Before the Winter Solstice (GFX 50R)
4. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: West Walker River in Noon Shade, Upstream View (GFX 50S)
5. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Boulder Escapee from Rockfall (GFX 50S)
6. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: West Walker Creek Meadow to Snowy Peaks (GFX 50S)
7. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Indian Rock (GFX 50S)
8. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Iced-Over Beaver Pond (GFX 50S)
9. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Frozen Beaver Ponds to Forest (GFX 50S)
10. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Lundy Lake, Green Ice at Dam End (GFX 50S)
11. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Low and Close Viewpoint, Beaver Dam Pond (GFX 50S)
12. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Aspen Against Mountain at Dusk (GFX 50S)
13. Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Light-Colored Boulder Amid Sage and Boulder Field (GFX 50S)

Fujifilm GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR

Slightly long zoom lens equivalent to 37-82mm f/3.3..

1. Examples: Alabama Hills
2. Aperture Series @ 46mm: Backlit Desert Wash
3. Aperture Series @ 56mm: Alabama Hills Desert Wash, Sunrise View To Mt Whitney
4. Compared: Fujifilm GF 45-100mm f/4 vs GF 50mm f/3.5: View Towards Mt Whitney

Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR

Slightly wide compact normal lens equivalent to 41mm f/2.9..

1. Examples: Alabama Hills, April
2. Examples: Mt Whitney Foothills
3. Aperture Series and Focus Stack: Bicycle Drivetrain
4. Compared: Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 vs GF 45-100mm f/4: View Towards Mt Whitney

Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR

Standard normal lens equivalent to 66mm f/1.4..

1. Aperture Series: Large Aspen Trunk, Close View

Fujifilm GF 120mm f/4 Macro R LM OIS WR

High performance macro photography on medium format, equivalent to 99mm f/3.3..

1. Focus Stacking Examples, Various (GFX100)

Hasselblad H6D-100C

How does the very best perform in the field?.

1. Conundrum: Depth of Field vs Diffraction

Hasselblad HC 50mm f/3.5 II

High performance moderate wide angle.

1. Examples: Saddlebag Lake Area, Conness Lakes Area
2. Examples: Twenty Lakes Basin
3. Examples: Cottonwood Basin, White Mountains

Hasselblad HC Macro 120mm f/4 II

High performance all-arounder macro lens.

1. Examples: Lundy Canyon

Hasselblad X1D II 50C

Mirrorless large format with leaf shutter lenses, 2nd generation..

1. Usability: Autofocus, Live View, Self-Timer, Haptics, etc

Hasselblad XCD 30mm f/3.5

25mm equivalent..

1. 4-Frame Focus Stack (Frosty Table)

Hasselblad XCD 35-75mm f3.5-4.5

Normal lens equivqlent to 53mm..

1. Examples: Alabama Hills
2. Aperture Series @ 35mm: View Past Rock Formations to Main Alabama Hills
3. Aperture Series @ 35mm: Last Orange Light on Mt Whitney from Alabama Hills Lichen-Covered Formations

Hasselblad XCD 65mm f/2.8

Normal lens equivqlent to 53mm..

1. Examples: Mt Whitney Area and Alabama Hills

Milvus 15mm f/2.8

Milvus garb for the venerable 15/2.8 Distagon, with improved lens coating..

1. Aperture Series vs Nikon 14/2.8D: Alpine Creek Low View
2. Aperture Series: Dead Pines in Defunct Beaver Pond (Multi-Shot HighRes mode)

Milvus 18mm f/2.8

An outstanding 18mm design..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra and White Mountains
2. Examples: Eastern Sierra, Late Season
3. Aperture Series: Frosty Wood Round (Nikon D810)

Milvus 25mm f/1.4

Highest performing 25mm from Zeiss ever..

1. Examples: Focus Stacking in Yosemite High Country and White Mountains
2. Examples: Focus Stacking in Dana Lakes Area
3. Examples: WhiteMountains, Late Season
4. Examples: Eastern Sierra, Late Season
5. Aperture Series: Large Boulder, Waterfall, Last Light on Canyon Ridge
6. Aperture Series: Stunted Aspen, Last Light on Granite Bowl
7. Aperture Series: Colorful Green Boulder, Last Sunset Glow
8. Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Waterfall Icicles
9. Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Healthy BristleconeBark

Milvus 35mm f/1.4

Highest performing 35mm from Zeiss ever..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra
2. Examples: Eastern Sierra, Late Season
3. Aperture Series: Ore-Cart Tracks to Tailings Piles
4. Aperture Series: Icy Boulder In Lee Vining Creek
5. Examples: Eastern Sierra and White Mountains (Nikon D850 monochrome)

Milvus 100mm f/2M

The classic 100/2 Makro-Planar improved..

1. Macro Examples: High Sierra Variety
2. Examples: Focus Stacking

25mm f/2.8 Distagon

A gem with unusual close-focus..

1. Aperture Series: Dead Pines in Defunct Beaver Pond (Multi-Shot HighRes mode)

Otus 28mm f/1.4 APO-Distagon

Fast high performance APO wide angle..

1. Examples: Focus Stacking

Otus 55mm f/1.4 APO-Distagon

Ultra high performance apochromatic normal lens, first in the Otus line..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra and White Mountains (Nikon D850 monochrome)

135mm f/2 APO-Sonnar

Beautiful bokeh, razor sharp, superb color correction..

1. Focus Stacking: Ultegra 11-32 Cog Cassette

Raising the Bar on Image Quality

Untapped potential for greatly improved image quality..

1. Focus Stacking

Zeiss LensSpire Articles

Articles written for Lenspire.ZEISS.com..

1. Depth of Field Challenges: Bypass the Limits with Focus Stacking, Near or Far, Macro or Landscape
2. Getting Started with Focus Stacking
3. Harnessing Wide Angle Lenses: Perspective and Impact
4. Macro and Close-up Shooting, Especially Outdoors
5. Micro Contrast and the Zeiss 'Pop'
6. First Look at the Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4

Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

High speed normal lens optimized for Canon mirrorless..

1. Examples: Lundy Canyon Evening
2. Aperture Series: Beaver Pond Beaver Trail Through Reeds
3. Aperture Series: Colorful Boulder in Beaver Pond

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM

High speed portrait lens optimized for Canon mirrorless..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra

Nikon Z7 Overview, Setup, General

Setup, IBIS performance, focusing..

1. Configuring the Focus Stacking aka “Focus Shift” Feature on Nikon Z7

Nikon Z7 IBIS and Focusing

Setup, IBIS performance, focusing..

1. Evaluated: Nikon Z7 Automated Focus Stacking aka Nikon “Focus Shift” Feature

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S

Fast mid-range zoom expressly designed for Nikon Z cameras..

1. Aperture Series @ 24mm: Dead Trees in Defunct Beaver Pond
2. Aperture Series @ 48mm: Burghers of Calais
3. Aperture Series @ 54mm: Old Gnarled Rootball
4. Aperture Series @ 64mm: View through arches to Church Mosaic

Sony A1

Technological tour de force..

1. Sony A1 ISO Series vs Sony A7R IV: Fruit Platter

Sony Alpha A7R IV Design Issues

Bad behaviors, anti-design, issues ..

1. Tips for using the Aperture Drive setting for Aperture Control

Sony FE 14mm f/1.8 GM

Ultra high performance extreme wide angle..

1. Aperture Series: Mining Structures, View to Superstition Mountains

Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G

Compact ultra-wide angle lens..

1. Examples: Alabama Hills
2. Examples: Inyo National Forest

Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM

High performance wide angle..

1. Aperture Series: View Through Pines to Mono Lake

Sony Planar T* FE 50mm f/1.4 ZA

Fast high performance normal lens of Zeiss design..

1. Field Examples: Yosemite Area (Sony A7R II)

Sony FE 135mm f/1.4 GM

Top-grade telephoto..

1. Aperture Series: Rotten Tree Trunk (Sony A7R III)

Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

Native-mount ultra wide angle high performance zoom for mirrorless..

1. Examples: Twenty Lakes Basin (Sony A7R IV)
2. Examples: Pine Creek (Sony A7R IV)

Sigma FE 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art

Native-mount mid-range zoom for mirrorless..

1. Aperture Series @30mm: Mining Cylinder
2. Aperture Series @35mm: Mining Cylinder View to Playa, Dusk

Sigma FE 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art

Ultra high speed native-mount moderate wide angle..

1. Examples: Eastern Sierra, Pine Creek (Sony A7R IV)
2. Examples: Eastern Sierra, Yosemite and Twenty Lakes Basin (Sony A7R IV)
3. Aperture Series: Rocky Creekbed at Dusk (Sony A7R IV)
4. Aperture Series: Patriarch Grove from Above At Dusk, View Southwest (Sony A7R IV)

Sigma FE 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

Highly corrected medium telephoto..

1. Examples: Alabama Hills

Voigtlander FE 21mm f/1.4 Aspherical

Fast high performance manual focus wide angle..

1. Aperture Series: Pothole Dome, Granite Foreground to Peaks

Voigtlander FE 35mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical

High-grade manual focus wide-normal lens..

1. Aperture Series: Mining Cabin Interior

Voigtlander FE 50mm f/2 APO-Lanthar Aspherical

High-grade manual focus normal lens..

1. Examples: Alabama Hills and Mt Whitney Area

Voigtlander FE 65mm f/2 Macro APO-Lanthar Aspherical

Ultra high grade performer at a modest price..

1. Aperture Series: Fruit Platter (Sony A1, pixel shift)
2. Focus Stacking with Pixel Shift: Twisted, Burned, Broken Downed Tree High in Pine Creek Canyon (Sony A7R IV)
3. Aperture Series: Burghers of Calais

Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM

Fast extreme wide angle zoom..

1. Focus Stacking
2. Shootout @ 24mm: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 vs Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art: Brilliant Backlit Beaver Pond Meadow

Sony FE 12-24mm f/4 G

Extreme wide angle zoom..

1. Examples: Rock Creek and Morgan Lakes, High Sierra
2. Examples: Twenty Lakes Basin (Sony A7R IV)
3. Aperture Series @ 13mm: Pescadero Creek Side Pool (with Focus Stack)
4. Aperture Series @ 12mm: Pescadero Creek, Upstream (with Focus Stack)
5. Imaging Performance @ 12mm, Single Frame vs Stacked: Pine at Morgan Lake
6. Imaging Performance @ 24mm, Single Frame vs Stacked: Downed Tree, Last Kiss of Sunlight

Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM

Pro-grade f/2.8 wide angle zoom..

1. Examples: Rock Creek and Morgan Lakes, High Sierra
2. Evaluating Imaging Performance @ 17mm, Single Frame vs Stacked: Bristlecone Log Low View
3. Imaging Performance @ 17mm, Single Frame vs Stacked: Flowers Amid Bristlecones
4. Imaging Performance @ 16mm, Single Frame vs 3-Frame Stack: Flowers in Meadow to High Peaks, Dusk

Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 Distagon

Outstanding wide angle, superb performer..

1. Examples: White Mountains Bristlecones (Sony A7R IV)
2. Aperture Series: Bristlecone Logs View to Bristlecone Graveyard, Dusk Purple Sky (Sony A7R IV)
3. Aperture Series: Stand of White Aspen
4. Shootout @ 24mm: Zeiss Loxia 25mm f/2.4 vs Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM vs Sigma FE 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art: Brilliant Backlit Beaver Pond Meadow

Zeiss Loxia 35mm f/2 Biogon

Manual focus moderate wide angle for full-frame mirrorless..

1. Field Examples: Yosemite Area (Sony A7R II)

Zeiss Loxia 85mm f/2.4 Sonnar

Manual focus telephoto lens for full-frame mirrorless..

1. Examples: Tenaya Lake Area (Sony A7R II)

Sigma dp0 Quattro

21mm f/5.6 equivalent FOV lens..

1. Examples: Cottonwood Canyon Area, White Mountains (Part 1)
2. Examples: Cottonwood Canyon Area, White Mountains (Part 2)

Leica M10

Leica M mount in slim body with SL-type sensor..

1. Examples: Dana Lakes, Part 2: At the Dana Lakes

Leica 24mm f/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH

Leica’s best-performing 24mm, and with a flat field..

1. Aperture Series: Black Pumice on Sand Moonscape (Leica M10 Monochrom)

Zeiss ZM 35mm f/1.4 Distagon

Fast and ultra high performance moderate wide angle rangefinder lens..

1. Aperture Series: Animal Tracks near Snowy Creek, Lundy Canyon (Leica M10-R)

Blog posts, reverse chronological

2021

2021-08-31 Testing the Leica SL2 + Leica 28mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL, Leica 35mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL, Leica 50mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL

2021-07-12 Can the Fujifilm GF 30/3.5 Deliver a Fully Sharp Image with Focus Stacking?

2021-06-19 Can the Fujifilm GF 30/3.5 Deliver a Fully Sharp Image with Focus Stacking?

2021-05-30 Fujifilm GFX100S Focus BKT 'Auto' Mode: Usage and Example: Welcome to California

2021-05-10 Fujifilm GFX100S/100 FOCUS BKT: Workaround for Failure to Reach Infinity Focus

2021-05-09 Fujifilm GFX100S/100 FOCUS BKT Feature still has can’t-reach-infinity-focus Bug dating back to 2019 (FOCUS BKT feature)

2021-05-05 Fujifilm GFX100S: Focus BKT Auto Mode for Focus Stacking (Bicycle Drivetrain)

2021-04-03 Voigtlander 65mm f/2 Macro APO-Lanthar Aperture Series: Fruit Platter (Sony A1, pixel shift)

2021-03-15 Reader Comment: Fujifilm GFX100S/GFX100 Focus Stepping / Focus Stacking FOCUS BKT Algorithmic Error? Far Too Many Tightly-Focused Frames

2020

2020-12-09 Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: Focus Stacking (Colorful Boulder in Dry Wash, Death Valley)

2020-12-08 Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM: Focus Stacking (Dry Wash in Death Valley)

2020-07-10 Canon EOS R5 Supports Focus Stacking via “Focus Bracketing” Feature (but Canon EOS R6 lacks it)

2020-07-10 Canon EOS R Mirrorless System Now Has a Robust Lens Line

2020-06-10 Hasselblad XCD 35-75mm f/3.5-4.5 Examples with Focus Stacking (and without)

2020-06-04 Hasselblad Releases Firmware Updates for Hasselblad X1D II 50C and Lenses, Focus Stacking Support

2020-04-14 View over White Granite Boulders and Sages and Grasses past Alabama Hills formations to Mt Whitney Peaks

2020-04-11 Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R WR LM Rocks for Focus Stacking

2020-01-10 Optimizing Zerene Stacker on High Core-Count Macs Like the 16-Core 2019 Mac Pro

2020-01-09 2019 Mac Pro vs 2019 iMac 5K: Focus Stacking Speed

2019

2019-12-09 Phase One IQ4 + Schneider Kreuznach LS 80mm f/2.8 Example: Last Change Wash (depth of field is nil on a 53.4 X 40 mm sensor!)

2019-12-04 Attention all Camera Makers: 23.5 Things To Please Your Customers

2019-11-24 Reader Comments: Whither Nikon?

2019-11-02 Herding Cats

2019-10-14 Voigtlander 65mm f/2 Macro APO-Lanthar Focus Stack: Twisted, Burned, Broken Downed Tree High in Pine Creek Canyon

2019-10-14 Sony A7R IV: Confusing Stop-Down Behavior, Camera Chooses Arbitrary/Unspecified Aperture for Viewing/Focusing

2019-10-14 Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Examples: Eastern Sierra at Pine Creek

2019-09-28 Nikon D850 Monochrome Examples in Eastern Sierra, Focus Stacked and Presented at Up to 182 Megapixels

2019-09-27 Jaw-Dropping Image Quality: Sony A7R IV with Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Examples: Eastern Sierra

2019-09-23 Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art Aperture Series: Rocky Creekbed at Dusk (Sony A7R IV)

2019-09-10 Panoramic Focus Stacking with Fujifilm GFX100: View to Mono Craters from Dana Crest

2019-09-09 Focus Stacking Selfies with the Fujifilm GFX100 (Mt Whitney Zone Sign)

2019-09-01 Reader Question: Considering Focus Breathing Performance for Focus Stacking When Choosing a Lens

2019-08-30 Landscape Photographers Looking for Superior Results and Lowest Effort and Fewest Problems Go with Fujifilm GFX100, not Sony A7R IV

2019-08-25 Sony A7R IV Looks Flawed for My Purposes: Appear to Lack Focus Stacking Support and Lossless Compressed RAW

2019-08-24 Fujifilm GFX100 Focus Stacking in Tuolumne Grove, Yosemite

2019-08-20 Fujifilm GFX100 Focus Stacking Handheld with Sensor Stabilization (IBIS)

2019-08-20 Fujifilm GFX100 Focus Stacking For Selfies, People: White Mountain Peak, Mt Whitney

2019-08-18 Some Fujifilm GFX100 Behaviors also Apply to the coming Sony 7R IV

2019-08-16 Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 R WR Focus Stacking Examples

2019-08-15 Fujifilm GF 120mm f/4 Macro R LM OIS WR Focus Stacking Examples

2019-08-14 Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 R WR Focus Stacking Examples

2019-08-09 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR: Close-Range Focus Stacking

2019-08-06 Fujifilm GFX100: Troubling Autofocus Errors, FOCUS BKT Problems

2019-08-06 Fujifilm GFX100: Focus Stacking Examples with Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4, Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8

2019-08-04 Fujifilm GFX100: Stunning Image Quality, How to use the FOCUS BKT Feature for Focus Stacking, and About its Damaging Bugs

2019-06-28 Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL Aperture Series: Painted Rock (Focus Stacked, Panasonic S1R Multi-Shot High-Res Mode)

2019-06-22 Leica 75mm f/2 APO-Summicron-SL Focus Stacking in Multi-Shot High-Res Mode, Plus HighRes Exmples (Panasonic S1R)

2019-06-18 Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Aperture Series and Focus Stack @ 54mm: Old Gnarled Rootball (Nikon Z7)

2019-06-17 Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Aperture Series and Focus Stack @ 24mm: Dead Trees in Defunct Beaver Pond (Nikon Z7)

2019-06-15 Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Aperture Series: View Through Pines to Mono Lake (Sony A7R III)

2019-03-30 Reader Comment: First Impressions of Panasonic S1R

2019-03-16 Pentax K-1 Mark II: Using Pixel Shift with Focus Stacking

2018

2018-11-02 Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Aperture Series: Beaver Pond Beaver Trail Through Reeds

2018-11-01 Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Aperture Series: Beaver Pond Beaver Trail Through Reeds

2018-10-28 Focus Stacking with the Nikon Z7 Using the “Focus shift shooting” Feature: How To Configure, Plus Examples

2018-08-31 Zeiss Lenspire Articles—Read all 17

2018-08-25 Nikon Z7: Improved Focus Stacking Support

2018-07-15 Reader Comment: Automated Focus Stacking

2018-01-15 Reader Question: Automated Focus Stacking (solution: Nikon D850)

2018-01-15 Helicon Focus 7.0: Huge Improvement in Scalability for High Core Count Machines

2018-01-14 Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 Aperture Series and Focus Stack: Icy Boulder in Lee Vining Creek

2018-01-12 iMac Pro: Speed with Helicon Focus

2018-01-07 Testing the Apple iMac Pro + macOS Compatibility Issues with Zerene Stacker and Iridient Developer

2017

2017-12-17 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Examples: Lundy Canyon Just Before the Winter Solstice

2017-12-10 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: West Walker Creek Meadow to Snowy Mountains

2017-12-10 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Boulder Escapee from Rockfall

2017-12-10 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Aspen Against Mountain at Dusk

2017-12-08 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Low and Close Viewpoint, Beaver Dam Pond

2017-12-08 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Indian Rock

2017-12-08 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Across Green Icy Lake to Blue Mountainside

2017-12-07 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Lundy Lake, Green Ice at Dam End

2017-12-07 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Frozen Beaver Ponds to Forest

2017-12-07 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: 'Light-Colored Boulder Amid Sage and Boulder Field'

2017-12-06 Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR Aperture Series with Focus Stack: 'West Walker River in Noon Shade, Upstream View'

2017-12-04 New Article on Zeiss Lenspire Site: “Getting started with Focus Stacking – How to achieve more detailed images”

2017-12-04 Focus Stacking and Stitching: Ralf Graebner and his 'Change' series using found-on-the-street NYC quarter-dollar coins

2017-11-18 Reader Comments: Lenticular Clouds Shot with Nikon D850, Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4

2017-11-14 The Significance of Automated Focus Stepping for Focus Stacking (Nikon D850)

2017-11-14 Deep Stacking with the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Using Nikon D850 'Focus shift shooting'

2017-11-13 Stacking at f/1.8?!

2017-11-13 Depth of Field Akin to f/128: an Incredible Near-Far Focus Stack with the Zeiss Milvus 18mm f/2.8

2017-11-11 Which is Better, Food or Water? (or wine) — Sony Alpha A7R III Pixel Shift vs Nikon D850 'Focus shift shooting'

2017-11-11 Late Season Shooting in the Eastern Sierra

2017-11-08 Reader Comment: Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 vs Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.4 (manual focus vs autofocus)

2017-11-08 Nikon D850: Validating 'Focus shift shooting' in the Field: Does it really work well?

2017-11-07 Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 APO-Distagon: Some New Focus Stacking images (Nikon D850)

2017-11-07 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Healthy Bristlecone Bark (Nikon D850)

2017-11-06 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4: a Few More Eastern Sierra Examples Added

2017-11-02 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4: Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Waterfall Icicles (Nikon D850)

2017-11-01 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 Stacking Examples: Glacier Canyon and Dana Lakes (Nikon D850)

2017-11-01 Will we See Firmware Updates from Sony and Nikon for Pixel Shift and 'Focus shift shooting', respectively?

2017-10-30 Images Added for Various Lenses

2017-10-29 Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Aperture Series + Focus Stack: Boulder View to Sub-Peak of Mt Conness

2017-10-29 Scenes Where Focus Stacking Makes all the Difference

2017-10-28 Critical Tip on Focus Stacking Focusing, Particularly with Nikon D850 Autofocus

2017-10-27 Nikon D850: 'Focus shift shooting' Feature Most Important Feature since Live View; Focus Stacking is the ONLY Solution to Full Resolution Images

2017-10-26 Nikon D850 vs Nikon D810: Comparing Night Shots

2017-10-25 Nikon D850: 'Focus Shift Shooting' at Close Range

2017-10-24 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 Aperture Series: Colorful Green Boulder, Dusk (Nikon D850)

2017-10-24 Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Aperture Series: View Over Conness Creek Drainage to Saddlebag Lake (Nikon D850)

2017-10-24 Nikon D850: 'Focus Shift Shooting' Feature is a Reason by Itself to buy the Nikon D850 — Saves Time, Guarantees Peak Quality

2017-10-22 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 Examples: Yosemite High Country (Nikon D850)

2017-10-22 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 Aperture Series: Stunted Aspen, Last Light on Granite Bowl (Nikon D850)

2017-10-22 Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 Aperture Series: Large Boulder, Waterfall, Last Light on Canyon Ridge (Nikon D850)

2017-10-16 Reader Comment: Focus Stacking + Time Efficiency with Photography

2017-10-13 Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 Aperture Series: Low View of Bristlecone Trunks (Nikon D850)

2017-10-10 Nikon D850: 45 megapixels + Zeiss Milvus 35/1.4 + Focus Stacking Can Make Incredible Detailed Images.

2017-10-05 Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4: Examples, Eastern Sierra

2017-09-26 Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Aperture Series: Dead and Live Aspen, Dusk

2017-09-24 Zeiss Milvus 35mm f/1.4 Distagon: Excellent for Focus Stacking

2017-09-22 Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Aperture Series: Focus Stacking Versus Single Frame

2017-08-29 New Article on Zeiss Lenspire Site: “Micro Contrast and the Zeiss 'Pop'”

2017-08-27 New Article on Zeiss Lenspire Site: “Zoom or Prime Lens? Normal Lenses”

2017-08-23 Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM Examples: Rock Creek and Morgan Lakes area

2017-08-23 Sony 12-24mm f/4 G Examples: Rock Creek and Morgan Lakes area

2017-08-19 Sony 12-24mm f/4 G @ 24mm: Single Frame Performance at f/11 vs Focus Stacking at f/11 (Downed Tree, Last Kiss of Sunlight)

2017-08-19 Sony 12-24mm f/4 G @ 12mm: Single Frame Performance at f/11 vs Focus Stacking at f/11 (Pine at Morgan Lake)

2017-08-09 Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM: Single Frame Performance at f/9 vs Focus Stacking at f/9 (Flowers Amid Bristlecones)

2017-08-09 Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 GM: Single Frame Performance at f/9 vs Focus Stacking at f/9 (Bristlecone Log Low View)

2017-08-03 Nikon 28mm f/1.4E Aperture Series: Fishing Boats at Dawn, Lundy Lake

2017-07-03 Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 R WR Aperture Series: Dark Rocks and Flowing Water, Upstream View (Fujifilm GFX)

2017-05-22 New Article on Zeiss Lenspire Site: “Zoom or Prime Lens? A series by Lloyd Chambers”

2017-05-11 Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Rodin Burghers of Calais

2017-05-11 Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Aperture Series with Focus Stack: Quadrangle at Dusk

2017-04-13 Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 @32mm Focus Stack: Barroom Interior

2017-04-11 Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 Aperture Series @35mm + Focus Stack: Decrepit Truck

2017-04-10 Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 Focus Stack: Sunlit Picnic Table in Snow Squall

2017-03-03 Hasselblad X1D + Hasselblad XCD 30mm f/3.5 Aperture Series: Mosaic

2017-03-03 Hasselblad X1D + Hasselblad XCD 30mm f/3.5 Aperture Series at Night

2017-02-16 New Article on Zeiss Lenspire Site: “Zoom or Prime Lens? A series by Lloyd Chambers”

2016

2016-11-22 Zeiss Loxia 85mm f/2.4: Focus Stacking with Moving Water, and Other Examples

2016-11-01 Approaching Potential Sensor Resolution: Focus Stacking at 50 Megapixels (Lundy Beaver Pond, Canon 5Ds R)

2016-10-29 Approaching Potential Sensor Resolution: Focus Stacking at 50 Megapixels (Spotted Boulder, Canon 5Ds R)

2016-10-21 Late October Photo Tour in Yosemite or Eastern Sierra

2016-10-15 Why Lens Performance Matters for Focus Stacking

2016-10-09 Sigma dp0 and dp1 Quattro: Razor Sharp Detail

2016-09-23 September/October Photo Tour on Focus Stacking (or Other Things), Yosemite Area

2016-09-04 Focus Stacking with Sony 85/1.4 GM: Getting that Impossible Depth of Field for Landscape Scenes

2016-08-28 Focus Stacking: Banishes Depth of Field Limitations for Many Field Images

2016-08-09 August Photo Tour on Focus Stacking, Yosemite Area

2016-08-04 My Articles on the Zeiss Lenspire Site

2016-07-19 An In-Depth Look at Focus Stacking in 'Making Sharp Images'

2016-07-15 Depth of field and Sharpness: Conventional Thinking is Unrealistic Going Forward, Focus Stacking is One Solution

2016-06-09 Focus Stacking with the Zeiss Otus 28mm f/1.4 Distagon for Outdoor Scenes

2016-06-02 An Expert at Focus Stacking Comments on the Pentax K1 and Its Image Quality

2016-05-27 Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4G OSS on A7R II

2016-05-22 Bellows Systems for Nikon, Canon, Leica, Sony: Why Consider Them?

2016-05-20 Zerene Stacker for Focus Stacking

2016-05-19 PENTAX K1: Focus Stacking in SuperRes Pixel Shift Mode, 'Ultegra Cassette'

2016-05-19 Nikon D810 + Zeiss 135mm f/2 APO-Sonnar: Focus Stacking 'Ultegra Cassette'

2016-05-18 PENTAX K1: Focus Stacking in SuperRes Pixel Shift Mode, 'Pair of Pears'

2014

2014-05-21 Increasing Depth of Field via Focus Stacking (Wagon, 280/4 APO)

2009

2009-08-29 Snow Leopard 64-bit kernel mode a big win for Helicon Focus

2009-02-07 Helicon focus example

2009-02-05 Forever focus