Focus stacking, software, how to do and results

[Michael Erlewine]

For those interested, there is a whole series of videos on close-up, macro, and focus-stacking:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5xDr8mWUwrzi4bxY978O1DQykUrj-S2I

Also, many free e-books on focus stacking and photography in general:
http://spiritgrooves.net/e-Books.aspx#Photography

And a gallery of mostly stacked photos:
https://michaelerlewine.smugmug.com/

Stacked photo with the Nikon z7 and the Schneider Macro-Varon 85 APO lens

[Birna Rørslett]

This is a question on the tip of my tongue, I am considering a close up, macro lens, the Laowa 25mm F2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro Lens.

https://www.ukdigital.co.uk/laowa-25mm-f28-25-5x-ultra-macro-lens-nikon.html?utm_source=googleshopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8q7qpOjA3gIVysqyCh1wRwFDEAQYASABEgKi6fD_BwE

I think a couple of NG members have this lens, given the extremely thin DoF, focus stacking is almost obligatory.  I would be interested in comments about the Laowa Ultra Macro Lens, perhaps in another thread.

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Sorry, I did miss this question about the Laowa lens. I got my sample early this spring and have used it extensively since then. I managed to insert a CPU in it as well to allow me to keep track of lens use and aperture selected. It is coupled either to a D810 or an Z7.

The lens is very sharp (used around f/4 as I do stacking), image contrast is quite high, so the outcome is nice. However, there can depending on the subject and light source be some CA. Nothing major and usually fixable in post.

Given its relatively low price, it is a very good alternative if you require the 2.5-5X range (which I do all the time).

[wilco23]

Thank you Michael

For those interested, there is a whole series of videos on close-up, macro, and focus-stacking:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5xDr8mWUwrzi4bxY978O1DQykUrj-S2I

Also, many free e-books on focus stacking and photography in general:
http://spiritgrooves.net/e-Books.aspx#Photography

And a gallery of mostly stacked photos:
https://michaelerlewine.smugmug.com/

Stacked photo with the Nikon z7 and the Schneider Macro-Varon 85 APO lens

[PeterN]

For an upcoming watch-shoot I re-evaluated Zerene Stacker and PS. I wanted to do so because of the remarks made about PS as being the inferior product. I also tried the Z6 focus stacking function. The latter works nicely but -obviously- requires an AF lens. In my case, the 60mm is the only option. My preferred lens for watch shots is the Nikon 85mm PC-E lens so I used that lens as well. I also stacked one flower photo.

For flowers, I prefer ZS. Blending the Pmax and Dmap in PS worked well. I did not do any retouching in ZS yet but I can definitely see why The approach of using Pmax for retouching is a good idea.

For watches, I prefer PS. I see all kind of weird artifacts/reflections popping up in the Dmap version of ZS. Any ideas why that  happens? Is it possible that the polarizer messes things up?