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I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 10 Nov 2015, 19:23
by angelescamez
Hi,

First, my English is very poor sorry.


My name is Angel I spanish and photographer.

I want to thank you for this excellent program, and free!

I am new to this program and I don,t know use the FOCUS STACK in live mode with Nikon D600, You Can give me a tutorial link for this?

The focus Stack is automatic? i defined a nearest point in screen and infinite and the focus Stack make the automatic pictures? how can I do it?

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 10 Nov 2015, 20:51
by GonzoG
1. Set start point
2. Set end point
3. Set numbers of photos to take or set step (how much to move focus plane).
Here you have to determine it by yourself. It depends on DOF, lens, distance and range between start and end point.
4. Start capture sequence.

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 11 Nov 2015, 21:35
by Hiknow
Hello,

its the same with me.
Could you please specify, how to set the start point and the end point.
The QDslrDashboard Manual 1.1 isn´t very usefull.

I have QDslrDashboard Version 0.3.2
on Ipad IOS 9.1
with Nikon D750

Thank You
Hiknow

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 11 Nov 2015, 23:28
by GonzoG
Setting start/end points is done by long press on (1) or (2) buttons while focused at desired point.

To focus at desired point you can use AF, manually focus using focusing ring on lens or use arrows to move focus. But if you set one point cannot use AF to focus to second one because using AF reset positions stored in (1) and (2) so AF can be used only to set one position .

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 12 Nov 2015, 08:26
by angelescamez
Please i need tutorial I can't do it, i try and try....nothing

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 12 Nov 2015, 08:32
by angelescamez
In manual focus no problem i set the FOCUS STEP and FRAME COUNT and no problem, but I can't set AF mode in FOCUS STACK.

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 12 Nov 2015, 11:02
by GonzoG
There is no AF mode in focus stacking. Focus staking must be done by manually changing focus distance (qDD does it for you) and this is done by qDD but lens and camera must have AF turned on because qDD uses AF motor.

Also for Canon you can use only one size step arrows. If you use different size steps than it won't work.

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 12 Nov 2015, 11:29
by GonzoG
A quick tutorial for focus stacking (how I do it):
focus_stack.jpg
focus_stack.jpg (230.36 KiB) Viewed 70183 times
Screenshot is from older qDD version. Now to open focus stacking you need to switch UI to LV (LV button on bottom right corner) and than click "focus stacking" which is in top right corner.

Nikon:

1. Use AF (or arrows) to focus on first point.
2. Long press (1) button to remember position

* (skip to 5. if using infinity or minimal focus distance)
3. Use arrows to focus on second point (for Canon use only one size step arrows </> xor <</>> xor <<</>>>).
*Correction to previous post:
Do not touch focus ring on lens. It will cause you to set focus points from start.

4. Long press (2) button to remember 2. position
5. Set range points
6. Set number of steps or step size.
7. Set direction if necessary (should be done automatically).

7.5. (not on screenshot) On some cameras (Nikon D3x00, Nikon D5x00, maybe others) you need to add 1-3s delay so it won't hang in middle of capture sequence.

8. Press qDD shutter button to start capture sequence.


Canon:
With Canon it is bit different and harder.

2 points:
1. Use AF (or arrows) to focus on first point.
2. Long press (1) button to remember position

* (skip to 5. if using infinity or minimal focus distance)
3. Use arrows to focus on second point but you can use only one size step arrows </> xor <</>> xor <<</>>>.
Important: The step size you use to move focus will be used as step size between photos so choose step carefully.
4. Long press (2) button to remember 2. position
5. Set range points
no point 6. Step size and number of photos are taken from moving focus manully
7. Set direction if necessary (should be done automatically).

7.5. (not on screenshot) On some cameras you need to add 1-3s delay so it won't hang in middle of capture sequence.

8. Press qDD shutter button to start capture sequence.


1 point:
1. Use AF (or arrows) to focus on first point.
2. Long press (1) button to remember position

stpes 3 and 4 skipped
5. Set start point as (1), end point as "none"
6. Set number of photos and chose step size from "small", "medium" or "large".
7. Set focus movement direction

7.5. (not on screenshot) On some cameras you need to add 1-3s delay so it won't hang in middle of capture sequence.

8. Press qDD shutter button to start capture sequence.


Use Photoshop, GIMP or other software to stack photos into one final.

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 12 Nov 2015, 18:43
by Hiknow
Hello GonzoG

Thank you very much for your great tutorial!
Now I succeeded for the first time with focus stacking.
Hiknow

Re: I need a Focus Stack tutorial, Where?

Posted: 14 Nov 2015, 18:26
by mmckeag
This was a big help. I finally succeeded after a couple more failed attempts (Nikon D750 via WiFi from MacBook Pro). The shot delay is essential (> 2 sec). Making sure only JPEGs are uploaded, also important. Finally, after setting start (near) and end (far) focus points, setting direction toward infinity, and returning current focus to the start point (near) before initiating capture, then all proceeded as desired. At least on the OS X version direction does not appear to set itself automatically based on start and end focus settings. BTW resulting sequence wss a dramatic illustration of "focus breathing" of the Nikkor 70-200.