Macro Been trying to see how close-up I can shoot toothpicks.

Been trying to see how close-up I can shoot toothpicks. · **4 Likes**

Depth of field is a problem. I need to experiment more!

The first one is simply with a 28mm macro lens reversed, onto extension tubes. The second shot is trying two lenses with the outer lens reversed onto the first.

**geomez** · 05-12-2017, 12:25 AM

You could always do a DoF stack in PP.

Not a Number · 05-12-2017, 02:36 AM

With my Minolta autobellows III at 198mm of extension I get about 7× magnification with a reversed 28mm lens. These bellows have a tilt function so if the toothpicks were on same axis as the tilt you could get more DOF that way. Spiratone had a bellows with tilt on the X and Y axis as well as on both the front and rears standards - almost like a mini frame view camera. Very rare on the used market.

Update:

According to my Pentax Auto Bellows-A manual with the Pentax-A or M 28mm f/2.8 reversed at 169mm of extension the magnification is 6.6× with a working distance of 41mm.

MarkJerling · 05-13-2017, 12:14 AM

Originally posted by geomez

You could always do a DoF stack in PP.

Yes, thank you. That is something I need to learn to do! What's the best free software way to do that? Or can I do it in an older Photoshop? (Version 8)

Not a Number · 05-13-2017, 01:42 AM

Originally posted by MarkJerling

Yes, thank you. That is something I need to learn to do! What's the best free software way to do that? Or can I do it in an older Photoshop? (Version 8)

CS4 is the earliest version that has focus stacking.

I use CombineZP. The author's web pages have been dark for about a year and there is no activity in his Yahoo group so he seems to have disappeared. I like it because it has different algorithms and tweaks so you can see which gives the best results. It works with TIFs and you can take sequences of images to make AVI videos besides just stacking. It was written for Windows XP but I don't have any problems running it under Windows 7. I haven't tried it under Windows 10.

CombineZ - Wikipedia

Working download link on archive.org:
hadleyweb

Update: Looks like the author is still active and has a newer version call czimps for Windows 7 and 10 - 64 bit only. Link do download at bottom of page. He has a link for CombineZP download there also. The author warns CZimp isn't not easy to use. CombineZP isn't too bad but not the most user friendly either.

WELCOME

MarkJerling · 05-13-2017, 04:10 AM

Originally posted by Not a Number

CS4 is the earliest version that has focus stacking.

I use CombineZP. The author's web pages have been dark for about a year and there is no activity in his Yahoo group so he seems to have disappeared. I like it because it has different algorithms and tweaks so you can see which gives the best results. It works with TIFs and you can take sequences of images to make AVI videos besides just stacking. It was written for Windows XP but I don't have any problems running it under Windows 7. I haven't tried it under Windows 10.

CombineZ - Wikipedia

Working download link on archive.org:
hadleyweb

Update: Looks like the author is still active and has a newer version call czimps for Windows 7 and 10 - 64 bit only. Link do download at bottom of page. He has a link for CombineZP download there also. The author warns CZimp isn't not easy to use. CombineZP isn't too bad but not the most user friendly either.

WELCOME

Thank you for the comprehensive reply. I'll give that a look!

MarkJerling
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by MarkJerling
	Find threads started by MarkJerling
	Find threads in which MarkJerling has posted

05-12-2017, 02:36 AM	#3
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	With my Minolta autobellows III at 198mm of extension I get about 7× magnification with a reversed 28mm lens. These bellows have a tilt function so if the toothpicks were on same axis as the tilt you could get more DOF that way. Spiratone had a bellows with tilt on the X and Y axis as well as on both the front and rears standards - almost like a mini frame view camera. Very rare on the used market. Update: According to my Pentax Auto Bellows-A manual with the Pentax-A or M 28mm f/2.8 reversed at 169mm of extension the magnification is 6.6× with a working distance of 41mm. Last edited by Not a Number; 05-12-2017 at 03:02 AM.

05-13-2017, 01:42 AM	#5
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by MarkJerling Yes, thank you. That is something I need to learn to do! What's the best free software way to do that? Or can I do it in an older Photoshop? (Version 8) CS4 is the earliest version that has focus stacking. I use CombineZP. The author's web pages have been dark for about a year and there is no activity in his Yahoo group so he seems to have disappeared. I like it because it has different algorithms and tweaks so you can see which gives the best results. It works with TIFs and you can take sequences of images to make AVI videos besides just stacking. It was written for Windows XP but I don't have any problems running it under Windows 7. I haven't tried it under Windows 10. CombineZ - Wikipedia Working download link on archive.org: hadleyweb Update: Looks like the author is still active and has a newer version call czimps for Windows 7 and 10 - 64 bit only. Link do download at bottom of page. He has a link for CombineZP download there also. The author warns CZimp isn't not easy to use. CombineZP isn't too bad but not the most user friendly either. WELCOME Last edited by Not a Number; 05-13-2017 at 01:53 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
On a k3 how to you get the top to light up so you can see the info in the dark	pentaxk3user	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	3	09-27-2015 04:24 AM
Nature Trying a Wide Angle Lens for a Close Up Shot	chmance	Post Your Photos!	6	08-29-2015 08:32 PM
Finally got a close-up of a Kingfisher!!!!! Must see!	palmor	Post Your Photos!	12	09-20-2008 04:45 PM

05-12-2017, 12:25 AM	#2
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	You could always do a DoF stack in PP.

05-13-2017, 12:14 AM	#4
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,421 Original Poster	Originally posted by geomez You could always do a DoF stack in PP. Yes, thank you. That is something I need to learn to do! What's the best free software way to do that? Or can I do it in an older Photoshop? (Version 8)

05-13-2017, 04:10 AM	#6
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,421 Original Poster	Originally posted by Not a Number CS4 is the earliest version that has focus stacking. I use CombineZP. The author's web pages have been dark for about a year and there is no activity in his Yahoo group so he seems to have disappeared. I like it because it has different algorithms and tweaks so you can see which gives the best results. It works with TIFs and you can take sequences of images to make AVI videos besides just stacking. It was written for Windows XP but I don't have any problems running it under Windows 7. I haven't tried it under Windows 10. CombineZ - Wikipedia Working download link on archive.org: hadleyweb Update: Looks like the author is still active and has a newer version call czimps for Windows 7 and 10 - 64 bit only. Link do download at bottom of page. He has a link for CombineZP download there also. The author warns CZimp isn't not easy to use. CombineZP isn't too bad but not the most user friendly either. WELCOME Thank you for the comprehensive reply. I'll give that a look!