Automation of focus stacking

thepedant · 12-09-2018, 05:28 AM

The USB version of the SDK does allow nudging the focus back and forth. It only works in liveview. It took a while to get it to work as I could not compile the sample app on my Opensuse computer so I had to install a copy of Ubuntu under VirtualBox. Also had to wait for my K1v2 power supply to arrive as these kinds of lengthy programming tasks are not feasible using batteries. Anyway, I am happy that the facility is available and will try to write a program over Christmas to try some focus stacking.

Wheatfield · 12-09-2018, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by thepedant

The USB version of the SDK does allow nudging the focus back and forth. It only works in liveview. It took a while to get it to work as I could not compile the sample app on my Opensuse computer so I had to install a copy of Ubuntu under VirtualBox. Also had to wait for my K1v2 power supply to arrive as these kinds of lengthy programming tasks are not feasible using batteries. Anyway, I am happy that the facility is available and will try to write a program over Christmas to try some focus stacking.

I look forward to your results. As I mentioned, I do a lot of focus stacks and would find a routine that automates moving the focus ring to be very useful.
I'm not sure if this is possible from the SDK, but a very useful way of enabling this would be to show the camera the dear and far focus range (manual focus and shutter button press or some such), and then let the camera figure out how many exposures are required based on aperture set, and let it make it happen.

wrench.doozer · 12-12-2018, 10:28 PM

I run a (very expensive) focus stacking microscope, Keyence VHX-5000. Setting top & bottom is exactly how it operates, with manual number of images or full auto. It moves the entire camera & lens together. I think knowing the dof for every lens & aperture would be prohibitive, so you'd want to stick to one lens. Of course Keyence know the dof of their lenses at each power. I've wondered how the OM-D EM-1 did it, maybe only with zukio lenses.

photoptimist · 12-13-2018, 06:59 AM

Originally posted by wrench.doozer

.....I think knowing the dof for every lens & aperture would be prohibitive, so you'd want to stick to one lens.....

Actually, the DoF is a very simple math function of focal length, aperture, and magnification. The CPU in a camera could literally compute it less than a microsecond. And even if the camera does not know the focal length, aperture, and magnification of the lens, data available in the CDAF system can directly estimate the DoF in lens motor ticks.

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12-09-2018, 05:28 AM	#16
thepedant Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Nottingham Posts: 70 Original Poster	The USB version of the SDK does allow nudging the focus back and forth. It only works in liveview. It took a while to get it to work as I could not compile the sample app on my Opensuse computer so I had to install a copy of Ubuntu under VirtualBox. Also had to wait for my K1v2 power supply to arrive as these kinds of lengthy programming tasks are not feasible using batteries. Anyway, I am happy that the facility is available and will try to write a program over Christmas to try some focus stacking.

12-09-2018, 11:59 AM	#17
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by thepedant The USB version of the SDK does allow nudging the focus back and forth. It only works in liveview. It took a while to get it to work as I could not compile the sample app on my Opensuse computer so I had to install a copy of Ubuntu under VirtualBox. Also had to wait for my K1v2 power supply to arrive as these kinds of lengthy programming tasks are not feasible using batteries. Anyway, I am happy that the facility is available and will try to write a program over Christmas to try some focus stacking. I look forward to your results. As I mentioned, I do a lot of focus stacks and would find a routine that automates moving the focus ring to be very useful. I'm not sure if this is possible from the SDK, but a very useful way of enabling this would be to show the camera the dear and far focus range (manual focus and shutter button press or some such), and then let the camera figure out how many exposures are required based on aperture set, and let it make it happen.

12-12-2018, 10:28 PM	#18
wrench.doozer Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: syracuse Posts: 42	I run a (very expensive) focus stacking microscope, Keyence VHX-5000. Setting top & bottom is exactly how it operates, with manual number of images or full auto. It moves the entire camera & lens together. I think knowing the dof for every lens & aperture would be prohibitive, so you'd want to stick to one lens. Of course Keyence know the dof of their lenses at each power. I've wondered how the OM-D EM-1 did it, maybe only with zukio lenses.

12-13-2018, 06:59 AM	#19
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,129	Originally posted by wrench.doozer .....I think knowing the dof for every lens & aperture would be prohibitive, so you'd want to stick to one lens..... Actually, the DoF is a very simple math function of focal length, aperture, and magnification. The CPU in a camera could literally compute it less than a microsecond. And even if the camera does not know the focal length, aperture, and magnification of the lens, data available in the CDAF system can directly estimate the DoF in lens motor ticks.