[Porffor]

The only answer to narrow dof with macro or still life is focus stacking!. I use software called Franzis Projects. It's easy to use and not too expensive.I think Affinity Photo does it too. Of course a shorter lens might help but then you're right on top of the subject and that can cause shadow. Have a look anyway.

Thanks. I need to get to grips with affinity. So work to be done. Will keep using the kit lens for now.

[SimonC]

The only answer to narrow dof with macro or still life is focus stacking!. I use software called Franzis Projects. It's easy to use and not too expensive.I think Affinity Photo does it too. Of course a shorter lens might help but then you're right on top of the subject and that can cause shadow. Have a look anyway.

I've only had one go at photo stacking and didn't get it right.

In a setup like Porffor has used there (just as an example) what would be a typical number of images to stack? I'm guessing the change in focus is very, very minimal for each shot?

[stevejo]

The only answer to narrow dof with macro or still life is focus stacking!. I use software called Franzis Projects. It's easy to use and not too expensive.I think Affinity Photo does it too. Of course a shorter lens might help but then you're right on top of the subject and that can cause shadow. Have a look anyway.

This isn't something that I have considered before. I have to admit I tend to treat digital photography a bit like film, so try to get what I want in the camera, and use post processing to do a bit of cropping and fiddle with the colours. I am getting more into post processing now and use GIMP as its free and a pretty good alternative to Photoshop.

I have just had a very quick go to check this out and it seems very simple to do. The attached compilation show 3 taken images and the final stacked image bottom right. Ok I need to be a bit more careful about the setup but I think I will be doing a lot more of this going forward.

[rodcy]

Affinity is well worth looking into and the video tutorials are very good. Unfortunately, despite having both Photoshop and Affinity, I still use the former as I know it so well. Just me being lazy. As far as the number of images to stack that depends on the subject and how much you want in focus, but with my still life flower photography I usually went for 5 images. The third party add-ons like Franzis Projects just makie the job easier.

[stevejo]

Really impressed with Affinity. The online tutorial videos are very good too.
Cant believe that when I used my old Weston Master V for this test that the needle is no longer moving. I only bought this in 1972 !

[rodaballo]

K10D, 16-45mm

[paulh]

DA18-135 on K10D:

[Swift1]

From October 2008, Aspen, Colorado...

Pentax K10D
Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 90/2.5 Macro (52BB)

[Eye.n.Eye]

I've never owned a lens with a macro switch before. The retro novelty hasn't quite worn off yet haha. Sigma 28-80:

[stevejo]

K10D with 18-55mm (centre crop)

[paulh]

Cloudy day at Mugu Rock - DA18-135 on K10D:

[subsea]

F-18 flying at the Jones Beach airshow in 2009. K-10D and FA 100-300mm, highly cropped.

[glinda]

F-18 flying at the Jones Beach airshow in 2009. K-10D and FA 100-300mm, highly cropped.

Excellent, especially if highly cropped.

---------- Post added 11-28-20 at 08:52 PM ----------

K10D, 16-45mm

Nice light

---------- Post added 11-28-20 at 08:53 PM ----------

K10D with 18-55mm (centre crop)

Nice too

[subsea]

Excellent, especially if highly cropped.

---------- Post added 11-28-20 at 08:52 PM ----------

Hi, Glinda,
To give you an idea of how much cropping was involved, here's a screenshot of the crop in Lightroom. I was surprised at how good it looks considering the lens that was used and the fact that the original was only 10 megapixels (and it was handheld).

[glinda]

Hi, Glinda,
To give you an idea of how much cropping was involved, here's a screenshot of the crop in Lightroom. I was surprised at how good it looks considering the lens that was used and the fact that the original was only 10 megapixels (and it was handheld).

And it has quite good lighting , especially how bright a day/ sky , seems . Maybe one of those hazy sun days ? Was it getting reflected light from the runway , maybe, well lit underneath .

Pretty cool shot .