Posted by Barry Southon on August 22, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Caught on the hop again as is often the way with me. I can't claim the spotting of this subject my 12 year old grandson did that. I shot off a few frames whilst trying also to improve my position it was after all a once in a lifetime find for me.
My question would it help to create a number of copies then try to stack the images to improve the quality? Or is it that the original needs to be spot on in the first instance? I have a feeling I may well have answered my own question. Nevertheless I'd be interested in the view of others.
Canon 1D3 Canon 35mm-350mm hand held ISO 800 270mm f/8.0 1/100sec Manual.
Thanks for looking all comments,critique and advice most welcome.
Posted by John Robinson on August 22, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Hi Barry
The subject would have to be pretty still to allow the stacking to work properly. I,ve manage it on the odd bird by focussing on the front and back but you then have to blend the two. It can be done but it anit easy. Just taking a load of pictures wouldn.t help.
As you say go for the best in the bunch.
Others will have their own views on this.
Cheers
JohnR
Barry, I have seen an apparent increase in sharpness in some images where the focus/shutter speed were marginal when I have stacked images with different exposure processing to create a faux HDR effect. It might work here, but all I can say is try it and see. I would be interested in your results. Zerene Stacker has a more intuitive interface than the other programmes I have looked at and they give you a free trial period, so it will only cost you your time.
John, I think Barry was alluding to the focus/sharpening of his image rather than increasing the depth of field - at least that's how I interpretted his question.
Posted by Barry Southon on August 22, 2010 at 5:39 PM
John & Phil
Many thanks for contributions I failed to word my question in precise terms. In fact we had two Hoopoe's in view but they move so fast it was a case of grab shots as is before they were gone. What I was seeking in my question was clarification as to whether by making virtual copies of the best images then stacking them would this provide the basis to improve the end result? I see great results in Macro stacking but as John points out birds are another matter.
Posted by John Robinson on August 22, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Barrie
Sorry I still don't fully understand.
You would be unable to stack them as in macro unless they were identically positioned.
What you may mean I think is taking the best bits out of two or three and blending them . Like putting a sharper head on another body .
You are on dodgy ground there as it could be construed as over manipulation. It is done though.
Cheers
John
Barry, for the Macro shots, each separate image in the multiple 'stack' has a section that is in focus, but that section is moved minutely from it's predecessor. All the images are then combined in the software to give a composite image. So you are combining images that are already in focus, in effect adding in information (pixels) to the composite image.
You are asking if you can enhance the original single image by using multiple copies of itself... There is no change in the focus point, and so no change in what is 'sharp' - there is no new information (pixels) to add to the composite image in this case. No such thing as a free lunch I'm afraid.
Phil, I guess all you're changing there is the effective acutance along the edges... and so it appears to increase the 'sharpness' slightly?
Posted by John Robinson on August 22, 2010 at 8:28 PM
Nick
That's what I meant
JR
Posted by Jeroen Stel on August 23, 2010 at 4:40 AM
Hi Barry,
I did a topic on focus stacking on my blog last year, so perhaps this helps:
Discussion
7 repliesMy question would it help to create a number of copies then try to stack the images to improve the quality? Or is it that the original needs to be spot on in the first instance? I have a feeling I may well have answered my own question. Nevertheless I'd be interested in the view of others.
Canon 1D3 Canon 35mm-350mm hand held ISO 800 270mm f/8.0 1/100sec Manual.
Thanks for looking all comments,critique and advice most welcome.
The subject would have to be pretty still to allow the stacking to work properly. I,ve manage it on the odd bird by focussing on the front and back but you then have to blend the two. It can be done but it anit easy. Just taking a load of pictures wouldn.t help.
As you say go for the best in the bunch.
Others will have their own views on this.
Cheers
JohnR
John, I think Barry was alluding to the focus/sharpening of his image rather than increasing the depth of field - at least that's how I interpretted his question.
Many thanks for contributions I failed to word my question in precise terms. In fact we had two Hoopoe's in view but they move so fast it was a case of grab shots as is before they were gone. What I was seeking in my question was clarification as to whether by making virtual copies of the best images then stacking them would this provide the basis to improve the end result? I see great results in Macro stacking but as John points out birds are another matter.
Sorry I still don't fully understand.
You would be unable to stack them as in macro unless they were identically positioned.
What you may mean I think is taking the best bits out of two or three and blending them . Like putting a sharper head on another body .
You are on dodgy ground there as it could be construed as over manipulation. It is done though.
Cheers
John
You are asking if you can enhance the original single image by using multiple copies of itself... There is no change in the focus point, and so no change in what is 'sharp' - there is no new information (pixels) to add to the composite image in this case. No such thing as a free lunch I'm afraid.
Phil, I guess all you're changing there is the effective acutance along the edges... and so it appears to increase the 'sharpness' slightly?
That's what I meant
JR
I did a topic on focus stacking on my blog last year, so perhaps this helps:
http://jeroenstel.blogspot.com/2009/02/focus-stacking.html
greetings,
Jeroen Stel