One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
p.1 #1One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
1. 299 shot stack (can you see him ?)
2. Failed on the left side to get everything in focus on this one
2. Failed on the left side to get everything in focus on this one
Jun 21, 2026 at 11:02 AM
p.1 #2One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
I'm curious what aperture you used that required 299 shots? Are you using a camera that does the stacking internally? M4/3? Just trying to understand more about the shots. Speaking from experience, that's a lot of focal adjustments if doing it manually 
Oh, and is that an assassin bug at the top?
Greg
Oh, and is that an assassin bug at the top?
Greg
Jun 21, 2026 at 12:51 PM
p.1 #3One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
Hi Greg,
I am using Sony so the adjustments are done automatically. So essentially you can setup
1.Step size
2.Number of steps
As well as loads of other settings
Then you autofocus on the starting point of the object you want to stack and fire and it startes rattling though taking a shot adjusting the focus and taking the next shot etc.
You are right you could also adjust your aperture but I have found I have gotten better results and better detail using my lens at f2.8 and taking more shots. I will experiment a bit more with this though as I have only just started doing stacking so still learning a lot
I am using helicon focus to stack and there are a few settings on there I am experimenting with too. If you zoom into the center bits of the plant you can see some blurring around the edge of them. I am not sure if it’s possible to get rid of those or if that’s a natural artefact of the stack.
While you are zoomed in you will see a caterpillar right at the base (I had no idea he was there when photographing the flower)
I am using Sony so the adjustments are done automatically. So essentially you can setup
1.Step size
2.Number of steps
As well as loads of other settings
Then you autofocus on the starting point of the object you want to stack and fire and it startes rattling though taking a shot adjusting the focus and taking the next shot etc.
You are right you could also adjust your aperture but I have found I have gotten better results and better detail using my lens at f2.8 and taking more shots. I will experiment a bit more with this though as I have only just started doing stacking so still learning a lot
I am using helicon focus to stack and there are a few settings on there I am experimenting with too. If you zoom into the center bits of the plant you can see some blurring around the edge of them. I am not sure if it’s possible to get rid of those or if that’s a natural artefact of the stack.
While you are zoomed in you will see a caterpillar right at the base (I had no idea he was there when photographing the flower)
Jun 21, 2026 at 05:22 PM
p.1 #4One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
photo325 wrote:
Hi Greg,
I am using Sony so the adjustments are done automatically. So essentially you can setup
1.Step size
2.Number of steps
As well as loads of other settings
Then you autofocus on the starting point of the object you want to stack and fire and it startes rattling though taking a shot adjusting the focus and taking the next shot etc.
You are right you could also adjust your aperture but I have found I have gotten better results and better detail using my lens at f2.8 and taking more shots. I will experiment a bit more with this though as I have only...Show more →
Thanks. I've done quite a bit of focus stacking, but I usually do it manually and use f/8 or f/9 in most cases. At the MFD, the DoF is pretty thin even at those apertures, but it usually takes closer to 20-30 shots vs hundreds. Just something to try. I also usually use a well lit window and a couple of bounce cards to get the exposure. I use Photoshop but know Helicon is top notch.
Cheers!
Greg
Hi Greg,
I am using Sony so the adjustments are done automatically. So essentially you can setup
1.Step size
2.Number of steps
As well as loads of other settings
Then you autofocus on the starting point of the object you want to stack and fire and it startes rattling though taking a shot adjusting the focus and taking the next shot etc.
You are right you could also adjust your aperture but I have found I have gotten better results and better detail using my lens at f2.8 and taking more shots. I will experiment a bit more with this though as I have only...Show more →
Thanks. I've done quite a bit of focus stacking, but I usually do it manually and use f/8 or f/9 in most cases. At the MFD, the DoF is pretty thin even at those apertures, but it usually takes closer to 20-30 shots vs hundreds. Just something to try. I also usually use a well lit window and a couple of bounce cards to get the exposure. I use Photoshop but know Helicon is top notch.
Cheers!
Greg
Jun 21, 2026 at 05:35 PM
p.1 #5One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
Appreciate the tips Greg, I was using a single led panel to light these guys I hadn’t even considered bouncing the light around I will try and get some of them ordered.
I’ll try experimenting with f8-f9 tomorrow 20-30 shots seems much more manageable and will be much quicker to process at the end
I’ll also give Photoshop a go for the stacking as I am using an m4 Mac mini to generate the final image it might be more optimised for Mac hardware.
Thanks again 👍
I will try and get some of them ordered. I’ll try experimenting with f8-f9 tomorrow 20-30 shots seems much more manageable and will be much quicker to process at the end
I’ll also give Photoshop a go for the stacking as I am using an m4 Mac mini to generate the final image it might be more optimised for Mac hardware.
Thanks again 👍
Jun 21, 2026 at 05:45 PM
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p.1 #6One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
Very nice
Morris
Morris
Jun 21, 2026 at 07:28 PM
p.1 #7One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
gregfountain wrote:
Thanks. I've done quite a bit of focus stacking, but I usually do it manually and use f/8 or f/9 in most cases. At the MFD, the DoF is pretty thin even at those apertures, but it usually takes closer to 20-30 shots vs hundreds. Just something to try. I also usually use a well lit window and a couple of bounce cards to get the exposure. I use Photoshop but know Helicon is top notch.
Cheers!
Greg
OM/Olympus will easily stack subjects like that in-camera handheld in seven shots. Shot in natural light.
Thanks. I've done quite a bit of focus stacking, but I usually do it manually and use f/8 or f/9 in most cases. At the MFD, the DoF is pretty thin even at those apertures, but it usually takes closer to 20-30 shots vs hundreds. Just something to try. I also usually use a well lit window and a couple of bounce cards to get the exposure. I use Photoshop but know Helicon is top notch.
Cheers!
Greg
OM/Olympus will easily stack subjects like that in-camera handheld in seven shots. Shot in natural light.
OM-1MarkII OLYMPUS M.40-150mm F2.8 lens 106mm f/4.0 1/500s 200 ISO 0.0 EV
Jun 21, 2026 at 09:36 PM
p.1 #8One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
I wish that was around a few years ago Tony. Seven shots worked well in this and f/4 seems to have gotten it all in focus.
Jun 22, 2026 at 12:17 AM
p.1 #9One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
morris wrote:
Very nice
Morris
Thanks Morris
Very nice
Morris
Thanks Morris
Jun 22, 2026 at 04:29 AM
p.1 #10One successful stack and one failed and one hitchhiker....
Yep if I was rich I would own the Olympus / OM system purely for the macro capabilities.
Unfortunately I am not
Unfortunately I am not
Jun 22, 2026 at 04:30 AM