Page 35 - CAMERA

FOCUS BRACKETING AND STACKING

STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5

Then you simply need to set the number of shots and Focus on the part of your subject nearest the camera Fire the shutter to take your shot (if you are using a
focus steps required. (either by selecting the appropriate AF point or tripod this is best done by using a cable release to
switching to Manual Focus). minimise camera vibration).

the shot. If you choose too low a areas of focus than the manual ● At the present time Focus
number, the result will be a large approach) and does enable Bracketing is limited to the 60mm
number of images with little handheld close-up photography to macro lens plus the 12-40mm and
EXAMPLES
difference between them; choose be done (great when photographing 14-150mm Pro zooms
OF POSSIBLE
too high a number and there may insects, for example). However for SUBJECTS ● Whilst separate Raw files can
be gaps of blurred areas between more critical work or macro (i.e. life be shot and saved the merged
the in-focus bands. size) photography I would advise • Simple photograph is a combination of
The decisions about these using a tripod. household items JPEG images
settings will be determined by the Flash can be used but with two like cutlery. ● The slowest shutter speed
number of subjects in the shot, your limitations: • Objects from available is 1/8sec and the
distance from the subject, how ● The flash must be attached to the home/office maximum ISO 3200
much of the subject you want to the camera’s hotshoe ● The merged image crops off
such as paper
capture, and your chosen f-stop. ● The maximum shutter speed is the edges of the composition so
clips, pens and
Generally more shots will be limited to 1/20sec. an allowance for this must be made
coloured pencils.
required if: • More exotic in the framing of the shot.
● There are many subjects Focus stacking However, in spite of any
possessions such
in the composition at varying With the firmware upgrade to the limitations, these modes are
as jewellery.
distances from the lens EM1, Olympus went one step further undoubtedly a boon to
• If you’re green-
● You are very close to your subject and added Focus Stacking – with photographers wanting to try
fingered, flowers
● You are using a longer this mode the separate images are their hand at close-up and macro
and plants in your
focal length lens blended together in camera. Unlike photography but who have
● You want to cover a wide the Focus Bracketing mode the garden make previously been deterred by
depth of field photographer cannot choose the lovely and usually the technical complexities. By
● You are using a fast aperture. number of consecutive shots (the colourful subjects, opening up the world of close-up
But trial and error is the key to camera automatically fires eight on their own or photography, encouraging
success initially. frames) but can select the required as a background experimentation and being fun
This mode speeds up the process focus differential. for the insects and easy to use into the bargain,
considerably, increases the chances There are some limitations with they attract. these modes can provide a great
of success (it’s less likely to miss this mode: stimulus to our creativity.
STEP 3 STEP 4 STEP 5

Press > and turn on Focus Stacking. Now you need to set the Focus Differential (in this Take the shot (preferably with the camera mounted on
example 3 has been set). a tripod and by using a cable release) and then review
the merged image on the LCD to check that the subject
is sharp and in focus.

WWW.WHATDIGITALCAMERA.COM 35