Mind blowing detail: Macro

[armando_m]

Shot with the D800 & Sigma 150 F/2.8

Focused manualy using liveview, it doesn't flip the mirror anymore (my D300 does) so it can be used without introducing camera blur
I did a focus stack , 15 image or so, all images 1/6 sec f/5.6 ISO 100
Wireless trigger

here is the full image


here is crop of the center of the flower


I'll say this lens works well with the D800

sorry for the showoff

[Frog]

Wow !!!!!!!

[Franglais]

Great! (Searching for the I like button..)

Keep on showing off. I don't have any serious opportunities to use mine till next week

[starriderrick]

Amazing detail..... Congratulations on that Wicked New Nikon!!!!!!

Rick

[Greg McCary]

Wow. Nice. I'll have to look up focus stacking, I have heard of it but am clueless on the technique. Is it similar to HDR?

[OldClicker]

Very nice! Good stacking technique. - Terry

[armando_m]

Wow. Nice. I'll have to look up focus stacking, I have heard of it but am clueless on the technique. Is it similar to HDR?

Greg,
As with HDR, it involves multiple shots, all with the same exposure, they are shot moving the focus from the closest spot to the farthest spot, using small to tiny increments so the stacked image looks 100% in focus, using large steps creates bands of blur.

The software I use to create the stacked image is Zerene Stacker, it takes TIFFs or JPG, it aligns the images, taking into account the difference in magnification as the focus is adjusted

I learned this technique from Mr Michael Erlewine, creator of this site: MacroStop.com

his macro e-books (free) are really worth it, even if you do not intend to do this yourself.

[armando_m]

Very nice! Good stacking technique. - Terry

Thanks Terry,
I was able to get a good focus coverage by using live view, and zooming in, I had done it before using only the viewfinder, it is a world of difference, with the viewfinder I have a precise view of where is the current focus and I'm able to move it to the next spot, if I move the focus a little to much I can go back a bit. With my lens the focus movements are really tiny.
This sort of precision with my lens is not possible via the viewfinder alone , I would need an exotic macro lens with a very long focus throw and do it by looking at the focus scale until reaching the end of the are i wish to have in focus.

This technique should be doable on the SONY SLT cameras without much trouble

I did try it on the Nex5N and while it worked,, I was not satisfied with my results, it was never sharp enough. I'm blaming that on using the lens through an adapter and I never knew exactly what aperture I was using

[SmartWombat]

I would use a rack on top of the tripod with an adjusting screw the length of the rack, then use the pitch of the screw to measure the movement. So with a 0.5mm pitch thread 1/4 turn is 0.125mm which would get precise repeatable movement.

[Greg McCary]

Thanks Armando for the links. I downloaded a couple of his books and bookmarked the site.

[Old Timer]

Frist I'v heard of stacking, from your results looks like something I would be interested in learning more about. Fantastic macro image!!

[srblough]

That center crop is unbelievable - I take it a crop of the stack, but I'm curious how many images are just within that?

[Ballen Photo]

Nice detail and texture Armando. :thumbsup:
-Bruce

[armando_m]

That center crop is unbelievable - I take it a crop of the stack, but I'm curious how many images are just within that?

All the 15 images were shot focusing in the center area

[Ti.P]

the color is crazy!

[Al Arafat]

Wow , Great technique.
Really fantastic macro image !

[Geoff I]

I love show offs that is a superb image.

[daq7]

That is amazing man. ...always wanted to try focus stacking, but couldn't work up the energy....