This was mainly a test of the software for me, but the result came out so much better than I expected. Raw editing in darktable and focused stacked using ChimpStackr, two amazing foss pieces of software.
Was it just manually adjusted focus from a fixed (tripod?) position, or were you using something to physically move the camera in increments or other methods?
The vanadinite (red) was 26 photos and the fluorite (green) was 50
I used the focus bracketing mode on my camera. I specify the number of shots to take and how much the focus changes between shots. One shutter press and my camera automatically takes all of the photos and adjusts the focus for me.
And this setup I only put my camera and the rock on a table next to a window. I still need to buy a tripod, but it’s hard to justify spending more soon after buying a camera…
Not that I’ve seriously done stacking, but one thing that might help (based on long exposure experiments instead) is a shutter release cable, assuming your camera has a socket for such. It can reduce the vibration from manually pressing the actual shutter button, and may save the first few shots of your sequence. If your camera is wi-fi connected, you may have an app to do the same.
I was very surprised. I searched for a free focus stacking application multiple times with few results and lots of recommendations for paid software. With how little chimpstackr is recommended, I expected poor results, but it did noticeably better than Olympus’s own raw editing software.
If Olympus is anything like Nikon, their software isn’t that great. It’s almost like they expect you to use commercial offerings. IMO, the only nice thing with Nikon’s offering is that it will show you focus information (what it was trying to focus on, if it though it had achieved focus, etc). Sony doesn’t offer any software at all, but you’ll get a free capture one express license.
Yeah, OM Workspace is the editor you get with Olympus/OM System cameras. Admittedly, I didn’t use it very much, but I get the sense it isn’t top tier. I’m just so thankful that there are great open source options.
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