cool video! something i do when i stack is, that the camera and the rail are parallel. you the object stays at the same spot when you take the shots. it also helps with overlap issues. but this is also fixable with the retouch options in helicon. it was a game changer for my macros when i started using helicon focus retouching options. sadly there is a pandemic, otherwise i would ask you if you would be interested to stack a little bit in your studio, like you invited other subscribers. greetings from switzerland
Hi, maybe we can do a subs choice video later this year, after the covid. When you say camera and rail parallel... OFF COURSE! I should have had the camera straight parallel with slider and then lift up the back of the slider. Now when you mention it, it is obvious. I need to do another video 😁 Thanks for the tip and se you in Stockholm this summer 😉
Thanks Martin! I was surprised how well the software stitched the images together, even though there was some parallax (?) shift because of the moving camera... I must try this with my Zeapon. Of course this would have been useful two weeks ago, when I had six watches to photograph!! :-) Oh well, next time. I just found out that my Fuji camera can do focus stacking (they call it "focus bracketing") so will try that as well. Thanks for all your tutorials, they are very helpful and entertaining. Also I am glad to find a photographer who drinks more coffee than me!
Ah it's Fuji who has this. Yes that will probably work very well. I would love to try the new Canon R5, love to buy it but, maybe I will... Yes for watches it will probably be a killer setup. I need to try more stuff with this slider, stack different objects. Yes it's amazing how well it works, like magic. 😁
@@botvidsson Choice of camera brand is very personal... I shot with Canon for many years, but now I love my Fujis! :D Especially for people photography, the skin tones are very nice, and I like their film simulations. And all their lenses are super sharp. I had issues with some Canon lenses back-focusing and even micro-adjustment never really solved it. Also Fuji gear is quite a lot cheaper, and also lighter in weight which is great if you have to photograph an all-day event! If you are using a tripod it doesn't matter of course :)
Looking forward to this - I have a Zeapon Micro 2 but so far have only used it for video (spoiler alert: it's great!) - when I focus stack stills I put my Fuji XH1 in manual focus and do it by hand... I also have Helicon Focus (Lite) so will be interested to see if that works for you as well Martin...
@@botvidsson there was no indication as to how the app talked to the camera itself to control it or if it had presets for different models and makes of camera .only how to set the slider movement itself
Thanks. I know, also the new Canon errorless can do this. BUT... this way is the best.. some people say 😁. *Edit: Errorless... funny word. I meant mirrorless
Changing the position of the camera / sensor for each “slice”relative to the position of the subject will change the perspective and result in focus stacking errors and distortion.
@@botvidssonYour subject is relatively small and doesn’t show the perspective errors as much as a larger subject that would have more slices and greater distance between the slices would. But yes, I guarantee perspective errors are there whenever the camera is moved to achieve focus and not by changing the focus on the lens. Try your moving the camera method on something around 3-4ft deep (like a wooden crate with big gaps between the boards)and then see if everything looks correct. It WILL probably be sharp, but the perspective differences between your closest and furthest focus points will become very noticeable and introduce significant distortion in the item once those slices are assembled. This method is a cool cheat for small items as you’ve demonstrated, but as the distance between and number of slices grows as the product becomes larger it will eventually become unusable for focus stacking.
If that camera has a shutter release port I guess it will work with the slider. You need to get that cable then. If shooting tethered to capture one with that camera works I do not know
I don't think the "mistake" near the back that you cloned was your fault. Notice how the part nearest the camera is blurry in the first few shots and that blur blocked the sharp area underneath. (Blurred objects are slightly expanded from their sharper versions). Helicon had nothing sharp to pull from for that small bit.
I might also do a video using Helicon Remote. This is more for people that don't use Nikon or Canon, also many claim that rail is better than focus switch.
IMPORTANT! People, for the best result you need to have the camera parallel with the slider. Not like I have in the video.
Cool I can't wait to see this method of stacking.
Great. See you in 19 hours 😁
My Hasselblad X1D has a focus stacking option its a shame the H range don't. Great video with good information.
Yes it is... Thanks!
Thanks! Great product for me, especially since I have those big brick sony batteries hanging around gathering dust.
Great to hear! It's a nice and powerful little slider.
cool video! something i do when i stack is, that the camera and the rail are parallel. you the object stays at the same spot when you take the shots. it also helps with overlap issues. but this is also fixable with the retouch options in helicon.
it was a game changer for my macros when i started using helicon focus retouching options.
sadly there is a pandemic, otherwise i would ask you if you would be interested to stack a little bit in your studio, like you invited other subscribers.
greetings from switzerland
Hi, maybe we can do a subs choice video later this year, after the covid.
When you say camera and rail parallel... OFF COURSE! I should have had the camera straight parallel with slider and then lift up the back of the slider. Now when you mention it, it is obvious.
I need to do another video 😁 Thanks for the tip and se you in Stockholm this summer 😉
@@botvidsson this will be great! i would love to do that! hopefully covid is any better in summer.
Thanks Martin!
I was surprised how well the software stitched the images together, even though there was some parallax (?) shift because of the moving camera... I must try this with my Zeapon.
Of course this would have been useful two weeks ago, when I had six watches to photograph!! :-) Oh well, next time.
I just found out that my Fuji camera can do focus stacking (they call it "focus bracketing") so will try that as well.
Thanks for all your tutorials, they are very helpful and entertaining. Also I am glad to find a photographer who drinks more coffee than me!
Ah it's Fuji who has this. Yes that will probably work very well. I would love to try the new Canon R5, love to buy it but, maybe I will...
Yes for watches it will probably be a killer setup. I need to try more stuff with this slider, stack different objects.
Yes it's amazing how well it works, like magic. 😁
@@botvidsson Choice of camera brand is very personal... I shot with Canon for many years, but now I love my Fujis! :D
Especially for people photography, the skin tones are very nice, and I like their film simulations. And all their lenses are super sharp. I had issues with some Canon lenses back-focusing and even micro-adjustment never really solved it. Also Fuji gear is quite a lot cheaper, and also lighter in weight which is great if you have to photograph an all-day event! If you are using a tripod it doesn't matter of course :)
Love this!!! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
In Helion method B allways works super fine for me :)
great work keep it up :)
Cool, thanks
Looking forward to this - I have a Zeapon Micro 2 but so far have only used it for video (spoiler alert: it's great!) - when I focus stack stills I put my Fuji XH1 in manual focus and do it by hand... I also have Helicon Focus (Lite) so will be interested to see if that works for you as well Martin...
Yes we’ll have to see if it works 😄 it’s a powerful little slider
Great tip for future, when i can afford this toy :D
You can also just do it manually...
@@botvidsson I am using for my D3300 open source SW, but it's not for the slide, only for focusing with ring. Manually is really hard 😸
People say that the Helicon focus add-on software works very well with many cameras. The focus switches automatically. I have not tested...
@@botvidsson thanks for advice, I will looking for it ! This open source SW that I use is very buggy . 👍
Is it possible to do focus stacking with magnification 5:1 with with this slider? Thanks)
Sorry I haven’t tried yet. I will put it in my todo tutorial list. Thanks
Lets see ya do that without moving your head.... LOL.. Awesome as usual..
YES! I will do that in the next one 😁
how does the zeapon app control the camera to take the series of images at specific points ...?
Not sure how you mean. Was it not clear in the video?
@@botvidsson there was no indication as to how the app talked to the camera itself to control it or if it had presets for different models and makes of camera .only how to set the slider movement itself
I think I used a cable connected from the camera shutter trigger port and then into the slider, if that make sense.
Have you tried this mounted on a camera stand or tripod yet? Wondering how well the motor works pulling the camera back on an inclined angle.
No not yet but they say it can take 4,5 kg in vertical mode. I will do another video having the camera in parallel with the slider vertical.
What is that head on the slider? Looks like a part of a Arca Swiss cube?
It is the Area-Swiss C1 Cube!
I saw a review of Nikon D850, focus stacking option inside the camera. Just FYI
Thanks. I know, also the new Canon errorless can do this. BUT... this way is the best.. some people say 😁. *Edit: Errorless... funny word. I meant mirrorless
@@botvidsson I got it :) thanks
Furthest :)
I know... I googled 😁 thanks
@@botvidsson th-cam.com/video/EBHLcBxQZiM/w-d-xo.html
😂 Fantastic!
Changing the position of the camera / sensor for each “slice”relative to the position of the subject will change the perspective and result in focus stacking errors and distortion.
Did you see any errors? Tell me more.
@@botvidssonYour subject is relatively small and doesn’t show the perspective errors as much as a larger subject that would have more slices and greater distance between the slices would. But yes, I guarantee perspective errors are there whenever the camera is moved to achieve focus and not by changing the focus on the lens. Try your moving the camera method on something around 3-4ft deep (like a wooden crate with big gaps between the boards)and then see if everything looks correct. It WILL probably be sharp, but the perspective differences between your closest and furthest focus points will become very noticeable and introduce significant distortion in the item once those slices are assembled. This method is a cool cheat for small items as you’ve demonstrated, but as the distance between and number of slices grows as the product becomes larger it will eventually become unusable for focus stacking.
I guess it's not often you stack large objects like 2-3 feet. Would be interesting to try though. At some point I will.
Is that compatible with a Canon EOS M50?
If that camera has a shutter release port I guess it will work with the slider. You need to get that cable then. If shooting tethered to capture one with that camera works I do not know
Closest to the farthest point. Since you asked. 😁
👍🏽
or furthest :P
I don't think the "mistake" near the back that you cloned was your fault. Notice how the part nearest the camera is blurry in the first few shots and that blur blocked the sharp area underneath. (Blurred objects are slightly expanded from their sharper versions). Helicon had nothing sharp to pull from for that small bit.
I know. My bad. And... I forgot to turn on the flash, the slider moved back too much
why use slider if there is helicon remote?
I might also do a video using Helicon Remote. This is more for people that don't use Nikon or Canon, also many claim that rail is better than focus switch.
"Farthest" or "furthest"
I will try to remember that 😁
@@botvidsson It's okay it is irregular like everything in this colonial language.
foremost?
Thats a new one 😁
Pretty sure you meant “furthest”… ;)
No one asking for the 51 persons in trouble?
Tell me more
@@botvidsson me? I don't have a folder called "People I like to kill" with 51 items in there hahaha 15:36
ps: Love ur videos
@@escriche Haha, yes that's a "funny" sick joke. You're the 2nd person noticed.