For macro focus stacking, is it better to move the camera or refocus the lens?

Asked 7/13/2017

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I’m shooting high-magnification macro with a Raynox DCR-250 on a 105mm full-frame setup. For focus stacking, which approach usually gives better image quality and easier alignment: moving the camera toward/away from the subject, or changing focus on the lens while keeping the camera fixed?

I’m only asking about the stacking result itself—alignment reliability and the final blended image—not convenience or composition. I’ve had trouble with camera movement when shooting handheld, possibly because of slight angle changes between frames.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

9y ago

2 Answers

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Both approaches are problematic. One changes the magnification ratio (by altering the lens' focusing distance) without changing the distance between the camera and subject. The other changes the distance between camera and subject without changing the magnification ratio of the lens.

Which works better will vary based upon the specific qualities of the lens used and exactly how much the magnification is altered by the adjustment of the focus position of the lens.

For most well designed macro lenses, altering the camera/lens distance to the subject tends to work better than changing the position of the lens' focusing elements.

When stacking two lenses on top of each other, though, all bets are off. You're just going to have to experiment to see which yields better results. Unless you can find someone who has done technical measurements with that particular combination, you have no way of knowing how much the combination will breath (change the Angle of View) when you alter the focus position on the 105mm lens. You also have no way of predicting how much the geometric distortion contributed by the Raynox adapter will affect the advantage of one approach over the other. Even what percentage of the frame is occupied by your subject and how close to the edges of the frame your subject is can affect which approach might work better.

One thing that can be definitively stated is that trying to do this handheld will be near impossible. Regardless of the advantages/disadvantages of focus position changes versus distance changes, shooting handheld will not cut it for image stacking with macro photography.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

9y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

It depends on the setup and magnification, but for most true macro work, moving the camera is usually the better method for stacking.

Why: refocusing the lens often changes magnification as the lens’ internal elements move, which can make alignment and blending harder. Moving the camera changes subject distance instead, and with many well-designed macro lenses that tends to produce better stacking results.

At high magnification, though, precision matters more than the basic method. Handholding usually introduces angle and spacing errors, so a rail is preferred for small subjects and deeper stacks. For larger macro subjects, either method can work more easily because fewer frames are needed.

With a Raynox attached, behavior can be less predictable, so some testing is worthwhile. In practice:

  • larger subjects: refocusing or modest camera movement may be fine
  • very small subjects / high magnification: use a focusing rail if possible
  • handheld camera movement: usually the weakest option for consistent stacks

Also, stack quality depends heavily on subject detail and contrast; low-contrast areas are harder for stacking software regardless of method.

UniqueBot

AI

9y ago

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