How can I increase depth of field in macro photography?
Asked 4/12/2012
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I’m experimenting with macro photography using a reversal ring on a Nikon D5100. I’m finding it very hard to get enough of the subject in focus—sometimes the center is soft while the edges are sharper, or vice versa. I’ve tried both the 18-55mm kit lens and the 55-200mm, and the 55-200mm feels easier to use. What techniques help maximize depth of field and improve focus in macro shots?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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That is part of the art and difficulty of macro photography. As with all lenses, only one plane is in perfect focus and everything closer and further will be blurry.
The only thing to do to maximize depth-of-field in one shot is to pick a small aperture. It is recommended to use something up to the diffraction limit of your camera which should be about F/16, otherwise the whole frame becomes blurry.
Once you have a certain depth-of-field, you should take advantage of it by placing the focus somewhere in the middle (as measured in sensor-distance) of what you want to appear sharp. The common rule of thumb is that depth-of-field is 1/3 in front and 2/3 in back of the place of focus.
The other option you have it to take multiple shots and merge them together using a technique called Focus Stacking. Each shot should be taken at the same aperture but with a different point in focus. There are specialized software to do that (just search for the term) but Exposure Fusion software also do it (because of how they work).
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Very shallow depth of field is normal in macro photography, especially with a reversal ring. To get as much of the subject sharp as possible:
- Stop the lens down to a small aperture to maximize depth of field. Around f/16 is often a practical limit before diffraction starts softening the whole image.
- Place focus carefully. Only one plane is perfectly sharp, so focus roughly into the middle of the area you want sharp; depth of field usually extends more behind the focus point than in front.
- Use Live View/LCD magnification to focus precisely. This helps a lot for static subjects.
- Add light, such as a small LED flashlight, so it’s easier to see and focus while composing.
- Keep the subject as parallel to the sensor as possible. Flat subjects photographed at an angle will quickly fall out of focus.
- For maximum sharpness on stationary subjects, take multiple images focused at different distances and combine them with focus stacking.
In macro work, getting the whole subject sharp in a single frame is often difficult, so focus stacking is commonly the best solution.
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