Helicon Focus

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Helicon Focus

Postby sirhc55 on Sat May 06, 2006 4:40 pm

Fab posted an interesting link yesterday on the Helicon Focus software system. I decided to download the free trial and give it a go.

The following pic is composed of 33 photographs. Using manual exposure of 1/100th sec at f/3.2.

I mounted the D2Hs on a Manfrotto micro slide then onto the tripod. All pics were taken with the Sigma 105mm macro. Incremental distance between each photo was approximately 1mm.

This was purely a test but considering the aperture of f/3.2 the result is not too bad.

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Postby Oneputt on Sat May 06, 2006 4:59 pm

That is very impressive Chris. Looks like a nice addition to the macro arsenal.
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Postby Manta on Sat May 06, 2006 5:23 pm

My, what a big jack you have! Great shot Chris - not sure the purists will like it but it's very arty.
:D
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Postby LostDingo on Sat May 06, 2006 5:46 pm

33 captures together :?: :shock: :shock: sheeesh, makes me tired just thinking about it....impressive
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Postby sirhc55 on Sat May 06, 2006 5:56 pm

Just to show how amazing this program is, I am posting the first shot and the last shot - you can imagine the other 31 :!:

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Postby LostDingo on Sat May 06, 2006 5:59 pm

would be interesting to see how well it works leading into the throat of a :idea: :idea: flower :idea:
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Postby PiroStitch on Sat May 06, 2006 6:41 pm

Interesting program! :)

So are you planning on creating your own large wallpaper? :D
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Postby LOZ on Sat May 06, 2006 6:43 pm

Chris I wonder if I could get a bee to stay still for 33 shots :lol: :lol:
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Postby sirhc55 on Sat May 06, 2006 7:54 pm

LOZ wrote:Chris I wonder if I could get a bee to stay still for 33 shots :lol: :lol:


Ether 8) :lol:
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Postby Manta on Sun May 07, 2006 8:04 am

The two comparison shots really show what this program can do. However, I'm still a little confused :?

If lighting isn't a major problem then, in terms of sharp focus across the full depth of the image, why would one take a multitude of shots and then run this prgram rather than just taking one shot with the smallest possible aperture? What does this program do that a small aperture won't? Isn't it just artificially 'creating' a large depth of field? I know the end result looks cool, almost surreal, but it seems an awful lot of work is going into something that could be acheived in one shutter click.

If I've missed something obvious here, please form an orderly queue to give me a slap.
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Postby avkomp on Sun May 07, 2006 11:28 am

Simon: I think the point of using the large aperture is just to demo the program's capabilities.

obviously if light permitted you would stop down more and perhaps require 1 or 2 shots to cover the scene if required.

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Postby Manta on Sun May 07, 2006 11:29 am

Point taken Steve but I still can't really see the value in using a program to merge multiple shots when perhaps one shot could have the same result. Now, in low light....different story.
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Postby sirhc55 on Sun May 07, 2006 11:45 am

Simon - the problem with macro is the very small DOF even when using F/22 and up. We are talking millimetres. This program was developed primarily for the enhancement of microscopic shots. The macro usage is a by-product of this function. Obviously it is only useful on static subjects, but useful all the same.
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Postby moz on Sun May 07, 2006 11:51 am

Manta wrote:I still can't really see the value in using a program to merge multiple shots when perhaps one shot could have the same result.


I've had trouble getting adequate DoF even when diffraction is visible in the viewfinder - by f/80 I can see a fuzzy spot in the center.

The other aspect is that in the field it would be nice to be able to shoot fairly wide open and know that you can patch the shots together in post to get depth of field. I'm playing at the moment with using a high fps and just twisting the focus ring as I shoot, because if I can get 5-10 shots that work that way the program might be usable even for animals if they stay still for a second or two.
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Postby sirhc55 on Sun May 07, 2006 12:13 pm

That’s a very good idea Moz :)
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Postby Manta on Sun May 07, 2006 1:05 pm

sirhc55 wrote:That’s a very good idea Moz :)


I agree, Chris. Between the three of you - I'm now convinced!
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