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Extremely Sharp Photos? | Focus Stacking on the Sony A7R V or ANY Camera

Sam

16,860 views

Are you looking to create extremely sharp photos? Then you need to learn about Focus Stacking - one of the best methods to capture landscape or macro photos with everything in focus.

In this video, I walk through focus stacking on the Sony A7R V using the built in Focus Bracketing, Photoshop, and Helicon Focus. Don't worry, if you don't have this camera, I'll still walk you through everything you need to know!

#photography #a7rv #landscapephotography #macrophotography #a7r5

My main camera (for video) - https://bit.ly/3O4NXOU
My favorite camera (for photos) - http://bit.ly/3jVj1Gu
The BEST video editing software - https://amzn.to/3HD2rDj
The travel tripod you need (cheaper) - http://bit.ly/3X8CJwP
^ the more expensive (and better) one - http://bit.ly/3VPBukX
The best camera backpack - https://bit.ly/3OuqFBP
The best everyday camera bag - http://bit.ly/3GpFcwh
The best camera strap - http://bit.ly/3GpG83o
My microphone - http://bit.ly/3GJVjWz
My favorite lenses:
Ultrawide (14mm) - https://bit.ly/3HzFgte
Wide (24mm) - https://bit.ly/3Ortzae
Primary filming lens (24-70mm) - https://bit.ly/3O8leZn
Everyday (35mm) - https://bit.ly/3HJ1qcQ
Manual focus and bright (50mm) - https://amzn.to/3QqHv6u
Medium telephoto (85mm) - https://bit.ly/3b9aonl
Macro/telephoto (105mm) - http://bit.ly/3GmdIHQ

00:00 Start
00:41 Getting Extremely Sharp Photos
01:12 What is Focus Stacking?
01:40 How to Focus Stack
01:43 1. Find your lens's "Sweet Spot"
02:05 2. Frame the shot, on a tripod
02:17 3. Capture the photos
03:57 4. Process the Stacked Images
05:27 5. Admire
06:23 When to Focus Stack
07:12 Conclusion

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps to support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this.

19 Comments

@TheOtherSamMallory Creator 3 years ago Pinned

What do you think, is focus stacking worth the effort? 😬

@Dailykaleroy 2 years ago

Sam, just getting into Macro and this is EXACTLY the video I've been looking for. Thank you, man.

@Eventsfotografering 1 year ago

Hi;-) The right name is Focus braketing, and afterwards you stagg them!

@Huma1894 2 years ago

I use focus stacking with my A7RV on just about all of my architectural images. I usually am using the incredibly sharp Sony 20mm f/1.8. And when shooting at f/4, and using Helicon Focus, the images are amazingly sharp. I find that with Helicon, the added time for the focus stacking is minimal and well worth it.

@BowlOfSalmon 3 years ago

I enjoy your calm & clear explantion .. also. your channel is seriously underrated

@wilderstreeeet 2 years ago

Didn't want the video to end! You're up for more subscribers soon for sure :)

@musesasuke 2 months ago

I need to do 30 fps in around 3 seconds with this function, is it possible with this camera?

@americandronecompanyllc4268 3 years ago

I enjoyed your voice more than th e video. Great voice man.

@ciprianadrian21 3 years ago

can focus stacking be used on portrait shots ?

@Music4Jesus7 2 years ago

Are you from Houston?

@HiddenAges 2 years ago

Hi,
I shoot macro for insects, i am planning to shift to Sony gears. I have one question. Does focus stacking work with flash, I mean for every click the light from flash flash or not. and last does photo stacking work only on auto focus mode, I have macro lens (80mm, 2:1) from Venus optics which has manual focus. So will I be able to use it for focus stacking in manual mode setting.
Thanks

@Equalizer1618 2 years ago

I was trying out my Sony A7RV with the 70-200 mm G F/4 OSS II lens to give macro photography a try to see if I really enjoy this genre before I make any investments in more macro gears.. I tried focus bracketing and set it as 2 with maximum shots at 70 and the camera keeps shooting till it reaches the maximum 70 shots. I was expecting it to stop shooting before it reaches 70 shots as it would have captured enough focussed images for focus stacking. I also tried testing it by setting it to 3 and then to 4, and also on both occasions, the camera also took up to 70 shots which I knew that for my just a flower image, the shots taken by the camera were far more than were required for focus stacking. Can you please how to resolve this issue? Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Many thanks!

@patricksommers3090 3 years ago

Liked the video - the best I've seen on this topic. Big Question, when doing focus stacking on landscape what do you set - Drive Mode, Focus Area, Metering, ISO. Also, do you use A, P, S or Manual? Nobody (including Sony) seems to address these questions. Thanks

@alonsogarrote8898 2 years ago

So what would be the difference between focus stacking vs focus bracketing?

@cowabungacrypto 3 years ago

Love this video, would this method be variable for taking Timelapse photos, or would post processing be too time intensive for a sequence of 300ish photos meant for Timelapse?

@MikeMinMacro 3 years ago

Sony shooter here.. only the v has focus bracketing, and that is one expensive beast 😢

@jeffreyperez7731 2 years ago

I have a new sony A7R5 body. Im a new sony A7 user. Im using a Sigma MC-11 to adapt canon aps-c lens. Im trying to perform focus stacking and getting the following error message, "invalid with this lens" error. The "step width" and the "number of shots" are also grayed out. I also get the error message "this function is currently disabled". I also used a canon prime lens and still get the same error message " invalid with this lens". I have also turned on/off aps-c mode and still get an error message. Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond.