Helicon Focus - focus stacking for enhanced DoF

[Doug Kerr]

I am quite fascinated by the software product Helicon Focus, published in Ukraine.

http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html

The package evidently takes a number of images with the focus set at different distances and "stacks" them, selecting the sharpest features from each layer to use in the result. The intent is of course to provide depth of field not attainable directly.

A related package is Helicon Remote, which supposedly can automate the matter of taking shots at different focus settings ("focusing bracketing"), evidently controlled over over a USB link to the camera.

Has anyone had any experience with this product or an equivalent process?

Asher, is there any chance that such a thing could help you deal with the "DoF vs. diffraction" dilemma you face in some of your concert hall work?

Best regards,

Doug

 

[StuartRae]

Hi Doug,

You may recall that I posted this back in 2008.

Also in my post here I used Helicon for the larger nuts.

I've not used Helicon much since.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Stuart,

Hi Doug,

You may recall that I posted this back in 2008.

Actually, I had forgotten. Thanks for the reprise.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi, Stuart,


Actually, I had forgotten. Thanks for the reprise.

Best regards,

Doug

We've had quite a few. This one is, I think you'd agree, quite exceptional

Chris Andrews: Hoverfly​

We should use this technic more often!

Asher

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

I am quite fascinated by the software product Helicon Focus, published in Ukraine.

http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html

The package evidently takes a number of images with the focus set at different distances and "stacks" them, selecting the sharpest features from each layer to use in the result. The intent is of course to provide depth of field not attainable directly.

A related package is Helicon Remote, which supposedly can automate the matter of taking shots at different focus settings ("focusing bracketing"), evidently controlled over over a USB link to the camera.

Has anyone had any experience with this product or an equivalent process?

Hi Doug,

It may come as no surprise, but I've been using HeliconFocus Pro (64-bit and multiprocessor support) for some time. The Helicon Remote utility is a very welcome addition for the tethered use of Canon and Nikon camera's with autofocus lenses because they can be automatically driven to cover the range of needed individual focus positions. Helicon Focus is not the cheapest solution, but it is very mature and still being developed further with new features. Product support is very good, and they are open for reasonable suggestions.

Within the limitations of such an approach (e.g. stationary subjects) it functions quite well, although there can sometimes be issues that are hard to overcome (as with most attempts to defy the laws of physics). All in all the benefits are larger than the drawbacks, and after getting to know the specifics this software makes it possible to achieve shots that are not possible in any other way.

Helicon Focus, especially the unlimited Pro version, is not something for everybody and for all situations, but it is a good one-time investment for those who need it. Especially in the fields of macro photography or other situations where there is always too little DOF, focus stacking is often not only a viable solution but sometimes the only one.

There are a few alternatives to the pioneering Helicon Focus solution. Some I have tried, and although they work up to a point, they have more limitations than the full featured Helicon Focus solution. However, since some of them are free, nothing is lost by trying them.

Some of the major alternatives:
Enfuse/Tufuse based solutions, including some panostitchers,
Photoshop CS4 and 5, via Edit > Auto Blend Layers, and select the "Stacking" button.
And a new kid on the block, and a very serious contender:
Zerene Stacker

Asher, is there any chance that such a thing could help you deal with the "DoF vs. diffraction" dilemma you face in some of your concert hall work?

I can see the subject motion as a potential issue which will still require a lot of manual tweaking afterwards.

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Bart,

Hi Doug,

It may come as no surprise. . .

No surprise indeed!

Thanks for this excellent report.

I can see the subject motion as a potential issue which will still require a lot of manual tweaking afterwards.

What do you see as the potential "rate" at which multiple focus settings can be attained?

Best regards,

Doug

 

[StuartRae]

Some of the major alternatives:

Not forgetting CombineZM, or CombineZP which is the latest version.

Regards,

Stuart

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

What do you see as the potential "rate" at which multiple focus settings can be attained?

It varies with lens and camera manufacturer. Helicon Remote allows to tweak the time delay between focussteps from 10 to 1000 milliseconds. Values around 80-120 ms are common if one wants to avoid steps from being skipped. One may be lucky and have faster intervals, but the camera also requires some 50-100 ms for the (mirror and) shutter to open between shots, depending on model (the EOS 1 series takes 50ms time for shutter release, aperture closing, and sensor reset).

Cheers,
Bart

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Not forgetting CombineZM, or CombineZP which is the latest version.

Hi Stuart,

Indeed, CombineZ together with HeliconFocus were the pioneers.

PhotoAcute Studio is another focusstacker, but it also does lot's of other things and isn't as specialized as the others mentioned.

Cheers,
Bart