EPIC Request: Focus Bracketing for Stills

[michael zaletel]

Would be great if we could shoot 5 still images in rapid succession with user-set focus offset on autofocus Nikon and Canon lenses in shallow depth-of-field situations. Images could be combined using software similar to CombineZP.

-michael zaletel

 

[Jim Retar]

I wonder if it would even be need... if the reported 18 stops of dynamic range is true?

 

[Martin Weiss]

Awesome idea, Michael.

Jim, he's talking about focus bracketing, not exposure bracketing.

 

[Jim Retar]

So he is... time for a coffee!

 

[michael zaletel]

Thanks Martin. Yes, Focus Bracketing not Exposure Bracketing.

-michael

 

[Jacek Zakowicz]

stopping lens down?

stopping lens down?

Let me state the obvious here. The camera has enough sensitivity.
Or use a 1/3" camcorder:reddevil:

 

[ericyoung]

Let me state the obvious here. The camera has enough sensitivity.
Or use a 1/3" camcorder:reddevil:

I think he wants to keep the shallow depth of field, but bracket focus in case he misses focus on the intended point slightly

 

[Robert Frank]

Michael, this is an excellent idea that could be very useful in certain situations.

User definable parameters front/back distance offset would be amazing if they could be set differently.

An example could be where you really want the subjects face in focus but definitely want an OOF background, so you set the focus point front offset to desired distance and focus point back offset to zero.

 

[ericyoung]

Michael, this is an excellent idea that could be very useful in certain situations.

User definable parameters front/back distance offset would be amazing if they could be set differently.

An example could be where you really want the subjects face in focus but definitely want an OOF background, so you set the focus point front offset to desired distance and focus point back offset to zero.

You mean you would combine the two photos to make the background more out of focus than you could do with depth of field alone? That could certainly be useful, and possibly more natural looking than photoshop selective blur.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

yes, with up to 18 stops DR who needs exposure bracketing?

Focus bracketing - now that's really good idea. I like it.

 

[Robert Frank]

You mean you would combine the two photos to make the background more out of focus than you could do with depth of field alone? That could certainly be useful, and possibly more natural looking than photoshop selective blur.

Actually your idea is even better than what I was thinking.

I was thinking that with front (foreground) weighted focus bracketing you could ensure that the subject (foreground) was in focus even if they moved slightly and background stayed out of focus. Rather than a focus point mode of +/-, it would be focus point +, +/- and - modes, with user defined weighting and depth to the focus bracket modes.

There would be many uses for this type of feature.

 

[michael zaletel]

Still another use:

Imagine being able to add a rack focus to a Ken Burns effect on a "focus-bracketed" set of still images.

-michael zaletel

 

[Peter Mosiman]

Still another use:

Imagine being able to add a rack focus to a Ken Burns effect on a "focus-bracketed" set of still images.

-michael zaletel

That would be dope. But I can totally see in 5 years from now, a surge of shallow DOF slideshows.

 

[Robert Frank]

That would be dope. But I can totally see in 5 years from now, a surge of shallow DOF slideshows.

Yeah, everyone will totally overuse the "zaletel" effect!

 

[Scott Miller]

This also, if I am reading correctly, could be used in photgraphing miniatures. I know when they photograph model Railroads, etc, they take a series of photos and then use the above mentione app to get a deep DOF that is still sharp.

Or perhaps I failed to understand, if so... ignore

 

[michael zaletel]

This also, if I am reading correctly, could be used in photgraphing miniatures. I know when they photograph model Railroads, etc, they take a series of photos and then use the above mentione app to get a deep DOF that is still sharp.

Or perhaps I failed to understand, if so... ignore

Correct. Many uses. Comparatively simple to implement. Big payoff.

-michael zaletel

 

[michael zaletel]

Just resurrecting an old thread...

Any chance of "FOCUS Bracketing" for stills becoming a reality on EPIC in 2011?



-michael zaletel