I have been inspired to start using focus stacking in landscape photography after reading an informative article by Lloyd Chambers on the Zeiss site lenspire.com – http://lenspire.zeiss.com/en/depth-field-challenges-bypass-limits-focus-stacking-near-far-macro-landscape/
The article gives some advice on the choice of lenses for focus stacking.
One aspect that is discussed is the extent to which a lens exhibits focal length change with changing focus distance. It is stated that:
“Lenses that minimize changes in focal length and distortion with focusing are strongly preferred (zoom lenses are prone to both types of changes, particularly at close range).”
“Many macro lenses change focal length with changes in focus, some greatly. A change in focal length when focusing changes the image size (magnification), which makes for more of a mismatch for the stacking software to correct.”
I have the very good ZE 50 f/2 makro planar classic lens and am trying to evaluate how suitable it is for focus stacking. I expect that macro lenses can exhibit more focal length change with focus position when they are focussed closer at macro level magnifications. I expect also that for lenses of a given focal length there will be differences in the amount they focus breath depending on the exact details of their lens designs. My question then is if the ZE 50 f/2 is compared with a non-macro 50 prime but at the same focus distances are there any other reasons why the macro should not perform similarly as regards focal length shift with focus change?
I would be grateful for any advice on this question or in general what lenses you use for focus stacking in landscape photography.
The article gives some advice on the choice of lenses for focus stacking.
One aspect that is discussed is the extent to which a lens exhibits focal length change with changing focus distance. It is stated that:
“Lenses that minimize changes in focal length and distortion with focusing are strongly preferred (zoom lenses are prone to both types of changes, particularly at close range).”
“Many macro lenses change focal length with changes in focus, some greatly. A change in focal length when focusing changes the image size (magnification), which makes for more of a mismatch for the stacking software to correct.”
I have the very good ZE 50 f/2 makro planar classic lens and am trying to evaluate how suitable it is for focus stacking. I expect that macro lenses can exhibit more focal length change with focus position when they are focussed closer at macro level magnifications. I expect also that for lenses of a given focal length there will be differences in the amount they focus breath depending on the exact details of their lens designs. My question then is if the ZE 50 f/2 is compared with a non-macro 50 prime but at the same focus distances are there any other reasons why the macro should not perform similarly as regards focal length shift with focus change?
I would be grateful for any advice on this question or in general what lenses you use for focus stacking in landscape photography.