Focus Bracketing

Focus Bracketing workflows demonstrated using an A7RV camera
This video discusses when Focus Bracketing is, and is not, necessary.
It also looks at the focus bracketing option in the Sony Alpha Drive Mode settings.
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Mark Galer is a Sony Alpha Ambassador for Australia.
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[@SnowAngelfish]

Wow,,, i learned the manual way of doing this,, and now the camera does most of the hard work. Things just keep getting easier and essier!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

- and it will continue to get even easier if Sony decides to leverage the help of its AI processor it has been putting inside the cameras for the last two years.

[@jonchung782]

Thank you for the video. I appreciate you going through hyperfocal distance at the beginning. It helped me finally understand that technique.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@realdxb]

Thank you Mark for your effort

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

My pleasure!

[@silverclifflightshow]

I can’t believe it took them that long this was a feature I had on my Nikon over 10 years ago. This is unbelievable I bought a Sony A1 and it was not an available feature on this crazy amazing camera very simple feature to head over a software update, they just can’t do it.

[@net200777]

How bout pixel shift not being merged in camera? Or HDR in camera?

[@silverclifflightshow]

@@net200777 pixel shift is so lame, I tried it a few times you cannot be inside a big building has to be on the ground. The slightest movement would make the picture worse than standard just a publicity stunt feature that no one probably use.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I think this feature added to future firmware updates for other cameras. I don't, however, think Sony read the comments on my channel so you views may be better directed to a Sony video channel. My channel is primarily for education and to support owners. Unfortunately I have no say in what does, and does not, make it to firmware updates.

[@taylorhickman84]

@@net200777 given how long it take for my PC to merge a pixel shift, it makes sense you can't do it in camera.

[@tdawg719]

@@taylorhickman84you can do it in other body’s. You can even do it hand held in the Lumix g9ii and it works better than the Sony on a tripod

[@flemmingmorgan1929]

Thanks Mark for this brilliant video which explains focus stacking so well. I have to say some of it is a bit beyond my current capabilities but you do explain it incredibly well. Have you done a similar video on exposure bracketing? If not that would be very useful. I am a Patreon member and I would recommend it to anyone who really wants Mark’s expertise in photography with Sony cameras

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It’s on my to-do list

[@MA-bx2ev]

Thank you Mark! Very informative as always.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@minibuns5397]

Hell yeah love Sony Cameras! Powerful!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

All good stuff that will inevitably get even better

[@naders.171]

Great video as always. Thank you, Mark!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@richarddenise3886]

Remarkable! Thanks for the effort!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

My pleasure!

[@peterbrighton8247]

Hi there Mark Thanks for your videos I frequently turn to them for guidance. Just a couple of comments about your focus stacking video. I unboxed my new a7RV yesterday and i've been playing with focus stacking as that was the main/only reason I upgraded from my a7Riii. I'm using a Sony 90mm macro f2.8 lens and your comment concerning being able to use it in manual mode results in a curt error message from the camera saying that the lens is not compatible with focus stacking. Switching to auto focus mode solves that issue. I've found that getting the camera to start on an initial point of focus is a bit problematic. I really want the first image to be just a smidgin in front of the closest point I want to be part of the stack and for the objects I generally work on (orchids and other native plants) there is nothing there. I've spent all day trying to wrestle this beast and whilst I have managed a couple of decent images. I'm still not 100% happy. I'm sure its mostly me because the images that I'm happy with are quite good. Maybe a follow up video using some realworld macro examples would be helpfull. The shots i'm happy with ended up with 150 images covering 30mm. I'm still experimenting to try and reduce this as it certainly creates time and storage issues in the workflow. Peter

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I offer additional support above and beyond my free KZbin videos on Patreon.com/markgaler

[@jorgglande8290]

The stacking function is not a 1.0 version from my point of view, as long as you cannot set the focus endpoint so that the camera can calculate the necessary number of shots. But however: It works, even if I'm afraid that Sony will never bring an update for "old" cameras like the R5. The problem I experienced is the image size you get when shooting in RAW. My computer has 64GB of RAM, but with a batch of 25 images, Photoshop takes almost 62 of them (compressed RAW L) when I open them as layers. It's not a problem to use PS with ~10 images, but if you have more, say 40 or 50 for a macro, I would strongly recommend to use Helicon Focus. I tried it and the RAM usage was ~30 GB instead of 62 and it was much faster, so it may be a better choice instead of buying expensive RAM extensions to use this feature. Buying the software is much cheaper at least in my case.

[@leezheng8161]

I think PS is more stressed on the GPU than the ram. A beefy GPU will speed up the process.

[@taylorhickman84]

I resorted to shooting compressed for focus stacks and pixel shifts.

[@tsizzle]

can’t wait for the upcoming firmware to add focus bracketing to the A7IV.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Fingers Crossed

[@tsizzle]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Hmm, FW 2.0 is out and it doesn’t look like focus bracketing was added to the A7IV. But I’m not going to complain, I yield to the A1 and A7sIII owners. Those customers have been in the queue much longer for features update (e.g. focus breathing compensation) via firmware.

[@TheChannelling]

if you want to skip the theory (which is very useful but maybe people know it) go to minute 10:00

[@yadielveunes]

Excelent !!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Thanks :-)

[@onegreenev]

Think this might be something they could add to the older cameras like the A1 with added software? For now I must do this manually which I don't like unless Im using my focusing rail for my super macro work where I can do hundreds of focus points to stack.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I am hoping there will be a firmware upgrade for the A7IV and A1 to add this feature.

[@alexkooistra]

I hope the timing of this clip has something to do with a possible new firmware for the A7IV. This is the mode for I mis on a Sony camera and it took way to long for Sony to implement it. For macro rhis is great.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

As an Ambassador you might think I get advanced warning …but I don’t. The first I new of the A1 and the A7RIV cameras was at the international announcement. Now I tend to get a box a few days before it launches but they don’t come with any instructions. Firmware I only get when it becomes publicly available.

[@alexkooistra]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Hehe, no I understand. But would be great if other cameras get this function! Really missed it on the Sony. Great work by the way, quality channel.

[@gambitadebruselas]

@@alexkooistra me too, especially for macro indeed. had I known beforehand I would have opted for another brand. It would be really good to have a firmware update for the 7RIV too.

[@echoauxgen]

The most through so far! The focus scale was most impressive to see how many shots. Only ask when doing a macro of say a flower using the FE 90mm f/2.8 and it is just 3 to 4 ins. in depth would not it be best to use the narrow say 2, and use f/16 or something wider(I will check the hyperfocal distance of the lens)? I did some test shots and under the info of others they say it will stop at infinity no matter the number you choose, for info if you use a tube infinity will never be reached (210 later)!!! Thank you so much for your info! Focus Bracketing would be great at say the Grand Canyon BUT my A7rii did great with the FE 12-24mm f/4 all that needed to be done was brush in some Texture and Clarity on the far side and at Horseshoe Canyon I used the Voigtlander 10mm f/5.6 and got a pano look in 3:2 again brush work (pano work at the edge did not look safe)!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Narrow or wide is just a choice of how many shots you are prepared let your software handle

[@echoauxgen]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank You

[@Ciomi50]

Finally … it’s was time …

[@holdmylenscap7241]

Good to see Sony catched up where every other manufacturers been since a while now :D Sony is really great when it comes to imaging, but quite terrible when it comes to extra features.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Correct - the best sensors, AF Tracking and lenses - mostly the bits that really count. Software is getting better slowly.

[@Mr09260]

I think Nikon had Focus Stacking from the D850onwards >> 6 years ago .. great feature for sure

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The Nikon 800 was my last Nikon before I moved to using Sony cameras with Sony sensors rather than Nikon cameras with Sony sensors

[@VinyasaUbaradka]

Good video. Aquestion: Does flash work in focus bracketing? For example: Flash doesn't work (during focus bracketing) in some of the Canon models. Flash works in Nikon D850 only when the silent mode is disabled. Please clarify how it works on Sony a7rv.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

My sony flash works seamlessly with focus bracketing - no need for silent mode

[@VinyasaUbaradka]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you so much

[@dingostar3372]

Great video but I don't understand why it works if I select MF from focus mode but it doesn't work if I switch to MF from the lens. It's the Sony 90 2.8 macro. Thanks

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Switching to MF mode on the lens disables the ability of the camera to change the focus of the lens.

[@dingostar3372]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills thanks

[@lingjiang1148]

Hi Mark, It's always, appreciate your video. Just bought a7r V and tried focus bracketing shots. When viewing these 7 images in the bracketing shot, I found out the focus points did not move in the each image. The focus points stay at the same position from the first shot to the last one on images. I thought since it is focus bracketing shot the focus point should move from the nearest point to far away accordingly on these 7 images and we can see it when viewing images. I don't think I set it incorrectly.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It works for me as you can see in this video - check your AF/MF switch was set to AF

[@lingjiang1148]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills The sharpness on images changed from the front to the back but just while I'm viewing them on the camera the focus points do not change. It still stay at the same position of nearest point, thanks.

[@drr5117]

Does Sony have a list of reccomended lenses to use with focus bracketing on the a6700? Is the 90mm macro recommended for this feature?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I believe all Sony lenses are compatible, but if using Manual Focus the MF focus mode on the lens needs to be selected rather than using the MF switch on the lens. I offer full support and guidance on my Patreon.com/markgaler Alpha support channel.

[@zollieuncle9647]

Thanks Mark, it was definitely useful. I still do not understand, however, that why this whole bracketing process is not yet automated. I mean based on the user selecting the near and far points for the scene to be covered, the camera should be able to calculate the minimal number of shots and optimal step width based for the actual lens mounted, and the f-stop selected, right? What am I missing here?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

You are missing nothing - I have requested Sony refine this feature in future updates.

[@wolfnard1]

Hi Mark...I have been using the Focus Bracketing on the a7r5 for my studio jewelry shoots and I like it very much except for one thing that is annoying. I shoot with studio strobes and to focus with a bright image in the viewfinder I have to turn live view off to get a bright view. But unfortunately when I put it on focus bracket mode the camera switches to live view.I shoot at 125th of a sec. at f11 so the viewfinder is now very dark. My work around is to do my front focus in single shooting drive mode and the switch to focus bracket drive mode where it automatically goes to live view and is very dark and fire the camera and let it do it's focus bracket. Annoying.......then when I'm ready to do the next piece I have to go back to the other drive mode to see where I am focusing again and then switch to focus bracket mode again. There is no way to turn off live view when in focus bracket mode. Camera won't let you. I wish the engineers would come up with a firmware fix for this. It's only a problem when shooting in studio with flash.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I will make some requests to Sony

[@paulcollingridge8387]

Does turning the settings effect view off not work with focus bracketing? On my A7iii I turn it off and suddenly everything is visible for my macro & flash manual focus. Maybe I misread your comment, if so, sorry!

[@wolfnard1]

@@paulcollingridge8387 On the a7r5 when I go to focus bracketing drive mode the settings effect goes on even though I had it off before going to that mode....cannot be turned off when in focus bracketing mode......that is the problem.

[@wolfnard1]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thanks Mark....highly appreciated.

[@gamkagan]

I use a Sony 90mm macro lens to shoot jewelry, with the modeling lights of 2 opposing Godox AD200's to brighten the image in live view, and the strobe to get the correct exposure. I get great results.

[@careylymanjones]

For macro photography, you can avoid focus breathing problems by mounting the camera on a macro rail, and moving the camera in for each shot.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

This can, however, change what is visible/not visible behind the foreground subject with close-up photography

[@careylymanjones]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills True, that can be a problem. It also works better with longer focal length macro lenses, too, as they have less perspective distortion of foreground objects. Longer lenses have longer working distance, too, which helps.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Thanks for your input 👍🙂

[@msfaithwarrior]

Hi Mark, thanks for the video. How do you stop the bracketing when you see it reaches focus?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It should stop itself when the focus reaches infinity or the maximum number of shots you have set has been reached.

[@edwarddebruyn8717]

Hello, do you have any idea about the speed, fps, in focus bracketing mode for macro on the new A9. Have the A7r5 and works well but rather slow... So bought me a OM1 with 90mm & 60mm macrolens + Godox flash. Speed is around 10 fps with flash and 20 fps without. Very helpful because insects are sometimes moving frequently

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The A9III does not focus bracket using its fast Hi+ Drive mode. It's not generally considered as a useful feature for most Pro Sports shooters.

[@julianloboguerrero]

Hi Mark, thanks for the video. One question, It is posible to use flash with the focus bracketing function? That would be very useful for handheld macro photography in the field. I know some Olympus cameras allow this. Thank you!

[@wolfnard1]

For me it works in studio with studio strobes.

[@julianloboguerrero]

@@wolfnard1 Thanks for your answer. That's good news. For example, canon only allows you to use bracketing with electronic shutter, which overrides the use of flash... are you using it with mechanical shutter?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It is possible to use flash with mechanical shutter

[@wolfnard1]

@@julianloboguerrero yes

[@mark.physique9119]

Hi Mark! I will probably use this in my a6700 when I try this handheld for insect photograph. I was wondering if it’s possible to use a flash whilst doing focus bracketing with the electronic shutter ?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I haven't tried it with flash so the best advice I can offer is give it a go. If the feature doesn't like it it will soon let you know by not complying with a workflow it doesn't not recognise.

[@lakislambrianides7619]

Can't I use this feature on the a6700 with a manual lens? Because I used my laowa 65mm macro lens and I get the notification that the lens is not attached correctly or is not supported. Is it that I miss something or is not working with manual lens

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The camera can’t move the focus of a manual focus lens

[@nilesh111]

can it be done hand held

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Depends whether your post production software can align the images

[@mbwndw]

I find that too often for my landscape photography when I am focusing very closely, the automatic focus bracketing does not focus all the way out to infinity. It stops too soon. Digilloyd has written an article about this.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I think this feature can best be described as ‘work in progress’

[@leezheng8161]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills I agree this feature still need some enhancement. Perhaps one of the most important thing Sony missed on the focus bracketing is it doesn't allow you to shoot more than 30 seconds(with the bulb timer). Reason I brought it up is when you shoot nightscape or astro landscape at night, often time you are in the pitch dark. In order to focus the subject in the dark, you need to use a flash light to shine on the distanced subject to focus. Not only this method is inefficient, but a lot of time it's inappropriate. It will attract unwanted attention at night and cause the light pollution, blind other people's night vision and/or ruin other photographer's shots. So I thought in camera focus bracketing would be a perfect solution for astro landscape photographers, because you no longer need to shine lights to focus the subject in the dark. Just set the parameters, let the camera focuses from the nearest point to infinity and your job is done. But why Sony doesn't let you shoot more than 30 seconds in focus bracketing drive mode?! We all know 30 second exposure is not enough light in pitch dark. Especially with the high resolution cameras like the A7R V! This drives me crazy. And it makes me to buy Nikon's cameras instead. Because even with Nikon's mid level cameras like the Z6 II, it allows me the shoot up too 900 seconds with focus shift as well as the interval shoot(so I can shoot star trails). When Sony finally added the focus bracketing and bulb timer up to 900 in the A7R V, I was excited for a bit. But WHY Sony doesn't make these 2 great features work together?! I am a programmer. I know it's just few line of code change can make it happen. Unless it's physically un archivable. I really hope Sony will fix this bug in their future firmware updates!

[@almostgreen9498]

Do you find that the distance scale in the camera is accurate? Second question: couldn’t you use peaking as you turn the focus ring to make sure everything you desire is in focus? Thanks for this. ❤️

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It's accurate enough but on ultra wide-angle lenses I like the Zeiss Batis approach of putting a distance scale in an LED window that also allows you to find the hyperfocal distance. I had peaking on when making this demo but it is not recorded by my Ninja.

[@almostgreen9498]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thanks for your help!

[@aliserdaronal2545]

Is Sony 90 mm MACRO lens good for focus bracketing?. Thank you.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I didn't try it with this lens but I don't see why not if the lens is set to AF rather than MF.

[@rjm-w3616]

Will ever get to the A7iv.?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Let’s hope so 🤞

[@mortezabeiglou5260]

Why does Sony Alpha 7 4 not exist Focuse stacking?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The launch of the A7IV pre-dates the focus stacking feature which first appeared on the A7RV

[@sazistas]

I started working on a photogrammetry project on a museum on which I have to 3d scan 300 small objects but my sony A1 unfortunately lacks this feature. Its impossible to have a sharp image without bokeh on such small objects even on f/22 without focus bracketing/stacking. I'm very upset, I bought the flagship camera from sony and focus stacking still isnt available on this model on 2023. There is no reason why they still havent add this feature with a firmware update, it doesnt need any extra cpu power . Now I'm forced to buy another camera to be able to do my work.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Most serious macro photographers would use a macro rail and not use a camera driven focus stacking feature

[@Equalizer1618]

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!

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The camera will continue to inifinity so you have to manually terminate the bracketing when you have enough shots

[@Equalizer1618]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills I think the challenge is when do I know for sure that I have captured enough shots that are good enough for focus stacking? Is that through experience or is there any clever and simpler fool-proof way to determine that?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

There is currently no fool-proof way to determine that. I have advised Sony to alter the feature to allow the user to touch the nearest and furthest parts of the subject on the touch monitor to set the focus range. I offer ongoing one-on-one support on my Alpha Patreon.com/markgaler support channel

[@Equalizer1618]

@@AlphaCreativeSkills That would be great if Sony can incorporate the feature in their next Firmware release. Many thanks, Mark! Much appreciated.

[@ryandarwen6301]

I've bought the Sony a1 and it doesn't seem to have this feture? Can you help me as I'd like to start doing macro? Thanks

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It first appeared on the A7RV and has not yet been backdated to any models released before the A7RV.

[@jean-christophel3038]

Hi Mark, is there a formula that connects DOF and the choice of step width ?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It should be possible to create one if you can dial in aperture, focal length and precise distance to the nearest subject but I don’t know that anyone had done this work yet.

[@codyzimmerman2582]

pixel shift and focus bracketing? can they be combined?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Even the slightest focus breathing would be an issue …so no

[@aponnusa]

Hi Mark, if you set it to take a certain number of shots (say for example 50 shots), will the camera take all 50 shots even if it has reached infinity focus by 10th shot.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

It mostly stops taking photos when it has enough shots, but will sometimes stop early or go on too long when shooting close-up work.

[@lakislambrianides7619]

Shame on Sony that didn't incorporate focus bracketing on a74 considering that a lot of cheaper cameras have this function

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The main reason for this is that it had not been invented yet. Ideally what we should be hoping for is that a firmware update will give the A7IV the functionality.

[@tomwier]

will this feature will be available for A7C as well?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Time will tell - Unfortunately I am not privy to this information

[@rogeryoung3587]

It's almost certainly a given that Sony will fail to retro-fit focus bracketing to any existing camera, when common sense assumes that this is just constrained by revised software deployment. Hardware trumps Firmware in the Sony consumer electronics market.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

Let’s hope Sony decide to do what they did in 2019 and go on a retro-fitting blitz with firmware update roadmaps for their A7lll, A7Rlll and A9 cameras.

[@ErwinChung]

Where did you focus for the single shot using the 12-24mm lens to get focus throughout the frame @markgaler around the 2 min 35 sec mark?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The hyperfocal distance

[@nishardabdeen7218]

I feel so cheated after buying the alpha 1 and now two years later realizing there no focus bracketing will never buy any Sony product ever again .

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

The A1 is primarily a sports camera and focus bracketing is a landscape and macro feature + Sony have never been great with firmware updates. The camera still has no equal for capturing high-resolution action shots some 3-years after its release.

[@royprasad]

The focus stepping in the A7R5 looks like a very amateurish implementation. Why doesn't the A7R5 simply accept a near and far point of focus, then figure out the step size and number of shots on its own, as the Fujifilm GFX 100S does, for instance?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

I have asked Sony to implement the workflow you have outlined. I can, however, only outline the current workflows. Your request should be copied to a Sony forum as Sony do not monitor this channel. The Japanese also respond very badly if the request is considered disrespectful.

[@ronaldgoodall4593]

How do I set up exposure bracketing on a Sony a7r5?

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

From the Drive Mode settings (same place as the focus bracketing)

[@ivan7453]

Olympus has this ability for years. Evidence Sony is ripping customers off.

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

How do you work out Sony is ripping you off by adding a feature - have they taken money out of your bank account or charged you more for this feature?

[@Riskbreaker2009]

Why cant it all be done in-camera

[@AlphaCreativeSkills]

That is a question for the Firmware engineers on a Sony forum. I can only educate Alpha owners on what is available to them at this moment in time.