How to use Canon's Focus Bracketing Feature Canon R6 Mark II R7 R8 and others

[@chimpy9823]

Love it Phil, a great easy to understand tutorial on how to focus stack in Canon cameras, much easier than trying to understand Canons instructions 👍

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@MrTmiket0007]

Thanks Phil for sharing another great video like always 👍

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@GalacticoUC]

Thanks Phil, this is very helpful!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@davidct2406]

Thanks Phil, another well explained video. I especially liked the bit where you added the extra 15 shots to bring the back of your Sony camera into focus - that part really showed how the adjustment changed things.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@socalduck1]

Thank you Phil. I own a Canon R8 and have been trying to figure out how to best set up my focus bracketing parameters. Your simple explanation and demonstration were spot on to what I needed. Great job.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@jenwilly7260]

Thank you for this menu walk-thru. I'm very new to photography and the R6 Mark II, and I was following a book on how to do this, but the book didn't even say where to locate the focus bracketing menu!

[@PhilThach]

@@jenwilly7260 thank you! I hope it helps.

[@Haildestroya]

I quite literally had a eureka moment watching this. Thank you SO MUCH!!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@poerava]

I wish the focus increment could work out distance by mm I know that would require some new technology but I think it would be so helpful.

[@Radimkiller]

Thanks, this was very useful!

[@PhilThach]

@@Radimkiller thank you!

[@allenbuyck7957]

Excellent video. I don’t shoot Canon, but this was still very helpful !!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@Eli4Bill]

Excellent demonstration Phil, thanks!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@danwilliams5335]

Nicely done. I'm sure this is going to be really helpful to a lot of folks out there. Important content.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Dan!

[@adrianalfordphotography]

Great tutorial Phil. Well explained. Thanks for sharing

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, Adrian!

[@dougdina]

Hi Phil, Thanks for the video. I did some shooting earlier today and tried out focus stacking prior to reading the manual or watching this video. It is very important to focus on the nearest subject that you wish to be in focus. Though that seems obvious, I was not aware that the camera’s operation only goes near to far. One might think that the camera would automatically go the full range regardless of where the focus is before pushing v the button. But, it makes sense that it’s near field to far field. I had three problems. That was the first one. The second one was not knowing what aperture to initially set. For some test shots in bright sun, the aperture was near f11. I also had the number of shots near 50. Well, that’s a problem as the camera only shot about 5 pictures and I was very puzzled. I wonder if the program stopped when EITHER the shot count is reached OR the last shot detects Infinity in focus. Seems logical.in other words, is the program smart enough to stop taking photos because the stack will result in perfect focus throughout. I’ll probably test my theory out. I think the camera offers a large shot count because there are lenses with very small f-stops, like f1.2. Since the camera would know this f-stop, it would only adjust focus in tiny increments. Therefore, shot counts like 100 or more might be necessary. Therefore third thing that I don’t quite understand is that Narrow-Wide adjustment. I would have thought the program would control that based on the f-stop and shot count. It seems that the photographer could mess up quite a bit if they were to use a large aperture, say f1.2, and set this narrow-wide value to Wide because each preceding shot will have a very shallow depth of field leaving areas out of focus. I think this is way the manual says to use on minimum aperture of something like f4.

[@عمادلطيف313]

عفوا هل توجد هذه الميزه في كانون R3

[@nickclaytonphotography]

Brilliant vlog Phil! Well explained & executed. Another feature I haven’t yet used, but am now keen to give it a go. Thanks for sharing. Keep on keeping on! Best, Nick (Suffolk, UK 🇬🇧)

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@brookemiller7230]

That’s cool. Thanks for showing us about it.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@olafzijnbuis]

Nice feature. I am a bit surprised that you can not focus on the nearest subject and press a button, then focus on the farthest subject and press a button, and the camera tells you how many shots you need to take at the minimum focus-step setting. That would make things much easier and avoid unnecessary shots focussing "behind" the farthest subject. Maybe they saved that for an even more expensive model 🙂

[@PhilThach]

That is a great idea!

[@augusto_alves]

I must try this on my R8. Thank you!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you, it’s a great feature and worth trying out!

[@NECPER]

Thanks for another great demo Phil. / Per, Denmark

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@scooterdoo1]

I’ve been diving into Macro with the RF 100mm lens. I love focus stacking but quickly found out there is no setting to slow down the bracketing speed or to use the shutter so a flash can be used. I’m looking into purchasing a portable light panel to take into the forest for darker macro photos

[@PhilThach]

@@scooterdoo1 yes, the built-in focus bracket only is available with electronic shutter and with electronic shutter you cannot use flash. The portable light panel idea is a good one. 👍

[@HookedOnSonics]

Awesome, just used your recommendations for FB on an R5II, thanks for doing this video!!!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@AlbertD711]

Thanks for the very interesting video. You make things so easy to understand and put into practice.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@iredefined26]

Very well explained! Thanks

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@Henqi]

Thanks Phil! Very good tutorial 🫡

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@panzer948]

Just got the R6 MkII and this is great for diorama/scale model photography.

[@PhilThach]

I hope you have success with it! :)

[@echoprimera462]

Thanks for the demonstration. It is helpful. I am puzzling if I can achieve the same result by using a large f number aperture.

[@PhilThach]

I don't think you can get the same result by using a smaller aperture. You can get close but not perfect like this. Also, with extremely small apertures (large numbers) you will also have to content with diffraction adversely affecting the sharpness of your image.

[@ivan11cast]

Wow this is a great video!! Never heard of this till now! 👍👍👍

[@PhilThach]

Give it a try! 👍

[@jimzielinski]

Thank you Phil, very helpful. Liked and subbed

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@blackeaglezee4645]

Thank you, R5 Mark II has a flash support, do you consider , will you make a video of focus braketing with flash ? Thank you

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I was unaware that the R5 mark II will support flash during focus bracketing. That's great news. Unfortunately, I don't have any plans to purchase one at this time. However, this news may push me over the edge at some point. :)

[@poppacapnurass2608]

great demo Can you advise how one might estimate the number of images require to shoot from the closest to farthest focal point to get a stack throughout those points? For example, if I was shooting a scene of a lighthouse and a foreground 30m apart, how many images would be required at a given f/ ?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! You have to use trial and error. For a scene like that you can put in a large number of shots. The camera will stop shooting when it gets to infinity. You can use a larger step value for a scene like that.

[@jaimesolisct]

Phil, thank you for the great and clear explanation of Focus Bracketing. I managed to activate it on my R6 Mark II, but I'm having trouble with multiple products-specifically perfume bottles. I can't seem to get all the labels clear and legible; some are still out of focus. Would you mind giving me some tips or advice? I'm a newbie here, trying to learn. For reference, I'm testing with 7 bottles, 2 different shapes.

[@PhilThach]

@@jaimesolisct thank you! If it is the back of your scene that is still out of focus, then you should increase the number of shots. If it is the closest part of your image that is not in focus, then you are focusing too far into the scene. Remember to focus on the very closest part of the scene that you want to be in focus.

[@jaimesolisct]

@@PhilThach thank you very much, I will take into account what you say that is also in the video. I will keep trying "very closest part of the scene..." 👌

[@jaimesolisct]

@@PhilThach I thought the increased focus might be a factor, as there are so many elements in the composition, but I didn't see any different results.

[@OurAwesomeUniverse]

Thank you.

[@adragonphotography]

Thank you for this video. I have tried macro a few times after watching a few KZbin vids but non of them mentioned about the increments and about adding extra pictures, perhaps this might explain my lackluster results. Can't wait to try your way instead.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Good luck!

[@Kellysher]

Hey Phil! Love the shirt! At my age, most things far away from me are already “ bokehfied”. I don’t have this feature on my camera, but it’s good to know that it exists and how it works!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@WunKoolKat]

I did this but see ALL images in review. I understand it keeps all, but how do I locate/identify the composite image (the single blended end product image of all shots)?

[@PhilThach]

@@WunKoolKat I shoot raw so I just look for the JPEG’s.

[@WunKoolKat]

@ that may be what I need to do. I was hoping there would be a composite indicator on the jpegs. Thanks for the info and GREAT tutorial.

[@edwardmorton7246]

Great video! I'm excited to try it.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@seasterl]

For landscapes and using, e.g., a 24-35mm lens on full-frame camera with lots on interesting foreground, middle ground, and background, would you suggest shooting at f/11 and manually selecting key points to be in focus and blending these in post-process, or would you suggest setting the focus bracketing to 999 images and letting to do its thing? (I can see this filling up memory cards quickly!).

[@PhilThach]

@@seasterl either way will work, but it will not take 999 pictures. It will stop shooting once the focus reaches infinity which will be way before 999 pictures especially at F/11.

[@seasterl]

@@PhilThach Would it be good practice to just leave it set at 999, then? The reason I ask is because my last time out, there were lots of pine trees in the shot, so figuring this might have taken a lot of shots if I allowed it. I was using an R5 at f/11 and only set it to about 9 shots. Long story shot, nothing was in focus when I tried using focus bracketing. I do use mechanical shutter, and now you got me thinking that I need to set it to electronic shutter for it to work “properly.” My R5 took the pics, but just lacked focus.

[@Justinhoou]

Thanks Phil. Just wondering is the focus bracketing feature outputing jpeg format only or will it have the option to output raw format too? Is it possible to focus bracket handheld without tripod? Thanks.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! It outputs a JPEG only but it does also keep the raw photos that you made. You can do it handheld but you better have a steady hand.

[@sfink16]

Thanks! Can the R8 do in camera stitching for panoramic shots? I just came back from the Badlands in SD, took some shots in the panoramic mode but I didn't even try to stitch them yet. I'm guessing that I have to use software to stitch the shots.

[@PhilThach]

@@sfink16 software needed for pano stitching as far as I know.

[@sfink16]

@@PhilThach Thanks! I downloaded Hugin Panorama Stitcher for my Ubuntu 24.04 desktop and will try it when I get a chance.

[@notreallyme425]

Will this with landscape photography?

[@PhilThach]

@@notreallyme425 yes

[@nidheesh.k.b6105]

Why canon is not allowing focus stacking in mechanical shutter

[@isamu0810]

Hey ! The best result is to stack the pictures with the canon or with Photoshop and Lightroom ? Thanks 🙏

[@PhilThach]

I like to do it in camera. Some people prefer to stack using third party software.

[@dougdina]

I use Affinity Photo for focus stacking and it works great.

[@eskrima1]

Excellent video.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you!

[@usernamemykel]

This can only be accomplised using AUTO focus, correct?

[@PhilThach]

You can set your initial focus point with manual focus but you must use an autofocus lens for this to work.

[@usernamemykel]

@@PhilThach Thank you!

[@vimalneha]

Thanks, Phill I was wondering if it is in R7 or not.

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Yes, this feature is in the R7.

[@marchinderickx8193]

Does it work too with EF lens with an adapter?

[@PhilThach]

I don’t think it is rated to work in that situation but it’s certainly worth a try.

[@marchinderickx8193]

@@PhilThach I have done some more search and Canon has a list of compatible lenses: cam.start.canon/en/H001/supplement_0010.html Some EF lenses are compatible.

[@kevinkelly6524]

Does the Canon system combine your photos in camera, or do you have to do it in Lightroom or another software program?

[@PhilThach]

In camera as shown in this video.

[@kevinkelly6524]

@@PhilThach thank you!

[@isab1893]

Hi! i have a canon eos r but can’t find this option. Is it not possible in this camera? :(

[@PhilThach]

R7, R6 Mark II and I think R8 have this feature.

[@isab1893]

@@PhilThach thank you for the answer :) do you know another feature to get the same result? I have a similar task like the one you show in the video

[@a_commonman]

Wow that's an awesome video ❤.. I always wondered how it works. Now I got it. By looking at your a6700, I am thinking of shifting to a6700 due to scarcity of good lightweight dedicated lens for my R7. What is ur opinion ? Is it a better idea ?

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I love my a6700 and a lot of the reason for that is lenses. I often use the Sigma 18-50 2.8 zoom with it. You just can't get something like that for the Canon R APSC cameras.

[@bicycle85]

Sorry, how can i do exposure bracketing with canon r6 mark ii?

[@PhilThach]

I don’t have my camera with me at this very moment, but I think it is very close to focus bracketing in the menus. Also, I don’t believe the camera will make an HDR stack in camera. You have to do it with third-party software.

[@bicycle85]

@@PhilThach thx. Yes, at moment I’m using Lightroom to made Hdr photos but my question is related to astrographic photography for example, cause i need to shoot more photos more fast as possible in different exposure to avoid the “star trail” effect.

[@owenskene3946]

Don't you need a macro lens to make it work correctly?

[@PhilThach]

No, as seen in this video, I didn't use a macro lens for my example. You can use a macro lens for macro subjects, my subject was large enough that a macro lens was not required to fill the frame. Subjects do not have to be tiny to benefit from focus bracketing and depth compositing. You can even use this technique for huge landscapes.

[@rickbottari600]

Since the camera has to be in auto focus what do you recommend, single, or servo mode, and should tracking be on auto or off ? Great video!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! I turned tracking off and you can use single or servo just as long as you land your focus point on the closest thing in the frame that you want to be in focus.

[@rickbottari600]

I shoot so much wildlife so servo is almost always engaged…📸

[@PhilThach]

@@rickbottari600 same here! 👍

[@usernamemykel]

I have the Canon R10. Some folks on the Canon forum have said that I wouldn't be able to use flash with in-camera bracketing and stacking - have you tried it???

[@PhilThach]

In camera stacking only works with electronic shutter, electronic shutter does not work with flash. I didn't realize that the R10 has this feature. Cool!

[@373737123]

The Best explanation 💯💯💯 thank you 🥰

[@PhilThach]

Thank you very much!

[@tylerkula1145]

Is this feature available in the R8?

[@PhilThach]

I think it is, but I’m not 100% sure.

[@mathematurques]

it is

[@dalemansukh]

We getting a review of the 500mm Sigma Prime Phil?

[@PhilThach]

I won’t be buying that one. I might rent it at some point.

[@4487karthik]

Hi I do have R6 Mark II, may I use ef50mm f 1.8 for Focus Bracketing for my Jewelry Shoot?

[@PhilThach]

You can try it. I'm not 100% sure it will work. Good luck!

[@TayouTroy]

Hi, do you know if I can set the focus bracket on to a custom button?

[@PhilThach]

That’s not something I have ever tried, but it’s possible. I’m not really sure.

[@charleyjin]

Hi Phil, I am your fan and watching every video you produced. One question though, do you know whether Canon Focus Bracketing work with flash light or not? I have seen Micael Widell used flash light to work with his OM-1 camera in macro shots. it works very well. Love to use flash light in Focus Bracketing with Canon's. Thanks!

[@PhilThach]

Thank you! Flash isn’t supported with the focus bracketing feature unfortunately. Excellent question, I should have mentioned that in the video.

[@charleyjin]

Thank you for clear it out. Looking forward to having more informative videos out.

[@JoelRiveraMD]

But can i even tell the camera to focus to infinity? Let’s say I shootint landscape , and I want to focus on a flower on the foreground and a mountain one Mile away . How do I do that ??

[@PhilThach]

Increase the number of shoots until it gets to infinity. If you put in a high number of shots, it will get there.

[@JoelRiveraMD]

@@PhilThach ohhhh got it ! Thanks

[@brendanhart1065]

Are you in auto focus or manual?.?

[@PhilThach]

@@brendanhart1065 auto

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Have you ever done this free hand or will that ruin the final image? Without flash, I have taken team shots in a gym with two or three rows of players and I normally dont have a tripod with me, players might be moving some, blinking, but wondered if focus stacking would help get all there rows in focus? I can try it I guess. Experiment. Thx

[@angelogarciajr5356]

I just tried it with a cat sleeping on the roof out back free hand but steady. I did ten shots and assuming the 11th shot is the final. That worked pretty good. Normally the back of the cat would not be sharp with the 100-500.I need to use this more often. Thank you.

[@PhilThach]

There’s a link to a macro video at the end of this video where I did it freehand on macro subjects. It is tough, but can work. I have not tried it freehand on large subjects like a cat or a group of students in some bleachers.

[@charleyjin]

Hi Phil, I have a problem by using Focus Bracketing on my R7. I set up for 45 pictures but it only took 5 and stopped. I tried every setting as I know and could not solve the problem. Do you have any suggestions and recommendations? Thank you very much!

[@PhilThach]

The camera will stop at the number of shots you set up or infinity, whichever comes first. So it must have reached infinity focus.

[@charleyjin]

Thank you for your advice!

[@perprzem]

That lens turns into macro lens with magnification 1:2 while using manual focus...

[@PhilThach]

Interesting. It is only rated for 0.24x which is plenty for product photography.