Pixel Shift vs Focus Shift Stacking (bracketing) software

[THXGEEK]

I am beginning to explore the wonderful capabilities of my A1II camera. I understand the difference between pixel shift (obtaining maximum resolution) vs focus shift/bracketing (obtaining maximum depth-of field). My questions:

• Is there one piece of software that is capable of combining the multiple frames for pixel-shift and focus shift? Or do I need to invest in different software for each function?
• What’s the best software to do this? (Zerene Stacker, Helicon Focus, etc)? Recommendations? (Yes, I've searched and seen iamdlewis's recommendation for Helicon - any others?)
• What about astrophotography? Will an external focus stacking application suffice, or do I need something specific to astrophotography?

Many thanks in advance for your counsel!

Cheers,
-- Craig

 

[iamdlewis]

Only Sony's software can combine the pixel shift shots correctly. I haven't checked to see if it can also do the stacking but I suspect if it can it will be super slow. I use Helicon for my focus stacking and find it great.

Not positive about Astro but I do believe that I remember hearing people use Helicon.

 

[THXGEEK]

Only Sony's software can combine the pixel shift shots correctly. I haven't checked to see if it can also do the stacking but I suspect if it can it will be super slow. I use Helicon for my focus stacking and find it great.

Not positive about Astro but I do believe that I remember hearing people use Helicon.

Thanks David!

 

[Richard A]

In all the comparisons I have seen between Zerene, Helicon and Photoshop there always seems to be one occasion where one software will better the other two. Yes, even Photoshop. I haven’t done enough focus stacking, or anything complicated enough to really decide which is better and I haven’t used Zerene.

As far as Pixel Shift goes, you can definitely stack these in Photoshop. I haven’t done enough of that either and what I have done the Sony software worked fine. I remember a YouTube video where a guy was having trouble getting a sharp image in the Sony software so used Photoshop instead. If I can find it I’ll post a link.

For my Astro stacking I have been using Starry Landscape Stacker or Starry Sky Stacker. These are Mac only.