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.

 

[AlphaWorld]

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

I would not expect you to use focus stacking software for astronomy work - pretty sure that 100 light years away and 100 000 light years away both count as "infinity" - or maybe I don't understand astro photography (come to tihink of it,, that's not an"or" -it's an "and"!)

I could understand using noise reduction stacking, though, and your A1 II supports that as well, through yet another stacking option. You go into the Shooting menu (Red), choose item 6: Composite RAW Sht (sometimes Sony's abbreviations are unfortunate...). This holds the Pixel Shift option, but it also holds NR Shooting settings - open this, turn on NR Shooting, set the RAW File Type, and specify the number of shots (4, 8, 16, or 32). Maybe this is the option you really want when you talk about focus shift for astro?

I may or may not be experimenting with NR shooting tonight (we have a blood moon lunar eclipse overhead tonight at, ouch, 3:30am!)

 

[Richard A]

Here is the link I mentioned above:

Tips & Tricks for Pixel Shift Multi Shooting

I don't know that I'd bother using NR Stacking for Astro or the Eclipse. Like Pixel Shift and Focus Stacking, I think it's meant for static subjects only.

Sky here is cloud free at the moment. Moon should rise soon but it's looking like low cloud will be moving in before the main action starts unfortunately.

 

[AlphaWorld]

Here is the link I mentioned above:

Tips & Tricks for Pixel Shift Multi Shooting

I don't know that I'd bother using NR Stacking for Astro or the Eclipse. Like Pixel Shift and Focus Stacking, I think it's meant for static subjects only.

Sky here is cloud free at the moment. Moon should rise soon but it's looking like low cloud will be moving in before the main action starts unfortunately.

Current forecast here is 11% cloud cover. I think I will set an alarm and try to take photos of the eclipse.

 

[Richard A]

I find it easier to just stay awake…