A plea for focus stacking....

[JeffWright]

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So I can't be the only one using the SL3 that wishes it had the capacity to focus stack (or focus bracket if you prefer). We don't need in camera processing of the stack, just the ability to generate the files. This would be such a simple thing to implement with Leica's L lenses. The Panasonic L cameras have had this feature since launch. It's quite tedious to manually do focus stacking when required. 

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[SrMi]

Focus bracketing, the way it is implemented in Hasselblad, would indeed be a very welcome addition.

[jaapv]

9 hours ago, JeffWright said:

So I can't be the only one using the SL3 that wishes it had the capacity to focus stack (or focus bracket if you prefer). We don't need in camera processing of the stack, just the ability to generate the files. This would be such a simple thing to implement with Leica's L lenses. The Panasonic L cameras have had this feature since launch. It's quite tedious to manually do focus stacking when required. 

The S5ii dropped focus stacking, much to my chagrin.

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

The S5ii dropped focus stacking, much to my chagrin.

At least it still has focus bracketing, which is what the OP is asking for. In-camera focus stacking only produces JPEGs and cannot fix artifacts.

For me, it was worse that the S5 II dropped multiple exposures (with raw output).

[V23]

14 hours ago, JeffWright said:

So I can't be the only one using the SL3 that wishes it had the capacity to focus stack (or focus bracket if you prefer). We don't need in camera processing of the stack, just the ability to generate the files. This would be such a simple thing to implement with Leica's L lenses. The Panasonic L cameras have had this feature since launch. It's quite tedious to manually do focus stacking when required. 

Lets’ start petition, I would like to have it in next FW upgrade on my SL3 just us many others I guest. 

[LanceR]

I agree, this feature is definitely missed.  I don't need it to stack in camera, but something similar to the focus bracketing functionality that the Hasselblads offer would be fantastic.

[Dr. G]

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Even if they don't add the feature in-camera, you would think that this would be very easy to implement in the fotos app using the remote shutter feature.  Since you can set your focus point in the app by touching the screen, it should be possible to select your start and finishing focus points and the number of exposures in between.   

[40mm f/2]

In camera focus stacking is only possible with OM/Olympus cameras and in some versions of video in some Panasonic cameras. I tested the OM-1 and focus stacking works but only as jpeg and the image quality is much worse than using focus bracketing and stacking in Zerene or Helicon. Focus bracketing works with that  camera even handheld (not always but very high success rate) because of excellent IBIS and very fast frame rates during focus bracketing. I am using focus bracketing a lot with my Hasselblad and it gives excellent results but needs a tripod and complete still conditions as it is quite slow (also depending on lens).

Instead of in camera focus bracketing through automatic lens focusing one can focus to one point and bracket through moving the camera either by using a rail (could be automated) on a tripod or handheld through a gliding motion with a fast  frame rate. But the two different methods give quite different results. Through lens focusing with modern IF lenses the distance to subject stays constant but magnification changes as effective focal length shortens. When changing the distance of lens to subject the perspective changes. The stacking softwares can compensate well for change in magnification through the alignment tool but not for changes in perspective.

I am interested in the Leica Q3 43 and was also eying the SL3 as Panasonic released this year a very compact and light 100mm/2.8 macro  (weighing less than 300g which is less than 1/2 of any macro lens in that focal range) which as good IQ and fast focus. But without in camera focus bracketing I am not buying any Leica camera because that is restricting too much for my photographic interests.

[JeffWright]

20 hours ago, 40mm f/2 said:

I am interested in the Leica Q3 43 and was also eying the SL3 as Panasonic released this year a very compact and light 100mm/2.8 macro  (weighing less than 300g which is less than 1/2 of any macro lens in that focal range) which as good IQ and fast focus. But without in camera focus bracketing I am not buying any Leica camera because that is restricting too much for my photographic interests.

I think this probably a valid point for a lot of people considering the SL system. 

Manufacturers offering focus bracketing in their professional cameras:
Canon
Fuji
Hasselblad
Nikon
Panasonic
Sigma
Sony

What's the ONE glaring exception?

This omission in capability wasn't an issue for me when I first bought into the SL system with the introduction of the SL Typ 601. At the time, I was content to do manual bracketing, but as my interests have evolved, the ability to focus stack easily has become much more important. 

[JeffWright]

And just for clarity, not all focus bracketing is for macro work. Here's an example with the 100-400, I think at around 200 mm.

 

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[frame-it]

22 hours ago, Dr. G said:

it should be possible to select your start and finishing focus points

the SL has that in video mode already, for follow focus, so they[ leica] DO have the tech to add a focus stack feature, but they[leica] probably don't think its important

[SrMi]

22 hours ago, Dr. G said:

Even if they don't add the feature in-camera, you would think that this would be very easy to implement in the fotos app using the remote shutter feature.  Since you can set your focus point in the app by touching the screen, it should be possible to select your start and finishing focus points and the number of exposures in between.   

Setting the start and end point is not the essential part of focus bracketing. In fact, it is implemented only by one brand and is a mess. Setting the start, the end, or the middle is a more useful and simpler approach.

The most essential part of focus bracketing is to move the focus point while maintaining the selected CoC (defined by aperture, focal length, and step size).

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, JeffWright said:

I think this probably a valid point for a lot of people considering the SL system. 

Manufacturers offering focus bracketing in their professional cameras:
Canon
Fuji
Hasselblad
Nikon
Panasonic
Sigma
Sony

What's the ONE glaring exception?

This omission in capability wasn't an issue for me when I first bought into the SL system with the introduction of the SL Typ 601. At the time, I was content to do manual bracketing, but as my interests have evolved, the ability to focus stack easily has become much more important. 

Especially if one has gotten used to in another system. I think that it may be incompatible with the new Leica/Panasonic AF system, as Panasonic removed focus stacking from the S5ii. 

[SrMi]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

Especially if one has gotten used to in another system. I think that it may be incompatible with the new Leica/Panasonic AF system, as Panasonic removed focus stacking from the S5ii. 

S5II still has focus bracketing (p. 235). In-camera focus stacking is computational only and does not depend on the AF system. 

[jaapv]

So why would they drop it coming from the S5? 

[SrMi]

26 minutes ago, jaapv said:

So why would they drop it coming from the S5? 

Because it is a gimmick. Most cameras with focus bracketing do not support in-camera focus stacking; for the same reason, they do not support in-camera panorama merging (JPG only, insufficient quality).

[jaapv]

Wel, that gimmick did me just fine It produced  fewer artifacts than computer stacking, was perfectly controllable and saved me an inordinate amount of computer time.  

[SrMi]

2 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Wel, that gimmick did me just fine It produced  fewer artifacts than computer stacking, was perfectly controllable and saved me an inordinate amount of computer time.  

Isn't JPEG the only output format from in-camera focus stacking? I thought you were shooting raw, not JPEG.

I doubt you get fewer artifacts with in-camera stacking than with Zeren or Helicon. In fact, you cannot remove artifacts with in-camera stacking, but you can with Zerene or Helicon. 

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[jaapv]

4K and the S5ii supports 6K. 

[Virob]

I would love to see focus bracketing as a feature on the SL cameras. For those heavily into macro, this would be a very useful feature. I manually focus bracket for landscapes regularly, and don’t find it to be a problem.
Interestingly, the “pro” landscape photographers I’ve seen with cameras that support focus bracketing don’t use it. The main complaint I’ve heard is that it generates too many unnecessary images when 2 or 3 well chosen focus points is enough.

Never having used the feature, I would give it a try and decide if it is useful.

i find the same thing with exposure bracketing. For me, it is only useful shooting handheld and I’m trying to keep the framing steady. On a tripod, it is much easier to pick a few useful exposures. Usually, I want a “standard “ exposure and then either something over or under, rarely both.