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What is Focus Stacking? How to Get Your Best Macro Photos

Chris Gampat
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02/15/2023
3 Mins read
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The act of focus stacking is one of the most important and best ways to get the sharpest macro photos. While photographers, for years, would just stop the lens down and use off-camera lighting, that’s not always necessary now. Instead, you can shoot wide open and then focus the lens at different distances to create a better image with more natural light. And this is really advantageous when you’re in the great outdoors because it means you can pack that much lighter. So let’s talk about how focus stacking can help get a better photo and how to do it.

This piece is presented in partnership with OM SYSTEM. We’ve independently and ethically reviewed all the products in this post already without sponsorship. And we worked with them to recommend a few key gems to you.

Recommended Gear

To do focus stacking, we really recommend the following pieces of gear:

  • OM SYSTEM OM-1: With its computational photography and AI scene detection modes, this camera can focus on anything like tiny critters and plant-life alike.
  • OM SYSTEM OM-5: A more affordable entry than the OM-1.
  • M.Zuiko 30mm f3.5 Macro: This macro focal length is considered more normal when it comes to the field of view.
  • M.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 Macro: On Micro Four Thirds, this is a telephoto field of view. But you get more light than you would with the 30mm.

How to Do Focus Stacking

In your camera settings, find the focus stacking mode. In the OM-1, you’ll find it under the computational photography section. Make sure you’re using a supported lens. Then we strongly recommend putting your camera on a tripod. Set your aperture wide open. Then set the number of shots you want the camera to shoot.

The camera will then work to process all the photos together to give a final JPEG. Of course, you can combine all the images you’d like in RAW and focus stack yourself later on. However, this process eliminates the need for post-production. Combine it with a specific color setting like Vivid. Or get really fun with the Watercolor Art Filter!

Other Tips

Because you’re outdoors, consider a few variables if you’re using natural light:

  • Cloud coverage: shadows and light changes can really change the exposure of the image. For that reason, it’s best to use manual mode and make sure that the light will be right.
  • Wind: If you’re photographing a plant of some sort, the wind might make it shake. You have to have a fast enough shutter speed to prevent it. Also, wait until the wind has died down. At least since we’re encouraging you to shoot with a tripod, your chances of shaking are minimized.
  • Personality: If you’re photographing a bug at a macro range, you might really scare them. Move slowly and accept you might miss the shot.
  • Focusing area: We strongly suggest a smaller autofocus point, especially because this is macro photography. Focus stacking really requires a lot of precision.
  • OM SYSTEM cameras have a feature called Simulated OVF. It helps with autofocus performance. But we’re assuming that you’re outside on a bright, sunny day or with a lot of natural light. It won’t matter as much here. So instead, just expose according to your camera’s display. Further, don’t try to expose for post-production. Get it right in-camera because the camera will create the final photo for you.

Macro photography is very rewarding when you get the shot. It takes a lot of patience for that to happen, though. It may take many different tries to get the photo you want, but that’s also part of the fun of focus stacking!

30mm f3.5 macro 60mm f2.9 macro focus stacking macro macro photos OM SYSTEM om system om1
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.