If you’re into mushroom photography, you’ve probably heard about focus stacking. It’s the technique used by the best and most professional photographers in the field. Alan Rockafeller, Stephan Axford, Joseph Pallant, and many more use this technique to achieve crystal-clear macro photos. Focus stacking allows photographers to blend multiple images, each focused at a different position, to create an image with precise focus exactly how they want. This technique is particularly important for those wishing to photograph small mushrooms (or other objects), since the depth of field is often very limited in these types of shots with regular techniques.
When I first wrote this article, I was looking to upgrade my previous system (the Nikon D3200) to one with in-camera focus bracketing. To clarify, focus-bracketing is the act of taking multiple images, while focus stacking is the process of merging them. It’s a bit confusing at first, and they’re often used interchangeably, but it’s good to know the difference.
The Difference Between Focus-Stacking and Focus-Bracketing
As I just mentioned, focus bracketing is the act of taking multiple images with different focus points. Focus bracketing can be done manually simply by adjusting your lens or by using a focusing rail. This is the traditional technique that can be done with any type of camera. It requires a bit of patience, since it can be delicate to get even focus intervals without moving the camera’s angle or position too much. To ease this process, many cameras now do in-camera focus bracketing. This is also sometimes called focus-shift shooting by some brands. This uses the built-in computer to take multiple pictures while automatically adjusting focus. You need a lens that allows auto-focusing for this to work, as it needs to connect to the camera’s computer.
Now, focus stacking is the act of blending all these images together. This can be done with Photoshop, Helicon Focus, Zerene, or a wide variety of programs on the computer. I’ll write an article about this at a future date. It’s pretty straightforward, really. Some cameras also offer in-camera focus-stacking. This means that not only does it do the bracketing, but it also blends all the images already in the camera. While this is really practical, it does have some limitations. Oftentimes, you are limited to the quantity of photos you can stack, and sometimes the final result is exported as JPEG and not raw. This gives you less freedom later when it comes to editing.
What Cameras Have Automatic Focus Bracketing/Focus Stacking?
In my search for a new camera, I didn’t really find a comprehensive list of cameras that support this feature, so I decided to compile one here for you. For transparency, I include affiliate Amazon links here. and may earn a commission if you purchase one of these products. I’m very transparent about my personal preferences and encourage users to buy used cameras or go directly to the providers if necessary. I’ve bought all my equipment from the facebook marketplace.
Nikon
- Nikon D850, D780, D6
- Nikon Z9, Z8, Z7, Z6, Z5 (not included in Nikon Z50 or Z40)
Olympus
- OM-1
- OM-5
- OM-D E-M1 Mark III
- OM-D E-M5 Mark III
- OM-D E-M-5 Mark II
- OM-D E-M1X
- OM-D E-M1 Mark II
- OM-D E-M10 IV (Focus Bracketing only)
- E-M10 Mark III (Focus Bracketing only)
Fuji
- GFX 100
- GFX 50R
- GFX 50S
- X-H1
- X-Pro3
- X-T4
- X-T3
- X-T2
Cannon
- Canon EOS R3
- Canon EOS R5
- Canon EOS R6 Mark II
- Canon EOS R6
- Canon EOS RP
- Canon EOS R7
- Canon EOS R10
- Canon EOS 90D
- Canon EOS M6 Mark II
- Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II
- Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
Sony
- Sony A7RV
Panasonic
- Panasonic G80
- Panasonic G85
- Panasonic G9
- Panasonic FZ1000
- Panasonic GX800, GX850
Final Thoughts
This list is not complete! There are other cameras out there with these features. Feel free to drop me a message if you are familiar with other models that should be included.
Best of luck out there!
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