Macro Photography: How to MASTER Focus Stacking

9/29/2025 ISO 1200 Magazine 0 Comments

The pursuit of detail in macro photography is often hampered by one critical problem: a severely limited depth of field (DoF). At high magnifications, even a slightly stopped-down aperture only renders a tiny sliver of the subject sharp.

To achieve sharpness across the entire subject—an insect, for example—while preserving a beautifully blurred background (avoiding the busy look that stopping down would create), photographers rely on a technique called focus stacking.

Focus stacking involves taking multiple shots, each focused on a different plane, and merging them in post-production. This composite image combines the sharpest parts of every slice, granting a level of DoF impossible in a single shot.

The Three Paths to Focus Stacking

The best approach to capturing your sharp slices depends entirely on your subject and gear.

1. Precision with the Focus Rail

This is the traditional, highly precise method used primarily for static subjects and cameras paired with manual focus lenses. A focus rail is mounted on a sturdy tripod and allows the photographer to physically move the entire camera setup forward in extremely tiny increments.

A shot is taken after each move, ensuring every 'slice' of the subject is captured. This method demands absolute stillness and is impractical for wildlife or outdoor shooting with any wind.

2. Convenience with In-Camera Focus Stacking

Many modern mirrorless cameras offer an automated in-camera focus stacking (or bracketing) feature. The camera handles the rapid shooting sequence and focus shifts internally.

This feature typically only works with autofocus lenses. For the best results, photographers should still use a tripod and ensure they save the RAW files, as the camera-generated JPEG stack offers limited editing flexibility.

3. Necessity: Handheld Focus Bracketing

When a tripod is impossible—either because it scares the subject away or the environment is unstable—handheld focus bracketing becomes a necessary skill.

Utilizing a camera's fast frame rate, a photographer can quickly capture a burst of images while manually shifting their weight or focus point. Even with slight movement, this method can yield surprisingly successful results, proving that speed and timing can overcome the lack of a tripod.

The Post-Processing Powerhouse: Helicon Focus

While general editing software like Photoshop can stack images, it often struggles with the subtle, complex transitions between focused and unfocused areas, leading to artifacts and a frustratingly slow workflow.

For professional-grade results, dedicated software is essential. Helicon Focus is the industry standard, winning out for its ability to align and merge image slices with far greater speed and precision.

It handles the difficult blending zones between sharp and blurry areas seamlessly, creating a cleaner final image with fewer defects than its general-purpose competitors.

Resume: Focus Stacking Essentials

Focus stacking is the essential technique to overcome the shallow depth of field inherent in high-magnification macro photography. Use this quick guide to choose your best approach:

Method	Best For	Gear & Key Tip
Focus Rail	Perfectly static subjects, manual focus lenses.	Use a sturdy tripod and a remote release. Avoid subjects that move.
In-Camera Stacking	Automated process, convenient for fast-moving workflows.	Requires an autofocus lens. Always stack the RAW files later.
Handheld Bracketing	Moving subjects, field work where a tripod is impossible.	Rely on a fast shutter speed and high frame rate to freeze motion.
Software	Merging the multiple slices into a final, seamless image.	Use Helicon Focus over general software like Photoshop for superior results.