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How to best set the camera ?

Posted: 14.05.2008 19:07
by JPS
Hi ! Maybe a silly question, but well...

When i want to shoot a serie of pics to use with Helicon Focus, is it better to ROTATE the focussing ring on the camera, a few milimeters at a time, or to put the camera on a RAIL, focus on the nearest point of the subject and MOVE THE RAIL forward, a few milimeters at a time ?

Just curious...

Cheers,
J-P.

Re: How to best set the camera ?

Posted: 22.05.2008 00:10
by TomMeeks
Both methods work. It simply depends on your camera and your ability to judge the focal planes.

With the Canon XTi 400D, I used a rail because I could count the turns of the rail movement mechanism to ensure equal distribution of focus planes. That was primarily because my eyesight, in the smaller viewfinder, wasn't that great.

With the Canon XSi 450D, I am planning to go back to using the focus ring. That's because the XSi has LiveView, which enables me to see the image on a TV screen before shooting. This was the method I used with my Olympus E-10 and it's the one that I prefer when this option is available.

JPS wrote:Hi ! Maybe a silly question, but well...

When i want to shoot a serie of pics to use with Helicon Focus, is it better to ROTATE the focussing ring on the camera, a few milimeters at a time, or to put the camera on a RAIL, focus on the nearest point of the subject and MOVE THE RAIL forward, a few milimeters at a time ?

Just curious...

Cheers,
J-P.

Posted: 26.05.2008 14:28
by JPS
Thanks Tom !

After a few trials, i decided that i got much better results -less ghost images- only rotating the focus ring than moving the whole camera/lens combo on a rail !

Thanks for the tips !

Cheers,
J-P.