Helicon Remote
Helicon Remote is a utility that automates focus and exposure bracketing. The program changes focus distance by moving the lens with regular steps and takes shots.
The stack of images is processed then with Helicon Focus to increase depth of field (DOF).
What can you do with Helicon Remote:
- Automate focus bracketing
- Automate combined exposure and focus bracketing
- Perform tethered shooting via USB cable
- Calibrate autofocus system
Automated focus bracketing
Helicon Remote sends commands to the camera to drive lens. It ensures that shooting is fast, precise and reliable. It is very important if the DOF is very small and you need to make very small focusing steps to cover all the range you need. The speed of shooting is important if the object is not stable and moves from time to time like the flower on the wind. And if you plan to create 3D model from your stack you would surely need many images with shallow DOF and regular distance between them.
Automated exposure bracketing
Helicon Remote gives very powerful control over exposure bracketing. You are no more limited to +2,-2EV range offered by the camera. You can capture the whole dynamic range which your camera can get. The program allows you to set up a limit for the exposure time to define the point when ISO should be used to increase total exposure value.
Many pro photographers want to get everything: both extended depth of field (EDOF) and high dynamic range (HDR). Helicon Remote can do exposure and focus bracketing at the same time!
AF Calibrator
AF Calibrator is a function in Helicon Remote to test the correctness of camera AF.
DSLR cameras use phase detect sensors for focusing. These sensors use light reflected from the mirror. When the mirror goes up the picture is projected at the main image sensor and in some cases it is not perfectly focused.
AF Calibrator detect the difference between phase detect auto focus (through the mirror) and contrast detect auto focus (slow and precise). Please read more about phase detect and contrast detect focusing here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofocus
The detected difference is the compensation value which can be set into many recent cameras to make autofocus more precise.
To get consistent and reliable results please follow the rules below:
- use tripod to minimize camera movements
- use the widest aperture possible, this will make DOF smaller and will increase precision.
- point the camera at the target object which is flat, perpendicular to the camera and has contrasty details (e.g. newspaper)
- use low ISO to minimize noise, good lighting to keep shutter time as short as possible.
Please note that compensation value may differ for different focal lengths (i.e. lens zoom) and focus distances (distance to the object). Repeat operation several times under different conditions.
Canon recommends testing/adjusting at 50X the focal length of the lens, in the tele mode for the zoom lens. If you have 70-200 mm lens, use 200mm focal length and 200*50=10000mm=10m distance to the target.
Camera support and licensing
The program works with Canon and Nikon DSLRs that support Live View mode.
Canon: EOS 550D, EOS 7D, EOS-1D Mark IV, 1Ds Mark III,50D,5D Mark II, REBELXsi/450D/Kiss X2, EOS Kiss X3/EOS REBEL T1i /EOS 500D, REBEL XS/1000D and later cameras.
Nikon: D3, D3X, D300, D5000, D90, D700 and later cameras.
Helicon Remote is available with Pro and X64 licenses of Helicon Focus. In other cases the program is limited to shooting of small resolution jpegs for evaluation purposes. Helicon Remote is a standalone utility which is included into Helicon Focus installation.
Supported platforms: 
Windows XP, Vista, 7; 
Mac OS 10.5+ (under development)
Downloads and links
Download page for Helicon Focus installation with Helicon Remote included. Evaluate fully functional program for 30 days.
Helicon Remote forum : you are welcome to discuss the product and make suggestions for the future versions.
Puchase page for Helicon Focus. Please note that only Pro and X64 licenses allow Helicon Remote usage.