Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

mrhansenable

5

« on: 07 / January / 2017, 18:35:53 »

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Hey y'all!

Trying to set up depth of field stacking on my Elph310HS (Ixus230HS). I want to take a series of photos (e.g. 5) at increasing focal lengths (increments of 4mm or so).

I have CHDK version 1.0 I believe. It's the only compatible firmware I could find for my device.

All of the scripts I have found are designed for powershot 6xx or 7xx levels, and I'm not sure how to modify them for mine? I'm not sure, but it seems like I need manual focus in order to get this working, which my camera doesn't have. Would be really disappointed if this is the case.

any help would be appreciated.

thanks guys!

Jesse

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #1 on: 07 / January / 2017, 19:18:34 »

Quote from: mrhansenable on 07 / January / 2017, 18:35:53

I have CHDK version 1.0 I believe. It's the only compatible firmware I could find for my device.

Well, technically CHDK is not firmware. Regardless, if you really have 1.0 I'll suggest it's too old to do much with.

Tell us exactly what you did to download and install CHDK? The official instructions are here : Prepare your SD card.

The STICK utility at the top of that page is highly recommended as the best way to install CHDK.

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All of the scripts I have found are designed for powershot 6xx or 7xx levels, and I'm not sure how to modify them for mine?

Those are all old cameras. At the time, people indicated which camera they used and scripts did not always run on different cameras. That's much less the case now.

Start here : CHDK Scripts : Focus & DOF Stacking . I'd recommend Meanwhile ... my Focus Stacking script as a good starting point.

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I'm not sure, but it seems like I need manual focus in order to get this working, which my camera doesn't have.

That's why you use CHDK! It adds MF (and lots of other stuff) to even the simplest and oldest of Powershots.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

mrhansenable

5

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #2 on: 08 / January / 2017, 00:06:30 »

thanks for your response, much appreciated!

I did indeed use the Stick tool to get it set up. You're right, I actually have 1.4 (or so). My mistake.

I could get your script to run, thanks! It works well. The only issue is that it's no good for me to have to select the near and far points. It' be much better to select either the near or far, then say how many photos to take at x millimeter intervals. Much less moving the camera around (not desirable for macro).

thanks!

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #3 on: 08 / January / 2017, 01:48:52 »

Quote from: mrhansenable on 08 / January / 2017, 00:06:30

I did indeed use the Stick tool to get it set up. You're right, I actually have 1.4 (or so).

Good.

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I could get your script to run, thanks!

Not mine - that was the title the author fabri22 gave it.

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It works well. The only issue is that it's no good for me to have to select the near and far points. It' be much better to select either the near or far, then say how many photos to take at x millimeter intervals. Much less moving the camera around (not desirable for macro).

Did you look at the others at the links I posted? If nothing there does what you want, I'm sure we can help you tweak things to suit. But I'm pretty sure what you are looking for already exists.

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

mrhansenable

5

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #4 on: 08 / January / 2017, 02:23:22 »

Yep, I've tried all of the scripts under the depth of field section. None of them really work all that well with my camera. Two of them are decent, but overall it's hard to get it working well.

I'm trying to replicate the setup of the link below. Basically it's for macro, using a lens reversal technique and a point-and-shoot. In the article he uses Ultra Intervalometer script. The problem is I don't really understand a lot of those details for the different versions of the scripts...

http://chaoticmind75.blogspot.ru/2013/08/my-technique-for-snowflakes-shooting.html

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/UBASIC/Scripts:_Ultra_Intervalometer

thanks again for your help

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #5 on: 08 / January / 2017, 02:39:39 »

Quote from: mrhansenable on 08 / January / 2017, 02:23:22

I'm trying to replicate the setup of the link below. Basically it's for macro, using a lens reversal technique and a point-and-shoot.

I've seen that site before - very impressive. From what I can tell, his secret is a combination of a customized macro lens and a really good understanding of lighting. Image stacking is the trivial part - notice that he does not actually change the focus point. According to his description, he just averages many copies of a series of identical images.

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In the article he uses Ultra Intervalometer script. The problem is I don't really understand a lot of those details for the different versions of the scripts...

That script is really old and pretty limited and none of the version does anything suitable for focus stacking. The "Ultra" part of the name is more marketing than substance but lots of people get distracted by it. All it is doing is shooting on a defined interval - there are better ways to do that faster (e.g. Fast Shooter Invervalometer)

« Last Edit: 08 / January / 2017, 02:43:25 by waterwingz »

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

mrhansenable

5

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #6 on: 08 / January / 2017, 14:48:00 »

yeah, I guess you're right. Still though it would be nice to have the option for focus stacking.

I guess one thing I wanted to know was whether this sort of DOF calculation can be done while using this setup (lens reversal), or does it throw it off?

Ideally I would love to be able to pick a focal point, probably the nearest point of the object, then specify how many shots to take and at how many millimeters between each.

I'm also worried that with my setup the depth of field is just too narrow due to the reversed lens, and adjusting DOF on the point and shoot won't give sufficient focus range I'm looking for. Not sure though, I think my undersrtanding of optics is failing me here.

Here's kindof a summary of where I'm at with trying all of the scripts:

- first off, the "built in" DOF option (following this instructions: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/DoF_Stacking) seems to be pretty good except for two things. First, the "subj dist bracket" can only be increased in multiples of 100. On the page it says there should be some kind of multiplier button, but there is not. So this is useless for me. Second, it seems to auto-focus as expected, but it doesn't take the photo after each new refocus. So I have to push the button on each new shot, introducing shaking into the camera ! So close...

- foc_stack.lua (fabri22's script) seems to work ok, but it's a bit annoying to pick the near and far points. Would prefer just the near point (as described above). Also it's hard to pick the near and far points correctly.

-"DOF-based focus stack script NOT based on CHDK DOF calculations" script seems okay too, but it messes up a lot. I set the near and the far points using mm (would prefer to just focus on near point and enter # of shots, instead of estimating the distance to the near point). The problem is that it often just says "minimum distance required 10 000 mm or something crazy.

a few seem like they would be perfect, but just don't work on my camera because it wants me to switch to manual focus mode

- focusrange.bas

- Timefocus.bas

- yaDOFs.bas (yet another depth of field stacker) "25 parse error" ??

keep in mind that I'm taking these scripts directly from the page without modification. Not sure where to change things if I need to.

hopefully we can figure something out! Ideally I could get one of those last scripts to work without needing to switch my camera to manual mode.

Thanks a ton in advance.

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waterwingz

12140

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #7 on: 08 / January / 2017, 14:52:19 »

Quote from: mrhansenable on 08 / January / 2017, 14:48:00

hopefully we can figure something out! Ideally I could get one of those last scripts to work without needing to switch my camera to manual mode.

I'll take a look when I get a few quiet minutes. Some of those scripts were written for early versions of CHDK when the MF/AFL stuff was pretty limited. It's much better now.

Check back in a day or two?

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

waterwingz

12140

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #8 on: 09 / January / 2017, 20:24:27 »

Quote from: mrhansenable on 08 / January / 2017, 14:48:00

- first off, the "built in" DOF option (following this instructions: http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/DoF_Stacking) seems to be pretty good except for two things. First, the "subj dist bracket" can only be increased in multiples of 100. On the page it says there should be some kind of multiplier button, but there is not. So this is useless for me.

That wiki page was written some time ago before the whole "multiplier" concept became unnecessary when using CHDK. To adjust in increments less than 100, simply navigate to the field :

Enhanced Photo Operations -> Bracketing in Continuous Mode -> Subj. Dist. Bracket (mm)

and use the camera's zoom lever to move left or right in the input field. That let's you change the ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands digits.

Don't forget to enable the option - e.g.

Subj.Dist.Bracket (mm) [ * ][ 100]

And yes, the use of the zoom lever to move between input field digits is described in the CHDK manual (amongst other places)

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Second, it seems to auto-focus as expected, but it doesn't take the photo after each new refocus. So I have to push the button on each new shot, introducing shaking into the camera ! So close...

CHDK USB Remote to trigger without touching the camera?

Having said that, I tested this function on my G10 and it works by holding down the shutter button while the camera is set into contiuous mode in the Canon menu - not with seperate shutter button presses. I had to enable MF using the Canon menus though so it's probably not going to work for camera's without native MF capability (unless AFL mode works - see below). Which leads me to think it was not really doing what you expected (i.e. changing the focus) each time you pressed the shutter.

UPDATE : some of the scripts and CHDK Bracketing in Continuous mode might very well work for you if you set the focus and engage the Canon AF Lock function! From the Canon IXUS230hs User Manual - page 96 :

« Last Edit: 09 / January / 2017, 21:09:45 by waterwingz »

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Ported : A1200 SD940 G10 Powershot N G16

mrhansenable

5

Re: Focus Stacking on Elph310HS/Ixus230HS

« Reply #9 on: 17 / January / 2017, 01:55:51 »

thanks so much for the responses. Very helpful! The lock autofocus is great, and made things easier when using the script. I think I may have gotten it working okay, but things act a bit wonky when working through my reverse lens setup. I have to change the DOF adjustments to many thousands of mm to get noticeable depth differences.

Way more important though is the ability to set a timer, or take a series of photos. I saw you mentioned the USB remote, but I was hoping there could be a script or something instead. It seems so simple. To have this DOF refocusing in continuous mode, but also have it auto taking the photos so pushing the button doesn't give it camera shake. Any thoughts?

thanks again!

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