Helicon Focus (mine is the ‘Pro’ version) allows you to stitch together a collection of differentially focused images, taking the sharp zones from each to make an overall sharp composite with seemingly vast depth of field.<\/p>\n
Well, my version (3.79) has just been updated to 4.0.1 and it does a better job on really tough images.<\/p>\n
Here’s the rendering of the 10 images of the silk flower I originally used to show what this magic application can do:<\/p>\n
\nA composite of ten images. 5D, 100mm macro at f\/2.8. Helicon Focus Pro Version 3.79<\/i><\/center><\/p>\n
The flower was both very close to the image plane in the camera and at an acute angle thereto.<\/p>\n
And here is the composite image assembled from the same ten original images using 4.0.1:<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.pindelski.org\/Blog\/SilkFlower2.jpg\")
\nThe composite image assembled with Helicon Focus Pro 4.0.1<\/i><\/center><\/p>\n
The differences are clear – in fact the developer used my images to test the new version after I had submitted them for review.<\/p>\n
Congratulations to Danylo and his team – it was not for nothing that this journal named Helicon Focus the best application of 2008<\/a>. And it was worth the wait!<\/p>\n Anyone using the best in digital gear – full frame or medium format – involved in industrial or close-up photography should have this application on his Mac or PC. That and a sturdy tripod to make sure the camera does not move between exposures. Your clients will love you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Even better When I first wrote about Helicon Focus some five months ago, an improved Mac version was “….2 weeks away” – the developer’s words, not mine. Helicon Focus (mine is the ‘Pro’ version) allows you to stitch together a collection of differentially focused images, taking the sharp zones from each to make an overall … Continue reading Helicon Focus – improved<\/span>