Nikon Z6 Focus Shift Shooting Feature for Focus Stacking Macro

I tried out the "Nikon Focus Shift Shooting" feature on my Nikon Z6 and then focus stacked the resulting images in Photoshop. Focus Shift Shooting is a feature of the Z6, Z7, and D850. I'm sure more Nikon cameras will have this feature in the future but as of the making of this video, those are the cameras with this awesome feature.

[joannevaughn]

This so easy to follow! Thank you!!! I tend to shy away from focus stacking because its so darn much work. I had no idea my Z6 could do it for me! Yay!!!!

[steveroy]

Great instructional video - you kept it brief and to the point and didn't go off on any tangents. I tried this tonight on my Z6 and it worked perfectly. Thank you for your help!

[MichaelShellenberger]

This was pretty helpful! I can’t wait to try when my Z6 arrives this week. PS I love the bud lite light stand. 😂👍🏼

[jameswalsh]

I like the result very much. Excellent Work, Phil! Thanks for sharing,

[jameshoopes]

Ahhhh... the good, old Bud Light light stand. One of my favorite photographic accessories. 😀

[neilmackey]

Nicely done, Phil! I just picked up a Nikon Z5 and this has the same option...process doesn't look any different than with a Z6/Z7, etc.

When you were sorting through the main focus shift shooting (FFS) menu, setting your various parameters, I think you MAY have skipped one option. On my Z5, at least, if you scroll down past "silent shooting", there's an additional option titled "starting storage folder".

I'm assuming that selecting this option allows you to save any images taken in a FSS series in a completely separate folder than the "general" folder where the rest of your images go? Might make it easier to find all those photos in a series that you want to export to a photo editor instead of searching through the general folder for all the FFS photos you want to blend together. I know when I did manual focus stacking in my prior D7500, before I took the first shot, I'd hold one finger out in front of the lens and take a photo to indicate the start of a series and then take one with two fingers to indicate the end of the series.

Keep up the great work...cheers!

[fotojamvisuals]

Good info. Keep posting the experiments. I like the lighting setup. Including the Bud Light light stand.

[amysanderson]

This was extremely helpful, thank you for putting this together! Great job on breaking things down so the regular Joe can understand. Just tried my first attempt with your help and plan on trying a few more. Thanks!

[cactustweeter]

I've always wanted to do this. Thanks for showing your workflow.

[fpeachm]

This is new information for me that I only looked into because Focus-Shift Photography is in the Z6-Z7 user manual. So I have never tried it but I will. Of course this gives me more ideas. I wonder what it would look like to create a GIF or a video of a bunch of focus-stack files. The focus point (I'd expect) would roll from foreground to background. I want to try that too! Great video and thankyou.

[Skill_Issue]

Wow as a professional product photographer this is very helpful!

[robertbohnaker]

Hi Phil. I’m a budget birder with a IPADPRO with no capacity for post processing. Which camera set up gives you the best out of camera images? 😊.

[JoeyStock]

Hi, nice video. For this kind of stacking I am using Helicon focus. You should try it. It merge all photos and very well and for just small ajustment I use masking in photoshop.

[sannojohasshu]

Thanks Phil. I finally understand how it works.

[szabolcsnagy]

Thanks. Can you tell me that the 'Peaking stack image' function why is gray/inactive? How can I activate it? Thank you.

[maze]

Nicely done video. So let me aks this question. All cameras can can focus stack but Nikon says the Z6 does it in camera and the Z5 cant do it at all? When they say in camera, they mean taking the image and automatically moving the focus, as your video shows. The camera will not process the images thought, right?

[AFAndreLeviLuthier]

Dear Phil, could you go over the Multiple Exposure menu on the Z6 ? what's the max number of shoot in multiple exposure in overlay average mode. thank you

[gbye]

Well done. Can you do one from close up to infinity on a landscape shot? How do you know that you have infinity focus in one of the shots?

[sweatbustersairconditionin]

I'm going to play with my Z6 now and shoot some macros (have the 105mm Micro Nikkor f/2.8 lens at hand too!) -- unfortunately, I don't have Bud but do have other beer. It's in glass bottles as well, although they are clear -- will this suit as a light stand or do I need to buy Buds?

Thanks!

[HamiltonSRink]

NIce job Phil!  I'm sure your results would beat mine as my Lumix FZ2500 has a smaller sensor with less mega pixels.  But I have fun doing focus stacking in camera. Auto merging is switchable on and off.  With solid tripod and no subject movement, auto merging may be turned off.  Try both ways.