Focus Stacking <> Bracketing

[snerd]

Do these two terms the same thing? I know, I know! I'll Google it shortly. But in the meantime?

 

[Scatterbrained]

Normally when people say "bracketing" they are talking about exposure bracketing, when people talk about stacking they are talking about focus stacking.

 

[snerd]

So they are different animals? I know just a little about "bracketing" 3 shots at different exposures, then combining in post. How does "focus stacking" work? Thanks!

 

[snerd]

Oh!! The answer was in your reply, I see it now! Thanks!!

 

[Scatterbrained]

With macro focus stacking allows you to get a crisp image of something too small to get in one shot; i.e., you're taking a "portrait" of a housefly, no matter how much you stop down you'll still be measuring the DOF in nanometers. Focus stacking is moving the plane of focus with each shot (either by refocusing or sliding the camera on a rail) and then "stacking" the images in post so all of the in focus areas are blended together.

 

[snowbear]

Bracketed images are not necessarily combined; it's a term that came from film. Since you couldn't check a histogram and thumbnail on a view screen, you'd bracket to make sure you got a proper exposure.

 

[480sparky]

No. Bracketing is done in the camera. Stacking is done in post.

 

[Braineack]

I'm with sparky; you can stack (focus or exposure) bracketed photos...

 

[ShaneF]

These might help you out. cant include more the 1 video in a post so i put them in quotes

image stacking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Dz34MMjQ0

Exposure bracketing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDkjssCyKxA

Exposure bracketing and stacking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzQEvmLFXDM

 

[snerd]

Thanks, guys!