Helicon focus example

This image was assembled using Helicon Focus using twelve (12) focus-bracketed frames. There are some artifacts, but the depth of field is truly amazing; remember this is a 280mm lens at close range, and at f/5.6!

DAP subscribers can download a 5.5MB full-resolution high quality JPEG by clicking on the image below (saved as quality 70 via Save For Web in Photoshop CS4).

Image was not sharpened after the merge in Helicon Focus. In Photoshop, try Smart Sharpen {50, 0.3, Lens Blur} in Lab mode on the L channel. Please note that the full-res image is in Wide Gamut RGB; open it in Photoshop or a color-aware browser.

Canon 5D Mark II + Leica 280/4 APO @ f/5.6, 12 frames in Helicon Focus

The streaking noise in the shadowed wheel shows just how crappy the Canon 5D Mark II (more) is at controlling read noise in dark areas (ISO 100). But convert to sRGB color space and that all gets pinned to black, which is probably why many users think the 5D Mark II is just peachy for noise. I like the 5D Mark II, I just wish it wasn’t so “dirty” in the dark areas. To be fair, the 5D Mark II is 1/3 the price of the amazing Nikon D3x, so I suppose one cannot expect perfection. Why didn’t I shoot this on the D3x? Because the Leica 280 can’t be used on the D3x, at least not until I convert it somehow.