R7 Focus Stacking forces electronic shutter

[rpoole]

The R7, and other R series cameras, forces electronic shutter for focus stacking. This prevents the use of flash for focus stacking. There is no really good reason for not allowing mechanical shutter for focus stacking and the choice of which shutter should be left up to the photographer, not the camera. Does anyone know of any workarounds that can allow the use of flash with the built-in focus stacking?

[deebatman316]

Actually it does. The R3 has a stacked sensor. So the readout is much faster than Canon’s other cameras. Making it fast enough to replace a mechanical shutter for flash sync. So sensor read out is important. The faster the read out the faster the camera can process those images. Especially with cameras with high fps. 

[Waddizzle]

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@deebatman316 wrote:

Actually it does. The R3 has a stacked sensor. So the readout is much faster than Canon’s other cameras. Making it fast enough to replace a mechanical shutter for flash sync. So sensor read out is important. The faster the read out the faster the camera can process those images. Especially with cameras with high fps. 

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What does any of that have to do with using a flash?  Nothing I can see.

FACT.  The camera bodies can capture 20-40 fps with or without a stacked sensor.  

FACT:  The recharge times of flash/strobe systems cannot keep up with 20-40 fps.

[deebatman316]

It allows you to use the electronic shutter with flash photography. So it is important. That's why other R series cameras don't fire the flash when using the electronic shutter. They don't have the BSI sensor like the R3. So please read up on the info on BSI sensors.

[Canonon]

Hello, R5 owner here with the same problem.

Why are you defending Canon without good reason?

It's just a joke that it is not possible to use the flash with the focus bracketing feature. It has nothing to do with the sensor because you could just fix that by giving a delay setting for the focus-bracketing.

As mentioned. It is a very common (necessary) way of taking macro shots.

No need to learn something about the sensor or buy a video light. Maybe learn something about the disgusting way of Canons marketing. It would be easy to add this in a firmware update.

[deebatman316]

The flash can't recharge fast enough for a regular sensor readout speed.

[Canonon]

Thats why i was talking about a delay (limit fps).

But as metioned before. It's not a problem for a flash at 1/32 if we could set a delay (limit fps) while using the elctronical shutter (with flash) or use the mechanical shutter.

[Waddizzle]

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@Canonon wrote:

Thats why i was talking about a delay (limit fps).

But as metioned before. It's not a problem for a flash at 1/32 if we could set a delay (limit fps) while using the elctronical shutter (with flash) or use the mechanical shutter.

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I am not certain Dimitri understands the basic issue, that being the frame rate is too fast for the flash/strobe to recharge.  Sensor readout speed is an off-topic tangent.  

The basic problem is the Canon menus do not allow you to set an interval time between frames during focus stacking/bracketing.

[deebatman316]

Just as I said the flash or speedlite can't recharge fast enough. Not to mention the flash or speedlite would need to cool off with that many cycles.

[Nemo]

I have never found a workaround on the camera. Instead, I use external software to stack in post. I find this preferable anyway since it allows me to shoot RAW rather than JPEG. I use Helicon, which can be used as a standalone, so with your JPEGs, though I use it as a plugin for Lightroom. I know this isn't necessarily the answer you wanted to hear, but may be the best considering you want to use flash or strobe. Affinity Photo and of course Photoshop will do the same.

[Chunk]

This is a well known issue and why some macro photographers have switched to other cameras. Focus stacking is often used for high magnification macro images. This really matters for several reasons. 1st is that as magnifications increase, so does the effective f-number. Flash is more powerful than small video lights which can be used for macro. Many of ua photograph insects in the field. Video lights are VERY cumbersome compared to small twin flashes, like the Canon twin flash, which is now of no use for focus stacking with my R6 or R7. PLEASE, PLEASE, if at all possible to add a firmware upgrade which allows flash for in camera focus bracketing, get it done. Let the photographer make the decision if constant lights or flash is the beat tool for the job.