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?

[Chunk]

He answered you. You just didnt realize it because you are talking about something you clearly dont understand. I have both the R7 and R6 and its a legitimate problem for macro photographers who want to use the stacking function to have a camera that is crippled to not allow flash. The wind he mentioned matters because the flash burst effectively becomes the shutter speed. High magnification shots also magnify motion, and thus issues with motion blur. Using constant lighting is a major issue if you handhold stack live specimens - Especially if it is at all windy. You made several comments above which are very frustrating because you are talking about something you have introductory technical inderstanding of and clearly no practical understanding from experience with. 

[Chunk]

Flashes actually can and do. Look up the photgas that worked on project Maritus. The guys were shooting a 5dmkIV and made stacks up to around 50 frames by bursting and leaning in (to move the camera forward for the focus plane moving instead of the lens focusing) towards the subject. This is done by using external power sources for the flashes. 

However, even if the flash keeping up was an issue, this could and probably should be solved by allowing control over the interval time. The do it for time lapses so Im sure it can be done for focus bracketing. Other cameras allow flash with focus bracketing and users of those cameras rave about how much they love them because of it.

[Chunk]

You're wrong. People have been bursting for stacks for years by using external power sources. Plus other cameras allow flash with their in camera bracketing and people use it. 

[Chunk]

You can bracket and save the raw files. Sadly you cant do it with flash so the IQ will be blurry, grainy messes for many use cases...and shooting raw can only help so much. 

[DWS1]

It seems that only the Canon R3 with EL-1 flash is capable of focus bracketing with flash. 

I was confused by this Canon document ( (https://cam.start.canon/en/H001/supplement_0010.html) which lists several compatible camera models (R3, R7, R8, R10, R6ii & R50) only to exclude them in the footnotes! 
(1: This feature is supported exclusively on the EOS R3 with firmware ver. 1.2.0 or later. 
2: Feature not supported on the EOS R7, EOS R8, EOS R10, EOS R6 Mark II, or EOS R50.).

I wonder if the compatibility will increase in subsequent models? if it cant be fixed in firmware? It might not matter to Canon but macro photographers are switching to Olympus OM-Systems and other manufacturers because of this issue. I have heard of several on You tube. Macro photographers WANT flash bracketing with flash! 

[Marceppy]

There is a integrated timer function that works with brackets, why this cannot be setup to work with flash/focus stacking I don’t understand.  If it were, the timer could be set to allow flash recharge.  Canon are you listening?

Another thing too, shutter only engages when in focus.  An option is needed to allow shutter release when not in focus.

[pwiles1968]

I will just leave this here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLpKPzsFjc

[flashfast]

Terrible solution. That's old way to do flash focus stacking.

[flashfast]

It's hilarious that a company like Canon cannot figure out how to implement this function.  Pretty much every other brand has it.  (OM systems and Older Olympus Mirrorless), Nikon, Sony, Fuji.  Hek I think even Pansasonic does it now.  Canon is the only one that doesn't.  I'm not going to buy a new camera and have to focus stack the slow old fashion way.  It's ridiculous.  I do love the R5 and R6's focusing but not having this feature is a big deal breaker for both Product and Macro photographers.  Please figure it out Canon.

[Marceppy]

There are a few replies that suggest flash is not important for stacking and they just don’t seem to get it.  So let me repost my earlier reply and more.

There is an integrated timer function that works with brackets, why this cannot be setup to work with flash/focus stacking I don’t understand.  If it were, the timer could be set to allow flash recharge.  Canon are you listening?  I have Canon flashes, why do I have to buy off brand lighting to use Canon R7 bodies?

Another thing too, shutter only engages when in focus.  An option is needed to allow shutter release when not in focus.  This is important so the stacking programs can engage at the correct focus point. So now I have to depress shutter release half way, holding the button, while shifting the focus manually. For in-camera focusing we need an option in firmware that allows out of focus shutter release.

Both these issues have been reported to CPS & Canon survey questionnaires.