How to use Fujifilm’s Focus Stacking Mode

Discover how to make images that are sharp from foreground to background

Tutorial
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What you'll learn

  • How to create images that are sharp throughout
  • How to set the X-Pro3 to shift the focus

What you'll need

  • Fujifilm X-Pro3
  • Adobe Photoshop or other software

Focusing stacking is a technique that’s often used by macro and landscape photographers to create images that are sharp from the foreground to the background. There are two stages to this process, the first is to capture a series of images, each with a different focus point, while the second is merging the images to create one shot that has more depth of field than any of the individual images.

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 debuts a few focus stacking feature that we’re anticipating will be rolled out to other Fuji cameras like the X-T3 and X-T30, but that has yet to be confirmed. This feature, which is found under the Focus Bracketing Settings in the menu, automates the first step in the focus stacking process by capturing a series of images with different focus points.

The clever part of Fuji’s system is that the X-Pro3 automatically calculates the shift in focus that’s required how many images are needed to get the depth of field you want. It does this by looking at the lens focal length, selected aperture and the requested sharpness range.

Fujifilm doesn’t supply any image-merging software with the X-Pro3 but you can stack the images in Adobe Photoshop to create a single image.

It’s not immediately obvious how to use the Focus Bracketing Settings to create a focus stacking series, so we’ll explain what to do here.

Pre-order the X-Pro3 black version from B&H Photo Video in the US or Park Cameras in the UK. Pre-order the Duratect finish versions from B&H Photo Video or from Park Cameras.

How to use Fujifilm X-Pro3 Focus Stacking Mode

You can do this in manual focusing mode, but it’s easiest to use the screen to set the focus point. To do this you need to ensure that Touch Screen Setting in page 2 of the Button/Dial Settings of the Set-up menu is set to ‘On’. Then, on the screen tap the icon in the top right corner until it shows that Touch AF is activated. Now, you’re ready to set-up the bracketing settings as follows:

1. Press the Drive mode button and navigate down to Bracket (BKT)

2. Scroll across to Focus BKT

3. Press OK/Menu to confirm, then press it again to open the menu

4. Scroll to the second page of the Shooting Settings section (camera icon) of the menu.

How to use Fujifilm's Focus Stacking Mode
5. Select Focus BKT Setting and press OK or navigate right


6. Select Auto and press OK or navigate right

How to use Fujifilm's Focus Stacking Mode
7. Set the interval to 0s (seconds)

8. Press OK


9. Tap on the screen where you want the closest point of focus (Point A) to be (or focus on the point manually) and then press OK

How to use Fujifilm's Focus Stacking Mode
10. Tap on the screen where you want the furthest point of focus to be (point B)and then press the shutter release. The camera will now take series of images in quick succession. The screen shows how many images it will capture and which number image it’s shooting.

11. Download the images to your computer to merge them using your preferred software.

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