Does Helicon Focus compensate for "off-vertical"

Optical microscopes + digital photography
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jemanner

Does Helicon Focus compensate for "off-vertical"

Post by jemanner »

A very satisified Helicon Focus customer, I am considering delving into microphotography. However, the vendor for the stereo microscope under consideration advises to verify that Helicon Focus will compensate for the 7 degrees off vertical images from a stereo dissection microscope:

"Focus stacking can be problematic through a dissecting microscope because, unlike a traditional macro setup, the camera "sees" the subject at a slight angle. Dissecting microscopes allow a 3D image by using distinct optical paths for each eye. These paths are set at a 7 degree angle from vertical. The camera uses one of these paths to view the subject. There are software corrections for this and I believe Helicon Focus is capable of this correction. You just need to be aware that this alignment of images is required."

In view of what is mentioned above, will Helicon Focus Pro compensate for this deviation?
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Stas Yatsenko
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Re: Does Helicon Focus compensate for "off-vertical"

Post by Stas Yatsenko »

Yes, Helicon Focus corrects for shifts, rotation and change of magnification. I am not completely sure but I've heard that some of our users successfully use stereo microscopes for focus stacking.
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Traceologue
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Re: Does Helicon Focus compensate for "off-vertical"

Post by Traceologue »

A stereoscope is far from being perfect for photomacrography but taking into account some parameters can help:
http://www.lenaturaliste.net/forum/view ... f=60&t=545
http://legeophile.free.fr/download/arti ... 071108.pdf
(in French but automatic translators, such as http://webtranslation.paralink.com/, work well).

However, a macro objective directly fixed to a SLR camera gives incomparably sharper images. Common macro objectives reach a magnification of 1x at the sensor plane, life size, written 1:1. With a DX format sensor (15x25 mm) the frame is the same as seen in direct observation with, for example, a Wild MZ6 or Nikon SMZ2B stereoscope at 8X with 10x/21 oculars. With additional macro rings a magnification equivalent to the 16x of the stereoscope is easily reached for small money.
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