Ultra macro! Butterfly wing!

[AndyS]

Goatleaf leafwing butterfly. About 20x life size. Actual dimension is less than 3mm wide.

Not happy with it yet, I had to run it through sharpening software because it appeared to be shot in soft focus. I'm using the Olympus in-camera focus stacking, 15 frames at a focus differential of 2 (scale 1-10). OMD EM1 mkii, 60 mm 2.8 macro with 56 mm extension tubes and using electronic 2x extender at f 5.6 & 1/60 sec.

I think the softness is a combination of depth of field and too many frames. If the frames on the extreme ends of the stack are waaaaayyy out of focus I believe it creates a halo effect. It will take more experimentation with number of frames vs f number.

Another issue is that the Oly stacks frames by refocusing the lens which changes the image magnification from frame to frame. The other method is to use a motorized focus rail that moves the camera/lens closer to the subject in fractions of a millimeter per frame which maintains image magnification. The later seems to be the method of choice for the super macro facebook group. If I turn the internal stacking off I can shoot up to 999 frames but I have to use focus stacking software in post and it must re-size the images to compensate for the magnification differential.

I'm trying several opensource applications and haven't found a satisfactory solution. Photoshop will do it but Paintshop won't in the current version. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Note: The butterfly was deceased when I found it on one of my walks.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Well, maybe you're not happy with it, but by gawd, I AM.

I just don't see any defects here. My eye isn't educated enough to do that, but who cares?

Super photo, dear Andy!

[Diamond_Dog]

2. WOW.

It almost looks like fur!

INCREDIBLE photo!

[pandr32]

3. It looks like tiny feathers

I never thought of their wings as having nap.

[NQAS]

4. Well, you answered my first question

How did you get the butterfly to sit still long enough.

Regardless, that's one hell of a photo, and I wouldn't know how to make the changes you mention that would make it better. I can't wait to see it when you do.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

5. Amazing photo Andy.

Thanks for all the technical info. I wish I knew more about focus stacking.

[Gato Moteado]

6. beautiful image!

[HAB911]

7. WOW! I feel your pain

striving for that final perfect result where it all comes together!