AddendumDocument 10 of 21From the GFX 100S II field guide

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GFX 100S II · C5 · Field Checklist

Focus Stacking —
On-Location Checklist

The C5 architecture walkthrough sets the bank. The architecture addendum explains the geometry. This page is the field execution checklist — short, ordered, and intended for in-scene verification before you leave location.

Use this checklist in order: suitability first, then stability, then Focus BKT parameters, then capture and continuity review. Sequence discipline prevents silent failure modes (focus gaps, vibration contamination, or unusable frame progression).

How to use this document

Use this when field conditions require specialist technique or failure-mode handling.

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Master indexSettings overviewLightroom companionC5 walkthrough
I · Suitability Gate

Use stacking only when single-frame f/8 is insufficient

Subject has meaningful depth relief Required
Use stacking when the subject has layered depth (e.g., projecting mouldings, carved details, layered textures) that cannot be rendered sharply edge-to-edge in one frame at your diffraction-safe aperture.
No active motion in the stack zone
Wind-driven foliage, moving shadows, or changing reflections create alignment artifacts. If scene motion is persistent, avoid stacking.
Take one baseline single frame first
Capture a reference frame at the target aperture before stack execution so resolution gain can be validated later in post.
II · Stability Gate

Before Focus BKT, remove all avoidable frame-to-frame drift

Tripod fully settled Critical
Fujifilm bracketing guidance explicitly recommends tripod use for Focus BKT. Confirm all locks are secure before sequence start.
IS MODE = OFF; lens OIS switch verified Critical
Disable stabilization for stack consistency. Fujifilm notes that lens stabilization switch behavior can override menu state.
Shutter strategy selected
Default to mechanical shutter for architectural stacks unless there is a clear reason to choose another mode.
Trigger discipline active (2-second timer or remote)
`SELF-TIMER` option `R2 SEC` is recommended to reduce press-induced camera movement when remote release is not used.
IV · Parameter Gate

Choose AUTO or MANUAL deliberately

Mode Use when Operator action
AUTO Need quick setup and clear near/far limits in the scene Mark nearest and farthest focus limits; camera computes FRAMES and STEP, then verify sequence continuity on playback before committing
MANUAL Need repeatable behavior across multiple similar subjects/distances Set FRAMES / STEP / INTERVAL explicitly; run 4–6 frame test and tune for overlap
Lens context Working distance Suggested manual start Why this start point
GF 20–35 at 20–24mm 0.6–1.5m flat/low-relief details STEP 2–3 · FRAMES 8–12 · INTERVAL 0 Conservative overlap for close architecture surfaces where shallow relief gaps appear quickly if STEP is too large.
GF 20–35 at 35mm 0.8–2m medium relief STEP 3–4 · FRAMES 10–16 · INTERVAL 0 Longer focal length narrows effective DOF per frame; needs either smaller STEP or higher frame count to avoid bands.
GF 45–100 at 45–70mm 1.5–4m detail range STEP 4–6 · FRAMES 8–14 · INTERVAL 0 Balanced start for moderate compression where overlap still matters but sequence length must stay practical.
GF 45–100 at 80–100mm 2–6m compressed detail STEP 6–8 · FRAMES 8–14 · INTERVAL 0 Long-lens scenes can tolerate larger STEP than macro, but verify continuity because under-coverage appears abruptly at transitions.
GF 100-200 at 100–200mm 5m+ remote façade / roofline / distant material detail STEP 7–9 · FRAMES 8–16 · INTERVAL 0 Use only when access or distance makes 100mm too loose. Confirm barrel OIS OFF and check the test stack carefully; compression makes missed focus-plane gaps look abrupt.
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Field rule: external Fuji guidance often suggests larger STEP values for broad landscape depth; for C5 close/flat architectural subjects, start more conservatively and widen STEP only after continuity checks. Overlap safety beats frame-count efficiency.

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Reference anchors: Fujifilm learning guidance confirms macro baseline around FRAMES 50 · STEP 5 · INTERVAL 0; for C5 architecture this checklist deliberately shifts toward lower STEP plus controlled frame counts to protect overlap on flat-plane detail work.

V · Capture Sequence

Execute in fixed order, without skipping

1
Set C5 bank and stability controls
Confirm tripod, `IS MODE OFF`, and trigger method before touching Focus BKT.
2
Enter sBracketing and select ZFOCUS BKT
Verify mode and fields correspond to expected capture plan.
3
Set start focus at deepest required plane
Because focus advances toward infinity, confirm start point and direction visually before firing.
4
Run a short test stack (4–6 frames)
Inspect continuity on playback: each frame should shift focus plane progressively without random blur frames.
5
Run full sequence, then capture one baseline single frame
Keep framing unchanged until reference frame is captured for later comparison.
VI · On-Site QA

Check continuity before leaving location

Focus progression is monotonic across frame sequence
No backward jumps, no duplicated focus plane blocks, no abrupt soft frame unless explained by intended plane shift.
No vibration-corrupted frames
If random blur appears in one or more middle frames, re-shoot before scene changes.
Frame count plausibly covers subject relief
If uncertain, add a second sequence with reduced STEP or increased FRAMES.
VII · Post Ingest Quick Branch

Choose software path by artifact profile

Symptom / intent Start method Follow-up
Need maximum micro-detail extraction Zerene PMax Check for noise/contrast exaggeration; blend with DMap if needed
Need smoother tonal/color continuity Zerene DMap Tune threshold; retouch from PMax where detail is lost
Need quick field-to-edit stack output Helicon Focus Validate edge artifacts and transitions before final export
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Do not trust a single render blindly: compare stacked output to the baseline single frame and inspect high-frequency detail regions at 100% before final approval.

Companion to C5 walkthrough and C5 architecture focus stacking addendum

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