Panasonic Cameras With Focus Stacking: Top Models To Consider

Panasonic was one of the first manufacturers to introduce a built-in focus stacking mode in its cameras. The feature, an extension of its 4K Photo and Post Focus modes, works by shooting a brief 4K video of a scene, during which the camera shifts the focal position from the closest object to the one furthest away in the frame. The camera then merges the sharp areas from the frames in this video to create a final image with a wide depth of field. The current Lumix G models offer an in-camera focus stacking mode that is easy to use and avoids the need for post-capture software.

The Panasonic G90, G95 and G91 are DSLRs with focus stacking

The Panasonic Lumix G90, G95, and G91 are DSLRs with focus stacking capabilities. Focus stacking is a valuable technique for photographers who want to capture fine details, especially in macro and landscape photography. It involves taking multiple shots at different focus points and merging them into a single image, resulting in enhanced depth of field and clarity.

The Lumix G90 and G95 are part of Panasonic's G-series, offering advanced features such as 4K photo and drive settings. The G91, the successor to the G81, features a new MFT sensor with a higher resolution of 20 megapixels. All three models support focus stacking, allowing users to capture a series of images with different focus points and merge them into a single composite image.

The Lumix G90 and G95 offer a "Range Merging" feature, which merges pictures with specified focus areas into a single image. Users can select the desired focus areas on the screen, with a minimum of two areas required. The camera then automatically selects pictures that are suitable for merging, giving priority to images with closer focus.

The Lumix G91 also offers focus stacking capabilities, providing a robust and versatile option for photographers. It features a 20-megapixel MFT sensor, delivering brilliant and sharp images, even in low-light conditions. Additionally, it offers a dual image stabilization system and a 4K video mode without any time limitations, making it a compelling choice for both photographers and videographers.

The Lumix G90, G95, and G91 provide a range of features and capabilities that make them well-suited for focus stacking photography. With their advanced sensors, focus bracketing options, and image merging techniques, these cameras enable users to capture stunning images with enhanced depth of field and exceptional clarity.

The Panasonic GX9 is a premium street photography camera with focus stacking

One of the standout features of the GX9 is its focus stacking capability, which is an extension of Panasonic's 4K Photo and Post Focus modes. This feature allows the camera to capture a brief 4K video of the scene, during which it shifts the focal position from the closest object to the furthest away. The camera then merges the sharp areas from the frames to create a final image with a wide depth of field.

In addition to focus stacking, the GX9 offers other focus-related features such as Post Focus mode, which allows users to select a still image from a 4K sequence with shifting focus. The camera also has a Custom Multi AF mode, allowing users to quickly select focus blocks via the touch-enabled LCD screen.

The GX9 provides a versatile set of features that make it a great choice for street and travel photography. Its compact size, robust controls, and focus stacking capabilities make it a powerful tool for capturing vibrant, true-to-life images with high resolution and contrast.

The Panasonic GH5 is a hybrid stills/video camera with focus stacking

The GH5 has a 5-axis dual image stabilisation feature, which corrects all lenses, including classic lenses not equipped with O.I.S, to eliminate blur and nearly eliminate body and lens shake in both photo and 4K video recording. It has a durable magnesium alloy body that is freeze-proof to 10 degrees, as well as splash and dust-proof construction with weather sealing on every joint, dial and button. The GH5 has twin SD card slots, which are UHS II U3 compatible, and a 3.5mm audio port, as well as USB 3.0 and a full-size HDMI port.

The GH5 has a high frame rate capability, offering 6K photo mode at 30fps and 4K photo mode at 60fps, freezing faster motion than conventional DSLRs. It also has 1080p slow-motion video at 180fps. The GH5 has Panasonic's Focus Stacking feature, which shoots a brief 4K video of your scene, shifting the focal position from the closest object to the furthest away, and then merges the sharp areas from the frames to create a final image with a wide depth of field.

The Panasonic GX800/GX850 is an entry-level camera with focus stacking

The GX800/GX850 has a fast autofocus system, but a relatively long shutter release delay. It lacks a built-in viewfinder and a flash shoe, and its flash is inefficient. The camera uses a micro-USB interface for charging and data transfer, and it supports memory cards in the Micro SD format. The GX800/GX850 is an affordable and compact option for photographers, offering a good balance of features and performance.

Focus stacking is a valuable technique in photography, particularly in macro and landscape genres. It involves capturing multiple shots at different focus points and combining them into a single image, resulting in enhanced depth of field and overall image sharpness. While some cameras have built-in focus stacking capabilities, others require external software to merge the images.

Panasonic was one of the first manufacturers to introduce a built-in focus stacking mode in its cameras. Their implementation utilizes a brief 4K video capture, during which the camera shifts the focal position to capture a range of focus points. The individual frames with sharp areas are then merged to create a final image with a wide depth of field. This process simplifies the traditional focus stacking workflow, which required photographers to manually capture multiple images and then blend them using photo editing software.

In addition to focus stacking, the Panasonic GX800/GX850 offers other features such as a tilting touchscreen LCD screen, intelligent auto shooting modes, and various creative effects. It is a versatile camera suitable for beginners as well as more ambitious photographers who seek a compact and capable system.

The Panasonic G80/G85 and G7 are older models with focus stacking

Panasonic was one of the first manufacturers to introduce a built-in focus stacking mode in its cameras. This feature is an extension of its 4K Photo and Post Focus modes. The focus stacking function works by shooting a series of images at different focus distances, which are then combined in-camera to create a single image with a wider depth of field.

The Panasonic G80/G85 and G7 are older models that offer this focus stacking feature. They also provide 4K Photo functionality, which allows users to extract still frames from a short burst of 4K video. Additionally, these cameras employ Panasonic's Post Focus feature, allowing users to select a specific frame from the 4K video burst. While these models may seem dated compared to newer offerings, they still provide a solid range of features for photographers and videographers.

The G80/G85 and G7 share the same 16-megapixel sensor, but the G80/G85 omits the anti-aliasing filter, resulting in slightly sharper images. The G80/G85 also introduced Panasonic's 5-Axis Image Stabilisation, significantly improving handheld shooting capabilities. When combined with the dual IS of compatible lenses, this stabilisation feature can capture exceptionally sharp images in challenging situations.

While the G7 does not offer 5-Axis stabilisation, it still provides a robust set of specifications for capturing photos and videos. Both models are excellent options for those seeking a balance of performance and affordability, especially if you're just starting in photography and want to experiment with focus stacking.

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