Nikon

Notes on Pixel Shift

Pixel shift is a technique that takes multiple pictures of the same subject while gradually changing in-camera settings and merges them into an image. Therefore, if some changes occur with the subject during pixel shift shooting, the pictures cannot be successfully merged. It is recommended to use pixel shift only when shooting a completely static subject with the camera fixed on a tripod or similar device.

Conditions Unsuitable for Pixel Shift Merge

The desired merge results may not be generated if any of the following conditions occur during pixel shift shooting:

  • When the subject moves: Moving subjects (people, animals, etc.) are not suitable for pixel shift merge.

    • Even if shooting a completely static subject such as a building, if there is something moving within the angle of view, the merge of that area may not work.
    • The desired merge result may not be generated if the subject looks like it is moving due to atmospheric fluctuations (heat haze, mirages, etc.) when shooting landscapes.

  • When the camera moves: Be sure to fix the camera on a tripod or similar device. Even when the camera is fixed on a tripod, it may be shaken by wind or vibrations caused by people or cars passing by.

  • When the brightness of the subject changes: Changes in the brightness of the subject due to changes in weather conditions, sunrise and sunset, flickering lighting, etc. will affect the merge result.

Shooting Time

It is difficult to control external factors such as light, atmosphere, and ground during shooting. The longer the shooting time, the more susceptible the camera is to external factors, so it is recommended to set the camera to complete shooting in as short a time as possible.

Raise the ISO Sensitivity to Shorten the Shooting Time

Even if the ISO sensitivity is set to a low value, a high-resolution image may not be available due to external factors depending on the shooting time. In these cases, it is recommended to raise the ISO sensitivity and shorten the shooting time. For example, when shooting with 32 pictures, better results are expected by shooting at ISO 500 and a shutter speed of 4 seconds than at ISO 64 and a shutter speed of 30 seconds.