# FocusStacker > Calculates optimal settings for focus stacking photography. (iPhone/iPad app by George Douvos.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusstacker/id648686483 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [George Douvos](https://appshunter.io/developer/395931674) - Category: Photo & Video, Utilities - Price: $9.99 - Rating: 3.80/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 2 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2013-05-29 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusstacker/id648686483/reviews.md ## What is FocusStacker? Focus stacking is a technique in which you take multiple shots of the same scene—each shot focused at a different distance—and then combine them in focus stacking software to create a sharp image over much greater depth than would be possible with a single shot. The software for stacking photos is simple and easy to use. But what about the process of taking the shots? How many shots should you take? On what distances should you focus? And what is the best aperture to use? This is where FocusStacker comes in, making guesswork a thing of the past. For the particular image sharpness standard that you specify, FocusStacker determines exactly what you need to know: the minimum number of shots to take, the distances to focus on, and the aperture to use. FocusStacker is designed for use in landscape and architectural photography. In its speed, elegance and accuracy, it fits the needs of professional photographers, who’ll be happy to know that at its heart lies the sophisticated optimization algorithm originally developed for the OptimumCS-Pro app, adapted here to the taking of multiple shots. Yet it’s so easy to use that anyone can have a go at focus stacking. Note: 1) FocusStacker is NOT designed for and is NOT suitable for close-up or macro photography. 2) For quality focus stacking software, try Zerene Stacker, http://zerenesystems.com/stacker/ 3) You’ll need a camera that enables you to manually adjust focus and aperture, and a way to measure distance (e.g. a distance scale on a lens, or a camera that reads out focus distance, or a laser rangefinder, etc). And you’ll need a tripod. 4) FocusStacker is a calculating tool—it does not access or use the iPhone's or iPad's built-in camera. 5) Please be aware that focus stacking is best suited to static subjects. 6) Additional information is available at www.georgedouvos.com ## Key features - Calculates minimum shots needed - Determines focus distances - Recommends aperture settings - Designed for landscape photography - Suitable for architectural photography - Sophisticated optimization algorithm ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focusstacker/id648686483/reviews.md ### 1/5 — I needed for close up! *2025-08-16* Not happy ! Please reimburse me I will not use this up Thanks ### 5/5 — Excellent, Smart Calculator *2025-01-22* This is an excellent interactive visual calculator for optimizing focus distances and aperture when focus stacking. It may be more optimized than necessary in many field situations, but if you need the best guidance and have the time to apply it, you will be pleased. ### 1/5 — Nothing but a chart. *2021-08-30* This is just and interacive chart. It does NOTHING! I paid $9.99 for a chart. Save your money. ### 2/5 — Be Careful: READ THE DETAIL *2020-06-23, version 4.1* Hidden in the deep text. This app is a visual spreadsheet, not a cool app that actually uses you mobile to create great pictures. Do some research, make your own spreadsheet and forget about this app. It will take you a week or more before you'll actually know if this app is any good. Select setting, make notes, setup camera manually, take shots, export data, buy stacking software, import data, fiddle about learning new software..... get a result... hmm was it worth it? ### 5/5 — A Must Have App for the Serious Photographer *2016-01-02* How sharp do you want your final focused-stacked image to be? Let this app know and it will tell you what to do. It delivers perfect results every time. Without this tool, you are merely guessing on the decisions you need to make. How many shots? Where are the shots focused? What f/stop? Yes, photography is an art, but this part of it is a science. So if you want to get the very best results from your camera and lens, do yourself a favor and get this app. ### 5/5 — snr *2014-12-04, version 2.0* Hi, found it to be a very useful app in landscape photography and for those who complain that it should state that it is for landscapes, it is in the description!. ### 1/5 — I don't understand why the app doesn't let me choose my f-stop *2014-08-23* There's some weird blur diameter slider and the app chooses your f-stop for you. This is counter intuitive. I want to choose my f-stop and have the app tell me number of steps and distance between. ### 1/5 — It should be called Landscape stacker... *2014-05-21* Too bad I discovered only after paying that is useless for macro.... And even for landscape the fact that you can not select the f stop you want to use also is a big problem, what if you want to use a 10 stops ND and use a specific f-stop? Or if you know that the sweet spot of your lens is different than the one suggested by the software? Also it will only work up to 10 stacks... ### 1/5 — Macro photography enthusiast *2014-03-09* The instructions for this app tell you it's designed for landscape photography, and is "emphatically not" for macro photography. It stinks that you can only discover this *after* you've paid for it. It's definitely useless for macro photography - it doesn't attempt to convey useful distance information at close range. Developer should have included warning for macro enthusiasts in software overview. ### 5/5 — Amazing tool for depth of field *2013-06-27* From foreground macro to the distant horizon - crisp as! ## Frequently asked questions about FocusStacker ### What is FocusStacker used for? FocusStacker is a calculating tool that helps photographers determine the optimal settings for focus stacking. It tells you the minimum number of shots, focus distances, and aperture to use for sharp images, particularly in landscape and architectural photography. ### How much does FocusStacker cost? FocusStacker is a paid application, priced at $9.99. It is a one-time purchase and does not involve any subscriptions or in-app purchases. ### What devices does FocusStacker support? FocusStacker is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. It was released on May 29, 2013, and its latest version is 4.1, last updated on September 23, 2018. ### Is FocusStacker suitable for macro photography? No, FocusStacker is explicitly NOT designed for or suitable for close-up or macro photography. It is intended for landscape and architectural photography. ### Does FocusStacker take photos? No, FocusStacker is a calculating tool and does not access or use the iPhone's or iPad's built-in camera. You will need a separate camera that allows manual focus and aperture adjustments. ### What are the requirements for using FocusStacker? To use FocusStacker effectively, you need a camera that allows manual focus and aperture adjustments, a method to measure distance (like a lens scale or rangefinder), and a tripod. The subjects should also be static for best results. ### What is the user rating for FocusStacker? FocusStacker has a user rating of 3.8 stars based on 5 ratings. The age rating for the app is 4+. ### Does FocusStacker have ads? No, FocusStacker does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an ad-free experience for its users. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 4.1 — 2018-09-23 This is a wee update to bring support for iOS 12 and the various new iPhone X models. Don't forget all the Version 4.0 updates: * The interface gets a cleaner look. Simply slide the pointers on the distance scale or the blur diameter scale to set inputs (the old slider “thumbs” are now gone). Note that you do not need to keep your finger on a pointer as you slide it — you can move your finger to the side as you slide, all the better to see where the pointer is pointing. The pointers themselves also display digital readouts. A warning is now displayed if your inputs are such that an excessively large number of shots would need to be taken (“excessively large” is defined in this app as >10). Enjoy! ### 4.0 — 2018-09-11 The interface gets a cleaner look. Simply slide the pointers on the distance scale to set distances (the old slider “thumbs” are now gone). Note that you do not need to keep your finger on a pointer as you slide it — you can move your finger to the side, all the better to see where the pointer is pointing. The pointers themselves also display numerical readouts of distance. The slider for selecting blur size gets a similar treatment, including a numerical readout of image blur. A warning is now displayed if your inputs are such that an excessively large number of shots would need to be taken (“excessively large” is defined in this app as >10). There are all manner of minor changes, including a more punchy colour scheme. ### 3.2 — 2017-11-02 Support for iPhone X ### 3.1 — 2017-01-31 A more pleasant colour scheme, plus several small interface tweaks. Of course, all the new features of the last major upgrade are still there: • The slider for setting how sharp you want your image to be is now on the main screen. • Assistance is provided in setting reasonable upper and lower limits for image blur. • A visual indicator of these limits is shown on the main screen. • Distance units are changed directly on the main screen by tapping the m / ft button. • Three different distance scales are provided. • Labels can be hidden, for a cleaner interface. • Several info (help) buttons have been added. And there are lots of other, smaller improvements. Oh, and there's a new icon, and the file size is much smaller. Enjoy! ### 3.0 — 2016-08-23 Completely rewritten, with a cleaner, more up-to-date look, and a more interactive feel. A few notable improvements: • The slider for setting how sharp you want your image to be is now on the main screen. • Assistance is provided in setting reasonable upper and lower limits for image blur. • A visual indicator of these limits is shown on the main screen. • Distance units are changed directly on the main screen by tapping the m / ft button. • Three different distance scales are provided. • Labels can be hidden, for a cleaner interface. • Several info (help) buttons have been added. And there are lots of other, smaller improvements. Oh, and there's a new icon, and the file size is much smaller. Enjoy! ## Apps similar to FocusStacker | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Kino - Pro Video Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kino-pro-video-camera/id6472380172) | 4.7 (1,827) | $9.99 | Photo & Video | | [Helicon Remote](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helicon-remote/id957334044) | 2.4 (36) | Free | Photo & Video | | [Even Longer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/even-longer/id1546911907) | 4.2 (177) | $3.99 | Photo & Video | | [Photon Camera](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photon-camera/id1439310090) | 3.9 (48) | Free | Photo & Video | | [Pro Camera - Reeflex](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-camera-reeflex/id1550960155) | 4.4 (978) | Free | Photo & Video | | [CameraPixels PRO](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/camerapixels-pro/id1148178499) | 4.2 (142) | $7.99 | Photo & Video | ## More apps by George Douvos - [OptimumCS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimumcs/id395931671) - [OptimumCS-Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimumcs-pro/id437724859) - [TrueDoF-Pro DoF Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/truedof-pro-dof-calculator/id517481814) - [TrueDoF-Intro DoF Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/truedof-intro-dof-calculator/id519600295) All apps by George Douvos: https://appshunter.io/developer/395931674 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*