Hi Magnus,
Photo's look good and on my dedicated monitor the second photo looks much better due to the DOF, ALTHOUGH you'd have to be being overcritical to see anything wrong with the first image.
CS6 obviously does a good job as you say. I downloaded Helicon Focus to stack photo's of naturals last year but (unless I was doing something way stoopid) the results were poor. I did have the usual tripod, remote release, etc. etc. same settings just refocusing as I dissected it...........but it wasn't working, I'm not sure if the manipulation process created artifacts or what the problem was. I might revisit it if I get a minute to myself.
If I recall I took about 5 shots on a beast that was??? guess 15mm toe to toe wide??
How many shots did you take? Trial and error or is there a guide?
As the hook eye and point, for example, (as many believe) have to remain in focus then how do you feel the overall picture reflects the pin sharp focus you would have achieved in each individual shot?
CS6? one day maybe.
What do you think of a black/ dark background in general for showcasing flies?
Iain