Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Dennis, a popular approach with a PC lens is to use a 24mm in portrait orientation, and use the full range of lateral shift to create a quite and easy panorama. You get a taller image than an ultra wide lens, and a lot less distortion, and more megapixels to play with. With a 14mm lens you get 104 deg horizontal angle of view, and when you put the 24mm pc lens in portrait and make a 3 exposure shot with 35% overlap you get about 95 degrees wide. You can always rotate the camera for one more shot if you need wider.

Digital1022 Loc: Holland, PA

Jules
To answer your original question, I have used both the 12x24 and the 14X24. I used the 12-24 on a D300s, but when I went to full frame I bought a14-24 and I have to tell you, it is great for architectural shooting. However, if no one pointed it out, you are using a DX camera and that will give you a 1.5 crop which essentially makes your wide end on the 12x24 an 18x36 and the 14x24, a 21x36. I know you said that you shoot a lot of high school sports, so the DX is great for that. I use my D500 for wildlife and sports and it produces great images. At some point if your really going to make a go of the Real Estate photography business, I think you have to get a Full Frame camera. Now that Nikon has announced the D850, prices are really starting to drop on the D800 and the D810 as well as older fx models. You can get really good deals on refurbished and used equipment as long as you buy it from reputable places. The attached image is from Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, PA taken with a D800 and the 14x24. It has about a 75% crop done in Lightroom. This is not a real estate image as you shoot, but it does give you an idea of the quality of the image even with significant cropping. There was no meaningful light other than natural light from the windows. Trust me, if it were night you would get lost in this place as the only mechanical lighting is from little light bulbs hanging above exit doors i.e. the image has one. If I had done this with a DX format, even with a 12x14, I would have lost a lot of detail. By the way this was done on a tripod with a 7 bracket shot and then processed in HDR software. Best of luck in your endeavors.

Fonthill Doylestown PA

(Download)

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Nicely done! Great composition and color. >Alan

pendennis

Agreed.

And it's why I like my 90mm f8 Super Angulon with the bag bellows, on my Cambo. I can frame portrait, and use the swings to increase depth.

I worked with a local architect a number of years ago, and he taught me some very nice techniques for gaining depth indoors. I wondered why he used a Bogen 3053 that he could take up to around 9 feet. He could get very nice views above eye level with that monster tripod. I still haul out my Bogen 3036 when I need a bit more height.

Most folks work from eye level, even with a tripod. A lot of distortion goes away with a taller tripod and small step ladder.

I can imagine that your 24mm PC lens and a bit of elevation would make some great images. Thanks for the response.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

You can't seriously believe that more than 1% of the members here would ever use a view camera. DSLR users are not accustomed to that amount of effort and expense. >>>Alan

Winslowe

Surely the number of knowledgeable photographers here must be greater than 1%.

pendennis

The OP wasn't asking whether anyone knew about view cameras, and I do believe that a large number of photographers (not snapshooters) will know what a view camera is, and it's very basic features. He was seeking advice on how to improve his photos.

The subject drifted a bit, and the use of a PC lens came into play. My comments were geared toward the hardware needed to do a downtown job. For some applications a view camera has no peers. Even PC lenses are limited in their movements and bringing perspective distortion under control. Whether the photographer is industrious enough to learn and use all the necessary tools for successful imaging, is another story altogether. Even DSLR users who do photography, will go to a lot of trouble to get a successful image. And, remember, a lot of the processing work that went on in the development of film and darkroom processing, has now transferred to digital editing. People spend a great deal of time during the post-processing phase.

PS - Anyone who's seen an Ansel Adams photograph will know the type of camera he used.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I happen to know a very good realtor. She is a personal friend and she's one of my photographer buddies and she is in both photo clubs I'm in. These are done with wide angle 16mm on a 5D Mark III. This is the equivalent to a 10mm lens on a crop sensor body. I know, because I have both. Yes, you can get some distortion but easily corrected in post, and if you keep your camera parallel with the floor, your lines should be straight.

Also, I see nothing wrong with making the room look larger in the picture. This might attract a buyer and that is whats selling anything is all about. Attracting a buyer always key to sales.

One other technique you can use to really make a room pop if to put the camera very low to the ground and shoot at an upward angle. Yes, this will distort some, but it can make a vaulted or high ceiling room really pop.

PS - this is a current listing of hers.

CHRISTINA71 Loc: Kentucky

Those are Absolutely STUNNING!! 😀
Great shots!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Thank you. They aren't mine, but a good friend of mines images. She is very good at what she does. These are just examples of what can be expected with a wide angle lens for the real estate business.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

When I sold my house, I shot the pics for the RE company. when I look at your pics, the RE company wouldn't take any of those.
Each one where its blown out , would not print well. The shadows wouldnt cut it and the room looks too small.
some hints, shoot late in the day to avoid harsh shadows.
Get a wider lens.
Cant shoot a room correctly? Maybe shoot it thru a door from another room or from outside thru a window.
Bright blue sky and dark green grass comes off best.
patchy lawn fill it in with PS
Trying to shoot a balcony , stand on a chair for better perspective.
sunlight blowing out a window ( see above) shoot HDR image.
Use a tripod.
shoot some rooms from near the floor for better angles ...
clean the room. Remove dirty dishes, make the bed, You may have to empty junk in a room to shoot it to get a better shot.
just some of the things i've learned. Good luck, now go shoot your own house, your friends and neighbors house to get some experience.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

I didn't say knowledgeable. I said likely to use a view camera. Very different. >Alan

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Nicely done! >Alan

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Please learn to use ˝quote reply˝ It is unclear who you are responding to.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Some years ago we were moving to a small town. After our first look at available properties my wife was online looking ... and she found a really nice one ... until I said something like "Oh, that is the one with the tiny living room"; they had used a really wide lens to disguise the house's biggest flaw.