jsimp3 Loc: Tennessee

Greetings all,

I have considered purchasing a tilt shift lens for architecture, and skyline shoots. I haven't done because I wasn't sure of it's uses outside of architecture, and pano's. I primarily enjoy nature/wildlife, macro, and cityscapes. Wondering any of you use the tilt shift in your areas of photography... and your thoughts on the lens? It seems to be a specialty lens.

Thanks in advance

Bob Boner

I have 3 of the tilt-shift lenses. My main use of them is to tilt to get landscapes in reasonable focus when most of the foreground is reasonably flat. For panos I general rotate the camera, but sometimes use the shift (up/down) so the camera is level when doing the pano.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Tilt shift lenses can serve a number of purposes...

It sounds as if you're aware of their use to "correct" perspective with architecture, counteracting "keystoning", for example.

You also can use them for multi-shot panoramas... first taking a shot shifted to one side, then to the other, then combining the two. There isn't a whole lot of movement in most T-S lenses, so this use may be somewhat limited.

Another use of the shift is to "dodge" reflections in shiny objects (mirrors, glass, chrome, etc.)... to keep from making a "self-portrait", for example.

The tilt can be used to increase OR decrease depth of field... the latter is often used to give a "miniature" effect to images.

And the tilt can be used to modify the plane of focus in ways that are impossible with a standard lens.

Typically it's the wide to normal lenses that are used for architecture and many of the other effects mentioned above. For example, Canon offers 17mm, 24mm and 45mm T-S lenses (the last is soon being replaced with a new 50mm model).

For macro and close-up work, a short telephoto T-S lens can be used. For example, Canon has long been offering a 90mm and is introducing a new TS-E 135mm soon. With APS-C crop sensor cameras, I've often used the 45mm for close-up work, too. That lens' minimum focus distance is fine for small products, but extension tubes may be needed for higher magnification. The same is true of the original 90mm, which might be wanted for similar work with a full frame camera. The new Canon TS-E 50mm, 90mm and 135mm - due in stores around December 1 - all are also now labelled Macro and are closer focusing than the older lenses, able to do 1:2 magnification on their own (half life size).

Canon's 24mm II was introduced several years ago, an upgrade to the original version of that lens that had been offered since the 1990s. At the same time the even wider 17mm was introduced too. Those two lenses and the three new models coming soon all have dual rotational controls. This allows you to orient the tilt and shift movements as needed, as well as set them up either in or out of phase with each other. The original 24mm, 45mm and 90mm (not labelled macro) all have a single rotational control that serves similar purpose to allow you to orient the tilt or shift movement as needed. However, those older lenses come set up with the tilt and shift movements 90 degrees out of phase with each other, so they may be less versatile. However, it's is possible to disassemble the lens and align the movements with each other (best done at the factory repair facility, so the lens can be checked will a collimeter and calibrated, if needed).

All of Canon's TS-E lenses are manual focus only, but all have the usual electronic control of their apertures via the camera body. I think this is true of most other brand tilt shift (also sometimes called "perspective control" or "PC") too, that most or all of them are also manual focus. Some of the third party tilt shift lenses might also use a fully manual aperture.

Most tilt shift lenses are built like "bricks".... lots of metal and glass! They also are often rather pricey. And, yes, they're typically considered to be fairly specialized lenses. Because of these factors, frequently pros and advanced amateurs buy them, use them for a specific project, then sell them off. So there tend to be a lot of them on the used market. Unless it's a newly introduced model, it's often a good idea to shop around for some possible savings.

You didn't mention what system you're working with.... Canon makes four TS-E lenses currently (17mm, 24mm, 45mm, 90mm) but that will soon be expanding to five (17mm, 24mm, 50mm Macro, 90mm Macro, 135mm macro). Nikon makes four PC lenses currently: 19mm, 24mm, 45mm and 85mm Micro. Schneider makes PC-TS 28mm, 50mm and 120mm for various mounts and formats. Samyang/Rokinon offer a 24mm Tilt-Shift (manual aperture, I think) lens in several mounts. Laowa Optics is offering a 15mm Macro lens that also has a shift feature (but no tilt), in Canon, Nikon and Sony mount. There also have been a number of TS and PC lenses made for medium format cameras over the years, some of which can be adapted for use on modern DSLRs pretty easily. And there are some "tilt" adapters available for systems, mostly for use with mirrorless cameras and adapted, vintage lenses I think.

Finally, the movements of T-S lenses for use on various formats of digital and roll film camera are somewhat limited compared to the movements possible with the sheet film camera movements they emulate. Large format "view" cameras commonly have a lot more range of movement, as well as additional types of movements. "Studio" cameras have the greatest range of movements, while "field" cameras are often limited, but still have greater range. So-called "press" sheet film cameras typically have the least amount of movements. With the field and especially studio sheet film cameras, tilt and shift movements are often available both at the lens plane and at the film plane... plus there are rise and fall (or rise and drop), and swings.... and complex combinations of the various movements.

More info about T-S and PC lenses can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilt%E2%80%93shift_photography#Perspective_control_lenses

And here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/buying-guide/perspective-control-and-tilt-shift-lenses

More info about large format sheet film camera movements can be found here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/Product_Resources/largeformat2.jsp

Check this out to see just how extreme movements can be with larger format, sheet film cameras! http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/camera%20movements.html

repleo Loc: Boston

I just recently got a Fotodiox shift adapter (no tilt) to adapt my legacy Olympus OM lenses to my Sony A7Rii. I expect to use it for perspective control and keystone correction in architectural detail / cityscape type shots. At $100 it seemed like a small investment compared to the price of a tilt shift lens, especially since there are no native Sony t/s lenses yet. I am just getting used to it. It's not as easy as it sounds. I am finding that when I get the verticals straight, I have to deal with some barrel distortion in the horizontals. I'm sure the IQ will never match a dedicated t/s lens, but good enough for experimenting.

jsimp3 Loc: Tennessee

Thanks so much for the valuable information and links. With the exception of the Fuji XT2 mirrorless, I shoot with Nikon bodies. I've have replaced my D810 as my go to landscape, city scape body with D850 which I've had for about 4 weeks now. I've been enjoying the D500 for both action, and nature since it hit the shelves. I had been shooting action with a D4s, but shooting more action with the 500 lately... can't imagine using the tilt on the D4s body.

In my search for info on the tilt I watched Matt Granger's youtube video using the Samyang 24mm tilt on a shoot in Mogolia, the Samyang version is 1/3 of the cost of the Nikon 24mm version. Curious to know if anyone has used the Samyang body?

repleo Loc: Boston

Thanks for the info on the Samyang which is available in a Sony e-mount. I wasn't aware of its existance. I researched it a bit and found this review on the Rokinon version on Youtube. Unfortunately, it wasn't very encouraging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLk4L9b7Dw4

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Please also note the distinction between the tilt and the tilt/shift when pricing the Samyang.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Tilt-Shift Adaptors are usually used to connect a medium format lens
to a APS-C or FF body.

repleo Loc: Boston

Thanks. I think the smaller the sensor relative to the lens image circle the better. I'll try my Oly lens on my A6000 and see if it works better.

Robert Bailey Loc: Canada

Depending on the medium format lens being used
(and therefore the size of the image circle)
you might be able to use an actual Tilt-Shift adaptor,
or it might only be capable of a Shift adaptor (no Tilt).
As you said, "Repleo", a camera with a smaller sensor
gives you more leeway.
The idea can work well with a "micro four thirds" camera body.

melismus Loc: Chesapeake Bay Country

Generally, shift requires a larger image circle than does tilt. And sometimes, shift can b e used to decrease tilt's demand for image size.

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

I use my 24, 45 and 85mm PC-E lenses almost exclusively for close up, interior/exterior architectural, and landscape photography. Few lenses offer the consistency of image quality across the field on a full frame camera, even if you don't employ the tilt or shift.

The Nikon lenses all get you to 1:2 magnification, which, while not exactly macro range, you can get quite a bit of detail.

They are well-made, and easily worth the cost.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Check to see if your post processing program can correct for distortion. Mine does and it's a LOT cheaper than buying a tilt/shift lens!

melismus Loc: Chesapeake Bay Country

PP can make some corrections on parallel lines, but at the price of making things look short and fat. But PP can do nothing at all to adjust tilt of focal plane.

kenArchi Loc: Seal Beach, CA

At one time I had 6 TSE & PC lenses. All sold, I use post processing now. My work is for architects, designers & contractors.