Tilt Shift Lens

[Nickelwood]

Hi All, I was wondering if anyone had experience using a Tilt shift lens? I was thinking that they may be good for Landscape although I understand they are more difficult to use? Also I know there
are different lens focal lengths, I use Canon gear so there are 17mm-24mm-45mm. any comments much appreciated.

 

[TLR-330]

I thought they are for architectural style photography, when you are close to the subject, to allow you to fix the converging(?) verticals. I guess architecture and landscape are the same thing just that one subject will be nearer you and the other further away.

 

[troutfisher]

I use the 24mm TS-E Mk2.
They are very versatile lenses, particularly the 17 and 24mm as they tilt and shift in both vertical and horizontal planes, new lenses have been released I think and presumably these will do the same.
The shift ( up and down / side to side) function is easy to use for avoiding converging verticals and creating panoramas, which are very easy.
Tilt is a lot more difficult and needs a lot of thinking about but is very good for landscapes as you can get from to back focus easily and retain sharpness
This may be of interest https://luminous-landscape.com/focusing-tilt-shift-lenses/
They are MF lenses and need a tripod and a lot of patience to get the best out of them.
If you want to play the best thing to do is hire one.

 

[Nickelwood]

Many thanks I will check out the link and the hire option sounds a good idea.

 

[HoppyUK]

Specialist lenses, but excellent at what they do and very sharp. Wide angles are good for landscape (including easy panoramas) and architecture, longer focal lengths for table-top and product photography. Manual focus, no zooms, modest maximum apertures, expensive, tripod only really.

The tilt function moves the plane of sharp focus so it can be better aligned with the subject and optimised (either maximised or minimised). Eg with landscapes, you can effectively get deep depth-of-field without using high f/numbers. Shift function is mainly used to correct converging verticals in architecture and product photography.

An acquired taste, but once you've acquired it they can be addictive. Given the cost, hiring first is a good plan, eg Lenses For Hire http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/search

 

[troutfisher]

Specialist lenses, but excellent at what they do and very sharp. Wide angles are good for landscape (including easy panoramas) and architecture, longer focal lengths for table-top and product photography. Manual focus, no zooms, modest maximum apertures, expensive, tripod only really.

The tilt function moves the plane of sharp focus so it can be better aligned with the subject and optimised (either maximised or minimised). Eg with landscapes, you can effectively get deep depth-of-field without using high f/numbers. Shift function is mainly used to correct converging verticals in architecture and product photography.

An acquired taste, but once you've acquired it they can be addictive. Given the cost, hiring first is a good plan, eg Lenses For Hire http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/search

Yes they are addictive, when I moved to Fuji the only Canon bits I kept were my 5D and my TS-E , I can't bear to part with it, that and the fact its worth more than I paid for it

 

[Kodiak Qc]

I thought they are for architectural style photography,

Not only, Charles, the 85PC is my favourite lens
in studio tabletop work! Now, almost at the end of
the christmas catalogue time, it is blazing hot!

For landscape I would rather use a non PC lens
as most of the time you won't need the feature
and you'll save a lot of dough.

 

[ah5168]

I don't think there is a lot of need for tilt/shift lenses in landscape photography, I think in most instances you will get just as good a result with a conventional wide angle lens.

If you want to try a shift lens you can buy Nikon f/2.8 35mm PC lenses used for about £250 and use them on Canon with an adaptor.

 

[Canon Bob]

I don't think there is a lot of need for tilt/shift lenses in landscape photography, I think in most instances you will get just as good a result with a conventional wide angle lens.

The validity of that statement reduces in line with the height above the ground of the camera.

 

[Deleted member 49428]

Landscapes and architecture, is that it? How about creative portraits and all kinds of selective focus photography?

 

[antonroland]

Landscapes and architecture, is that it? How about creative portraits and all kinds of selective focus photography?

Also food photography I believe...