Tilt shift lens example.

Last week I was in Cologne, Germany on a business trip while I captured this shot of the train station. Both images are shot with the Canon 24mm TSE lens. Image #1 is shifted and tilted for correct perspective while Image #2 is left un-corrected and what you would see from any traditional 24mm lens.

I found the lens very easy to use. Liveview is essential for dialing in the shots correctly.

RichieV

Image #2

Wow. I never really understood what a T/S lens did but your example hit the nail on the head.

Nice examples, Richie. Have you noticed how the tilts are so much more pronounced/sensitive than with 4x5 lenses? (I assume due to the smaller size of the sensor). With landscape work I hardly ever go past two ticks on the tilts. The shifts like this, on the other hand, I use all the time. When I use non-TS lenses, I feel like something is wrong.

I like the first one for architectural photography as it should be, and the second one for artistic expression. Great examples!

Nice examples; now I have to add another item to my "wish list"

Nice shot and great example!

I have a distorted view of the world, so i prefer #2

@Jack - The 24mm was my 1st TSE and I really loved using it. I havent been in the digital camp since I like having my perspectives corrected. Like you I feel something is wrong (especially since I do alot of architecture). The tilt is really really pronounced. I barely make 1 or 2 clicks at most (sometimes none) to get correct focus. I now have the 45mm and 90mm and am considering the collection my primary lenses. Have you been working with the 45 or 90 yet? I really wish they made a 63mm (whcih would be a 210mm on my 4x5). Havent decided about the 17mm yet. Most likely I'll get it sometime.

As a side note I was actually pleasantly surprised at how much image circle I had. I was expecting much less. I mean - I can't do what I could with an 8x10 lens on a 4x5. But it is really pretty good for most work.

@Stan - I always knew you had a distorted view

Rich, you say distorted like it's a bad thing. Lots of us have a "unique" view of the world. Great examples of TS capabilities. Who's got the over/under pool on the next time Richie V drags out the LF?

@Bill - I definitely have no problem with a distorted veiw. Just using Stan's own words

Also, You dont need a TSE lens to use camera movements. DXO Optics has the best geometry correction software of all of the RAW converters I have seen. You can download a copy and give it a try. It is pretty straightforward to use.

RichieV

I decided to give it a try in software. Here is Image #2 put through DXO Optics for a quick geometry correction.

RichieV

This is my favorite lens right now. And for what it's worth, I love the last version - great comp and color, when compared to the other two.

Hey Richie, no I haven't tried the 45 or 90 yet... I don't think I can handle that extra weight in my pack! Ideally I would love to have them with me though. I do have the 17mm TSE. It's really nice too, though I don't use it as often as the 24mm.

@Jack/@Jesse - The other thing I like with the 24mm is stitching my way across an image. Have either of you tried that yet? Here is an example from Amsterdam with three images stitched from the 24mm TSE.

RichieV

Yeah I've been doing a lot of the stitching... it's so easy - basically just place one on the other, maybe touch up a few points of the seam, done. Here's one example - camera horizontal, 24mm lens shifted up and down.

oh yeah, it's all about the stitching for me ... like Jack, I'll be doing a lot of this format ...

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imagecritique/bbs.cgi?a=vm&mr=58837&CGISESSID=1f000ecac41f43d6f6c34cf43f49a9e6&u=11211

The 45mm is also ideal, by the way, for panos.

@Jack - That is awesome. I was wondering how well up/down - left/right would work. Thanks for showing us your field test.

RichieV

@Jesse - I thought the 45 would be great for panos since it is the same as appx 150mm on 4x5 which was always my fav glass for shooting 1/2 sheets.

RichieV

Very imformitive thread!

Please tell me you shot the Cathederal? I love Cologne, miss it drealy from when I lived in Germany

@John - Actually I have one shot from the cathedral that is going to make my 'walls' over here. Shot it on the 24mm TSE. Haven't got it all set yet. But will shoot you an email with it once I get it done.

RichieV

Good info here, thanks for the thoughts. I'll be purchasing one of these next summer and I'm glad to hear that stitching is a breeze.

Great shot of the train station, it definitely makes me want a T/S lens.