Tilt-Shift In Motion

NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
edited August 25, 2009 in Technique
For a very long time the magic of Tilt part of the Tilt Shift lens kinda evaded me.
I mean, I know the theory, and I think I understand it well. However, I could never get exactly what I want from it, primarily due to the lack of practice and, importantly, virtual impossibility to analyze the effect on the LCD.

Lately I was able to reacquire the TS 24mm into my very own posession, and I went out and shoot - only to realize I still have no direct understanding on what's going on.

And then it suddenly dawned on me: my 5D2 has video mode. So I put the camera on a tripod, snapped on my TS24, set 5D2 on manual (ISO 200, f/3.5 1/30s to imitate frame rate, used live view to get the histogram and focus) - and started the movie.

Here it is (original is a fairly large 485Mb MOV file).
http://nik.smugmug.com/Photography/DIY/Canon-Tilt-Shift-24mm-Lens/9395512_WrqvH/1/#629302621_d8akj-A-LB

It starts focused on the little paring knife about 30-40 inches away from the camera. Then I tilt lens down, then up, then shift down, up, down again, and finally tilt down and up again (mind you: tilt DOWN fist, UP next: the effect is counterintuitive!).
There are also audio comments, but my voice is not good for recording... :dunno

And BTW, try *that* with a camcorder! :wink
"May the f/stop be with you!"

Comments

  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    BTW, the whole experience made me realize a very simple fact: LiveView is the key for Tilting operation. deal.gif
    Unlike OVF, it's free from "darkening" effect, its measurements (including histogram) are read off the primary sensor and, as such, are always 100% accurate. And with its zooming capability you can be in total control of your focus and DOF.wings.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • TangoTango Registered Users Posts: 4,592 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    clap.gif good job getting this out...

    your audio is great... accent is full press:D

    hey do you miss me asking you to repeat everything 3 times?rolleyes1.gif
    Aaron Nelson
  • TangoTango Registered Users Posts: 4,592 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    some points that are very important in knowing this lens...(this will be your next video)

    focus, dialing in focus with use of tilt = making deep DOF

    &

    shift, using shift to correct sensor plan and the angles of everthing involved...


    and then theres more, but I havent learned that other stuff yet....

    waiting to corner Marc....:D
    Aaron Nelson
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited August 24, 2009
    Thank you Lord Deuce! mwink.gif
    Sooo, you think moar videos are in order showing all the features of the TS lens? headscratch.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • sherstonesherstone Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 2,356 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Love this Nik! Your accent rocks too :D
    Thanks for posting it.
    Your making me want tilt glass now rolleyes1.gif
  • TangoTango Registered Users Posts: 4,592 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Nikolai wrote:
    Thank you Lord Deuce! mwink.gif
    Sooo, you think moar videos are in order showing all the features of the TS lens? headscratch.gif

    your the one to do it, thats for sure! your accent gives it a intellectual feel to it, can you imagine my southern utah accent on camera...now that would be all but a comical feel to itrolleyes1.gif
    Aaron Nelson
  • angevin1angevin1 Registered Users Posts: 3,403 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Great way to show its effects! Good thinking!clap.gif
    tom wise
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Laughing.gif thank you guys (Aaron, Sean Tom...)
    My accent, huh? Do ya'll think I shall ditch my software developer career (and judging by the fact I can't find a new job for two months already, I'm not too good at it anyway:-) and become a voice-over talent? mwink.gifrolleyes1.gif
    Speaking of which: I was actually thinking of creating some video tutorials... Especially now, that I'm sitting at home anyway... I have a webcam ( both standalone and built-in)... Who knows a decent (preferably free:-) windows software which can mix screen grabbing and videocapture?
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • CWSkopecCWSkopec Registered Users Posts: 1,325 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    Nikolai wrote:
    Laughing.gif thank you guys (Aaron, Sean Tom...)
    My accent, huh? Do ya'll think I shall ditch my software developer career (and judging by the fact I can't find a new job for two months already, I'm not too good at it anyway:-) and become a voice-over talent? mwink.gifrolleyes1.gif
    Speaking of which: I was actually thinking of creating some video tutorials... Especially now, that I'm sitting at home anyway... I have a webcam ( both standalone and built-in)... Who knows a decent (preferably free:-) windows software which can mix screen grabbing and videocapture?

    Nik,
    I've used the built in (w/ Vista at least) Windows Movie Maker to turn stills into a video (3 examples). I'm sure that with some time spent playing around you could get stills and video meshed together. Has a relatively easy to use interface (at least for what I was doing) and most of it was just drag and drop to insert a new frame.

    I imagine if you loaded the video, you could then insert a still where you wanted it and extend the frame rate for that frame so it shows long enough to be visible. I'm not sure though what kind of impact that would have on the audio portion or if you'd have a gap in the audio as well.
    Chris
    SmugMug QA
    My Photos
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited August 25, 2009
    CWSkopec wrote:
    Nik,
    I've used the built in (w/ Vista at least) Windows Movie Maker to turn stills into a video (3 examples). I'm sure that with some time spent playing around you could get stills and video meshed together. Has a relatively easy to use interface (at least for what I was doing) and most of it was just drag and drop to insert a new frame.

    I imagine if you loaded the video, you could then insert a still where you wanted it and extend the frame rate for that frame so it shows long enough to be visible. I'm not sure though what kind of impact that would have on the audio portion or if you'd have a gap in the audio as well.

    Chris, thanks, I was thinking just about that (W7 version, it's also 8Gb x64 machine, so a bit snappier in this kind of things). I guess I can find some "screen cameras", just need to make sure they capture voice, too...
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
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