Tilt/Shift Lens

mercphoto

I know the basics about tilt/shift lenses. How they modify the placement of the plane-of-focus. How it can give the illusion of extremely large depth of field (even when the DOF is actually small). Or how swiveling the plane of focus can create interesting effects in the picture.

But the question becomes how does one decide WHERE to put the plane of focus in order to produce a 'neat' effect? Or does one just move it around, take a lot of snaps, and see what works?

I plan to do that latter soon with a rental lens. Just more the focus plane around and take lots of pics to see what it does. But also interested in any theory or technique in choosing a focus plane. I really like what this guy did with a T/S lens in a non-traditional setting. I like how the images take on the look of a miniature, rather than real-life. I plan to do the same with cars.
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1766

LiquidAir

The way I focus my 45 TS-E is like so:

1. Pick two objects I want to have in focus: call them A & B.
2. Make a first guess at the tilt.
3. Bring A into focus. Unless I get very lucky B will not be in focus.
4. Figure out which direction I need to change the focus to bring B into focus. That tells me whether I have too much or to little tilt.
5. Adjust the tilt and iterate.

It gets quicker with practice. I mostly use tilts for close up photography (sometimes with a 12mm extender). I haven't tried the artifical macro look yet but what I try is first dial in a fairly strong tilt and then rotate the lens in increments, refocusing as you go until you get the effect you want.

Andy

I fell *totally and completely* in love with my 24 TS-E this week, in Wild Utah. Been using it for stitched panos Yeah I had mine modded, they move the mount in such a way that I can shoot up/down shifted panos. Plenty of shots to come, when I get back :ivar

mercphoto

Andy wrote:

I fell *totally and completely* in love with my 24 TS-E this week

Don't tell me that!!! I have my rental and will try it tomorrow. Weather will likely be bad so I'm not expecting nice light, nice skies, etc. Might even be a bit drizzly. But will still be able to play with the lens, learn how it works, and how it effects the image. I have a place picked out with nice scenery over a range of distances that should lend itself well to the effect.

mercphoto

Weather was worse than I had expected and the amount of time I could spend with the lens was not very long. I think the results could be very good but its not a lens to learn quickly. This was the best of the bunch but even then I think it needs to be executed better.


More at http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2897850#155956432

UP N MTNS

I picked up a Lensbaby 3G, it cant be compared to the Canon tilts you guys are talking about, but it's pretty fun and makes for some interesting pic's.

http://www.lensbabies.com/


http://www.lensbabies.com/index.php?page=lb3g/galleries

mercphoto

UP N MTNS wrote:

I picked up a Lensbaby 3G, it cant be compares to the Canon tilts you guys are talking about, but it's pretty fun and makes for some interesting pic's.

I agree, and funny you mention that. If you follow the link I posted to "more photos" there are more Tilt/Shift photos but also a selection of Lens Baby photos. The look is different between the two. I do find it easier to use a Lens Baby. But I am curious how I could do with a T/S lens if I can get some serious practice time with one again.