Canon do 17mm tilt-shift

[David Kilpatrick]

This is revolutionary - it must be equivalent to a 12 or 14mm in terms of angular coverage, and unlike most tilt-shift lenses it will be useful on APS-C.

http://www.dphotoexpert.com/2009/02/18/ ... ilt-shift/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thus Canon leaves Sony's lens range behind by one more step - Sony, no TS lenses - Canon 4. Further to catch up in theory, if Sony ever bother to do so, as there have been no signs of PC/TS lenses so far.

David

[InTheSky]

Is is possible that this is related to the way the aperture control is working under the Minolta/Alpha system ?

[David Kilpatrick]

A focus confirm manual TS would be quite OK for the Alpha system. Anyway, at this angle of coverage, tilt and shift are almost separate issues - you need shift to get the axis back in line after tilting, but not to recompose. Shift on its own is also a different issue.

Sony has a solution waiting in the wings, at least for APS-C users once off-sensor live view arrives. The SSS mechanism could allow the sensor to be moved off axis, getting shift through 'rise and cross back' instead of 'rise and cross front' movement. Live view would mean you could see the effect. For example, using the 16-35mm CZ is would be possible to move the APS-C sensor up to 5mm, which is equal to a 7.5mm shift on a 24mm PC lens for full frame. SSS would have to be turned off but shift work is usually done on a tripod. It would call for a change to the centering lockdown system on the anti-shake mechanism.

I have another solution, which is cheap and dirty but interesting. I'm working on it now.

David

[Javelin]

Did Miinolta ever have T/S lenses ? I think I remember seeing a shift adaptor you could put a lens on but I can't find anything on it now. just thrid party stuff like the Arax

[David Kilpatrick]

Minolta never had a tilt lens. They had the 35mm f2.8 CA Rokkor for manual which had shift, plus Variable Field Curvature to give a sort of tilt-like effect limited to one half of the image - fine unless your horizon was right at the top of an angle-down shot, and therefore went hopelessly out of focus. Shift could help make the picture use only one half of the lens field mainly, which improved that. They also had VFC in a 24mm f2.8, with no shift, but enough depth of field to get away with the (rather weak) solution. Both lenses were exceptional optically and the VFC had other valid uses.

David

[alphaomega]

I was impressed until I got down to the price bit and then I resolved to stay with Sony and do my best with my Sigma 10-20 and software distortion filter.

[InTheSky]

I have another solution, which is cheap and dirty but interesting. I'm working on it now.

David

This is funny, since i have received my 2009 #1 magazine at home and read your article about the tilt lenses, i have always in my head how to build a cheap and not expensive way to experiment this photography technique on my A900.

The result :

I'm waiting for those item to arrive home :

1- Novoflex Bellow M42 to M42 (very small with not support, only the bellow)
2- old 24mm F/3.5 Tamron 72mm opening version.
3- old tamron 24mm F/2.5 adaptall, with adaptall to M42.
4- Zenith 16mm F/2.8 M42.
5- Gorilla flexible Camera stand.
6- M42 confirm focus adapter to Alpha mount

I'm thinking of building a kind of three legs support (by using the part of the Gorilla stand) to setup the lens in front of the camera , So i will be able to make almost any kind of angle and shift to the lens attached in front of the bellow. I will come back to you when i will have received the stock and done some modification/building of my support.

The tilt/shift photography is something i have never experiment, and i hope i will be able to something wit the item i have found.

Regards,

Frank

[InTheSky]

I have finally received some of the stuff I have bought on ebay.

First item was the Novoflex bellow M42 : surprised, the item is not a M42, but a M39 , not really what i needed, i will return it tomorrow.

24mm F/2.5 Tamron adaptall ! WOW This lens is good, I think is a little bit better than the Minolta (with the copy AF I have). But let's move the lens performance on the side and talk about building my own Tilt shift lens.

What I have discover was that I was completely wrong of thinking using M42 lens to build my tilt/shift system. Why ... Focus distance ... If I want to build a Tilt/shift system compatible with usual 35mm lens ... it will never be possible because every lens will be to far from the camera body, and make the lens become a Macro system.

BUT hiccup! here is the solution ... the magnificent Tamron adaptall system. Tamron has built a lens design that accept a space between the lens and the camera due to the fact that the adapter should be there to meet any kind of mount. The result, this give you about ~5mm of space to build a system to tilt or shift without loosing the Infinity focus ability of your lens.

Result so far, I have just done some test keeping the lens on my hand and using a M42 confirm focus adapter on the camera (letting my A900 forget that i have no lens in front of my camera). I have been able to focus on different distance. But, every time I need to pay attention of how near I'm putting the back lens from the Reflex Mirror. Tomorrow I will go to the Hardware warehouse to search for a cheap rubber bellow to glue on the M42 adapter and modify one of my Tamron Adaptall adapter. The result should be a kind of hard moving rubber adapter that will allow the lens to move tilt and shift, but reduce the increase a little bit the distance from the camera Reflex mirror and the back lens.

I think this is a good way to have an really inexpensive Tilt shift lens with some good quality picture (thanks to Tamron old and good design ... ).

I will keep you in touch and try to have you some picture in Montreal of some building when I will have time.

Regards,

Frank

[Javelin]

I think your making a rig like the olt time box and plate cameras where there is a solid front and rear plates (front with a lens) connected with a bellows and you could move the front plate at angles or off plane to the rear plate which held the film. right?

If you have a Mcmaster carr dealer around try this stuff. Most mill supplies can get these parts even if they are not mcmaster carr dealers. I suggest the coated nylon type. it'll be light tight and very flexible and theres a lot of diameters to work from just as stock parts. The poly and latex ones don't last very long. latex gets pin holes and the poly is very stiff and cracks. oh and they will be a lot cheaper than the listed price !

http://www.mcmaster.com/#square-bellows/=qgyxj" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.mcmaster.com/#elastic-bellows/=qgzj2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[InTheSky]

Thank you, i will check at car parts dealer. This is a very good idea. I have a small store not so fare than my home.

The next step will be to find a way to make the lens fix in a specific angle.

I'll keep you inform.

Regards,

Frank

[youpii]

There are some options on Ebay for Minolta A-mount

Hartblei 2,8/80 Tilt-Shift Lens US $845.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/Camera-Minolta-AF-S ... 1|294%3A50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Minolta Shift CA 35/2.8 US $950.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/Minolta-Shift-CA-35 ... 1|294%3A50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Arsat MC 35 mm Tilt & Shift lens US $529.00
http://cgi.ebay.com/Arsat-MC-35-mm-Tilt ... .m20.l1116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Javelin]

you need to tilt on vertical axis or horizontal axis or both or does the lens end slide on a parabolic curve from some root point?
do you have access to a shop to make parts ?

Thank you, i will check at car parts dealer. This is a very good idea. I have a small store not so fare than my home.

The next step will be to find a way to make the lens fix in a specific angle.

I'll keep you inform.

Regards,

Frank