Tilt-shift or primes? « Nikon Rumors Forum

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Tilt-shift or primes?

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Pierre

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On one hand, we got the pricy tilt-shift 24mm f/3.5, 45mm f/2.8 and the 85mm f/2.8 good for keeping perspectives and things in focus (which I both like), on the others the 24mm, 35mm, and the 85mm at f/1.4 (the G versions) good for low-light and supersharp (I did not include the 50mm for its lack of sharpness).

Wishing for the most versatile and not wanting duplicates in focal, what are the pro and cons between the two types.

As an example, would I be loosing a lot of sharpness using one of the f2.8 tilts? Would the ability to bring more in focus for landscape outweight the loss in aperture?

Posted 2 years ago #
jerl

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Well, most of the advantages and disadvantages are obvious. For one, you get movements on tilt shifts, but you lose autofocus, and the larger apertures. That's really about it, and I think that the function criteria should be how you pick your lenses.

I'm sure people will split hairs over the lenses sharpness stopped down to f/8, but all of those lenses are made very well and are all very sharp. In theory, the tilt shift lenses have more coverage so they should have less light fall off and not get as soft in the corners, but lenses with smaller coverages can often be made to resolve to higher detail in the center. But like I said, I doubt you will ever notice this in practice.

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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given the corrections that can now be idone n Photoshop, Lightroom and other software what are the advantages of having a tilt shift lens ?

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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sevencrossing said:
given the corrections that can now be idone n Photoshop, Lightroom and other software what are the advantages of having a tilt shift lens ?

Changing your plane of focus. You can't do that in Photoshop. You can make buildings look "proper" and do landscapes right. Useful for the pro or those with large wallets.

I don't have any tilt shifts and they're too expensive for me anyway, so primes for me.

Posted 2 years ago #
casperwb

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tilt shift is for architectural work.

taking picures of tall buildings causes the building to seem to lean and tilt/shift lenses are used to correct this.

therefore they do not compare to primes as they are designed for completely different types of photography.

Its like comparing a Ferrari to a Land Rover, yes they both get you there, however............................

If you stand at ground level and shoot buildings get a ts pespective lens, however for general photography, stick with primes.

sharpness has nothing to do with it.

I cannot comment on bringing more in focus for landscapes, but, what is wrong with stopping down the lens to F8 or F11 to get greater depth of field, and the lens is at its sharpest around there anyway.

you need small aperture for landscaps anyway, large aperture for isolating your subject or achieving a fast shutter, so, why large aperture for landscapes?

if you are shooting in low light use a tripod as landscapes do not move, at least the ones that I have seen.

Posted 2 years ago #
aetas

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I have to disagree casper tilt shift lenses are not just for architectural work(which they are made for also).
I was luck enough to be able to borrow a 24mm f/3.5 and it was amazing for landscape work. If you do alot of landscape shots and have never used a tilt shift I highly recommend renting it. It really is a neat experience.
I agree with the statement that if your doing general photography work then go with a prime, as long as your general work is not landscape or architectural work.
I really like my primes though. Plus I shoot low light often enough to want a little brighter lens. I never found tilt shift lenses to be worth the cost. I just dont have the funds.
~Cheers

Posted 2 years ago #
whtchocla7e

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Tilt-shifts are not just for architecture or this or that. They can be used for anything. They open up a whole new world of possibilities.

I would take a manual focus, small aperture tilt-shift lens over a normal fast prime if only they cost the same.. :(

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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NSXType-R said:
Changing your plane of focus. You can't do that in Photoshop.

agreed, but you can fake it

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/07/how-to-use-photoshops-lens-blur-tool-for-tilt-shift-fakery-par/

I have not used a Nikon Tilt shift but I have used a 5x4 mono rail
correcting perspective in Lightroom 3 is a lot easier than using a mono rail

Posted 2 years ago #
jerl

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Correcting in photoshop can get you minor adjustments, but shifts can get you major ones. Also, you lose resolution with perspective correction, as you are upscaling the areas that are being stretched, and compressing the other areas.

As far as tilts go, they can be used to have objects in focus from close up to infinity without stopping down. If you stop down, you will get similar results, but you lose out on diffraction, and you won't be able to get as much in focus. Today, it seems to be popular to use tilt shifts to get less in focus, and I agree that this can done in photoshop reasonably well.

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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Here is lovely quote from our dear friend KR "You people know who you are. If you want one, you'll be happy. If you don't really know why you need one of these, then you don't need one"
He has an excellent article on the Nikon 24mm PC-E

Posted 2 years ago #
SquamishPhoto

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If you've never compared the focus on PC-E lens to that of any other lens you own, then you are probably missing one of its biggest perks. Holy freaking crap does it ever dampen your focus. Moving it up in microscopic adjustments is not only possible, but its pretty easy even if you have somewhat shaky hands. Don't forget that the 45mm and the 85mm are both super close to 1:1 for macro, so when you are shooting a small subject on a tripod and want to stack the focus a bit to bring more into focus, than I cannot recommend a better lens for the task. And if you are leaning on KR for advice on lenses I think that you are already looking at this the wrong way, despite the fact that his quote on TS lenses is fairly true.

You cant fake the distorted focal plane of this shot in PS no matter how hard you try since you can't use PS to put something into focus when it wasn't in focus to begin with

Posted 2 years ago #
Pierre

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Good idea, I will rent one, perhaps this summer and show you guys the result. Loosing the auto focus would be the strongest argument against it for an on-the-go lens. Weight-wise, they seem similar to their prime counterparts.

Posted 2 years ago #
giraki@aim.com

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Thanks for the awesome advice guys! I am a newbie and am very appreciative!

Posted 2 years ago #
Mike Gunter

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Hi all,

While I'm waffling about an FX upgrade, I will get a PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED lens for it (assuming I make the jump). It's a terrific lens for a lot of projects, even for portraits, controlling focus points.

Where I would depart its usefulness is in the DX work (at least for me). I, personally, would have trouble focusing it manually. I think larger format of FX would make focusing somewhat easier.

My best,

Mike

Posted 2 years ago #

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Tilt-shift or primes?

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