Shift functions with noblex, how to use accurately?

Hi,

I just spoiled myself with a 135u (not mf but some other big boy noblex users

may be able to help?) and it has the shift function, i'm not sure how many mm it

is, or if they even make different ones? I keep reading 4-5mm.

Anyway while i've had success with both straight and bent horizons i'd like to

be able to include more foreground with a straight horizon. I thought that by

angling the camera down a certain amount and using the shift funtion up that i'd

be able to do that? but I can never get a straight horizon the the top half of

the shot. is this possible or am i dreaming here. I dont see any indicaters in

the viewfinder apart from a bit of a raise in the middle, which i'd assume would

be what the lense would see if i shift it up and not move the camera..

thanks for any help :)

An example is here, i know he probly shot it on something like a technorama or

some other non swing lense camera, but is it possible to get the horizon here

with a noblex???

http://www.kenduncan.com/images/1280/1280img.php?i=NX2375

Bryce,

The simple answer to your question is no you cannot do that with a swing lens camera.

The small amount of shift you get with a 135u will allow you to move your horizon up or

down, but if you want straight lines the camera MUST be level or you get the cigar look.

Also the cut out that you see in the middle of the VF is for the shift, to give you a

approximation so you can move the camera.

At some point in the manufacture of the noblex swing lens cameras a photographer found

that you could get some very wierd flare with the lens shifted all the way so they reduced

the amount of shift to stop this from happening. So they reduced the shift by 1 mm on

the 135u cameras.

Just make sure you take the AAA's out of the camera when you are not using it they will

last alot longer. It's a fun camera with a very sharp lens, also you may want to pick up the

graduated ND filter for the camera too bad it's so expensive.

I started out with a Russian Horizon 202 and then got hooked so I picked up a Noblex

135u.

wbill

hey bill,

Yes i'm aware the camera must be perfectly level for straight horizons :) but i'm just wondering how much i can angle my camera down (so the horizon will be above halfway) with the lense shifted BEFORE that starts taking place, get me?

Also, just on your tip for longer lasting batteries, do you mean to take them out even when the cameras turned off??? I only have the camera on when i'm making an exposure, then it's off till the next shot :)

The on/off switch is fine when you are out taking pictures for the day, but remove them when

you put it up for the night, also it's easy to forget to turn it off with the switch on the bottom

of the camera. I wish I could send mine in and get it updated to the 135ux with the on/off

switch on the top of the camera.

Once you point the camera down or up you get the falling off the world look.....

wbill

To get a straight horizon, the Noblex must be held level. Period. Using the shift does not make any difference. If the camera is pointed downwards, you get an upward curved horizon that can sometimes look good because it exaggerates the curvature of the earth. If you tilt it upward, you get a U shaped horizon which usually looks wierd.

With Noblex cameras, you can only shift the lens up, not down. When you hold the camera level, the horizon will be straight across the center of the negative. If you use shift and move the lens up by 4-5 mm, the horizon will still be straight but 4-5mm lower (you get more sky). To get more foreground you can use the maximum shift and turn the camera upside down and then hold it level and take the picture. This way the horizon will be straight and 4-5 mm higher than the mid-level giving you more foreground. Another way is to take the picture normally and then crop as necessary from the top to move the horizon higher.

In the viewfinder there is a small box above the main frame. This is approx the degree of shift you will get. I used the 135U for years upside down to obtain the 8 degree shift downwards.

Brian

To shift it down all you need to do is mount it upside down on a tripod,

not many tripods will let you do it but it works ok......Or hold it upside down, it's not easy but I don't think the Noblex 135 is easy to hand hold anyway...

wbill

Cool thanks, yeah, this upside down venture seems to be taking me on a path to a new tripod :)

Any suggestions?

u-shape is the tool i need if i want to shift down(interiors or from top of buildings/mountains...) my roundshot 65/70/220.

to get superwideangle effect rectililiar can be used when stitching with panorama factory.or using it directly with altostorm rectiliniar(photoshop/paintshop pro-plugin). dont complain then about superwideangle distortions.....

i think the opposite should also be possible at least with panorama factory. highly interesting if you do not have a superwideangle. deraltenburger.de even has a professional shift and parallax-correction program. i did not yet have combined all to simulate a professional rotapancamera with shift.

on the other hand i still have to find out which program can stitch the two shifted parts made in roundshot-rotapancameras. to get a bigger vertical angle.