Mamiya RZ67 PRO II IID 75mm f4.5 W SHIFT LENS

<p >My question is how does this lens work and what does it accomplish? Are there any technical manuals on the technique for using this lens. I wonder if I should add to my bag, but not sure on how to use? </p>

<p > </p>

<p >Thanks </p>

<p >Steve</p>

<p>Tilt shift lenses are valuable for doing architecture, landscape and tabletop--for the most part. The idea of the lens is that it can increase the depth of field by "laying down" the focal plane and also can minimize the canting from point the lens up to photograph a tall building and such. You can shift the lens up to make the camera look up without pointing it up--or sideways etc. The tilt portion changes the angle of the lens elements and allows a long depth of field from front to back without as much stopping down of the lens.</p>

<p>The problem with this lens IMO is that the focal length is too long for most architecture, its most likely use by most. It can have some value for landscape and table top. Generally it would be considered a bit short for table top as most shoot with a longer lens to draw the objects a bit better.</p>

<p>Anyway, when I had the system, I always considered it too long for architecture, too long for most landscape work and too short for product shots or even many portraits. But some like it for also creating better selective focus on environmental portraits or whatever.</p>

<p>They allow you too somewhat emulate what a view camera and its movements can do.</p>

<p>Stephan, <br>

The Mamiya shift lens, and the one for the Pentax 67 for the matter, do not tilt, only shift. Therefore will not allow tilting the focus plane to apply the Scheimpflug principle.<br>

They are used for architectural photography and shift to allow the film plane to be kept parallel to the plane of the subject to prevent convergence of the vertical lines. This duplicates the effect of front rise and fall on a view camera.<br>

You could probably download a manual from Mamiya's web site.<br>

Joe D.</p>

<p>Joseph is correct. The only Mamiya lenses that also tilt at infinity are the two "short barrel" lenses for the Mamiya RZ (75 and 180 mm), when they are connected to the Tilt/Shift adapter.<br>

Christoph</p>