Pentax 67 75mm Shift

[tim_mulholland]

Kevin (and, whoever else might be interested),

 

I have the P67 75mm Shift lens. I have to say that I like it, but I am

uncertain whether I can really justify owning it. ;)

 

First, it's the third heaviest P67 lens that I've owned. The heavier ones are

the 600 mm lens, and the 400 mm lens. I feel that I get good photos with it,

and I do like to be able to see the PC effect when I'm working with it.

 

I know that the following image was taken with this lens:

 

http://timmulholland.com/places/lithuania/cathedral.html

 

And, I seem to recall that the following were taken with it:

 

http://timmulholland.com/places/lithuania/vilnius5-5.html

http://timmulholland.com/places/lithuania/vilnius7-5.html

http://timmulholland.com/places/lithuania/vilnius9-5.html

http://timmulholland.com/places/czechrepublic/TimeTraveler.html

http://timmulholland.com/places/czechrepublic/prague2.html

http://timmulholland.com/places/poland/krakow1.html

 

Now, an issue with the lens is that, if you also use a polarizer, I feel that

the blue sky can become overly darkened.

 

Also, having become more competent with PhotoShop, I feel that I can also get a

good PC kind of result by using the Edit/Free Transform/Transform/Skew tool

there. I'm also aware that others might also be using this technique, and who

might be able to better advise (or, disabuse) you on the use of this tool.

 

But, when finances have been tight, it's one of the first lenses that I think of

selling...

 

Good luck,

 

Tim!

TimMulholland.com

[robert meier]

Very nice architectural work, Tim. It is a heavy lens, and it needs a heavy camera and tripod, too. I used to have this lens and I was distressed by unsharpness at the top when I shifted up. Maybe I shifted it too far on a regular basis, but it wasn't a very useful lens, since that top part of the building that the shift brought into the frame was the whole point of using the lens. I have foud, as you suggest, that using Skew in Photoshop makes every lens a PC lens, every lens I've ever used in the past as well, in fact. And it allows me to control the convergence very minutely, which I can't do in camera. So, I haven't missed not having the Shift lens since I sold it.

[kparratt]

Thankyou Tim.

 

Yes, you really have shown us some very fine architectural images.

 

On the subject of digital manipulation, I have sometimes needed to correct the geometry of photographs of artwork for websites, and it is very useful. But for architecture, landscape etc, I much prefer the image as described by an optical formula, even when pushing to the edge of the image circle. Every lens has it's own signature, which is smudged the very moment the image is hijacked by a program such as Photoshop or the like.

 

That said, Robert's judicious use of subtle adjustments obviously comes from an educated and artful approach.

 

The shift-lens, when there is one, is always among the highest priced lenses in any range, not just because of their complexity, but because of the relatively low production run.

 

However, working with such equipment requires a more careful study of the subject, and a feeling for the optics ... in all, a more contemplative approach. This comes across in your work Tim.

 

I hope you keep that lens.

 

Thanks again, Kevin.

 

PS

[colin_elliott]

Tim,

If you are ever thinking of selling this lens , I suggest you pull out these pictures to look at, and think again.

[tim_mulholland]

Colin,

 

Thank you very much! I appreciate your compliment,

 

Tim!

[richard_reddy]

<p>My Pentax 67 lens is light as a feather! How is that? It is ***<strong>ALWAYS ON A TRIPOD</strong> ***. Typically, the only weight is that of my cable release. <br>

Helpful hints?<br>

Read the instructions. <br>

Always use a tripod, and if you have mirror lock-up, it is recommended for slow speeds due to the possibility of mirror vibration. <br>

Working apertures f/8-16 will improve sharpness.<br>

Avoid extreme movements. This is not a view camera lens. Good rule of thumb: Try to get your subject framed with 15mm of movement, as opposed to 20mm. Reserve the extra movement for situations where sharpness at the edge of the frame is not critical (for example, clouds)<br>

Use a lens shade--flare is a very big problem with lenses of this kind. What you cannot see will greatly undermine image quality, outside the image area. Intrusion of flare can be very subtle. Physically block obvious sources of flare. A polarizer is also a good way to block flare, and watch out for the occasional reflection picked-up by other types of filters. <br>

The 75mm Pentax lens is very sharp! Along with 90mm f/2.8 and the 105mm f/2.4, this is the sharpest lens in the Pentax system. <br>

I agree that Tim has created some superb images. Keep up the good work! Never sell your shift lens!</p>

<p> </p>