using Canon tilt-shift lens for selective focus

[david_freed]

I believe that most people use Canon 35mm tilt-shift lens to get better depth

of field focus or to correct lines for architectural photography.

 

I'm wondering about using it to increase/create selective focus (a narrower

depth of field in focus), as you can with a view camera?

 

I'm much inspired by works like those of Keith Carter, and was wondering if a

tilt-shift lens would give me more control of what is and is not in focus in my

images. I'm buying a 50mm f/1.4 with much the same idea in mind.

 

Any thoughts? Thanks, David.

[digitmstr]

You can use (or NOT) a T/S for a variety of reasons.

 

I prefer the Hartblei Super-Rotator because it's more adjustable than the Canon offering.

 

Personally, I did not use it often enough so, I ended up selling it.

[sheldonnalos]

Yes, a T/S lens will allow you to tilt the plane of focus so that it cuts through the image at an angle. Depending on the composition this can give the appearance of a "line" of focus rather than a plane of focus. If you are familiar with how view camera movements work, then you understand - a T/S lens works exactly the same.

 

Consider the 45mm or 90mm T/S lenses from canon, they will help you control focus better than the 24mm T/S lens.

 

Functionally, you can do a lot of the same things with a lensbaby. It's basically a simple lens that allows freehand tilt/focus movements.

[david_freed]

Thanks for the info. I'm not familiar with what a Hartblei Super-Rotator is, but I'll do a bit of research.

 

I already own a Lensbaby, but consider that it has its own aesthetic (sp?), that's different than the tilt-shift functions on a view camera, but I'll definately play with this some more.

 

I'm going to rent a Canon TS lens for a weekend before I commit to buying (or saving up to buy one). Do you know anything about the ARAX T-S lenses from Russia? http://www.araxphoto.com/specials/tilt-shift-35/

 

Best, David

[zafar1]

Canon does not make a 35mm T/S lens to the best of my knowledge. They make 24mm, 45mm, and 90mm.

 

In my experience 24mm is suitable primarily as an architectural lens with its shift function. (At least) I was hard-pressed to find uses for its tilt feature.

 

In my opinion, the 90mm T/S lens would be good choice for people, flower work with selective focus.

[zml]

David: Rent a 1.4x tele converter with the 24 T/S - perfect for selective focus. As for the techiques involved, use f/4 or 5.6, for landscape shooting either tilt it all the way up (don't worry about the "red region" ) or swing it all the way left or right, and use the focus ring to position the plane of focus within the frame. In landscape, with the lens tilted up, the plane of focus will go lengthwise and with the lens swung out, the plane of focus will be up/down. Both settings have merits :-))) These are just starting settings - experiment and have fun and don't forget that the lens mechanism rotates as well... The "toy city" is becoming a cliche but is still fun to look at and realize how easily our eyes are fooled...

[jay a. frew]

Hello David:

 

I have been thinking of such a lens for shooting close-ups of flowers

 

Here are a couple of links for you:

 

http://www.hartblei.com/index.htm

 

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Canon%20EOS%20Lens%20Tests

 

Cheers! Jay

[carlos_miami]

Yes, it is very fun to do selective focus with a tilt-shift lens.<br><br>

 

Here are some pictures I've taken with a Nikon 85mm f2.8 PC on my Canon 5D:<br>

 

<a href=" title="miami beach by miami fever, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/367644325_c25282b360.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="miami beach" /></a>

<br><br>

<a href=" title="Untitled by miami fever, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/348621153_e79d6be357.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="" /></a>

<br><br>

You can click the above images to see them in higher resolution.

<br><br>

Here are more pictures taken with the Nikon 85mm on the 5D:

<br>

<br><br>

Most were taken at or around f2.8 and at full tilt.

[peterlyons]

Vincent Laforet uses his TS lenses to amazing effect as you describe. His aerial shots look

like macro shots of modeled landscapes. It's the coolest thing! Check it out...

 

http://www.vincentlaforet.com/

[colin carron]

David, yes, the Canon TS-E lenses can be used in an 'anti-Scheimpflug' manner

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheimpflug_principle

 

to create selective focus. However as the depth of field of wide angle lenses is greater than for longer focus lenses the effect will be easier to ontain using the longer focus lenses. It would be most marked in the 90mm, less so for the 45mm and most difficult to achieve in the 24mm.

 

The other point is that in a large fornat view camera the camera back can also be set with tilts and swings. So the effect is easier to achieve on the view camera as you get two ways of achieving the effect rather than one.

 

Have you considered the possibility that for the same amount as you would spend on a Canon TS-E lens you could buy a very decent secondhand 4x5 large format camera, lens and tripod and do the thing with greater creative control?

 

Incidentally the effect goes back at least as far as some of the great photographic pioneers such as Juila Margaret Cameron

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Margaret_Cameron

 

who used it (using a wet plate process!) to pick out individuals in group portraits etc.

[digitmstr]

The <a href=http://www.photo.net/photo/4480534>Super-Rotator</a> I had worked great. It's an 80mm f/2.8 lens capable of tilt, shift and full 180 rotation around its axis. Its optics are outstanding. If I were into that sort of thing I would still have it but, I only used it for two projects (in fact I bought for that reason) and then, barely used it after that. I think that would be THE lens for you to use.

[squareframe]

David,

 

good answers. I think you will be disappointed with the wider-angle T/S lenses for selective focusing. the tilt-range is at a premium in 35mm format. Keith uses a Hasselblad Flexbody, and more recently (and less effective I think) a f0.95 lens on a standard Hasselblad body. the larger format yields a much wider range of relative movements than you will find using your Canon.

 

most definitely rent if you can. I did, and bought the Flexbody.

 

good luck ...

 

daniel taylor