Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Digital Cameras & Shooting Techniques => Topic started by: mtomalty on March 23, 2012, 02:38:31 pm

Title: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: mtomalty on March 23, 2012, 02:38:31 pm

Are the tilt and shift functions on Nikon's 3 TS lenses 'locked' together in a particular orientation or do they 'float'' independently
as is the case with Canons 17 TS and 24 TS Mkll

If they are locked together what is the default orientation.  If I use tilt to achieve the classic near/far extreme depth effect does the shift function
allow me to shift up or down or is factory default settings set so that the shift function would allow a lateral movement?

Thanks


Mark

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: alan_b on March 23, 2012, 03:25:12 pm

Default is with axes perpendicular (near-far tilt with lateral shift). 

Reconfiguring to have the movements parallel is done by removing 4 screws and rotating half the body 90˚.  Some (I forget which) PC-Es have a stock long ribbon cable to allow this, some need to have the cable replaced.

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: langier on March 23, 2012, 04:05:35 pm

I've rotated both my original Micro 85 PC and my 24 PC-E to with the axis now parallel on both shift and tilt and had no problem doing it. Took about two minutes. Use a cross-point and not a phillips! Of course, YRMV and if you screw it up, loose screws, etc., it's not my problem!

 My guess is that the cable is long enough on the both the 45 PC-E and 85 PC-E.

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: kers on March 23, 2012, 05:21:50 pm

Quote from: langier on March 23, 2012, 04:05:35 pm

My guess is that the cable is long enough on the both the 45 PC-E and 85 PC-E.

I have heard from Nikon that the cable, in particular of the 24mm, is short and the twist can give problems when focussed very close.
Then it is possible the cable is to short.
At infinite focus probably no problems

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: mtomalty on March 23, 2012, 11:10:52 pm

Thanks for the replies
Answers the question perfectly

Mark

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: kers on March 26, 2012, 04:20:28 pm

And remember( write down) how you twisted it...!.. so you can twist it the right way back

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: langier on March 27, 2012, 04:58:55 pm

I've got both an original 85 PC and 24 PCE. No issues after 90-degree rotation to parallel with the either cable, even close-up.

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: dasams on April 02, 2012, 04:51:06 am

Quote from: langier link=topic=63954.msg514833#msg514833 date=1332533135
My guess is that the cable is long enough on the both the 45 PC-E and 85 PC-E.
[/quote

It has been reported that the 45 & 85 PC-E need (longer) replacement ribbons in order to rotate the barrels.  Not so on the 24 PC-E which I own and have made the conversion.  Because of the lock tight on the screws, I found it necessary to heat up the screws with a hair dryer.  dave

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: JohnBrew on April 02, 2012, 07:03:25 am

There used to be a video on rotating the housing, you could do a search. I had heard one of the instructional videos was removed from access due to pressure from Nikon.

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: JeffKohn on April 11, 2012, 11:34:08 pm

I rotated my 24 PC-E, it was pretty easy although getting those screws loose was nerve-wracking. I'd had heard you can't really DIY on the 45 due to cable length so I haven't tried.

I left my 85 PC intact because I use it a lot for stitching and I find the default configuration most useful for that (horizontal shift for stitching, and front tilt for DOF).

Title: Re: Nikon Tilt Shift lenses
Post by: kers on June 28, 2012, 05:23:13 pm

Well if Canon has a lead it is in the Tilt-shift mechanism. I would like that mechanism to be put on the Nikkors..... very much

Now i have observed closely what comes out of the PCE lenses on a D800E...

PCE 24mm has a problem with too much file curvature at near infinity...say 20 meters  ... making it difficult to get an overall equally sharp image... I use d10 at the moment... for interior shots this field curvature is usually very helpful
the PCE 85mm could be better especially when shifted...  the 85mm 1,4 G is clearly better
and the PCE 45mm is very very good  but like the 85PCE  could be just a little better shifted.. still it is the best (about) 50mm Nikkor lens as far as i know  ( 50mm 1,8g and 1,4 G)
But then ... there is no 50mm Nikkor with Nanocoating.. yet...  Nikon what are you doing!