Nikon Tilt/Shift

[John]

Hi,
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's using the Nikkor 24mm PC E tilt/shift lens. I'm considering buying a D3 and this lens for my architectural work. I came from using 5x4" Sinar with Super Angulon lenses and thats the kind of look I want to replicate. I find myself shooting more often on digital these days, using a D2x and D300 with the 12-24mm and 17-55mm, and I'm just not completely happy. The 12-24 has too much distortion (in two directions) at the widest end, and I don't really like having to correct for distortion, perspective and cropping in software. I'm really drawn to the 5x4 crop feature on the D3 and I'm hoping that this frame with the tilt/shift lens may give me the large format look, in, well, a small format.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Cheers,
John.

[Pbartf64]

Hello,
I finally received my Nikon 24mm PC-E lens a few weeks ago and love it! I had to go through Nikon professional services to get it faster.

I'm using the D700 body instead of the D3 because it's the same sensor for much less. Of course the D3 has extras. So far the 24mm PC-E is super sharp and no major issues with vignetting and such. Only shifting to the very extremes will I have darkened corners but that's expected. No need for corrections in post-production that I can find. Nikon did a great job updating lenses for digital.

My other heavily used lens is the Nikon 14-24mm. This lens is incredible with only very little distortion. I thought it would distort a lot more with the bigger sensor on the D700 but it held very well. Most of the time I have no need to correct distortion.

Best,

Paul S. Bartholomew, LBIPP
Architectural Photographer Paul S Bartholomew Photography Inc Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, NJ

[John]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your reply. You have some great work on your website, was any of it produced with the D700/24mm PC-E? If you don't mind, I have a few other questions.
I understand that movements with this lens are restricted on the D300 & D700 bodies due to the overhang of the wee pop up flash. Is this correct?
Also, the lens tilts and shifts in opposite directions, so you can't for example use rise to compose an elevation, and then tilt to maximize near-far focus. I'm told that Nikon can modify the lens so it tilts and shifts on the same axis to allow this. Have you considered having it modified?
Do you shoot large format? I don't expect the 24mm PC-E to have anything close to the same range of movements, but I'd be interested to know just how close it is.
Also, a lot of the work on your 'site has really smooth transitions from highlight to shadow and appears to have a very wide dynamic range. Were these shot on the D700? blended exposures? good lighting? I'm curious to know how much of it is due to the camera's sensor and how much to good technique.

There you go. You take time to answer someone's question, and what do you get? More questions! I appreciate your input.

All the best,

John Cooper
Architectural Image

[Pbartf64]

So far I haven't posted any images taken with the D700 and 24mm PC-E lens. Most of the images were from the D2X and D300 with the 14-24mm and 17-35mm. Right now I'm swamped but will have lots of new images posted on my website hopefully next month.

I haven't run into any issues with tilt or shift limitations. I read about the viewfinder getting in the way but I must be missing something because I'm not running into this. I'll have to wait till winter to check out updating the 24mm PC-E for additional movements by Nikon. I'm not sure if it will be worth it since I'm very pleased with the shift portion of the lens and don't often use the tilt.

The tonal range of my images come from some layering and careful Raw converting but my lighting for the interiors makes a difference also. I keep things natural looking with very little evidence of strobes or hot lights.


Best,
Paul S. Bartholomew, LBIPP
Architectural Photographer Paul S Bartholomew Photography Inc Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, NJ

[John]

Thanks again Paul for your thoughts on the tilt/shift lens.
I'm negotiating with an architect client just now for a year long contract to shoot existing and new buildings and I think the D3/24mm will be a great combination. Trouble is, if I like the 24mm, I can see me wanting the 45mm as well. May have to dig deep. I like the idea of the D3, but its the full frame format needing new wideangles which is the hurdle. I've heard great things about the 14-24mm from other sources too, but I tend not to shoot that wide unless I have to. Also the fact that it can't hold filters bugs me.

All the best,

John
Architectural Image

[Pbartf64]

Hi John,

Not sure why you would go with the D3 considering the D700 has the same sensor. Right there would be enough difference in savings to get more lenses. The D3 is great for speed if you do sports but it won't give you a quality difference for architecture.

Nikon rumors point at a 24MP body coming soon so you may want to reserve the budget for that and take a look at the D700.

Best,
Paul S. Bartholomew, LBIPP
Architectural Photographer Paul S Bartholomew Photography Inc Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA, NJ

[Sharon VL]

I am long overdue for a new camera and am considering the D700 with the 14-24 and the 24mm tilt/shift. I would want to use the tilt/shift for landscapes also and have heard about having the lens modified by Nikon. Now I'm wondering if the flash will obstruct it for landscape use. I have never even seen a tilt/shift, much less used one so I am totally in the dark.

Sharon

[John]

Hi Sharon,
As I understand it, the Nikon PC-E lenses tilt and shift on different axis', so you can't use rise and tilt on the same plane at the same time (as you would with a view camera). Apparently Nikon can modify the lens for you to make this possible. You'd still be restricted then as you could use rise/fall on one axis, but only tilt (no swing) on the other. I think the issue about restricted movements on certain bodies may only affect the D300. Paul earlier in this thread said he is using the D700 with 24mm PC-E and having no problems. I believe the D700 has a higher prism/flash housing than the D300. I should stress that I don't own this lens or the D700, so I'm just going on an educated guess and what I've read, so it's worth checking it out for yourself before deciding.
All the best,

John
Architectural Image

[Sharon VL]

Thanks so much, John. I do plan on going to B&H or Calumet before ordering so I can check it out myself. Thanks for the info. It helps.

Sharon