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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Tilt-Shift Photography
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07/20/2011 08:10:15 PM · #1
I have found a previous challenge that involved Tilt-Shift.
I am wondering if this technique is possible with any lens or if a tilt lens is required?
I know a photo can be processed to give the effect but can the effect be obtained without PP or really expensive lenses?

Only reason I ask is that I am working on a site which is under construction (IKEA Springvale for those in Melbourne area) and Tilt-Shift images would be a great effect.

Any tips?
Ta
07/20/2011 08:15:12 PM · #2
Some cameras have a built in filter to give this effect.
07/20/2011 08:45:47 PM · #3
Without PP, and without modifying a normal lens, no, it's not possible. Therefore, you can either shell out the money for a dedicated TS lens or you can try this out.DIY Tilt-Shift Lens
Note that I have not personally tried this, but have been meaning to. If you do it yourself, would you mind posting thoughts for the rest of us?
07/20/2011 08:56:20 PM · #4
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Without PP, and without modifying a normal lens, no, it's not possible. Therefore, you can either shell out the money for a dedicated TS lens or you can try this out.DIY Tilt-Shift Lens
Note that I have not personally tried this, but have been meaning to. If you do it yourself, would you mind posting thoughts for the rest of us?

Wow, that is alot more complicated than I had hoped, I think I will have to join you in the "I will do it one day" club!
07/20/2011 09:35:30 PM · #5
Originally posted by supanova:

Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Without PP, and without modifying a normal lens, no, it's not possible. Therefore, you can either shell out the money for a dedicated TS lens or you can try this out.DIY Tilt-Shift Lens
Note that I have not personally tried this, but have been meaning to. If you do it yourself, would you mind posting thoughts for the rest of us?

Wow, that is alot more complicated than I had hoped, I think I will have to join you in the "I will do it one day" club!


Did you look at all the suggestions contained in there? Some are much more complex, but the bendycam is pretty straightforward and freelensing requires nothing!
BTW, bringing this back to my attention has led me to pursue finding myself an MF lens once again...

ETA: So I guess I was off when I said you can't do it at all without modification initially.

Message edited by author 2011-07-20 21:36:46.
07/20/2011 09:39:25 PM · #6
This is the site where I learned to replicate Tilt Shift in post processing. It's fun to do and the effect is awesome.
07/21/2011 12:19:28 AM · #7
We also have a tutorial right here on creating one of the tilt-shift effects (fake miniature) in PP ...
07/21/2011 12:51:38 AM · #8
It seems ironic that tilt and shift were camera adjustments that were developed in the large format and silver days to allow the best possible focus from edge to edge, and corner to corner.
07/21/2011 12:54:15 AM · #9
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

It seems ironic that tilt and shift were camera adjustments that were developed in the large format and silver days to allow the best possible focus from edge to edge, and corner to corner.


Sharp is soooo yesterday... ;)
07/21/2011 02:49:05 PM · #10
Originally posted by MelonMusketeer:

It seems ironic that tilt and shift were camera adjustments that were developed in the large format and silver days to allow the best possible focus from edge to edge, and corner to corner.


Not really.

They are intended to allow control over the orientation of focal plane as well as perspective control.
07/22/2011 04:23:56 PM · #11
Originally posted by spiritualspatula:

Without PP, and without modifying a normal lens, no, it's not possible. Therefore, you can either shell out the money for a dedicated TS lens or you can try this out.DIY Tilt-Shift Lens
Note that I have not personally tried this, but have been meaning to. If you do it yourself, would you mind posting thoughts for the rest of us?


I pulled my old and busted kit 18-55 out of the dark closet and carefully dismantled it in preparation for this DIY setup and I have some questions. I tried googling about this but I haven't had much lucking finding anything.

Please see this image. Sorry for the quality, taken from my phone at work.


The rear lens element (2nd from left) has a movable bracket that moves two lenses inside the element. The "rail" 2nd from the right is stationary and turning the lens moves the entire rear element forward and backward to zoom, while also moving this bracket to change the position of the two lenses inside the rear element.

My question is, should I retain access to this moving bracket in the rear element, because I assume it is used for focusing? Or should I just set it to infinity and use the "accordion" for focusing by moving the front element back and forth.

With this project, I'm trying to figure out how focusing works versus zoom. Moving the front lens element away from the rear lens element seems to decrease DOF while increasing zoom, and moving this movable bracket and therefore the two lenses inside the rear element would seem to change focus.

Am I right, or do I have this backwards?
07/22/2011 09:27:12 PM · #12
If you move the lens away from the sensor, focus will become much closer, and you will lose the ability to focus to infinity. It's cool if you want to shoot close stuff with it though. Stopping down will help some with long shots, but it's going to be hard to hold it all still for any length of time. Have fun and don't worry too much about the settings. I would set it at infinity for sure though.
Since you are doing a DIY rig, you may find it fun to experiment with the different elements of the lens one or two at a time.
This was done with a couple of elements out of a lens that I found at a scrap yard this afternoon, by just holding it in front of my camera. I took out the back element, and turned the middle one around and finally got a sort of focus. Maybe I will make a lens tube for it or use a piece of vacuum cleaner hose to make a tilt shift with it.

07/22/2011 10:22:09 PM · #13
You're right, this is fun.

I am pretty sure the "rail" turns the lenses in the rear element to keep focus while the zoom changes, so it mainly compensates for zoom.

And the rotation of the front element caused a change in distance from the front lens to the back which is where the focus happens.

I did have it backwards.

Now that I've got that figured out, I'm going to mount the rear elements and attach the "accordion" to the barrel in a way that let's me do tilt/shift. Hopefully I will have a very simple version of a manual focus zoom tilt/shift lens.

Message edited by author 2011-07-22 22:22:45.
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