Tilt-shift lens or image processing?

[jwmrks]

Hi all! I've been playing around with architecture shooting lately and have always like playing with selective focus, so I'm toying with the idea of picking up a tilt-shift lens. I'm curious as to how going with a lens to get correct perspectives for archiecture and selective focus truly compare to faking it post processing. I know with the tilt-shift you actually change the plane of focus. In post you can add blur, but not add focus (so to speak). I've been thinking I could do focus bracketing and pick and chose the in focus areas to combine to get the most in focus area and then add the blur, similar to exposure bracketing for HDR. I'm still trying to figure things out, but I see potential there. As such, I find I'm talking myself out of any real pros to getting a tilt-shift lens, other than the lens would be a simple quick adjustment where the post processing can be time intensive, especially for my focus bracketing idea as I haven't heard of a program that do that automatically (unlike the many HDR programs). Are there any real arguments of going with a dedicated tilt-shift lens over post processing, apart from the extra work? I'm not a professional so I don't need the absolute highest quality, but may be willing to spend the money if there truly is tangible difference. Anyone care to share opinions or experience?

Thanks!

[inkista]

A tilt-shift lens can do two things, only one of which has to do with changing the geometry of the DoF. But yes, you'd have more control focus stacking, or doing depth masks than you would with a tilt-shift lens. A tilt-shift lens is far more limited than view/technical cameras with bellows are in terms of movements, since only the lens is moved, and the film plane doesn't.

However, the main reason tilt-shifts are used for architectural photography is the shift function, which can be used to change the point of view of the camera. When you want a photo that looks like an architectural projection, this can be really handy. You can do perspective correction digitially, but you'll be stretching pixels, and you can do panostitching, but you have to match the member images.

Getting a tilt-shift lens, though, tends to be an expensive proposition even with the Russian Arsat cheapies.

[jwmrks]

Inkista, is there anything you don't know about cameras? lol

I have a few pictures that I've taken from our downtown/historic area and for the first time I truly appreciate the issues when shooting architecture. I tend to be a gadget junky so my first thought was 'hey, I have an excuse to get a tilt-shift lens now' . So I'm trying to decide if this would just be a toy, or if it really will solve an issue that I can't with post. I don't typically do much, if any, post processing, but if I can solve my issues with a relatively cheap software package there would be no need to splurge on a new lens just for this. As such, I'm also considering what else it would buy me. I know I'd play a lot with the tilt as well, and have considered the possibility of doing better stiched panos by using shift rather than rotating the camera. But the lenses are pricey for what, essentially, are manual prime lens. I'd love to get a true view camera, and I've seen some kits where you can use your DSLR as the camera back. The problem is that not only is the conversion costly, there's a whole new set of lenses to consider as well.

Some days I think I like playing with my camera gear as much as I enjoy image hunting. I try to keep that in mind before any new purchase and you guys here can be a good sounding board.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by jwmrks

Inkista, is there anything you don't know about cameras? lol

Oh, more than you could possibly imagine. And, there's also a fatal flaw to my knowledge: most of it is book-learning, not hands on. You just got lucky in that you hit one of the few things I do have hands-on knowledge of, because I just wanted a tilt-shift as a toy to play with, and I managed to snag a cheap Russian Super-Rotator off eBay before the prices skyrocketed. My Hartblei 80mm f/2.8 Super-Rotator was only about $400.

It's the fugliest lens evah. Even the Arsats look sleek by comparison.



I found out a little too late that most of the cheap Russian tilt-shifts are medium format lenses with a dSLR-mount tilt/shift adapter. Which means medium format focal lengths. so, the widest one of these you're going to find is likely to be 35mm. Which isn't particularly wide (especially on a crop body), and not particularly useful for architecture/pano shooting for this reason. My 80mm, however, is decent for increasing DoF with macro photography if I use extension tubes.

... I tend to be a gadget junky so my first thought was 'hey, I have an excuse to get a tilt-shift lens now' .

Pretty much what happened to me. And then all the toy-model fake miniature stuff started exploding, and I wanted to see how doing it in-camera differed from doing it in post.

Some days I think I like playing with my camera gear as much as I enjoy image hunting...

This is definitely the case with me. I (to my shame) do occasionally "collect" a lens, rather than acquire one for use. I'm lucky; I can afford it. And for me, photography is a hobby. The more toys I have, the more fun I have, and the more I play. But it is impractical and eccentric and not the most efficient way to acquire gear.