question about architectural photography...DSLR

[fallia]

i have a new D3100 nikon with two kit lenses, learning to love the camera... i'm trying to get up to speed with the camera and equipment....i'm looking at faster wide angle sigma lenses.....i almost bought a 4x5 with bellows several years ago to photograph architecture....is there anything suitable for architectural photography with this entry level DSLR camera....looking for lenses with some perspective correction lenses do they exist?

[daft_biker]

I'm sure Nikon do some nice PC (Perspective Control) lenses but at a price. There are many software packages that can be used to correct converging verticals though....the software solution is cheaper and easier.

[inkista]

Nikon has three tilt-shift lenses (PC-E), the 24mm, 45mm, and 85mm. The problem is that all three of these are expensive, and none of them is particularly wide on a crop body. Also, you don't have nearly the degree of freedom with a tilt-shift as you do with a bellows. As daft_biker pointed out, software solutions are probably a better bet right now.

You can easily do perspective correction with even open source software like Hugin.

[fallia]

thanks guys...there in an "adjustment" subtle rotation that can be done with the view nx2 software that came with the camera....i may need to look at some other software, i will look at the lenses as well...thanks

[ravncat]

The nikon Pce lenses cost about 2200us each and have added limitations on your camera, the low height of the popup flash constrict movements

Another hardware solution is the horseman vcc pro and medium/large format lenses, as you'd lose infinity focus with nikkors , though this too is a pricy solution

There are also third party options that are cheaper but not so wide from hartblie and other Russian makes

[fallia]

thats an intriguing option....thanks

[fallia]

the medium / large format lenses seem very expensive.....any entry level models or brands out there??????.....i've been digging and looking at used lenses as well

[inkista]

Not sure if this is a good dealer, but...

MC 80 mm Tilt & Shift Nikon lens

Probably the cheapest one you'll find here or on eBay. This is the cheap Russian option. These are essentially remounted medium format lenses, so the widest one is 35mm. Which is just about the same as normal on a crop body camera.

MC 35 mm Tilt & Shift Nikon lens

You could look for old used PC (vs. the new PC-E) lenses, like the 28mm f/4.0. That's probably going to be your best bet. Still gonna cost, though. Tilt-shifts are relatively rare and always desirable, manual focus or not. The PC lenses may only shift, rather than tilt+shift.

[ravncat]

The medium format option is pricey, even if you are going used, because the crop factor involved means that you need a pretty wide lens (for medium/large format) to get to a wide angle on the 35mm frame.

Originally Posted by inkista

... The PC lenses may only shift, rather than tilt+shift.

Yes, the older Nikon PC lenses are Shift only. The old 35mm pc lens can often be found in the 4-5 hundred dollar range, but lacks tilt, which is perhaps more important for architecture than shift - albeit tilt can be done in post where shift can not.