Tilt and shift
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Tilt and shift lenses
– how to use them
As well as the free articles Keith offers training and workshops covering the use of tilt/shift lenses.
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Keith Cooper’s tilt/shift articles and reviews
What the lenses do, and how to use them.
Keith has written a book that looks at the many ways that tilt/shift lenses can benefit your photography from a technical and creative point of view.
For international sales search any good book store for:
ISBN 9781785007712
If not in the UK, check local book stores. Keith has no connection with sales of the book.
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Key articles explaining tilt and shift use
Of the many articles here, some address particular issues with making effective use of tilt/shift lenses
- What tilt and shift lenses do
- How to use shift
- Focusing the tilted lens [includes Keith’s tilt table spreadsheet (zipped file)]
- Closer focus with tilt
- Extension tubes and tilt
- Setting the tilt axis at an arbitrary angle
- Fixing lens aberrations
Practical tips include: Using lens adapters to give tilt/shift | Teleconverters and shift lenses | A DIY large format camera adapter
Keith’s videos – covering aspects of tilt/shift use
These are videos embedded in articles/reviews.
For a full index of all videos on YouTube, there is a categorised index page here:
- Video: lens tilt used close up
Lens tilt basics: Keith Cooper looks at how lens tilt works with close-up photography - using tilt to place your plane of focus. Example uses the Canon TS-E17mm F4.5L tilt shift lens( 9m 45s) - Video: tilt/shift lens basics – sideways tilt (swing)
Lens tilt basics: Keith Cooper looks at sideways lens tilt (or swing) to run the plane of focus along a wall, whilst looking along the wall. Example uses the Canon TS-E24mm F3.5 tilt shift lens( 6m30s) - Video: Laowa 15mm shift lens review
Review of the Laowa 15mm F4.5 Zero-D shift lens, with examples of how the lens can be used. Includes a brief comparison with the Canon TS-E17 tilt/shift lens(14m 40s) - Video: tilt/shift lens basics – horizontally shifted images
Keith Cooper looks at using horizontal (left/right) shift of the lens to offset the camera viewpoint and control aspects of apparent image geometry and perspective (9 mins) - Video: tilt/shift lens basics – diagonally shifted images
Keith Cooper looks at using a diagonal shift of the lens to offset the camera viewpoint and control aspects of apparent image geometry and perspective (7 mins) - Video: tilt/shift lens basics – stitching shifted images
Keith Cooper looks at stitching pairs of shifted images taken with a tilt shift lens, to give a larger higher megapixel image with wider coverage (3m 50s) - Video: Tilt shift lens basics – vertical lens shift
Keith Cooper looks at basic vertical (up/down) lens shift with a tilt/shift lens, to correct converging vertical lines when looking upwards (3m 30s)
Latest news/articles/reviews related to tilt/shift lenses and their use
- LargeSense launches the LS911
LargeSense launches the LS911 8x10 digital camera back. Single shot 9"x11" CMOS sensor gives 12MP with 75 micron pixels. Base ISO is 2100 Includes lossless 4k video at 26fps - TS-E 50mm f/2.8L macro review
Review of the Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L macro tilt/shift lens. How to use the ±8.5 degrees of tilt and ±12mm of shift offered by the macro lens - TS-E 135mm f/4L macro review
Review of the Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L macro tilt/shift lens. How to use the ±10 degrees of tilt and ±12mm of shift offered by the telephoto macro lens - Rogeti TSE frame review
Review of the Rogeti TSE frame - lens mount for Canon TS-E 17mm and 24mm tilt/shift lenses. Attaches lens directly to a tripod for parallax free image stitching. Accurate image stitching for wide coverage - New Canon 50mm, 90mm and 135mm tilt-shift lensesNew tilt shift lenses announced. Canon 50mm f2.8L, 90mm f2.8L and 135mm f4L macro tilt-shift lenses. TS-E lens range expanded with macro capable lenses.
- Tilt and tubes for Macro
Using Tilt/shift lenses and extension tubes for macro photography. How much can you move the focal plane by tilting a lens - A shift lens at 50mm
Using a shift lens at 50mm - adding rise and fall to a standard focal length. Tilt/shift lens use at longer focal lengths. A Mamiya medium format lens used with a shift adapter
Lens reviews
- TS-E 135mm f/4L macro reviewReview of the Canon TS-E 135mm f/4L macro tilt/shift lens. How to use the ±10 degrees of tilt and ±12mm of shift offered by the telephoto macro lens
- Venus LAOWA 15mm shift macro review
Review of the Venus Laowa 15mm f4 1:1 macro shift lens. EF mount version tested on a Canon 100D & 5Ds. Fully manual lens combines wide angle, 1:1 macro and has +-6mm of shift - Canon TS-E17mm f4L
Information, sample images and review details for the Canon TS-E17mm f4L tilt-shift lens. Tested on a Canon 1Ds mk3 and in 2015 a 50MP 5Ds - Review Samyang 24mm tilt shift lens
A review of the Samyang/Rokinon 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC Tilt-Shift Lens, tested on an EF mount Canon 1Ds mk3. Other mounts available. - Canon TS-E 24mm 3.5L II
Information about the Canon TS-E 24mm 3.5L II tilt shift lens. Sample images and testing with a Canon 1Ds mk3 and 5Ds - What tilt and shift lenses do
Tilt and Shift lenses. The Canon TS-E 24mm lens review and discussion. What do tilt/shift lenses do? Why they can be so useful and how do you use them? - TS-E 17 and teleconverter (EF Extender) – addendum
The TS-E 17mm f4L lens does not show the settings actually used, in the camera EXIF data, when a Canon 2x teleconverter (EF Extender) has been used
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Keith explains tilt and shift lenses
Keith has written a book that looks at the many ways that tilt/shift lenses can benefit your photography from a technical and creative point of view. If not in the UK check for import issues and maybe try an on-line bookshop. Keith has no connection with sales of the book.
ISBN 9781785007712
There is also a specific index page on the site with links to all Keith's articles, reviews and videos about using tilt and shift.
We've a whole section of the site devoted to Digital Black and White photography and printing. It covers all of Keith's specialist articles and reviews. Other sections include Colour management and Keith's camera hacks - there are over 1200 articles/reviews here...
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