Understanding lens tilt

Some video explanations

Visit Keith’s YouTube Channel

Understanding lens tilt – several different approaches

Video aids for understanding lens tilt and its use

Tilt/shift lenses can be very useful, but over the years I’ve found that whilst people often get the idea of shift quite readily. understanding lens tilt often causes difficulties.

I’ve written articles about using tilt and have an entire index page set up for covering all my tilt/shift articles and lens reviews.

Site Index: Tilt shift articles/reviews/videos

Since starting my videos a few years ago, I’ve several looking at aspects of using tilt. These take different approaches, since I’ve noticed that’s what works for people.

I’ll link to my tilt related videos here. If you’ve questions, do email me since I’m always looking for alternative ways of explaining how to use these lenses.

All my articles and info has also been condensed into my tilt/shift book

My book

What the lenses do, and how to use them.

I’ve 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.

ISBN 9781785007712

Book now available

Want some personal training/teaching covering lens tilt [and shift!]?

Through Northlight Images I also provide a range of specialist training, such as this for individuals:

• 1-to-1 bespoke personal photography/printing training

Understanding lens tilt: Showing how the plane of focus moves when you use lens tilt and the focus setting of the TTArtisan 50mm F1.4 tilt lens. How the combination of tilt and focus setting which gives full control over the ’tilt-shift’ effect.

What lens tilt does and ways of using it. Includes the ‘model world’ look and why there is much more to tilt. Includes how to place the plane of focus and how it can give the appearance of greater depth of field.

The camera plane of focus can be tilted using a tilt/shift lens, but matching the plane to an arbitrary subject plane of interest needs a combination of vertical tile and horizontal tilt (swing) at the same time.

Looking at how to set the plane of focus to run where you want it through your scene when working at short distances. The process for close-up work with a tilted tilt/shift lens is an iterative one.

The exact results depend on lens/adapter characteristics, so may require a changed camera setup or a small amount of shift to adjust composition after setting tilt.

The process is described in more detail Keith’s close tilt article:

The steps used in the video are from this guide:
1 Pick an arbitrary value for tilt
2 Focus on the far point
3 Look at the near point (zoom to 100% to see clearly, if using liveview)
4 Decrease the lens focus distance slightly and look what happens to the near point
5 If the near point becomes sharper, then you need more tilt (select a higher value for tilt and go to step 2)
6 If the near point becomes softer, then you need less tilt (select a lower value for tilt and go to step 2)
7 Both sharp? – you’re done.
8 If the change in focus of the near point is difficult to see, then try the alternative at step 9
9 Focus on the near point
10 Look at the far point
11 Increase the focus distance slightly and look what happens to the far point
12 If the far point becomes sharper, you need more tilt (select a higher value for tilt and go to step 9)
13 If the far point becomes softer, you need less tilt (select a lower value for tilt and go to step 9)

Looking at how tilt and the focus setting of your lens moves the plane of focus at near distances. Using the tilt setting of a tilt/shift lens, the plane of focus swings round until it runs parallel to the direction the camera is facing. This is the second of Keith’s videos looking at lens tilt.

Using lens tilt to place the plane of focus along a wall, with a tilt/shift lens