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Tilt shift?

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KnobJockey
Posts: 797 - Karma: 37
what is a good tilt shift lens that you guys would reccomend for the nikon d3100?
May 26 2011 8:21PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Why do you want a tilt shift lens?
May 26 2011 8:26PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
lensbaby. not a tilt shift, but it really gives that effect. and its cheap. http://www.lensbaby.com/lenses-muse.php otherwise you'd have to spend a shit ton of money
May 26 2011 8:50PM
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Shredability
Posts: 2756 - Karma: 501
Yea pretty much.

Or just fake it on photoshop
May 26 2011 11:55PM
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dispatchQ_main
Posts: 2619 - Karma: 629
just fake it o photshop, its easy to do, but tiltshift lenses would be sick for other shots too imo.
May 27 2011 12:59PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
tilt shifts are cool... but the photos rly suck. they are soft or defracted 99% of the time.
i wouldnt buy one. i know you want to make those really cool montages or intros.... just demo one and take some shots then you will realise that you would raher not drok 2 grand on one. its like a fisheye... they are a one trick pony.
May 27 2011 1:03PM
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screamin_seamen
Posts: 619 - Karma: 551
If its for video just edit it in Magic Bullet Looks. I've used it twice and it worked well!
May 27 2011 1:15PM
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Gharf
Posts: 1390 - Karma: 983
please dont do any of those miniature videos.

it was cool 2 years ago.

now, quoting an NS member, "TSE videos are the HDR of video". so true.
May 27 2011 1:20PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
You guys do realize there are practical uses for Tilt shift lenses beside making a cool DOF
May 27 2011 1:30PM
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[un]necessary
Posts: 19 - Karma: 10
this for sure.
May 27 2011 1:34PM
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
I use a fisheye for probably 40% of my shots.and a tilt shift isn't a one trick, its at least a 2 trick. The original use of tilt shifts was to get a deep focus on landscapes but if you tilt it the opposite way you get the "miniature effect". Research is key.
May 27 2011 1:58PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
Tilt shift photos most certainly do not suck
http://www.thedphoto.com/inspiration-fix/beautiful-examples-of-tilt-shift-photography/

There are a lot of practical uses for a tilt shift. One of those applications is to fix perspective error when shooting tall buildings.
May 27 2011 2:20PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Tilt-shift videos can look good. As with anything, they get a bad rap because amateurs with a tenuous grasp on composition use it randomly. The result: busy footage with a circular defocused vignette place arbitrarily in the frame for no apparent reason.

Having said that, I honestly have yet to find one pleasing example of tilt-shift videography. I've seen plenty of great photos, so I know it's possible...
May 28 2011 7:49PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Click for larger image
Click for larger image

^ BAD
May 28 2011 7:52PM
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kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
I thought the Whistler XXS video was a good example...

May 28 2011 8:12PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I was just going to say that that video looks all too similar to the examples I posted above, but I didn't want to sound like an a-hole.
May 28 2011 8:38PM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
research? i worked at a camera store, i have had time to play with the lens, i think i know a lil but about it.

and 40% nice. that means you are really getting th composition in your shots. you defs dont shoot skiing or skateboarding where the goal is to film so the skieror skateboarder looks like whatever he is doing is actually much bigger and his trick is that much sicker then it actually is.

or you have a "through the eyes of the fish" art exhibit up soon. if so good luck, i wish the best of the showing.

its still a one trick pony.
May 29 2011 2:04AM
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
As far as the fisheye, I use all the usual composition and companies buy the shots but I still respect your opinion. The rest of the time is 30% 24-105, 20% 70-200, 10% 100 macro. "Such lenses are frequently used in architectural photography to control perspective, and in landscape photography to get an entire scene sharp." -Wikipedia about tilt-shift
May 29 2011 2:36AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Ugh at this thread.

Besides, the perspective given by UWA and fisheye lenses, although the shots can get redundant, make things look a lot bigger than they are based on perspective, so, if you wanted to make every shot of every skier on every jump look bigger than it is, the best thing you could do is shoot fish or ultra wide laying on the deck.
May 29 2011 2:49AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
i can think of about 4 newschoolers that would actually use it for that, and not some gimmicky crap.
May 29 2011 2:50AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
If they were using the TS lenses for the interior ones, getting everything sharp and correcting perspective, those ones were tight. but over 60 percent of those were the same gimmick


OP, selective focus can be cool. Not every photo / video one sees with blurry parts mean "Tilt Shift", as a those lenses can only do so much. Taking advantage of selectively focusing parts of your composition and blurring others is awesome when done well, and done to enhance the photo. Otherwise, it's just a giant, steaming, corn-filled pile of gimmicky bullshit.

Lensbabies are fun, don't bother even looking into tilt shift lenses unless you actually want to use them to correct perspective, etc. Most of the "tilt shift" stuff you have seen is done in the media editing software, and not with a lens.


The only time I've seen a tilt shift video done well was the Tyler, The Creator music video. The only well done photos I've seen with tilting and shifting lens movements were done on view cameras with bellows, people that are using them for what they are made for, and one or two of Anathema's shots that were maybe done with lens movements on a view camera too, I don't remember.

All the miniature stuff is straight dildos. And that's my opinion. lol
May 29 2011 3:11AM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
do you think the OP is going to use a tilt shift for landscape and architectural photography?
thats why i said i think he/she shouldnt get one.
its also very expensive for a beginner photographer, what are they 2.5 grand?
i think those lenses should be saved for later years in photography.
im more of an artist then a gearhead when it comes to photography, i have 3 lenses and i sell my work through an art gallery. tilt shift is nothing i have nor it is somehing i would like to have. based on my work and my personal experiences comes my response to the origonal post.



May 29 2011 12:16PM
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yourthemannowdog
Posts: 4541 - Karma: 313
Anyone use a tiltshift lens for architectural photography? Just wondering
May 30 2011 1:54AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Just pointing out that this phrase has probably not been used before... or if it has... uhhhhhh
May 30 2011 2:36AM
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KnobJockey
Posts: 797 - Karma: 37

thanks for all the advice guys, but i have another question

as of now i have an 18-55 and 55-300

what kind of lenses do you guys recomend for filming skiing and other action sports?

May 30 2011 3:16PM
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andrewmeehan
Posts: 765 - Karma: 364
get away from kit lenses. and buy a wide angle for your first lens.
Really go out and spend more than $300 on a lens. A good wide angle should cost anywhere from $600-up.
May 30 2011 3:20PM
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KnobJockey
Posts: 797 - Karma: 37

my 55-300 was $500......

May 30 2011 3:22PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
or buy vintage primes with buttery manual focus rings, and get 2-3 lenses for the same cost.
May 30 2011 3:30PM
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kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
Hahahaha it's fine, I don't really know the difference between a good TS and a bad one, but I know the photos that were posted are pure shit. It gave me the illusion of being small, and was visually appealing, so I just assumed. My bad.
May 30 2011 4:29PM
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ImNotARacist
Posts: 5136 - Karma: -1,030
Your 55-300 is going to be one of your best friend for. Standing on the landing of one jump and filming the lip of the second is going to look real nice with that lense (Correct me if im wrong) the 18-55 is stock? If not keep it. I just like to have my wide angles a fixed mm.

Personally I would grab a 10mm fish eye. JordanLoyd uses this lense very well. And it is great for smaller, technical type of riding.
May 30 2011 5:14PM
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KnobJockey
Posts: 797 - Karma: 37
what lensbaby would you guys say is the best for casual shooting?
May 31 2011 1:43PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
none. LB are in no means a "casual shooting" lens
May 31 2011 3:31PM
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SeanTom
Posts: 7936 - Karma: 1,747
holy fuck this. deezey or whatever please shut the fuck up.


Jun 1 2011 2:04AM
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
Click for larger image

took that by holding my helios 44-2 in front of the sensor at an angle, i really like it
Jun 1 2011 2:20AM
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