I know there's a lot of threads that make hints and allegations about quality setups for product, but let's start another one ;-)

Obviously I'm looking for tilt functionality and a modest magnification and a moderate telephoto. So probably a MF lens on a tilt adapter. 5D user here.

The recent best-rated is probably Mamiya's 120mm F4 macro for 645. Who makes a good tilt adapter for M645? Am I missing another gem of a lens?

Last, if this is going to cost in the realm of a used 90mm TSE, I'll probably do that instead. So at most I'm looking at a $600 investment (which is, admittedly quite a bit less than the 90 TSE)

Thanks for any advice
Daniel

Was the Mamiya 120 Macro rated better than either the 120 Zeiss Makro Planar for Hasselblad or the APO-Makro Planar for Contax 645? I'm not sure either of these lenses would fall within your budget though.

Looks like you can actually pick up a copy of the Hasselblad 120 Makro for around your budget but not the Contax APO Makro.

I would get the 90 TS-E.

Its an L quality lens, that gets the job done. For the work you describe it sounds like you need performance and tilt shift capability. I know alt lenses can be a lot of fun and deliver great results. But messing around with MF lenses and adapters might not be the performance and cost blessing you hope for. I would get a used 90 TS-E and be done with it.

You can also use the TS-E with the canon 1.4X TE and extension tubes etc.

TS adapters are expensive and mostly clunky. I also think the 90 TS-E is a better choice.

I've always wanted to try the Arsat 80mm T/S (http://araxfoto.com/specials/tilt-shift-80/), but even half the cost of the Canon 90 T/S, there aren't enough reviews for me to justify the purchase

What I've been more interested in is trying Zeiss Pentacon Six lenses with a tilt adapter, which sounds like an even more affordable alternative. Reading this ad at 16-9.net made me even more tempted:

Zeiss 120mm f2.8 Tilt lens for Canon EF: £195
If you've ever looked enviously at the Canon 90mm T/S but wondered whether it was worth the money, this is the lens for you. Not only is in better optically in just about every way, it's less than half the price. This Pentacon Six 120mm Zeiss Jena Biometar f2.8 is mounted in a P6-Canon tilting adaptor that provides 8° movements. The lens is superbly sharp and aberration free wide open, and has produced some of the most detailed full frame captures I've seen, with and without movements. When you're generating 19MB CR2s on a 5D you know something is right. Great, great bargain. Pix pending.

The TS-E 90/2.8 is the way to go.

It would cost about $925 US (not incl. shipping & tax) to get a Mirex T-S adapter and a Mamiya M645 A 120/4 Macro lens. A used TS-E 90.2.8 costs about $950 US (not incl...) on eBay, and about $100 more at KEH (all in M- condition). If you only want one telephoto T-S lens, then you should probably get the TS-E 90/2.8. OTOH, the Mirex provides more movements (10 deg vs. 8 deg, 15mm vs. 12mm) and can mount any M645 lens (or Hasselblad, Pentacon 6, etc. with M645 adapters). So, if you might use a variety of focal lengths, then the Mirex is a great solution, as many excellent M645 lenses are very inexpensive. If you want wider than 35mm, then you have to go back to the 35mm lens world, where the new TS-E 24/2.5L II and 17/4L currently rule the roost.

Thanks folks... plenty to think about.

Cheers,
D

gasrocks wrote:
The TS-E 90/2.8 is the way to go.

gasrocks, were you not satisfied with your Pentacon six tilt adapter + Zeiss 180/2.8? Did you ever test your CZJ 80/2.8 with that adapter? I would obviously expect the Canon T/S's to be superior, but also considerably more expensive...

I rent the 90 TS-E when I need to. I do own and use the 45 TS-E lens.

Last week I had a shoot with a well known musician. I had to do live action shots and shots of the guitar. The only lenses I used were the 58mm/1.2 Rokkor and the 45 TS-E. Most of the shots that will be used in the magazine will be the 45 TS-E. They really are versatile expressive lenses.