I am doing macrophotography, mostly flowers and plants with the Nikon 105mm, and have been thinking about the Micro Nikkor tilt-shift 85mm 2.8 lens. I am using a Nikon D300s and am wondering if the PC-E version vs. the PC is worth the extra money. I have found a few used PC versions in very good condition for about half the cost a new PC-E, is the advantage of the full electronic version on this camera worth the additional $900? Thanks for any feedback.
I recently went through this calculus and ended up with the 85mm PC. From what I understand, the optics of the PC and PC-E versions are identical, only the aperture differs (mechanical for PC, electronic for PC-E). Basically, the mechanical aperture means that you have to manually stop down the lens to get a meter reading and to take the photo. I used to use the 28mm PC, so the stop-down method doesn't bother me--this is not a lens I will be using for quick-action. The sequence I use is:
Open up to the lens to maximum aperture (e.g. f/3.5 for the 85mm PC)
Preliminary focus
Stop down to desired aperture and take a meter reading
(Optional) Open up the lens to maximum aperture
Tilt / shift lens as desired
Stop down lens to desired aperture (if necessary)
Final focus
Press shutter release
If you don't open up the aperture in step 4, then that saves a bit of time, but it may make it difficult to see the effects of your swings/tilts on the plane of focus.
Having said all that, I do also have a 24 PC-E and it is nice to be able to focus and set lens movements at maximum aperture / maximum image brightness and let the camera do the stopping down. Also, if you don't use any movements the PC-E version is much more usable as a regular manual focus lens.
m1mgd00
Thanks for the feedback. It was also my impression the optics are identical between the two lenses. For my purposes I think the non-E version will suffice. I appreciate the information.
Save yourself the money ... the PC version will work fine as long as you are not in a hurry! I got the 24mm PC-E for landscape, and while its nice having the electronic control of aperture... its not completely necessary for my work.
the pc-e has nano coating so its contrast will be that bit better. i'd go for the pc and pocket the cash, if i saw one over here for that money i'd jump on it in an istant!
