Hi, i have few questions regarding new PC 85mm lens. Help welcome.
1) i understand that it is manual focus lens only, right?
2) is there available any such long but old nikkor or third party PC lens?
3) i understand need for wide PC lenses, for architecture, etc. I also understand beauty of PC lenses in many cases (lensbaby cool example) out of that.
But can such long lens like 85 with such small shift/tilt bring any real difference? I mean something strikingly visible? At that distance the difference of tilt on blurred part must be minimal, is it not?
4)Do You have any examples with PC lenses, at best such long ones or wider but on crop bodies?
I ask because i hate to selective blur images in photoshop and lenbabies quality wise dont cut it.
I have the older version of this lens and use it all the time. I'm speaking of it here, but my understanding is that the only real change with the new one is that it is slightly better glass (ED...). You can still buy the old one, it is about 500 bucks cheaper if I recall.
It is a manual focus lens, is built like a tank, takes beautiful pictures when I don't screw them up, and is surprisingly easy to use even in PC mode.
As for the difference comment. Well, there are two issues here really. One, will you be able to frame the pictures you want in 85mm. I find this is an issue sometimes. I'm about to buy a 24mm for exactly that reason.
Second, does it work. Well, imagine this scenario. A tree 2m in front of you. Another tree slightly to the right and 30m away. Total angular separation between the trees about 10 degrees of arc. I set up in this situation and set the focus plane to pass from tree to tree, in other words something was perfectly in focus 2m from me, and just to the right, something else was in focus at quite a distance. The effect was perfect. I've also shot up the front of a building and had the whole face in focus. So the answer is, yes, you get great results from the tilt. I find the shift to be less useful in a 85 though it does work.
I normally use D700. Haven't really tried on my D300 because then of course it is a 128 or so... crazy.
If you want a specific test let me know what you want...
There's two differences between the old version and the new. The first is the updated optics (Nano-coated element most notably) and the second is the E-type aperture which means that you can set aperture from the body on a D3/D700/D300/D90 and also that the lens is incompatible with any body which doesn't support VR.
The 85/2.8 is a Micro-Nikkor and in many ways comes into its own when the tilt and/or shift are used to manipulate DoF at macro distances where a little tilt can go a LONG way (note the 45 PC-E is also a Micro-Nikkor).
Yeah, I was going to mention that. A BUNCH of my best portrait shots were done with it. It just feels right as a portrait lens. I was thinking of getting an 85 1.4 because I like the 85 but decided I can live with the 85 PC manual lens... for portraits AF isn't really necessary IMHO.
I don't have any easy way to post stuff as pics... if you want stuff sent as emails let me know and let me know the form you want them in... or if you want a specific test done tell me and I'll do my best (on the weekend, in all likelihood).
I've wanted to try the 1.4 85 just to compare it to the 85 pc specifically because of portraiture. I can't imagine bothering to get that one... my next target is the 24mm pc.
Cheeky, you mentioned alt lenses, look for a hartblei 85mm tilt/shift super rotator its a russian hand made lens. and optically a big bang for the buck.
Justing, i looked it up but i cannot find it anywhere here. Looks like some real nice lens for good price. Also on their website they seem to announce that they have none now...
yes, you'll need to capture one used. I waited for quite some time before one came along. IIRC i paid 300 plus shipping. There is an adaptor that will tilt any lens also.
