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Archive 2009DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
p.1 #1DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Looking for a cheap Tilt/Shift solution, I eventually made one and thought it could be of interest to some.
Donor was an old Zeiss NETTAR 6x6 folding camera which seemed promising with its 75mm f/3.5 Novar-Anastigmat lens and broken shutter. Hardware is made of an aluminum plate, a spare EF mount, some rails bolts and nuts. Total cost including the lens is about $60.
Zeiss NETTAR, Photo by Bill Strong:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/162725241_c8646ba9d8_d.jpg
Mounted on a 5D2:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4089042984_d8c44020eb.jpg
Rear view with its EF mount taken from a broken Sigma zoom
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4088283971_3805148400.jpg
I didn't expect much from the lens, made in 1949. Good surprise here.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4088283899_978c395514_o.jpg
100% crop w/o sharpening (Camera set to 0), 21MP
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/4089042762_d203e79c70_o.jpg
Time to play a bit with tilt.First normal pic w/o tilt:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/4088283683_b8336d6653_o.jpg
Now, tilted to get the tickets in focus. Sorry for the uninspired pic, it was the first time I played w/ the lens on my bench.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4089042712_58db3e3512_o.jpg
And a classic miniature shot (near Shibuya in Tokyo)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/4089102758_dc36992110_o.jpg
Overall, it was a fun project. I intend to keep the platform and mount wider lenses on it, 75mm being on the long side.
Glad the 5D2 came with LiveView
Alex
Edited on Nov 09, 2009 at 03:47 PM · View previous versions
Donor was an old Zeiss NETTAR 6x6 folding camera which seemed promising with its 75mm f/3.5 Novar-Anastigmat lens and broken shutter. Hardware is made of an aluminum plate, a spare EF mount, some rails bolts and nuts. Total cost including the lens is about $60.
Zeiss NETTAR, Photo by Bill Strong:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/162725241_c8646ba9d8_d.jpg
Mounted on a 5D2:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4089042984_d8c44020eb.jpg
Rear view with its EF mount taken from a broken Sigma zoom
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4088283971_3805148400.jpg
I didn't expect much from the lens, made in 1949. Good surprise here.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4088283899_978c395514_o.jpg
100% crop w/o sharpening (Camera set to 0), 21MP
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/4089042762_d203e79c70_o.jpg
Time to play a bit with tilt.First normal pic w/o tilt:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2587/4088283683_b8336d6653_o.jpg
Now, tilted to get the tickets in focus. Sorry for the uninspired pic, it was the first time I played w/ the lens on my bench.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4089042712_58db3e3512_o.jpg
And a classic miniature shot (near Shibuya in Tokyo)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/4089102758_dc36992110_o.jpg
Overall, it was a fun project. I intend to keep the platform and mount wider lenses on it, 75mm being on the long side.
Glad the 5D2 came with LiveView
Alex
Edited on Nov 09, 2009 at 03:47 PM · View previous versions
Nov 09, 2009 at 01:54 AM
p.1 #2DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Wow, that miniature shot is eerily convincing....
Nov 09, 2009 at 02:03 AM
p.1 #3DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Nice project. I have the same lens on an old Zeiss Ikon Ikonta (512), but it'll stay there as I use a Mirex T-S adapter. Your solution is considerably less expensive, and probably a lot more fun.
Nov 09, 2009 at 04:57 AM
p.1 #4DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
On the cons side, bellows are stiff and tough to move for shift work at infinity (where bellows are at their shortest). I am looking for soft material to replace them, but it has to be cheap to keep the project's spirit.
Nov 09, 2009 at 03:53 PM
p.1 #5DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
nice work! Clever machining and fabbing of the brackets and whatnot. Love to see more results. What you need is a cheap bag bellows, it sounds like. Maybe a worn-out pair of black leather pants? Or something like that.
-Ed
-Ed
Nov 09, 2009 at 10:03 PM
p.1 #6DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
I admire you. I just bought a TS adapter.....
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Nov 10, 2009 at 05:43 AM
p.1 #7DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Totally cool project, congratulations! Looks like a 60-year old Zeiss is a match for the resolution of a 5D2 
Nov 10, 2009 at 05:47 AM
p.1 #9DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Thanks for the good words & suggestion. I wish I had a well worn pair of black leather pants by the way, but not because I need bellows.
Shifting a 75mm doesn't bring much, so I need a 50mm or wider lens (6x6 or larger to cover sensor when shifting) f/4 or faster. Anybody would know a cost effective candidate? Enlarging & industrial lenses OK to keep budget as low as possible.
Shifting a 75mm doesn't bring much, so I need a 50mm or wider lens (6x6 or larger to cover sensor when shifting) f/4 or faster. Anybody would know a cost effective candidate? Enlarging & industrial lenses OK to keep budget as low as possible.
Nov 10, 2009 at 06:35 AM
p.1 #10DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Definitely an awsome job on the brackets. So simple and achieveable yet effective!
Quite compact too if you think about it in terms of being a view camera...
Quite compact too if you think about it in terms of being a view camera...
Nov 10, 2009 at 06:45 AM
p.1 #11DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
you might look at a rodenstock 50/2.8 Rodagon enlarging lens. The whole range seems to be quite good and they can be had pretty cheap. The rodagons, particularly the APO models such as the 80mm APO Rodagon, are quite popular for use on DSLRs and occasionally view cameras.
There is also a 50/4 flektogon for pentacon six if I remember correctly. it is supposedly fairly nice. not sure on the price though.
There is also a 50/4 flektogon for pentacon six if I remember correctly. it is supposedly fairly nice. not sure on the price though.
Nov 10, 2009 at 06:49 AM
p.1 #12DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
I'm not sure something like this really belongs in the 'Alternative' forum ... it belongs in the 'Really Alternative' forum 
Pretty Cool
Pretty Cool
Nov 10, 2009 at 07:43 AM
p.1 #13DIY Zeiss Tilt/shift on EOS
Mamiya RB/RZ had a 50mm (6x7) lens that would work. they can be found for somewhat reasonable prices usually.
Enlarger lens (50mm) likely won't cover a huge image circle, though maybe... ? hard to say w/o trying.
-Ed
Enlarger lens (50mm) likely won't cover a huge image circle, though maybe... ? hard to say w/o trying.
-Ed
Nov 10, 2009 at 08:11 AM