A while ago I was also looking into the same question...unfortunately there are no "cheap" solutions out there anymore. The Hartblei super-Rotators were a good alternative to the Canon/Nikon tilt-shift lenses before Hartblei merged with Zeiss. The now available Hartbei tilt-shift lenses are very expensive.
If you want to have a wide angle tilt shift, you have very limited options and they are all expensive. In case you have a Canon camera, I recommend getting a used copy of the old version of the 24mm TS-E lens which is a good performer. The latest version of theis lens is now more than $2000.
Tilt-shift lenses are expensive. But after I got my 24mm TS-E, I am addicted to it!
Lensbaby might be a cheap alternative for the tilt function, but certainly not for the shift. There are also big differences between a lensbaby and a tilted TS-E lens.
It depends for which sort of effects/corrections the OP is looking for.
yea i originally thought older tilt shift lenses might be cheaper but it doenst look like it at all. I am using Canon, and have considered the 24mm.
@hotwire: for some reason that never crossed my mind, but maybe its cuz i would prefer something that can keep its value better. I'm not sure how well lensbaby would keep its value, i think it would just get cheaper as they keep upgrading it in the future.
@retro: are you using version one or two? thanks for the kiev link
retrofocus wrote:
Lensbaby might be a cheap alternative for the tilt function, but certainly not for the shift. There are also big differences between a lensbaby and a tilted TS-E lens.
It depends for which sort of effects/corrections the OP is looking for.
yea i would say the shift feature is something i really want to try
Sorry, the above link to KievCamera is an expired one and those lenses don't seem to be available anymore. The actual link is: www.kievusa.com
The best they offer in this regard is an Arsat 35mm shift lens only.
I hope that soon some third party manufacturare recognize this gap and produce well built and performing tilt-shift lenses for much less than Canon and Nikon do (e.g. Samyang? ).
I and a few others used the Kiev Mamiya Shift adapter ... it flared terribly as it had some strong internal reflection. I tore mine apart and tried several times to deal with the refelctive internal surfaces ... all to no real avail. Still have the parts, but
It was shift only, and unfortunately it interfered with the pentaprism housing such that you couldn't using it in vertical orientation ... which was the main reason I wanted it.
Otherwise, it was solid and worked nicely ... this was about 18 months ago, and they were made aware of it, so things might be better today, just worth noting.
aznkidd55 wrote:
anyone know whats the cheapest tilt shift lens out there? I want to experiment with it but dont want to spend that much money on one right now.
thanks!
Thee's a tilt shift at one of the shops I frequent that's around $350 or $400 IIRC. It's was either in the Canon FD case or the Olympus case. I'm going there today and will try and remember to photograph it for you. If you want it after that just PM me.
Get a view camera. I bought my first 4X5 with 2 excellent lenses for $100 (an exceptionally good deal). Any other lens I buy for the camera also gets tilt, shift, rise, fall, plus rear movements too! Most of the LF lenses have run less than $300.
Schneider PA-Curtagon 35/4 is an exceptional shift lens and is very small but they went up in price recently. Pentacon 6 lenses can be mounted with a tilt adapter and they are Zeiss (albeight Eastern, but still very good). Russian Arsat is another option but I don't know about it much.
Another fairly affordable high quality option is to obtain a Canon FD 35mm TS lens and either convert it yourself or get it converted. I got one for well below $500 and converted it myself. It's built like a tank and works and renders beautifully.
The cheapest shift lens I know is PCS MC ARSAT 2.8/35mm,Russian/Ukraine made.I had it in Nikon and Pentax mounts in the past.Multicoated and pretty good if you find a decent copy.Sells for around 150 - 180 Euro.
retrofocus wrote:
Sorry, the above link to KievCamera is an expired one and those lenses don't seem to be available anymore. The actual link is: www.kievusa.com
The best they offer in this regard is an Arsat 35mm shift lens only.
The Arsat 35mm is actually a tilt/shift - I've just received my second one. It's limited in that the tilt and shift are fixed to the same plane, unlike the Hartblei, but it does have both. I see them branded as Arax and Photex as well.
).
