tilt-shift for rangefinders?

[mrb]

Tilt-shift and perspective control lenses for SLR cameras are available, if not widely so. Olympus, Nikon and Canon make them (or made them, in the case of Olympus). Does anyone around here know if there is such a beast in the 35mm rangefinder world?

 

[sam_m]

??? ummmm...? is this a joke?

 

[rxmd]

Tilt-shift and perspective control lenses for SLR cameras are available, if not widely so. Olympus, Nikon and Canon make them (or made them, in the case of Olympus). Does anyone around here know if there is such a beast in the 35mm rangefinder world?

It doesn't make any sense because you don't see what you're photographing. It is possible to use SLR lenses with adapters, theoretically at least, but it still doesn't make any sense.

 

[Philippe D.]

One day, a guy had the same idea as you. Then, as he couldn't get any such lens for his rangefinder camera to buy, he converted himself a Leitz Elmar 50mm into a shift lens. Like this:



After he noticed the uselessness of this device, he tried to sell it on the bay, or he hang himself, we don't know.

😛

 

[rxmd]

In addition, shifting at least can be done much more comfortably on the computer nowadays (take a look at Panorama Tools and some tutorials for Hugin for how it is done).

Tilting can't, but composition using a tilt lens tends to be a lengthy process involving tripods anyway, so the advantages of a rangefinder are exactly zero in this respect.

 

[wyk_penguin]

One day, a guy had the same idea as you. Then, as he couldn't get any such lens for his rangefinder camera to buy, he converted himself a Leitz Elmar 50mm into a shift lens. Like this:

View attachment 53153

After he noticed the uselessness of this device, he tried to sell it on the bay, or he hang himself, we don't know.

😛

Maybe one could follow that train of thought and make a Leica with a ground glass back as well.

 

[pvenables]

I remember seeing a modified 35mm PC-Nikkor in one of Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz's books that she used on M-mount cameras. Doesn't tilt, though. Would have thought it would be relatively easy to guesstimate the degree of shift.

Paul

 

[nickdando]

The closest equivalent of a range-finder camera with a shift facility, that I can think of, is the large-format Silvestri.

Nick

 

[jaapv]

Actually shift lenses on an adapter on an M camera work rather well. They are wideangles that need to be stopped down so scale focusing is ok.

 

[hausen]

This is the main reason I am waiting on my Sony A7r is to use with my Leica PC 28/2.8 R. Love using shift in my landscapes.

 

[Takkun]

Actually shift lenses on an adapter on an M camera work rather well. They are wideangles that need to be stopped down so scale focusing is ok.

Wouldn't that be tilt, though?
Shifting is moving the plane of focus parallel with respect to the film plane, moving the image up/down or left/right. It wouldn't be even remotely practical on a camera without direct viewing.


That said, the first time I got to use a PC-Nikkor on an architecture assignment, I got this immense sense of vertigo and had to look down to make sure my feet were still on the ground. It was week after I was up photographing in a helicopter...

 

[Mr_Toad]

Maybe it's just me...but...

It rather tiresome for me to read a posted question, and then watch while the original poster receives their first responses from folks who are: (a) ignorant of both the subject matter and the answer to the question, and (b) think the original poster needs to told just how ignorant THEY are to be asking said question in the first place.

But, that's just my ignorant opinion.

 

[Spanik]

In medium format you also have the Plaubel Proshift. Only shift and not a coupled rangefinder. But at least a bit of it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've used a 35/2.8 PC-Nikkor on both film and digital M-series via an adapter, and Frances has an Alpa 12 S/WA with shift on formats up to 6x9cm. With a 35 Apo-Grandagon that's like a 16mm shift lens. Scale focus or (with the Alpa) use a ground glass.

Tilt can't work, of course, because you'd never know what was in focus (unless you bought an M Typ 240...)

Cheers,

R.

 

[jaapv]

Wouldn't that be tilt, though?
Shifting is moving the plane of focus parallel with respect to the film plane, moving the image up/down or left/right. It wouldn't be even remotely practical on a camera without direct viewing.


That said, the first time I got to use a PC-Nikkor on an architecture assignment, I got this immense sense of vertigo and had to look down to make sure my feet were still on the ground. It was week after I was up photographing in a helicopter...

I had no problem using an old PC Nikkor on the M9. On a tripod, using chimping for framing. The subjects are normally pretty static.

 

[x-ray]

Tilting can't, but composition using a tilt lens tends to be a lengthy process involving tripods anyway, so the advantages of a rangefinder are exactly zero in this respect.

Ok if you want to lose quality. You're interpolating pixels when you do that. For the best quality it should be done in camera.

Certainly you can use a PC or TS lens with a digital RF. You really need instant feedback on the lcd otherwise you're flying by the seat of your panes in the clouds.

 

[stompyq]

The Plaubel 69W ProShift offers shift. The finder actually moves when you shift. Don't know of any 35mm cameras that offer the same function

 

[sevo]

The Plaubel 69W ProShift offers shift. The finder actually moves when you shift. Don't know of any 35mm cameras that offer the same function

But it is/has no rangefinder!

 

[stompyq]

But it is/has no rangefinder!

Why would you want to focus a Schneider 47mm? I think it's effectively a 21mm wide. Much easier to just scale focus. Also I think it has a hotshoe so you can always fix a external RF. Can't really see the need.

 

[sevo]

Why would you want to focus a Schneider 47mm? I think it's effectively a 21mm wide. Much easier to just scale focus. Also I think it has a hotshoe so you can always fix a external RF. Can't really see the need.

The OP asked for a rangefinder. Plus, bigger formats don't let you get away with the sloppy focusing of 35mm - for one, you lose DOF as you increase in format (but that can be compensated by using a correspondingly smaller aperture), for the other, medium or large format used to be used for bigger enlargements, the "equivalent focal length" is only a valid assumption for identical size prints.