What lenses work best for a DIY tilt/shift setup on a Nikon DX body?
Asked 1/24/2012
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2 answers
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I want to build a DIY tilt/shift lens for a Nikon DX camera using a homemade adapter/bellows-style setup. I’ve seen examples using Pentacon 6 lenses, but I’m wondering what other lenses are suitable.
What should I look for when choosing a lens for this kind of project? Is the main requirement simply that the lens was designed for a larger format than DX, or are there other practical concerns as well? I’m especially interested in lens types or systems that offer enough image circle and working distance to make tilt/shift movements feasible.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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I'd scour the junk shops for old Kodak folders and Polaroids -- bellows cameras that are in far-from-collectible condition. It's usually the case wrap and the bellows that are shot (as well as the brass foldy bits). The lenses may be of a relatively small aperture, but the focal length is usually pretty long (somewhere in the 75-150mm range). You may need a locking cable release though, to keep the shutter open. You'll probably have to fabricate a "lens board" using another body cap for the other end of the plunger too.
(Added) These cameras would be classified as "medium format", so the lenses have an image circle much larger than you'd need. You could probably achieve a plane of focus that is nearly perpendicular to the sensor.
Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2719
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The safest choice is usually a medium-format lens.
Why medium format works well:
- It projects a larger image circle than APS-C/DX needs, so you have more room to tilt or shift before the frame corners go dark.
- These lenses are generally designed to sit farther from the film/sensor plane than typical DSLR lenses, which gives you physical space to build the tilt/shift mechanism.
Good candidates mentioned by the community include medium-format systems such as Pentacon 6, Mamiya, and Pentax 645/67 lenses.
Another low-cost DIY option is to salvage lenses from old medium-format folding cameras, Kodak folders, or Polaroids in poor cosmetic condition. Their lenses are often in roughly the 75–150mm range and can cover a much larger image circle, though they may be relatively slow and may require keeping the built-in shutter open with a locking cable release.
So no—the only concern is not just “larger format.” You also want:
- a large enough image circle for movement
- enough flange distance/working space to physically add the mechanism
- a focal length and aperture you can live with for your intended use
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