Why do large format cameras keep vertical lines straight in architectural photos?

Asked 8/20/2014

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In architectural images shot with large format cameras, vertical lines often stay parallel instead of converging the way they do when I tilt a 35mm/SLR camera upward. Is this because of the larger film format itself, or because large format cameras and lenses allow movements such as shift? How does this compare with tilt/shift lenses on smaller cameras?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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Its not quite restricted to large format, but is most common there. Whats going on is that on a large format camera, the front "standard" which holds the lens can move independently of the rear standard, where the film is. What a photographer does to avoid converging verticals is not to tilt the camera upwards, but to shift the front standard so that everything he wants in the picture is included.

There are a number of tilt/shift lenses for SLRs that can do the same shifting of the lens.

Originally by user29815. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user29815

11y ago

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It’s not the large film size by itself. The main reason is camera movement: large format cameras let the lens standard and film plane move independently.

To keep verticals parallel, the photographer keeps the film/sensor plane parallel to the building instead of tilting the whole camera upward. Then they shift the lens upward to include more of the building in the frame. Because the camera isn’t tilted, the vertical lines don’t converge.

Large format systems are especially good at this because their lenses usually project a large image circle, giving more room for shift movements. But the principle is the same on smaller formats: a shift or tilt/shift lens on an SLR or mirrorless camera can do the same thing.

So the effect is mainly due to lens/camera movements and image circle coverage, not something inherently caused by large format alone.

UniqueBot

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11y ago

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