45 TS lens question

[Ken Nielsen]

Some here who know mathematics really well related to the 45 TS lens might help me decide on whether the actual 'perspective correcting' use of this lens is of more value when using a FF camera and of greatly reduced value on a crop like the 7D or MK IV.

Is this true? and can you help me understand the best use of this lens on a crop, or should it be used on a FF only.

TIA,

Ken

[titi_67207]

Even on FF camera a 45mm focal length is not wide enough... so this lens is more useful for fake miniature shots or products shots than perspective corrections. The recent 24mm TS-E V2, especially on FF is the king for perspective / architecture work.

Titi

[Ken Nielsen]

I got it for product shots of N-Scale trains where DOF drops off quickly. I'l like to find other uses for it, but so far 'art shots' of landscapes seems to be an interesting avenue with it.

[Ken Nielsen]

I'm thinking of putting the 45 on the chopping block.

[Snydremark]

The limit I just recently was warned about for using the T/S lenses on a 7D is that the housing for the onboard flash extends far enough to block vertical shift from being fully utilized.

[Wilt]

'Perspective correction' would be the same regardless of format size or FL...it merely is permitting you to keep the focal plane of the camera perfectly parallel to the vertical plane of a building front (when using vertical shift movements) while still permitting you to 'aim higher' on the building. The FL then controls the SIZE OF AREA TO BE CAPTURED from camera position. Just as 24mm allows FF camera to capture a very wide area, and 90mm on FF allows you to capture a more tightly framed area, the 24 TSE vs 90 TSE accomplishes the same while allowing the captured area to be moved without altering the angle of the camera focal plane.

Use of Tilt is not 'perspective correction' but changing the angle of the plane of focus, relative to the focal plane of the camera.

[Ken Nielsen]

'Perspective correction' would be the same regardless of format size or FL...it merely is permitting you to keep the focal plane of the camera perfectly parallel to the vertical plane of a building front (when using vertical shift movements) while still permitting you to 'aim higher' on the building. The FL then controls the SIZE OF AREA TO BE CAPTURED from camera position. Just as 24mm allows FF camera to capture a very wide area, and 90mm on FF allows you to capture a more tightly framed area, the 24 TSE vs 90 TSE accomplishes the same while allowing the captured area to be moved without altering the angle of the camera focal plane.

Use of Tilt is not 'perspective correction' but changing the angle of the plane of focus, relative to the focal plane of the camera.

Thanks for clarification.

I'm renting the 24 TSE to give it a comparison try. $2100 opposed to the $1500 for the 45 is quite a jump in price range. Renting will tell if it's worth the investment for my use.

[ejenner]

Thanks for clarification.

I'm renting the 24 TSE to give it a comparison try. $2100 opposed to the $1500 for the 45 is quite a jump in price range. Renting will tell if it's worth the investment for my use.

If you don't need the IQ of the MkII, you could try the 24 MkI.

[Ken Nielsen]

I will try the 24 TS MK II this week. The 45 TS I already own, is useful for product Photography I am told.

[Wilt]

I will try the 24 TS MK II this week. The 45 TS I already own, is useful for product Photography I am told.

It is useful for [photography of what size object?] and [at what shooting distance?] of product photography, is the key point of detail needing to be addressed, but not.

Shooting a 9" product with 45mm to fill the APS-C frame when shooting at 2.5' might be too close for suitable lighting, and 90mm at 5' might be far better.
OTOH, shooting a 3' tall product with 45mm to fill the frame when shooting at 9' is a whole lot better than 90mm at 18'. And then some folks shoot cars or 8' tall industrial products, where 24mm might serve better.
'Product photography' is thrown about as a term much too loosely, like 'portraiture' is...which varies from full length standing shots to tightly cropped headshots.

All this lack of definition does is confuse the amateur buyer into thinking something is useful, but it really isn't useful FOR THEM!

[Ken Nielsen]

I am more interested in 'table-top' shots of food products in packaging which could range from candy-bar size to long beef pepperoni stcks in packaging. Any greater distance shots, like groups of products, I use my 24-70 zoom with good result. The smaller shots at a foot away are sometimes at an angle so hence the advantage of TS comes into play. Do you agree with this formula?

[Wilt]

I am more interested in 'table-top' shots of food products in packaging which could range from candy-bar size to long beef pepperoni stcks in packaging. Any greater distance shots, like groups of products, I use my 24-70 zoom with good result. The smaller shots at a foot away are sometimes at an angle so hence the advantage of TS comes into play. Do you agree with this formula?

Shooting at an angle (oblique to the object face), while capturing its square face to be square in the photo, certainly does make use of tilt movements. Where large format cameras can tilt in two axes, the TSE tilt is for only a single axis, so it is more limited in dealing with different situations.

Your description makes 90mm sound more suitable, as it permits twice the shooting distance as the 45mm for the same tight framing of relatively small objects that you mentioned, from candy-bar size to long beef pepperoni stcks in packaging. As I stated earlier, shooting a 9" product with 45mm to fill the APS-C frame when shooting at 2.5' will be too close for suitable lighting, and 90mm at 5' would be far better.

[Ken Nielsen]

Thank you Wilt. Great information that will help me. When will I ever learn to rent these lenses instead of buying them to try them out. I needed a few weeks to try out the 45, that's 14 x 30 dollars which is still cheaper than a 1200 dollar mistake. My problem was the lens was rented constantly and never available, so I jumped on it and now I know more.

I can still consign it and get maybe 600 bucks out of it, which is something to cut my losses.