MACRO: Tilt-lenses usable for macro?

[Rogert]

I heard Shift/Tilt-lenses can be used to get a longer DOF, if I have understood this right the focalplane can be rearranged to be parallell to a wall/road etc (that is not parallell to the sensor). Are these lenses useful for macro-photography, for insects and such? Any benefints in using these DOF-wise?

[troypiggo]

For macro work, what's important is the minimum focusing distance. Macro lenses allow you to focus very close, like 100mm in front of the lens for a 100mm macro lens. Don't think TS lenses will allow you to do that, so the shots you'd get wouldn't really be classed as "true" macro.

[timsdd]

I just got the 24mm tse...I'll have to try it out!

It did mention a broader DOF when one is not available in the manual...not sure if that would apply to macro though.

[Rogert]

If you put rings behind it would it still work as it should? You could get 1:1 then right, and that crazy tilted focalplane effect on top of it, just a thought, you would probably have to know how it works very good to adjust it quick. The nikons go down to 1:2, almost macro..

[troypiggo]

I would think they'd be very difficult, or too difficult, to use for macro. You need to be pretty mobile. As for whether you'd get 1:1 - depends on the length of tubes, the focal length of the lens, and what distance they can focus down to. I have no idea about TS lenses. Suggest you ask in the Lenses forum - probably where this should have been asked originally, not the Photo Sharing section ;)

[Rogert]

Yes you are right my mistake.

[LordV]

Certainly seen some interesting macro shots with a 90mmTSE and ext tubes.

Brian V.

[René Damkot]

The TS-E 90mm (http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/ef/data/ts-e/ts_e90_28.html) has a CFD of 0,5m. Magnification is 0,29x then.

So that's not Macro. With extension tubes, you can focus closer.

Tilt could be usefull to get the focal plane where you want it, but IMO presice setting of the tilt is not easy in a tiny DSLR viewfinder (Haven't used a TS-E lens, but have used a Cambo Ultima (http://www.cambo.com/Html/products_photo/set01/english/internet/Item85.html) with an 1DsMk2)
Ideally you'ld want something like a Sinar 4x5" (http://www.sinar.ch/site/index__gast-e-1773-50-1894.html) for this :cool:

DoF doesn't get bigger by the way, just 'placed different'.
As for how this works, have a look here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheimpflug_principle).

[Rogert]

I've read that wiki article now, interesting stuff, a bit too technical for me but I understand how it works. I see some potential in this, you could place the focal plane pretty much as you want, for example over an ant, the whole length, all sharp. Only problem is, it cant move.. :p I'm unsure is focusing is even possible.

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all, at least not for living insects or anything that moves, but making it work (in some way, I'm guessing luck is a big factor here) if only for one macro shot would be very fascinating imo.

[timsdd]

The TS-E 90mm (http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/ef/data/ts-e/ts_e90_28.html) has a CFD of 0,5m. Magnification is 0,29x then.

So that's not Macro. With extension tubes, you can focus closer.

Tilt could be usefull to get the focal plane where you want it, but IMO presice setting of the tilt is not easy in a tiny DSLR viewfinder

I am loving the live view feature of the 40D just for this...being able to see what is going on! VERY helpful with my 2 lens macro setup.