Best PC-E lens?

gws4

Hey, I've always been intrigued by the PC-E lenses and have done some research on how they work and what not. I'll obviously never afford all 3, but i you could only use one, what would it be? 24, 45 or 85?

nek4life

Hey, I've always been intrigued by the PC-E lenses and have done some research on how they work and what not. I'll obviously never afford all 3, but i you could only use one, what would it be? 24, 45 or 85?

I've never used one before, but I would definitely take shooting style/subject matter into account. What types of subjects/photography will you be using the lens for?

DJBee49

gws4
As I am sure you know, these are fairly specialised lenses and which of the available focal lengths you were to get would very much depend on what you wished to use it for. As they are all pretty expensive, you might need to check that you really have a good use for them before buying! That said, they are perfectly good prime lenses in their own right, albeit a rather costly way of getting there! Their use as a way of throwing selected areas out of focus and distorting shape for creative purposes can also be fun.

The 24mm is great for architecture and landscapes while the 85mm would be very useful for product shots in studio. Personally, I am not sure what I would use the 45mm for but I am sure someone else will offer an opinion! I have the 24mm and it is very useful indeed. My only criticism is that it does not have quite enough back coverage to be pin sharp at full rise. I have found it perfectly acceptable if stopped down to f11-16 though and when I need it for architectural shots (interiors and exteriors), it is indispensable. I frequently wish that I had the 85mm for studio work but it is too much money for me at the moment!

A word on the technical demands of using them. Once you understand the principles involved, it is not that difficult really but you really do have to understand the theory! The joy of using these lenses is that, unlike the film days, you can experiment away at no cost! There is, of course, always the option to hire one to see how you get on.

Good luck!

Msmoto

I chose the 24mm f/3.5 PC Nikkor...the only issue is the tilt/shift occur at right angles to each other.

Examples:


Big:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/13248423815/sizes/o/



Big:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/13221868723/sizes/o/



Big: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/9667164241/sizes/o/

paulr

I Think DJBee49 as given you best advice Hire/ borrow a PC/TS lens before you buy. They are not easy lenses to use. Different PC lenses come in various focal lengths to suit different photography requirements. They are mainly used with tripods which can have their own problems. I started with the Nikon 24Pc but found the set up times quite long. Sold it and bought the Schneider 90 version and found that much easier and friendly to use. However it's not a lens I use every day, so you have to sum up is the investment worth your while.plus most PC lenses are manual again not to all tastes. When you consider the cost, maybe there are lenses you would use more frequently at a similar budget.

Vipmediastar_JZ

Lightroom v5? I actually just edited the photo below. It looks nothing like the final image. I corrected for vertical I beleive and then made another tilt adjustment to my liking. lens 70-200 at 170mm