An Introduction to Tiltshift Photography

Now that we’ve shown all the wonderful uses for a tiltshift lens, how are you going to go about getting your hands on one?

Tilt For Sale
Canon and Nikon practically own the tilt/shift lens field for DSLRs. Canon makes 17mm f/4, 24mm f/3.5, 45mm f/2.8, and 90mm f/2.8 TS-E lenses. Nikon offers 24mm f/3.5, 45mm f/2.8, and 85mm f/2.8 PC-E Nikkors. These are all manual-focus lenses, although they can be used in autoexposure modes. Hartblei makes 35mm f/2.8, 65mm f/3.5, 80mm f/3.5, and 120mm f/2.8 Super-Rotator T/S lenses for many makes of DSLRs, plus a 45mm f/3.5 for several medium-format cameras. Schneider makes a shift-only lens, the 28mm f/2.8 PC Super-Angulon, that can be fitted to a variety of cameras via T-mounts.

Tilt For Rent
Tilt/shift lenses are expensive, a stiff financial commitment for a tool that you may find little use for, after all. If you want to try a T/S lens without melting your credit card, rent one. Prices can be as low as $35 for a three-day rental of one of the less-expensive Canons or Nikons. Here are some outlets that rent these lenses (check also with camera retailers in your own area).
Adorama: New York-based, will ship throughout the U.S. (adoramarentals.com)
BorrowLenses.com Online service also rents through nine stores in the San Francisco Bay area. (www.borrowlenses.com)
Calumet: Rents through nine stores across the U.S. (www.calumetphotographic.com/rentals)
Foto Care: New York-based, will ship throughout the U.S. (www.fotocare.com)
Lens and Repro: New York-based. (www.lensandrepro.com)

For more on tiltshift photography, check out:

How To: Create a Faux Tilt-Shift Effect
Mini-Tutorial: Focusing, Tilting and Shifting