DIY tilt shift lens

Layer-cake · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 560 Location: Cape Town

Ive been thinking of building a tilt shift or at least tilt lens as it seems to be an easier undertaking!!

I picked up a Zeiss ikon Dresden kinostar 120mm series three projector lens, I was planning on selling it off but it has some lens separation bubbles on the front element so out the window goes that idea but it has given me a lens to play around with:)

I've read that its better to use a wide angle lens so I'm looking for some advice if its worth using the kinostar, it has a huge image circle which is a plus and if I understand correctly this is a petzval design lens.

I also have a tokina 24mm 2.8 that is in bad condition body wise as an option to use.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

This has been my project this week as I've got a bad knee and can't get about as much, so I dragged out a Sigma Superwide2 24 / 2.8 that I'd hacked the Practika bayonet mount off and began experimenting. I posted a picture of it with a lump of roughly hacked foam stuck to the back of it just a few days ago somewhere on the forum. It worked, but it was rough and an experimental freelensing test.
The Mark 2 version is much more sophisticated. Laughing

( I'll post some pictures later on.) I found some lightweight neoprene which I glued in to a tube slightly smaller than the back of the lens so it stretches tightly on to the lens - and it's glued on, and the other end fits tightly over a Canon FD to NEX adapter without gluing. It moves on the NEX adapter so I could test it, then I just held it in place with a wrap of electrical tape. The gap between the lens and the adapter is about 8 mm and the neoprene is flexible enough to move around. It works well.
With the right glue neoprene can be glued permanently and strongly, which is what I'll do for the Mark 3.

Layer-cake · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 560 Location: Cape Town

I've seen some pretty good designs so far, one that really stood out was using a shower head as it can swivel and tighten into position, it has a very small opening though so I'm on the look out for something wider.

Layer-cake · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 560 Location: Cape Town

seems the joints are quite common, they're called ball joint adaptors but as they are quite big they could probably only be used with projector or bellows lenses.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

This isn't bad, obviously you have to hold it in position so it's probably more freelensing without the light leaks than true tilt and shift. But actually, it's not that hard with the NEX. There's also a good bit of sideways movement as well.

This was shot with the Sigma Super-Wide 2 24 / 2.8 wide open and the lens tilted just about as far as the neoprene would go. Everything on the right is blurred and the church wall on the left is pretty good in the mid distance.
I need to get out and test it some more, get used to it. Then perfect it. But I think this 24mm lens has potential.

ZoneV · Expire: 2011-12-02

For a DIY tilt lens I have used a tiltable halogen spot. It has a bigger usable free diameter. On my website I have only the first attempt. Second and third one looks a bit better.
But the way to sue a tiltable lamp (halogen, LED) housing is quite popular in Germany.

Layer-cake · Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Posts: 560 Location: Cape Town

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Here is a Tilt/shift DIY guide
http://cow.mooh.org/projects/tiltshift/index.html

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