Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - tilt-shift lens for product photography

aldegonde · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 430

is someone using a tilt-shift lens for product photography ? and if yes, which one . 45 mm, 85 mm.

I'm making pictures for a toys catalogue and am wondering if it would be easier with a tilt-shift lens.

Now I blend several images if I need more depth of field. It's not always easy or convenient

lukaszb · Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 151

rudyumans · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:21 am

It depends what kind of toys. If you have to shoot a toy train or car at (almost) eye level and under an angle, a T/S lens would be an advantage for your DOF. For a teddy bear, not so much.

Depending on your camera, I think 90 MM might be a little long. Especially if you have a cropped frame

rinder99 · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:37 pm

Im not a fan of TS on DSLR's as compared to Large format TS. There not really in the same league as to usefulness. You can get stacking software that will give you infinite DOF.

aldegonde · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 430

rinder99 · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:33 pm

I had it and lost it. Contact Russ. he has it.triceratops this one is specific for exactly what you wanna do.

rudyumans · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 5:54 pm

To me, stacking software seems very time consuming with no guarantees.

I agree that a large format, technical camera, or medium format camera with movements would be much better, but if someone doesn't have that system nor the financial resources to buy it, a 35MM T/S lens is the next best thing.

aldegonde · Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 430

stacking images does take time. it's annoying

I'm using a Nikon D700, they have tilt shift lenses in 24mm, 45 mm and 85 mm

Anyway, i'm waiting for my next order before eventually buying a lens. This gives me a couple of more months to think about it.

It would be good if I could try one somewhere to see it in action and see if it is worth buying one

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:28 pm

Google.... Here ya go.

http://www.heliconsoft.com/heliconfocus.html

jeffbanke · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 12:22 am

I agree TS lenses are best used to "fix" architectural tilts or leaning.
Software and multiple frames is the best way to do what you want to do.

rinder99 · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:36 am

The top product and food shooters Still use TS Cameras 4 x 5 with Dig Backs.If my business was still product work Thats all I would use.

kenny123 · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:31 am

Here's one way to do it in photoshop.....

Tilt shift

Open up your chosen image, press Q to switch to Quick Mask mode, then click on the Gradient tool. Set the colours to the default black and white by pressing D, then switch them around by clicking on the double-headed arrow next to the colour chips. Next, set up the gradient as shown above. Make sure you select the repeating gradient type – fourth icon along, looks like a cylinder.

Choose where you want the focal point of the photo to be – usually about halfway between top and bottom – and click and hold at that point. Drag the line of the gradient tool upwards, then release it towards the top of the frame; it doesn't hurt to be a little off the pure vertical. Press Q again to switch back from Quick Mask mode.

Chose Filter ▸ Blur ▸ Lens Blur to bring up the Lens Blur filter pane. It can take a little tinkering to get the settings just right, but try these values (Shape hexagon 6; radius 57; brightness 35; threshold 254;as a starting place. The Iris section controls the shape of the virtual iris in the lens; a hexagonal iris is most normal, and you could try rounding out the sharp corners of the geometric shape using Blade Curvature. Rotation controls the angle of the hexagon. The Specular Highlights section adds little glints to bright areas, but it's usually not a good idea to drop the value of the Threshold much below 250. Click OK to apply the effect, then clear your selection.

To add to the feeling of artificiality, bring up the Curves palette (go Image ▸ Adjustments ▸ Curves) input: 135-output 210)

PaulCowan · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 4182 Location: Evolving

Kenny, that will create blurred areas that mimic the TS "look" but it won't shift the plane of focus the way tilt does. Surely if you are using tilt in product shots the objective is to increase the area of the subject's surface that is in focus, not to increase the amount of blur?

I think many people have a misconception about what tilt does. It does not increase the DoF, it just alters the plane of the DoF. If you have a flat surface at an angle to the film plane - say the page of a book - you can adjust the tilt so the plane of focus coincides with the plane of the page, meaning all the words are in focus. However, everything except the surface of the page will be out of focus. You can, of course always use it the opposite way, to move the plane of focus more to right angles to the page so just one line in in focus.

Since a plane is two-dimensional, shifting the plane in focus over a three-dimensional object may not help much.

rudyumans · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:43 am

Paul is right. Again.

*sigh*

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:15 pm

More fun and detail than you can even Imagine.11 x 14 at $45.00 a shot ya better nail it.And no Damn batteries. LOL