Nikon 45mm f/2.8D PC-E tilt/shift lens review. Using tilt and shift in architecture and landscape

Keith Cooper looks at using the PC-E Micro Nikkor 45mm f/2.8D ED tilt/shift lens from Nikon.
Both tilt and shift can be used independently with aperture choices very much dependent on the effects desired.
Working with an FTZ adapter and Nikon Z7, the lens gives a maximum of 11.5mm of shift and +-8.5 degrees of tilt.
There will be a full written review of the lens in due course, on the Northlight Images web site with more technical detail and observations, along with higher resolution sample images.
Keith's book about how to use such lenses is widely available
PHOTOGRAPHY WITH TILT AND SHIFT LENSES
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www.crowood.com/products/phot...
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[@rolandomunari588]

Thank you for the video: I haven‘t seen anyone else going so thoroughly through the topic of PC/TS lenses and how they work. I just got your book and look very much forward to studying it well :) Greetings from Switzerland

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks! - much appreciated

[@dunnymonster]

Excellent as always Keith 👍

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks!

[@DenisStosic]

Hello Keith, greetings from Croatia. Thank you for an excellent explanation about Nikon's PC lens. I work with 24 PC Nikkor and plan to buy a 45mm too. I'm looking forward to reading and learning from your book which I just ordered, after watching your YT channel.

[@KeithCooper]

Glad it was helpful and I hope the book is of interest.

[@bernardfranck1318]

It's sure I would like to use pc lens... Thank you for all shared details.

[@KeithCooper]

Glad it's of interest!

[@jameswalker7874]

Beautiful work Keith

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - I hope to have the written version up later this week. We've been having a few web site glitches since moving to new servers/hosting a few weeks ago.

[@jameswalker7874]

@@KeithCooper Had a look on the website today, and it seemed to be working well from an end user perspective. One thing I found interesting was where you stated you weren't a particular fan of Lightroom and mentioned some Dxo software. Does their software work like Lightroom in terms of having a library? I've been using Lightroom with Photoshop as it's the one you really hear about. I do like the library functionality, but it's a secondary benefit really.

[@KeithCooper]

@@jameswalker7874 My broad lack of liking for lightroom comes from a number of angles - in particular, I dislike the enforced catalogue/library use. It is a good raw file converter, but I also dislike its non-destructive edit process, and am not keen on its print capabilities for any print of significant size. DxO optics pro has only been a program I've used for its particular RAW processing abilities, nothing much else. I've used Photoshop for ~25 years and even an old version like CS6 does almost all I really need, with the help of a few plugins. I use layers, blends and masking a lot. I often recommend people try Lightroom, but just point out that there is nothing wrong in admitting you do not like it ;-)

[@dPico-digitaldurda]

excellent presentation 💪, and yeah agree, waiting for nikon to update pc lens line up

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, some of the current PC-E lenses show their age

[@mikemalloy1681]

Just ordered your book on Amazon.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks! - I hope it's of interest! Let me know if there's anything not so clear, since I'm always looking for ideas for new videos.

[@alexabadi7458]

I think it would be a great addition to my 19mm and 24mm PC-E, especially because of the 1/2 ratio, very helpful for small object where I need the maximum d.o.f (I can't use tilt function with my AF-S 105mm micro 1/1) I hope Nikon will make it for sale at $1.5K any time soon.

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, the 45mm can be a useful lens, but don't forget that the effect of tilt is much reduced at close working distances. It's been in the Nikon range for quite some time - don't expect the price for new ones to fall. Used is the best route to find a good deal

[@alexabadi7458]

@@KeithCooper I just got mine, and I love it ! ;o)

[@thomasstapel6824]

Hello Keith I find this tilt/shift lens to be extremely interesting and have watched other reviews also - a three part one from Graham Hobart on the Nikon 19mm PC. He highly recommends it. It is expensive and it appeals to my mathematics background. Do you have any reviews of the macro PC by nikon? Thanks for all your work and I purchased your book and downloaded the e version to my ipad and look forward to reading it.

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks - I've so far covered the 19/24/45 PC-E lenses so far. The 19mm review just pre-dates my making videos www.northlight-images.co.uk/nikon-pc-19mm-f4e-ed-review/ My main reviews are always the written versions ;-) Unfortunately Nikon UK don't have the 85mm (I can't afford to buy stuff for these reviews). If I can get an 85mm I will do a review (and a video ;-) ) Just one thing - remember that the maths gives a guide to set-up, but the practicalities of real-world lens design and construction (and incomplete data from the makers) means that manual fine tuning is usually required. I hope the book is of interest - I've not seen the electronic version, but hopefully it works (even if I deliberately avoid any maths ;-)

[@jolietcommercialphotograph3006]

Appreciate your attention to details in your tutorial, interested in your book

[@KeithCooper]

Thanks The book should be available via any good bookshop ;-) ISBN 9781785007712 In the UK you can also get it directly from the publishers www.crowood.com/products/photography-with-tilt-and-shift-lenses-by-keith-cooper

[@jolietcommercialphotograph3006]

I bought the 45 mm Nikon tilt shift lens, and I put it on my Z 72 and it doesn’t seem to auto focus. Does it auto focus??

[@KeithCooper]

Ah, like all tilt/shift lenses [to date] it is manual focus... See the main [written] review at www.northlight-images.co.uk/nikon-pc-e-45mm-review/

[@jolietcommercialphotograph3006]

@@KeithCooper all are?

[@KeithCooper]

Yes, there are no AF tilt shift lenses whatsoever

[@Noname-yu8qw]

I'm buying this lens for product photography I hope it will work well :)

[@KeithCooper]

If you've not seen it, do have a look at the main [written] review for the lens - the videos are supplemental ;-) www.northlight-images.co.uk/nikon-pc-e-45mm-review/

[@Noname-yu8qw]

@@KeithCooper Nice, thanks, I will check it out

[@jbairdexp]

I've always wanted to try out one of these lenses for landscape photography, but the price has always put me off. Perhaps I should rent one. Just out of interest, with your Z7, does focus peaking work when you are tilting and shifting? I agree, it will be interesting to see Nikon make Z mount versions.....but I wouldn't hold my breath....I'm sure they will, but speed of Z mount lens isn't exactly fast....we've only just got macro lenses! lol

[@KeithCooper]

Have a look for used ones - loads of people buy them, hardly use them, and then try and get some money back... ;-) The focus peaking works very well with shift or tilt (that's Nikon's Z7 - it and the lens were only on loan!)

[@alexanderholmgren623]

Hi, I have this lens but have not used it in 12 years (used to use it with a d700) My question is, if you use it with the adapter on z6/z7 if you loose any corner light or sharpness compared to no adapter on nikon dslr. Sorry if I didnt hear you mentioning anything about that, if you did. How this lens compare with adapter on the z mount vs just mounting on F.

[@KeithCooper]

The use of an adapter makes no difference whatsoever Have a look at the actual [written] review - I tested it on Z. [The videos are generally produced to support the written articles] www.northlight-images.co.uk/nikon-pc-e-45mm-review/ Any specific limitations come from the physically small opening of the F mount. A 'Z native' PC-E would be much less restrictive to design than the F mount

[@iamwhatiam6281]

I’ve bought the samyang 24 tiltshift and the 19pc nikon. obviously the 19 is far better..marvellous lens. I bought samyang because the nikon 24pc for that price doesn’t seems to be good enough (I read many reviews) in comparison with 19 (or the sammy countrrpart of the same focal lenght) . in therms of sharpness do you think 24pc is as good as 19 or this 45?

[@KeithCooper]

the Nikon 24 is superior to the Samyang in many respects - it has far less geometric distortion for example. It is much better built. With an old lens like that I'd look for a good used one. The Sy24 was better in detail than the mk1 Canon ts-e24, but not up to the mk2 (I've reviews of all of them). The 19 is a much newer design and superior to the 24/45 in many respects. The 45 is a nice lens and apart from the easily fixable CA probably tops the Nikon 24 I tested. Do note that apart from this new video, where I've not finished the written version yet, all my main reviews are the written ones (the videos are mainly to supplement the written stuff). I'm finishing up reviews of the 'missing' Nikon lenses since they were not available at the time of writing my book - although I'd note that the actual makes of the lenses is relatively inconsequential to what I cover in the book.

[@iamwhatiam6281]

@@KeithCooper thank you so much for all these infos! I’ve noticed that the 19pc is far better than the good 20 1.8g! so it’s unbelievable how far lens technology could improve in a couple of months..even if there is a big price difference between the two. I think I will not replace my sammy 24 even if it’s not so sharp because first of all I need something like a nikon 35 with shift mech… but I don’t know where I can find one in good conditions because it’s an old lens.. I will buy your book🔝🔝

[@bernardfranck1318]

@@KeithCooper it seems that you have noticed better results with the 45mm than the 24mm pc-e.. If yes, then I've got a answer to my question 😁

[@thomaseriksson6256]

Thank you for the information, I have used the 45mm for photographing antenna units. What use do you have the 85mm PC for? I use it seldom but when I use it it’s for sharp foreground in woodland and marsh land. I will test it for panorama. I used a 35mm for panorama but I did not put that in the optical centre of the lens, I do not have the equipment for that. I will get your book..

[@KeithCooper]

I use my TS-E90 mostly for close-up work - sometimes with extension tubes. I do sometimes use it for architectural detail but it's mostly used indoors

[@thomaseriksson6256]

@@KeithCooper Thank you for your feedback. I have not used it for close up but I shall try it. I have use the AFS 60mm F2.8 G Macro for close up on an old shipyard. I also got Zeiss 100mm F2.0 Macro that I can use handheld.

[@KeithCooper]

Sorry - you have too much kit! ;-) I use the 90, because it's what I've got - the shift and tilt are occasionally useful

[@thomaseriksson6256]

@@KeithCooper Just ordered your TS/PC book

[@KeithCooper]

Great - if you have any questions - ket me know via Northlight

[@bernardfranck1318]

Here I am again... Hello Keith, Sinds last time I have bought a PC-E 24mm... Great possibilities 📷. I notice that if I stitch images, the part of the edge of the circle image is of course less quality and I understand the limits of use of "I want to use the whole circle with the same quality as in the center" 😁 now 24x36 is OK for me and I won't go back to technical view camera... Here is my question : you did notice that the PC-E 45mm and as you said" quality is good but does perhaps show its age a bit", did you notice the nearly same rendering quality image at the side of the circle as the 24mm have ( I don't care about fingerings colors or distortions) but well resolution and the ability to render the texture,... In other words, probably that the benefits of stitching and get more resolution is "destroyed" by the lack of quality in the far end of the circle image... Perhaps taking only one picture with no extreme schift should give surely better images. If the 45mm has the same default as the 24mm in the far end of the circle, I go also for the 45mm. But if it 's worse, I would reconsider buying a extra 45mm... I' m agree with you, a z version should be fantastic!!!!!!!!

[@KeithCooper]

Not one I can easily answer, since the lenses have to go back to Nikon when I'm done. I also only get one sample to test (one reason I don't do any detailed measurements of performance) The choice of focal length and whether to stitch or not is just so dependent on what you are shooting. Lens 'quality' is a vastly reduced problem these days - more resolution always helps though...

[@bernardfranck1318]

@@KeithCooper thank you for your very quick response and don't forget to take time for your... It's week-end after all 🌞. Best regards. Bernard

[@bernardfranck1318]

I can confirm now that 45mm pc-e sharpness is far better in the corner when shifted than the 24mm pc-e... And that both, that they can be shifted and tilted( camera vertical, tilted douwn for depth of field, photo left, center, right) stitch all together, good mix with result 4x5 format with resolution 🌞and depth of field control 🌞. Best regards and have a nice day... Bernard