Movements

From Nikonians Wiki

In normal use, the central axis of the lens is exactly perpendicular to the sensor plane of the camera, and goes through its exact centre, as this provides the closest approximation to normal human vision in most circumstances.

However, a camera system can also be designed with movements to tilt the lens axis, or to shift it away from the centre of the lens.

View cameras are generally equipped with a full set of movements. An SLR, however, can make use of movements either with a Tilt shift lens or with bellows designed for movements. If a flexible coupling is used instead of the normal lens mount, a lens can be given movements which are controlled by simply pressing or pulling the side of the lens. This is the principle of the LensBaby.

Shifting the lens changes the way in which verticals appear to converge. A shift lens is frequently used in architectural photography for photographing buildings at ground level while presenting them with non-converging verticals. This is exactly the same effect as pointing the camera at the horizon, except that, with a shift of axis, the image can be framed from the horizon upwards, rather than half of the image being below the horizon. Shift is sometimes described by three terms, rise, fall and shift, in which case the term 'shift' refers only to lateral movements.

Tilting the lens changes the plane of equal focus, potentially providing apparently infinite depth of focus.

• This page was last modified on 31 December 2008, at 16:58.
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