Perspective control lens

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 17:19, 11 February 2012 by DesmondW (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
Glossary Terms

Perspective control (PC) lenses for SLR cameras allow shifting the lens: slightly moving it parallel to the film plane. This alters the convergence of vertical lines that is normal when a camera is pointing upward or (less commonly) downward. Counteracting this convergence is especially useful for architectural photography. Compared with a technical camera, which allows full movement of lens and film back, such a PC lens only offers limited horizontal and vertical movement. Shift lenses are usually wide angle since the greater subject distance with long focus (telephoto) lenses results in much reduced convergance of vertical lines.

Such a lens may be labeled PA, the abbreviation for the German term perspektivischer Ausgleich.

Perspective control lenses that tilt as well as shift come closer to the full movements of technical cameras. The additional tilt movement does not affect perspective, but allows the plane of focus to be altered, so that for example an object to the left that is two metres away and distant mountains to the right are in focus.

Construction

In order to allow movement, the lens must be constructed so that image coverage will be larger than usual. This means that the projected image extends beyond the normal frame, resulting in a more complex lens that usually has a smaller maximum aperture. The lens itself can be physically shifted respective to the camera (slid by hand or screw adjuster) either vertically, horizontally, or in combination.

Because of the movement, shift lenses usually do not have automatic diaphragms and must be used in stop-down mode. Also it is common for the manufacturer to stipulate that smaller apertures should be used when the lens is shifted.

Usage

In use the camera will be set up on a tripod and pointed at the subject with the line of sight near horizontal. Then (usually) the lens will be shifted upwards bringing the subject down into view without affecting perspective. The effect is exactly the same as moving the point of view (i.e. camera) upwards. Similar usage applies whether the required shift is horizontal or downwards.

When the lens is shifted the viewfinder image darkens as effective aperture is reduced due to the oblique path of light rays. TTL metering will automatically compensate for this.

Photo editing software can correct perspective, along with other optical distortion, largely replacing the need for shift lenses.

Glossary Terms