Can I use a TS lens with a 7D?
Can I use a TS lens with a 7D?
Author
Discussion

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

242 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
Hi all,

I'm really interested in saving up for a TS lens after a recent thread on here, but if they're fully manual focus, will I be able to get decent results out of one with a 7D, or will I suffer too badly from not having the old 35mm style split prism focusing screen?

In fact, why don't modern DSLRs have such a screen? Playing around with my granddad's old Minolta before I put in on Ebay, it was just so much more satisfying to see exactly when everything popped into focus!

markmullen

15,877 posts

263 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
Yes you can. Easiest way is to use liveview for focussing, then you can zoom right in to check focus

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
Yes you can +1 .

But - the built in flash may interfere with some movements.

As for focusing use live view and zoom in, focusing especially with tilt requires delicate changes. Also any movements screw up the metering system so your better off with live view exposure simulation which works nicely.

JDRoest

1,126 posts

179 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
Kermit power said:
In fact, why don't modern DSLRs have such a screen? Playing around with my granddad's old Minolta before I put in on Ebay, it was just so much more satisfying to see exactly when everything popped into focus!
You can buy the screen and shove it in if you need it. Very simply, the majority of user don't need split screen. And whats the point of split screen if the camera is focussing on the far left hand focus point anyway?

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
7d doesn't have a custom function for adjusting the metering with a split screen installed and tbh live view is the way to go, it's actually the old view camera way of working

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

242 months

Tuesday 9th April 2013
quotequote all
RobDickinson said:
tbh live view is the way to go, it's actually the old view camera way of working
I hadn't really thought of it that way. If all the shots are going to be manual focus and on a tripod anyway, it's not much of an issue, I guess.

My next question then would be which focal length to go for on a crop body? I'm erring towards 24mm as this is closest to natural field of vision? I certainly can't imagine going for the 90mm.

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Wednesday 10th April 2013
quotequote all
What are you going to shoot? I went 24 on ff to give a good standard wide shot that. Can be 14mm with shifting.

I would go 17 on a crop unless you use filters. I went ff mainly for the 24tse..

You can use teleconverters with them too...

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

242 months

Wednesday 10th April 2013
quotequote all
RobDickinson said:
What are you going to shoot? I went 24 on ff to give a good standard wide shot that. Can be 14mm with shifting.

I would go 17 on a crop unless you use filters. I went ff mainly for the 24tse..

You can use teleconverters with them too...
Landscapes, buildings, and I generally like the idea of looking for things which would work well with different focal planes....

How exactly does that 24 -> 14mm you mentioned work? Would that mean a 17mm on my 7D could actually give me a wider field of vision than my 10-20mm?

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Wednesday 10th April 2013
quotequote all
Shift stitching effectively gives you a bigger sensor tho with some limitations.

There is a good TS shift calculator online have a search.

Fully shifting gives you 24mm more sensor, with a 35mm sensor this ends up at medium format size!