Walimex 24/3.5 tilt shift

Hello again

In August I bought a Walimex (a.k.a. Ssamyang in other parts of the world) tilt shift lens. I admit that I haven't made best use of it, yet, but it is a fun lens, if a handful. It's all manual, so you have to set aperture and focus on the lens. And when tilting and/or shifting exposure varies quite a bit. It's a lens that makes you take your time.

Why did I buy it in the first place? Well, there is the potential for landscape work (tilting so that the image is in focus from near to far) and the "fake miniature" effect.

An example that still leaves me slightly puzzled is this:


If I remember correctly I tilted this one sideways (you can rotate the shift and tilt mechanisms independently up to 90 degrees).

This one is a try to get everything in focus:



and tilting in the opposite direction results in this:



The shift is useful for architecture shots, of course:



and an additional tilt gives a special effect (for a fake miniature it's not the right angle of view)



Here's another one shifted only



and with tilt added (focussing attention to only a part of the building)



Unfortunately I cannot say what apertures I used in all of those images. This is another disadvantage of full manual operation, the aperture is not in the EXIF data. I would need to resort to something like pencil and notebook (or mobile phone) to jog down the settings for every shot. Maybe worth doing that when exploring this lens any further...

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How inappropriate to call this planet earth when it is quite clearly Ocean. - Arthur C. Clarke
Prieni's PPG page

Hi Ralf, nice to see you back again

Interesting lens from the looks of it, too specialised for my collection (wouldn't get the use out of it) but I do like the miniature effect.

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. My Flickr

Glad to se you back on the PUF Ralf. That looks like a fascinating lens, I bet it makes you slow down when you're busy taking photos with it. Didn't you produce some miniature effect photos a while back?
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

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PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

The Pentax 28 shift has always been one of my favourites, just a shame it isn't really wide enough on APS-C

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Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -

Yes, David, I did indeed. Those were made miniatures by post processing, though.
Here is an example:


(one of the two that were taken with a Pentax - I don't want to get into trouble )

Here is a link to the Picasa album (warning: contains non-Pentax images!)

Mike, so far I haven't gotten the usage out of it, either. But I sure will try.

Ken, if that's so then you might be tempted...

Prieni

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How inappropriate to call this planet earth when it is quite clearly Ocean. - Arthur C. Clarke
Prieni's PPG page

I read reports some time ago (maybe even here on PU) of the release of a new Samyang version of the 24mm TS, and as for all Samyang still camera lenses it was coming out for K mount. It was expected to be a quality item, although good value also. Not sure about the 'A' setting for aperture as on other K-mount options from this brand - its certainly a big plus. If you say the Walimex doesn't have it maybe the Samyang doesn't either.

Anyway, I wonder what happened to it? Anyone know if its available? I'm suprised if its available not to have heard from PU members using it - its a valuable addition to our collections surely for landscape & architectural work?

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My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

LINK No indication of A setting.

John

You cannot have the A setting on a TS lens as you cannot make the linkages. Given the nature of the lens it isn't really an issue. I have the K series shift lens but the shorter focal length of the Samyang is certainly attractive.

K.

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Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
My website

Yes, I guess the 24mm on 35mm (that's what you shoot isn't it?) is an ideal wide angle for the purposes. Thanks for that info on the A setting, I wasn't aware of that. I guess at the speeds you'd be working at getting it all set up one extra twist of the aperture ring won't make much difference!

Actually I enjoy the physicality of using the ring for aperture on the 'M' series zoom I have, and the Tamron Adaptal prime, but it is easier to lose track of your settings thats for sure.

So, do you think you might try the Samyang TS?

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My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

It is high up my wish list but at £1000 it is quite an investment. Since the demise of my K20D I really need to get a new dSLR first... Also, I can shoot a lot of 5x4s on my large format gear with a grand...

I used to be indecisive but now I am not so sure.

K.

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Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
My website

No, you wouldn't need a Samyang TS on a Horseman

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My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver

As you can read here Walimex and Ssamyang are different names for the same thing. That's what I indicated in the original post.
And it doesn't have an A aperture setting, that's why I said so ("all manual")

Price was 900 Euros.

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How inappropriate to call this planet earth when it is quite clearly Ocean. - Arthur C. Clarke
Prieni's PPG page