The mechanics in the lens would be totally different, and the screw thread would create resistance to the electronic motor slowing it right down and contributing another failure factor.

Hi and welcome, you would probably get more of a response on the 'just joined' part of the forum - go to forum home and scroll down.

Er, no, that is the whole point! I use DXO Viewpoint for perspective correction in processing at present but the more correction is needed the more you lose from cropping. The shortest focal length to avoid distortion is appparently 24 mm in FF, hence the 24mm TS lenses. I was rather impressed by the demo of the TS lens yesterday with vertical or horizontal shifting keeping everything straight. It works by having a very large field of view at the sensor plane, so that as this is moved the sensor stays within the field.

PS I paid good money for all this info by the way!

Arf arf! All manual focus so no problem!

Thanks Jak, but I guess the Pentax shift lens (no tilt) is as rare as hens' teeth and priced accordingly. We received an explanation why film era lenses do not have to be so critically designed for sharpness as digital lenses (to do with the thickness of the film emulsion compared to the sensor surface). Martine told me she had tried the Steiner lenses and was disappointed with the results so the Samyang is probably the best and cheapest option. Shame this was another example of the lack of equipment range that puts off professionals despite liking the cameras.

Hmmm, noisily and fruitlessly hunting back and forth whist the subject has got bored and flown away!

I spent yesterday on a day course with one of the country's top architectural photographers, Martine Hamilton-Smith. Not sure what I would pick up but it was a real eye-opener and explains why she charges what she does for commissions. First, once the shot is set up using a tripod with a geared head the whole scene is 'dressed': interiors have everything tidied up or put away, in the university library all the computer screens and keyboards were straightened up, coffee cups carefully placed and surfaces wiped, and so on. In an auditorium a piano was placed centre stage to give a focal point and chairs all placed in neat rows or circles. Finally people who happen to be there are drafted in to be walking up stairs or sit in groups, and outside sit on benches or steps, or involved in imaginary discussions. For outside shots a sunny day is required, lighting the elevation to best advantage, and also selecting a position to obscure unwanted street clutter which all needs pre-planning.

Then there was the use of tilt/shift lenses to correct vertical perspective, and also where a centred shot is wanted but you need to stand off centre. As far as I know there are only a Samyang 24mm TS lens and three Steiner-Kreutzmar TS lenses in K-mount but I completely forgot that the K1 gives a shift effect by manually moving the sensor relative to the lens. Whilst the range of movement is limited it can be used with any lens and would theoretically increase the shift range of the Samyang, say.

This is just a brief summary and doesn't cover everything discussed on the day and we all came away feeling the day had been very worthwhile and could prompt me into more courses in the future. Now I must go and practise!

Love the last one in particular, and seems nicer on a white backdrop

Now I know why we invented clothes! Very brave of you to take these shots, did you join in?

Ditto the above, I would be delighted to have taken any one of these!