Hartblei Shift Lens

[Ari]

I'm considering a 35mm shift lens made by Hartblei, but I'm unaware of the quality and sharpness of its lenses. Given that this is not for portraits, sharpness and clarity are important.
Does anyone have any experience with these lenses, or can vouch for their quality?
I plan on using it on a MF digital camera as well as a Minolta x700.
The lens in question only says Hartblei, it's not a Kiev or Zeiss version.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Nokton48]

Mr. Pentacon Six has a fantastic website that covers most P6 mount lenses.

Pentacon Six: shift lenses

 

[benveniste]

The Zeiss Hartblei lenses came in 40mm, 80mm, and 120mm. As far as I know, the 35mm Hartblei lens isn't designed for medium format cameras.

 

[ic-racer]

Shift lenses are cool, post some pictures when you get it!

 

[Ari]

Thanks, guys.
After reading everything I could find, I decided against the Hartblei 35mm: https://www.ebay.com/itm/325124473788?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
It seems it's for DSLR format, so I wouldn't get much room to shift on the GFX. And until Fuji release their own TS lens, I'll use what I currently have: a Canon 24mm TS-E and a Mamiya 645 50mm shift.
Some people swear by the Pentax or Mamiya 645 35mm lens with a shift adapter, others say they're both mushy in the corners.
There aren't too many options in 35mm focal lengths, so I may try to put together a combo using one of the 35mm 645 lenses.

 

[AgX]

Mr. Pentacon Six has a fantastic website that covers most P6 mount lenses.

Pentacon Six: shift lenses

However concerning the optical background he writes quite a nonsense.

 

[Ari]

Thanks. I've decided to save up a little longer, and get the Pentax 35mm lens with a shift adapter.
Only a few $$ more than buying the Hartblei I linked to, but I'll get a known IQ and more room for shift/rise.

Shift lenses are cool, post some pictures when you get it!

I've been using the Canon 24mm TS-E on the GFX for a few months now, and it's decent. I can get about 8mm of rise before the corners get dark, which is often enough.
This photo needed more, though:

 

[Craig75]

Something like this might be an option if you have a 5x4 camera knocking around

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1349172-REG/fotodiox_4x5_gfx_pro_pro_lens_mount_adapter.html

 

[Ari]

Thanks, but the appeal of the GFX is the portability, lack of cables and lack of general fussiness.
Attach a lens and go. I only have an 8x10 anyway.

 

[Craig75]

Yeah I prefer handheld lens shift photography for urban environments over tripods and camera movements. Just too much gear and too slow for busy spaces

 

[Ari]

I actually don't mind using a tripod, but getting bogged down with too many components on the camera is less fun.

 

[nosmok]

I have a Hartblei Super Rotator 45mm lens for 6x6, and I have to say it does exactly what they say it does. I feel like they're a trustworthy company.

 

[Craig75]

https://www.fujirumors.com/venus-optics-announces-laowa-20mm-f-4-zero-d-shift-lens/

This is an option too. It has proper stitching adapter as well if 8mm of shift isn't enough

 

[Ari]

Thanks, guys.
Fuji is also supposed to release their own T/S lens next year, probably a 30mm (equivalent to 24mm FOV on the GFX).

 

[Craig75]

Does stitching using Canon 24 ts not appeal?

I've never done it but I did see interesting technique where photographer would basically make a grid of 9 images using a longer focal length - From memory using geared tripod head - and then stitch them to create the equivalent of wider angle tiltshift images with 100s of mbs.

Personally it seems a bit of a faff but it would allow one to still get the shot with current gear when you run out of shift. Obviously not much point if there is also movement in the shot though (wind, people, traffic etc)

None of which has anything to do with hartblei lenses... but I'm always interested in shift solutions in a world where most common solution is to shoot ultrawide and crop or correct converging verticals later. Just never as satisfying as composing shot in camera personally though.

 

[Ari]

Craig, I'd try stitching with a MF lens, but doing it with the TS-E on a GFX is quite limited. Corners begin to darken at 4mm shift, and by 7-8mm they're unsalvageable.
But yes, I've seen some beautiful work being done with stitching, given the right subject matter, and I'd give it a go. If I remember to try it.
I agree with you about fixing it in the mix, not a good strategy. I've seen work where people just point their camera any which way at a building, then spend an hour just trying to correct verticals, or remove undesirable elements in the photo.
Spend 10-15 minutes getting it right in the camera, it saves a lot of headaches.
Ergo, shift lenses!

 

[Craig75]

Oof 4mm isn't much help.

Having said that the shot you showed us is very effective running out of shift as it creates a real trick in brain because the eye line isnt where it "should" be. It moves from an "architecture" shot into a disorientating "Street" shot which adds to the subject matter. Hard to articulate the effect but its a powerful shot.

We both know that secretly you need that fuji shift but we also know that's going to be pricey piece of gear but we also both know you need it....the classic conundrum!

 

[Ari]

Oof 4mm isn't much help.

Having said that the shot you showed us is very effective running out of shift as it creates a real trick in brain because the eye line isnt where it "should" be. It moves from an "architecture" shot into a disorientating "Street" shot which adds to the subject matter. Hard to articulate the effect but its a powerful shot.

We both know that secretly you need that fuji shift but we also know that's going to be pricey piece of gear but we also both know you need it....the classic conundrum!

Well put! And thank you for your kind words about the photo. You can also see at the very top left how the lens' distortion makes the concrete appear to bend outward, another shortcoming of using the TS-E on a MF platform.
I suspect Fuji will release only one TS lens, a 30mm (24mm equiv.), so having a 35mm MF lens is a good idea.
And with the same Kipon TS adapter, I could eventually add more lenses from the Pentax 645 line: 45, 55 or longer, and all would have TS ability.
As I'm moving away from shooting this stuff on 8x10, I'll have some desirable lenses to sell in the coming year, so the Fuji's price will sting a bit less.

 

[Craig75]

Haha I knew there would be a full strategy in place to finance this piece of gear. Well I hope you share your experiences with the fuji ts and adapters as there will not be many people using this set up and results will be crazy.

 

[Ari]

Will do, Craig. Cheers!