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Review Summary
2021-03-26T04:51:44
I really like the lens. It has great potential and looking forward to using it.
Paul J.
2021-03-26T04:47:02
Very happy with the lens. Great customer service.
Paul J.
2018-03-13T13:35:41
I took my 45mm tilt shift out last Sunday for it's maiden voyage and really enjoyed it immensely! Sharp, nice build and a blast to use. I didn't mind manual focus at all. I was very happy with my results.
Jim O.
2017-12-29T19:00:00
This lens helps produces really sharp & high clarity images keeping perspective in mind. It also allows us to take multiple images using the shift feature & merge them in Photoshop. Check out samples the images I posted. Look & feel is great - feels solid in hand. Focus: Manual focus only. Smooth focus ring (more like a focus barrel) Variable aperture [changes at close focusing distance.. jumps from f/2.8 to f/3.8 when focused to the closest point (Macro)- I thought it was a flaw but in a way helps me get my shots right]. Will now buy the 85mm pc - e
MeisterMeister

2015-03-06T19:00:00
This lens is an excellent complement to my D800E. Although I specialize in both architectural and landscape photography, I primarily use it for landscape photography because its focal length is longer than I normally use for architectural work. For landscapes, I often find it helpful to dial in a small amount of tilt (to, in effect, extend the depth of field), and it produces excellent panoramas by shifting left, then right, then stitching the images together. My only caution regarding shift-pans is that the shift in either direction should be limited to about 80% of the shift range, because the resolution drops off noticeably near the periphery of the image circle. For close-ups, the tilt and shift functions are extremely helpful, and for both landscapes and close-ups I find the edge-to-edge sharpness and color rendition of this lens to be very satisfying. Because of the deliberate manner in which I work, I do not find its lack of autofocus to be a drawback; in fact, the focus ring works smoothly and has just the right amount of resistance -- focusing is smooth and precise. This lens might not be for everyone, but for those who understand tilt and shift, and who enjoy the process of making fine photographs, I would highly recommend it. (The accompanying photo is a 3-image shift-pan: left, center & right, with the lens tilted to render both the foreground and background in sharp focus.)
Photoken

2013-07-28T21:00:00
I have a lot to learn about this lens but I am very excited!
Rain
2013-05-18T20:00:00
Most people think PC-E is great for architectural work, and they are right. The Nikkor 45mm PC-E is an excellent performer in and around structures but this lens loves going outdoors- out in the wide open spaces of landscapes. This lens like other Nikkor PC-E has some benefits not many fully realize . It has the power of expanding your field of view. With a PC-E lens you can shift your view up or down making for a spectacular image with very high resolution. PC-E lens performs perfect indoors and around buildings, but don't forget the Nikkor PC-E loves to be taken out in the wild, an amazing tool for landscapes.
dmbNik

2013-05-06T21:00:00
Although most often categorized as an architectural lens, is actually a very good landscape lens. The adjustment knobs are a real pain but I have adapted. Had I not used the Canon version I would be unaware that a better design was possible. I'm getting over it.
Joel M.
2012-05-13T21:00:00
Turn your digital SLR into a view camera with this specialty lens. This is an excellent lens for controlling the focal plane and selective focus. I use it for architectural photography to eliminate distortion. Most photographers can get by using tools like Photoshop to electronically correct a lot of the lens distortion encountered in architectural photography, but for professionals (and perfectionists) this is an excellent tool.
THOMAS S.
2011-10-23T21:00:00
I use this for food all the time. The tilt shift setting may creep, but the manufacturer tells you this up front. I can shoot wide open and, by tilting the focal plane, get the faces of everyone at the counter in focus or the whole surface of a pizza when a conventional lens at that f-stop would only get a portion.
KYLE G.
2010-08-01T20:00:00
There are very few lenses that are worthy of such a price tag. This one is, easily. Perfectly sharp. Beautiful bokeh. absolute control. The only down side is that the controls are opposite than I'd prefer. The shift feature moves laterally when I'd prefer it to move medially in conjunction with the tilt feature. I understand that as a portrait/wedding photographer I'm probably an anomaly, but it would be nice to be able to switch.
mattshu

2010-06-21T21:00:00
I bought this lens, against all logic and reason, to use as a creative portrait lens. Some may have chosen the 85mm, but I prefer the 45mm as it's closer to 50mm, my favorite length for capturing environmental portraits. With the price of this lens being so high, I figure I'll have to do about 20 portrait sessions before I can even think about making any profit from it, but at least I'll learn a lot! By skewing your focal plane you can completely change how the viewer sees your subject. People can be made to look miniature in their surroundings or you can focus the viewer's attention to one particular area of the the frame by making it the only area in focus. The build quality of this lens is superb with a smooth aperture ring and a buttery smooth focus ring. That said, however, the lock knobs on the opposite sides of the tilt and shift knobs feel slightly loose and they don't do a good job of locking the lens in place. Overall great quality and I'm looking forward to some great portrait and food sessions.
CHRIS B.
2010-01-10T19:00:00
I love this lens. I have had it on my camera since I got it. I love the effects with the Tilt and Shift as well as when I just use it as a straight 45m.
Elizabeth P.
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Browse our FAQ
Nikon
2174
Nikon PC-E
Black
Standard
Nikon
Full Frame
Manual Focus
Not Applicable
9.84" / 25cm
N/A
Not Applicable
45mm
FX Format 51 deg. / DX Format 34 deg.
Not Applicable
N/A
f/32
f/2.8
0.14x
N/A
N/A
Yes
77mm
9 Elements / 8 Groups
9
4.4 x 3.2" (112 x 85.2mm)
26.1oz / 740g
None
Yes
N/A
N/A






Incredible
By mattshu
There are very few lenses that are worthy of such a price tag. This one is, easily. Perfectly sharp. Beautiful bokeh. absolute control. The only down side is that the controls are opposite than I'd prefer. The shift feature moves laterally when I'd prefer it to move medially in conjunction with the tilt feature. I understand that as a portrait/wedding photographer I'm probably an anomaly, but it would be nice to be able to switch.
Use With Caution
By dmbNik
Most people think PC-E is great for architectural work, and they are right. The Nikkor 45mm PC-E is an excellent performer in and around structures but this lens loves going outdoors- out in the wide open spaces of landscapes. This lens like other Nikkor PC-E has some benefits not many fully realize . It has the power of expanding your field of view. With a PC-E lens you can shift your view up or down making for a spectacular image with very high resolution. PC-E lens performs perfect indoors...
View full Review
The new PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D Perspective Control (PC) lenses correct linear distortion in order to better replicate images asseen by the human eye, including straightening the converging lines of rectilinear objects such as buildings, while also introducingwelcome command over depth-of-field. Their versatility makes these the perfect lens complement for a myriad of applications, including photographing architecture, nature, interiors and still-life especially product photography.
When shooting subjects, such as tall buildings with a conventional lens, composition often calls for tilting the axis of a camera. This typically results in a significant distortion of converging lines, impacting the desired visual accuracy of the image. A PC-E NIKKOR lens' "shift" control provides correction for this type of distortion. "Shift" control can also give a photographer the ability to "effectively" move the apparent position of the camera providing further perspective versatility, allowing, for example, the ability to avoid unwanted reflections in an image.
A PC-E lens' "tilt" control gives photographers additional creative control over depth-of-field. Known as the Scheimpflug principal,tilt-shift lenses are capable of modifying the focal plane of the lens, allowing the extension or limitation of the point of critical sharpness in the image. The combination of "tilt" and "shift" controls featured in all PC-E NIKKOR lenses gives photographers extraordinary control over perspective control which simply is not possible with conventional lenses.
A special tilt/shift mechanism gives users up to +/- 11.5mm shift for perspective control and +/- 8.5-degree tilt control for creative focus. The Perspective Control lenses correct distortion and vanishing point issues with convenient side-mounted controls at 1mm / 1-degree intervals that will adjust the focal plane with shift and tilt adjustments. The lens optics rotate up to 90 degrees right or left for perspective control adjustment, while a click-stop is provided every 30 degrees. Photographers can confirmthe effect of each adjustment accurately through their Nikon SLR viewfinder.
The new PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D ED and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D offer a combined standard-to-medium telephoto range coupled with dramatically expansive depth-of-field that is well suited for a variety of tasks and the exploration of new levels of creativity.
All NIKKOR-E lenses incorporate a rounded nine-blade electromagnetic diaphragm that provides auto aperture control when used with Nikon SLRs that feature an electronically controlled aperture, including the D3, D300 and newlyannounced D700 camera.* This unique feature allows photographers to more easily compose images without the typical darkening of the frame experienced with other lenses of this type.
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