lensshift

Lens shift is a feature of certain perspective-control (PC) lenses and tilt-shift designs that allows the optical axis to move parallel to the image plane. By shifting the lens relative to the sensor, the photographer can reposition the image without rotating the camera, enabling different composition while maintaining camera position.

Shifting is primarily used to control perspective distortion. In architectural and interior photography, vertical shift keeps building lines parallel when shooting from ground level, preventing keystone distortion. Horizontal shift can correct perspective when photographing a subject from the side or to create smoother panoramas without moving the camera.

It is distinct from tilt, which rotates the optical axis to change the plane of focus according to the Scheimpflug principle. In a tilt-shift lens, shift and tilt are separate controls; most models provide both horizontal and vertical shift, allowing shifts in two axes for more flexible perspective control.

Shifting has practical limitations. Movement is bounded by the lens design and the lens’s image circle, so extreme shifts can reduce edge sharpness or cause vignetting. PC lenses tend to be bulky and expensive, and they require compatible camera bodies and sturdy support when used at full extent.

In practice, lens shift offers a direct, in-camera method for perspective correction and composition that complements or replaces post-processing corrections. It is especially valued in architectural, interior, and product photography where maintaining true verticals and controlled perspective is important.