Hi--

>I have been reading your website a lot. I notice you had a brief
evaluation on the Nikon 28/3.5 PC lens. I am thinking to buy a PC or a
TS lens, but I heard a lot saying that the PC 28/3.5 has a severe
distortion when extremely shifted. Would you please give some detailed
comments on this lens. My choices have narrowed down to the TS24/3.5
(not sharp enough?), PC28/3.5 (distortion?) and PC 28/2.8 Schneider (too
expensive). I really have a difficult time to make the final decision.
I would really like to hear your opinion. Thanks in advance.
"Bing Du"

The 28mm f3.5 Nikkor PC does have some moderate "wavy-line" linear
distortion which can show as a slight "S" curving of a straight subject
line near the
long edge of a vertical frame with the lens fully shifted (beyond its
recommended limit). Otherwise, you will rarely find it very noticeable.
I have not tried the other two, but tilt seems rarely useful due to the
large
DOF possible with the 28mm FL at f16 or so - though the extra coverage
of the 24 is welcome for interiors, and a slide or two I looked at shot
with it
looked very good (I would be surprised if it did not have similar
distortion
to the Nikkor, though...). Things to look for good illumination and
acceptable sharpness in the far corners of the fully-shifted lens with
verticals; ease of use hand-held. My favorite PC lenses are the early
Nikkor
28mm f4 (better at the far edges stopped down than most f3.5 samples,
and it
will fit on new cameras, contrary to Nikon's advice), and the latest-
version
35mm f2.8 PC (good at wider stops shifted) - but, I have not tried some
others of interest, like the ones you mentioned...