Shift, swing and tilt are purposeful displacements of the picture axis against the lens’ axis.

• Shift: the central axis of the lens is moved against the center of the sensor or the film, vertically or horizontally. In this way, the perspective of the picture can be influenced (e.g. converging lines can be eliminated). To achieve this, the lens requires an appropriately large image circle.

• Swing: The axis of the lens is obliquely positioned against the center of the sensor or the film, either to the left or to the right.

• Tilt: the central axis of the lens is obliquely positioned against the center of the sensor or the film, either down or up. In this way the location of the area of optimal sharpness can be influenced (according to “Scheimpflug”). A completely different way to influence the depth of field and to do so to an extent that has not been thought possible until now (going far beyond the “Scheimpflug” results) is provided in digital photography by special software such as e.g. “Heliconfocus” (www.heliconsoft.com).