Nikon 24 mm f/3.5 PC-E Nikkor ED

Part of Nikon's resurgence during the past year was the announcement in January '08 of three new Perspective Control lenses, a 24mm f/3.5, 45mm and 85mm. The 24mm was the first of the three to ship, (and arguable the most useful for the landscape photographer), and is the subject of this report. I write "report" because this isn't in any way a formal lens test. Rather, it is a look at what a tilt / shift lens is and does, and what it can do for photographers using today's DSLRs.
Firstly, I should make the point that this lens is primarily usable with full frame (FX) and film cameras. Nikon's suggestion is that they are not suitable for use with DX format cameras. I tried it on a D300 and some of the control knobs will hit the projecting built-in flash housing. Not an insurmountable problem, but not ideal. Also, the lens is now a 36mm, not a 24mm. I have not tried it on other reduced frame Nikon cameras, but beware of any that have protruding prism housings.
For someone that has neve...