Customer reviews from usa.canon.com
Canon - TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift Lens - Black
Average customer rating
4.7
(12 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 12 reviews
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Star
1
92%of customers recommend this product.
(
11 out of
12)
Customer Reviews for Canon - TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Tilt-Shift Lens - Black
Customer Rating
5
Fantastic lens
on October 31, 2010
Posted by: A
from Kansas City, MO
Darn near the sharpest lens I've ever used. No CA, no distortion. Extreme shift gets fuzzy at the edges, but you can work around with multiple shots if it's critical...
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Know Your Facts
on December 30, 2010
Posted by: YMHARNC
from Central Oregon
I've used this lens, which replaced the marginal Mk I version I owned previously, for over a year. Awesome doesn't begin to describe the image quality you can get with it. Canon engineers hit a home run with this lens.
My extensive experience with t/s lenses and my particular experience with this lens leaves me scratching my head at a few of the comments I've read about the use of tilt-shift lenses and this lens in particular.
My favorite feature of this lens is its ability to create a seamlessly sharp image from close up to infinity using the tilt feature. This takes a little practice. Some will argue that you don't benefit from this with a 24mm (wide angle) lens because of its inherently deep depth-of-field. This is simply not true. Wide angle lenses are often used close up, and the closer you are to your subject, the more you will need to employ tilt to bring the background into focus - even at narrow apertures with a wide angle lens. What's more, if you are able to achieve seamless foreground-to-background focus w/o tilt, you're probably doing it at f/16-22. If you can achieve the same thing using tilt at f/8, you will end up with a significantly sharper image because of the diffraction that occurs at f/16 and beyond.
It is worth noting that this infinite focus effect is NOT something you can easily achieve in software (although PS does have a function requiring multiple bracketed-focus images that attempts to do so).
Some suggest that you can't hand hold this lens so you might as well shoot with a standard lens and use software. It is true that you need a tripod when using TILT. It is laughable that the work around is to hand hold a standard lens and use software. You can't mimic infinite focus unless you start out that way; and if you're going to try to use focus-bracketed shots with PS to get close, you still need a tripod for your bracketed shots.
When using SHIFT, the feature that allows you to maintain straight vertical lines with architecture and tall trees, you ABSOLUTELY CAN hand hold it. You will achieve the same results (by which I mean blur from camera shake or slight focus inaccuracies from minor movements as you take the shot) as hand holding a standard lens at the same shutter speed and f/stop - minus the keystoning. The same is true when a t/s lens is mounted on a monopod and shifted.
When you shift a t/s lens, it is accurate to say that you lose resolution during the process. How much depends on the quality of the particular lens (which, in the case of this lens is outstanding), how far you are shifted, and at what aperture you are shooting. If you shoot at f/8, the loss is minimal even with an extreme shift, but it is there. However, to suggest that a work around is to use a standard lens and correct the distortion with software completely ignores the fact that you lose even more resolution -- significantly more -- by "stretching the pixels" in software after capture.
So am I suggesting that a standard 24 has no advantages over its tilt-shift brethren? Not at all. The t/s is heavier; its manual-only focus system make it unsuitable for situations requiring fast focusing, and it lacks the image stabilization and/or wider apertures available in other lenses. It comes down to choosing the right tool for the job. My point is that the TS-E 24 II is a very good tool; for anyone to suggest it is "useless" is bringing their own knowledge and credibility into question.
When I was shooting with the original TS-E 24, the Mk I, I realized that I was making a trade off. I was using a lens with some notable weaknesses in order to take advantage of the benefits that come with being able to tilt and shift. With this lens, that trade off is gone. The image quality is phenomenal and the tilt-shift actions give the lens a versatility that, in many ways, cannot be mimicked with software. Yes, this lens is expensive. Use one for a day and you'll understand why. Is it worth twice as much as the first version? Absolutely!
Pros: Superior build quality, Super-sharp images, versatile movements that cannot be mimicked in ps
Cons: expen$ive, takes practice to master
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
get to the higher planes
on October 20, 2009
Posted by: scjurgen
from New York, NY
I was first a bit skeptical, but after being out in the field and getting used to the endless possibilities of tilting and shifting the focus plane I can't do without it.
Landscape and architecture get a new meaning, but also portraits/wedding can get that nice addition if you use the TS intelligently.
Perfectly sharp (sharper than the corresponding prime, IMHO) the superiority is easily visible on my 5D mkii.
Not having an auto focus (no, I am not complaining), I would suggest also to add a manual diaphragm control for quicker control.
Pros: Super-sharp images, Superior build quality, extreme focus plane control
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
View Camera capabilities...
on August 30, 2010
Posted by: ppro
from North-Easterner
As soon as I learned how to use a view camera, I became disappointed in my 35mm because it lacked some of the controls available in large format. Notably, one could not correct perspective distortion or achieve a deep field of focus under some conditions.
With this lens, control returns. Although it is possible to correct some perspective distortion in image-editing software, this is achieved at the expense of sharpness, and results in incorrect proportions. Also, using image-editing software to achieve correction results in losing image area - the more correction applied, the more you lose.
There is no way to achieve the kind of depth-of-focus possible with this lens through image-editing software. While it may be possible to get great depth-of-field by stopping down, sharpness starts to fall off as diffraction sets in.
The tilt and shift features of this lens allow great flexibility and control. The ability to rotate the axis of operation of these features is a big bonus.
This lens is incredibly sharp, produces images with great color and contrast, and offers the side-benefit of sharing the filter size of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM.
I feel like I have my view camera back. I don't have to stretch images in an image editor to correct perspective distortion - I can do it in-camera, maximizing the image area recorded.
The ability to tilt the lens for increased depth-of-focus opens up new ground for my landscape photography. Now I can shoot at large lens openings and get everything from the flowers at my feet to the mountains on the horizon in perfect focus, without diffraction or loss of sharpness!
Pros: sharpness, contrast, color accuracy, control of perspective control in-camera, maximum control of depth-of-focus
Cons: large filter size, no auto-focus, no image stabilization
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Shift on Site, not in Software. Here's Why:
on November 15, 2019
Posted by: joeferrarophoto
from Salem, MA
The reason most people give for not investing in this top tier glass is that perspective correction in software is a cheaper and an efficient option. While it is possible to straighten lines and scew/distort images in software to get a desired result, most people are missing the main point of these lenses and the purpose of shifting on location.
When you organize your frame and compose your images you have many choices to make. Not least of which is what to include in your frame. But, that also includes just how much of each element within your frame to include. When you're shifting your lens you're not just maintaining perspecive control, you are also making a very important decision about the spatial relationships between elements within your frame. You can move your camera around as much as you want, but if you're trying to get things arranged in such a way that things overlap or line up in such a way, you're going to have to compromise on how much foreground or height you can afford to lose by tilting your camera with the plan to correct the perspective later.
My argument is not about the degradation of image quality when stretching pixels or losing resolution in your crop. That's been said so many times before. Valid arguments, but not what I see as the primary reason for obtaining a shift lens.
Using this lens to it's fullest potential far outweighs the argument for an alternative "fix-it-later" approach.
The right tool for the job is the the professional's argument, and knowing the advantages of a tool over another is learned through experience. Is it expensive, yes. Will it pay for itself and last longer than your camera system, yes.
Scout. Meter. Compose. Shoot. Then, edit. Not the other way around.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Expensive but soooo worht it
on February 8, 2012
Posted by: bikeatt
from UE
I agree - it is not your everyday lens, not even your every week lens. To be honest, if you do not have a need for it will quickly become your once-in-a-quite-long-long-while lens. Then you may feel disappointed, but it will not be because the product is not good, it will be because you didn't bother to think whether you really need it when buying it.
It is also a demanding lens to use - you most probably will use a tripod (unless you have super steady hands), be patient, and take some time to learn how to use it. Btw - architectural and landscape photography, where this lens finds most applications will require a tripod and some patience (when composing) in most cases anyway.
However, when you do need features of this lens and take time to learn how to shoot with it - nothing comes close to quality you will receive.
If anybody claims that he/she can do the same with regular lens and some post processing while retaining the same quality, he/she either never really used this lens or doesn't really needed such lens and doesn't want to spare time to learn how to use it. If a bit of PS magic would give you the same effects / quality no one would buy TS lenses any more and manufacturers would stop producing them. Somehow, Canon not only has not stopped, but they are refreshing (24 mkII) and expanding (17) TS lens line).
Asking for a fast autofocus in this lens - when at least 50% (if not more) of joy from using it comes from manipulating the focus pane, point and DoF - is like asking for a big trunk in a sports coupe. With respect to infinite DoF by tilting instead of gong down to f16-22 and loosing detail due to diffraction - please refer to YMHARNC review.
Expensive? Definitely yes. But are other special application tools that you know of or use - when compared to regular items of their category - cheap?
It is also a demanding lens to use - you most probably will use a tripod (unless you have super steady hands), be patient, and take some time to learn how to use it. Btw - architectural and landscape photography, where this lens finds most applications will require a tripod and some patience (when composing) in most cases anyway.
However, when you do need features of this lens and take time to learn how to shoot with it - nothing comes close to quality you will receive.
If anybody claims that he/she can do the same with regular lens and some post processing while retaining the same quality, he/she either never really used this lens or doesn't really needed such lens and doesn't want to spare time to learn how to use it. If a bit of PS magic would give you the same effects / quality no one would buy TS lenses any more and manufacturers would stop producing them. Somehow, Canon not only has not stopped, but they are refreshing (24 mkII) and expanding (17) TS lens line).
Asking for a fast autofocus in this lens - when at least 50% (if not more) of joy from using it comes from manipulating the focus pane, point and DoF - is like asking for a big trunk in a sports coupe. With respect to infinite DoF by tilting instead of gong down to f16-22 and loosing detail due to diffraction - please refer to YMHARNC review.
Expensive? Definitely yes. But are other special application tools that you know of or use - when compared to regular items of their category - cheap?
Pros: image quality, creative flexibility, build quality
Cons: bit expensive
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Extremely useful for handheld photography
on October 24, 2011
Posted by: Pro Photog
from Sacramento CA
If you have looked up resolution on this lens on The-Digital-Picture you already know it is incredibly sharp and distortion free. It has become my favorite lens for the type of industrial work that I do for heavy industry.
However, I want to address a caveat that several reviewers have made: that it is essential to use a tripod with this lens especially when the tilt function is used. Nonsense. I have taken many pictures with the tilt function hand held. It is not that difficult to set up focus from near to far by going back and forth a bit with the tilt function. When you get it right, all that's necessary is to maintain the same camera angle to the subject. You can stand up, squat down, pivot left or right and the tilt function will work just fine as long as you hold the camera in your hand with the same angle.
This ease of use makes the tilt function amazingly useful for many sorts of photography that are commonly encountered in factories, mills, mines, pipelines, and such. I rarely use a tripod for any photography and hardly ever need to use one with this lens.
Pros: Superior build quality, Super-sharp images
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great lens!
on November 6, 2011
Posted by: jpcgpdx
from Portland, OR
Very crisp and clean images. Tack sharp. Improvement on the Gen 1 version of this lens. Can be used for a variety of things: Architecture, landscapes, macros, shift and stitch panoramas. Fantastic versility. If you've shot large format and miss the controls, get this lens. Yeah, it's expensive. Mostly for pros.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com