Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L 35mm Primes

Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L 35mm Primes 

DESCRIPTION

Wide angle, manual focus lens for the EOS system, with tilt and shift capabilities. Good for product and architectural photography where precise depth-of-field and perspective control are necessary.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 10  
[Jul 28, 2007]
Thomas Loeb
Intermediate

Strength:

L class images and build quality.

Wide range of perspective adjustments.

Broadens creative potential.

Weakness:

A bit heavy.

A complex lens that requires a lot of practice to see its full capabilities.

This is by no means a normal lens. It has specific abilities and features that are only found in the T/S models.

It gives the D-SLR user a very close approximation to the capabilities of a view camera.

The Tilt mode allows you to adjust the depth of field to your exact requirements regardless of the aperture setting. This you can set the exposure you require with the focus exactly as you want.

The Shift mode allows you to photograph buildings without distortion. Shift is also great for landscapes where you want trees and other tall elements to be rendered distortion free.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 04, 2003]
Rollins
Expert

Strength:

Sharpness is very good (center and edges)and I use this almost exclusively at f/8 and f/11 and hyperfocused. Build quality is excellent. DOF scale is very useful.

Weakness:

Very slight barrel distortion at edges. Sharpness is very good but not excellent as some other 24mm primes I use.

I love the perspective control that this lens makes possible. I use the Shift Function much more than the Tilt since 24mm offers such large DOF. Everything about this lens is great but I find my other standard 24mm prime lenses slightly sharper. The sharpness of this lens is very good and consistant 'center to edges' but not as sharp as the EF-20mm or my EF-45mm shift lens. Also I shot the Salibury Catheral in England using a bubble-level and found slight barrel distortion. Still I am glad that I purchased this lens because I frequently need the shift function.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

EF-20mm, EF-35mm, EF-45mm Shift, EF-70-200mm L f/4, EF-300mm L f/4.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Sep 19, 2002]
Smallman
Expert

Strength:

Extremely versatile super wide angle lens with excellent performance, especially considering the retrofocus design. Automatic diaphragm function is available just like ordinary EF lenses.

Weakness:

I have not discovered any weaknesses, however this lens requires some care in order to get optimum results. The best camera to use is an EOS 1N or 1V with the 100% viewfinder and easier manual focussing than less expensive EOS models. The EC-D grid scren is useful, and works perfectly well as a standard screen with normal lenses. There is some distortion detectable. This makes straight lines immediately adjacent the frame edge curve slightly in the shape of a cupids bow without the dip in the middle. Although the distortion is slight it does mean that accurate vision of the frame edges in the viewfinder is necessary. It is necessary to meter before shifting or incorrect results will occur. No autofocus of course. Manual focus with the f3.5 lens requires some care. It is often more useful to use scale focussing unless tilt is used, in which case you must focus on the screen. The lens is quite heavy, bulky and expensive for the focal length and aperture.

This is a remarkably wide angle retrofocus lens. The focal length of 24 mm is only 40% of the image circle which Canon gives as 58.2 mm. All this is achieved with a normal 72 mm screw in filter mount, no need for drop in type filters. Used without tilt or shift, performance is very similar to the EF 24 mm F2.8, a very fine lens. With shift, remarkable perspectives on interior and exterior architecture are posible. The lens is a great boon for both architecture and landscape but is also a very capable general purpose wide angle. Shift is more likely to be used than tilt as the depth of field is considerable with the 24 mm focal length. It is possible to use the full 11 mm shift, however some loss of definition and darkening of the image will occur at the edges of the frame. Best image performance across the whole frame with or without shift is at f8, best edge performance with minimal light falloff occurs at f 11. Have your Canon service centre make the shift and tilt axes made parallel so both can be used together.

Customer Service

Excellent from Canon Australia

Similar Products Used:

There is really nothing quite like it out there. Canon EF 24mm f2.8.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 01, 2002]
Gatom
Intermediate

Strength:

tilt/shift smooth manual AF sharp

Great lens. Use it on landscape and cityscape photography, and it`s really magic to have tilt and shift on 35mm. People complain about nonAF - for me it`s really no issue, actually manual focus is so smooth that I like it. Lens is very sharp and very easy to use. I would like more than 8 degrees of tilt and shift, but who didn`t. Only think - it`s heavy but also strongly build - L series lens. The glass is Canon L series class - perfect.

Customer Service

Never needed and hopefuly never will.

Similar Products Used:

none tilt/shift

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 29, 2002]
Dwight Arthur
Professional

Strength:

Sharp optics. Unique controls.

Weakness:

Heavy, non-autofocus and hard to focus with typical EOS groundglass viewfinder.

Fantastic lens for quick architectural work. Offers excellent control of perspective distortion on the fly (no need for view camera if you are not enlarging beyond 11x14.) Tripod recommended to get best perspective correction but hand-holding possible. Very good optical quality, but be sure to use at least f:8.0 or smaller when shifting.

Customer Service

Adequate

Similar Products Used:

4x5 viewcamera, Canon FD 35mm Tilt and Shif

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 13, 2000]
Brian Chang
Intermediate

Strength:

Tilt and shift capability; Fairly good distortion control; Good optical quality considering its huge image circle; Auto-aperture (The only auto-aperture shift lens in the market); Works with TC1.4X (Though not officialy by Canon)

Weakness:

Bulky; Pricy; No auto-focus when not shifted/tilted

If you have a Canon line-up and shoot architecture, there's nothing else to choose. The TC1.4X worths considering. With the TS24 and the TC, you virtually have two lenses of correct perspective (24 and 35, lovely focal lengths) for less than $1,500.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon PC35/4

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
3
[Feb 29, 2000]
Chris Eastwood
Intermediate
Model Reviewed: TS-E 24mm f/3.5L

Strength:

movements like large format camera without the need for a different system
smooth focusing

Weakness:

need to be careful of light fall off at smaller apatures when shifted
need to be careful to meter before shifting, as this can effect the metering.

This lens is great to handle, smooth to focus, and takes shots that are sharper than the EF24 in the center, but not as good at the edges (especially when shifted) If you are interested in the advantages of lens shifting and focal plane tilt, then it's a must have. However don't shoot this lens at less than f8 with shifting! As the lens is quite a bit dearer than the EF24, and the images aren't noticably different (I have both and have shot them side by side, same film, same location, same time {less the time taken to change lenses} as well as shot lens test charts ) I have rated the value as 3/5 Given that I love what it can do for anything with parallel lines (like buildings or trees!) and the tilting can give wonderful DoF as well as focus control that just isn't possible with any other kind of lens, I have given it an overall rating of 5/5.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
3
[May 06, 2001]
Zave Shapiro
Casual

Strength:

Unique capabilities. Build quality.

Weakness:

Manual focus lens for AF bodies. Viewfinder critical to accurate focus, especially with tilt.

A complex and exotic lens. If you need it then it's very well done and worth the money. Focus demands care and the gradations can be fussy but it has large format functions in 35mm format.

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[May 08, 2001]
Howard
Intermediate

Strength:

1. Sharp optics with little distortion and vignette.
2. tilt and shift movements (of course).
3. superb built quality.

Weakness:

1. no AF (but MF is smooth with just right amount of friction).
2. tilt movement is limited (only 8 degrees either way).
3. expen$ive!

I was torn between this lens and the EF 20mm f/2.8. This lens does not have
USM-FTM, not even AF, is heavy and more than twice as expensive. But in the end
I chose this one and I have no regrets. Another factor made my choice more
difficult: I have a 28-135 IS USM as my all-purpose travel lens which takes
72mm filters, and this TS-E lens and the EF 20mm both take 72mm filters as well.
I chose this lens for exactly what it is designed for: tilt and shift movements.
I do a lot of architecture shots, so this lens is like a dream come true to me!
Also, it works well with a 1.4x TC (I use the Kenko Pro 300), so you get two
tilt-shift lenses with popular wide angle focal lengths (24mm and *almost* 35mm)

For once Canon supplies a lens hood with their lens (and a case too)! I have
mixed feelings about the hood. Mine is rather stiff and hard to take off the
lens, and it is rather shallow so it makes you wonder if it will provide enough
covering (but I have had flare problems). On the other hand, it is very wide
and leaves generous space for one to manipulate filters without having to
take off the hood. So, I leave it on at all times.

The down side is: this lens is not cheap! This is my only L lens and it is the
most expensive piece of equipment I have ever bought! It is at least twice as
expensive as any of my other gears. Also it is heavy! And the tilt movement is
rather limited (only 8 degrees), it would be better if it was 30 degrees or at
least 15 degrees! But there is no substitue for this lens so I am happy.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

none of this kind

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
3
[Aug 15, 2001]
Don Sivori
Professional

Strength:

Solid construction, excellent optics

Weakness:

I don't like the placement of small locks to control tilt and shift. Lens shade hard to attach and remove.

Excellent optics for this L lens. Gives view camera type control which makes this lens suitable for landscape and architectural photos. Meter before tilt or shift to get accurate readings. Canon recommends using EOS1 1n or 1-V because of 100% viewfinder coverage. Haven't had any problems using on EOS3.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use for this lens but did have to send in 100-400IS. Check for upcoming review.

Similar Products Used:

none

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 10  

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