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Thoughts on the Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8


Mark Keefer

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I am considering a used Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8. I saw one locally asking $850 or best offer, I am offering $700, but I am thinking that may be high as I saw one on eBay for $650. And I see some for about $750 and higher on line. Is this lens worth considering and worth $700, it is not L glass, and Canon has just come out with some new Tilt Shift L lenses.I am an L glass kind of guy, but there are a few non L lenses that I like, like the 40mm f2.8. I and primarily interested for architecture, getting the lines straight. But I will no doubt play some too. And if I were to consider this, might I not also consider the cheaper Samyang/Rokina 24mm TS?

Very interested in hearing what the folks here think.

 

Thanks

Cheers, Mark
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I haven't used TS lenses on 35mm yet. Back when I shot a 6.5x9cm, I shifted it's 105mm standard lens about once or twice to get lines straight. - If resolution permits, I'd rather do such things during post processing. Having a shift option sounds more interesting with wide angle lenses. - I noticed that LR'S perspective correction is quite limited when I am trying to compensate pointing my 15mm upwards.

Bottom line: Evaluate what you are using to shoot architecture and shop accordingly. - I think 45mm TS is maybe more interesting for shooting products? And TS lenses in general are more needed when you plan to "sell" at least every pixel you captured. With wides on FF I see no huge benefit in a tilt feature to enhance DOF.

After reading Samyang reviews I'd love to handle a Canon lens first before I make up my mind which to get.

For personal work I'd think twice before I make the step of buying into TS lenses. Will I shoot them frequently enough, to justify that investment compared to dusting of my Linhof and figuring out how to haul it around? Will I need another EOS body with manual focusing screen too?

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I've always felt that T/S lenses for architectural photography (shift, mostly) were 35mm and wider. The longer focal lengths seem more suited for tilt use to me.

 

YMMV

 

Since these things are pretty much manual lenses, anyhow, you might consider one of the superb Zeiss lenses for the Pentacon 6 mount and a nice tilt,shift or both adapter to Canon EOS. The total is a lot less $, straight from Ukraine.

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Since these things are pretty much manual lenses, anyhow, you might consider one of the superb Zeiss lenses for the Pentacon 6 mount and a nice tilt,shift or both adapter to Canon EOS. The total is a lot less $, straight from Ukraine.

 

Always enjoy posting here on considering equipment, the diverse pool of knowledge, and getting ideas I did not think of or realize existed.

 

Well, the seller would not come down to my offer and I was not sure if 45mm would not be as wide as I would like. They would not come below $800 and while the lens may be worth that, it is a lot of money and I could possibly make better use of the money by going in other directions and go with something wider. So I told them I was passing on this lens.

 

So this adaptor would open me up to a lot of possibilities. I am going to have to educate myself on these lenses and other adaptors.

Cheers, Mark
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I have a Pentacon 6TL and 4 lenses. I bought a shift-adapter and there is no problem at all with infinity focus on the EOS cameras-- the flange to film distance on the P6 is so great that a lot of stuff can be packed into any adapter.

 

Of course, I have had more trouble figuring out what to do with am 80-120mm shift lens - at the time I bought it, the tilt adapters were very hard to find and expensive :)

 

I don't do much product type photography aside from pictures of cameras for posting here. The current price of the tilt adapter is $80 or so and I haven't quite decided that it's worth it.o_O

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Went with an older original Canon TS-e 24mm f/3.5 L - I also see the lens works with my 1.4x teleconverter making it about a 34mm. The only downside with the older TS, The Tilt and Shift are locked in opposite orientation, where the newer MK II version allows you to change the orientation of tilt and shift independently. Still, I think the lens will be a nice creative tool.
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Cheers, Mark
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You probably have chosen wisely. :)

Thanks, JD. I hope so. It was about $1360 cheaper than buying a new MK II version. I know it does not have as many features, but it is still a good tool. Really wonder why they didn't make them so the tilt and shift could turn independently? Is what I am missing out on worth $1360?

Cheers, Mark
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My only Canon TS-E lens is my 17mm. While the independent turning is nice, I find I don't use it all that much. Actually, doing mostly face-on architectural work, I actually don't use the tilt much (although more than I had expected to). So I don't think you're missing some essential -- or Nikon and Canon would have moved to this earlier.

 

As I've said, I still use my PC-Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 on both Canon and Nikon bodies. As a totally manual lens, it's no harder to use on Canon than on Nikon.

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TS-E 24 mm 1:3,5L II

Nice. I picked up the classic. lol, doing a nice job for me though.Gonna take me a bit to nail the lines perfect through viewfinder or live view in daylight, this was handheld and the sky actually turned blue for about 10 minutes today. lol.

233942928_Morrisvillex2000wide2-.thumb.jpg.659b507d915d2b989abd5797218eac08.jpg

Cheers, Mark
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Mark, nicely done image.

 

Good that you ended up with the 24mm. I shoot a fair amount of architecture on 4x5 with a 58mm lens and like it. The 45mm lens you originally considered would not have been wide enough, imo. Part of architecture photos for me is a feeling of strong perspective and vanishing point effect, and this needs a camera position relatively close to the subject. A normal focal length, which the 45mm is near enough, would not create strong perspective. This would be for shots that you shared above, and interiors.

 

For me, a 35mm lens on 35mm film is still too long for my style of architecture photography. It works out to about 90mm on 4x5, which some people use but it does not create a strong feeling of vanishing points.

 

I like to use 50% of "normal" focal length, or wider, for architecture. This works out to around 72mm in 4x5, a popular focal length for architecture. Your image with the 24mm is a nice example of perspective.

Wilmarco Imaging

Wilmarco Imaging, on Flickr

wilmarcoimaging on Instagram

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Good that you ended up

Thanks for the compliment and contributing to the thread, Wil'. I am glad I went with the 24mm. I have also been playing with the 1.4 teleconverter on this lens, The teleconverter would not work with this shot, the lens becoming close to 34mm. I would have to have backed up into a parking lot and had traffic lights and business signs blocking the shot and I would have lost this strong perspective. Looking at his makes me think of the perspective lessons we learned in art class. If the weather gets nicer, I hope to get some shooting in in Philly (in my backyard) and I would have loved this lens when I was doing work in Manhatten for months last year. I am sure I will get more opportunities.

 

Sunday was my first chance to get out and try out the lens. Pretty much was a drive up along the Delaware River North of Philly. Would have been fun getting some shots on Broad Street after the Eagles won last night, but that may have been a crazy night.

716702195_TrainBridgeMorrisvillex2000wideframe-.thumb.jpg.1110f8ccbb06f1ebc8fd4b7f7a0c6321.jpg

Cheers, Mark
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Mark Keefer

Went with an older original Canon TS-e 24mm f/3.5 L - I also see the lens works with my 1.4x teleconverter making it about a 34mm. The only downside with the older TS, The Tilt and Shift are locked in opposite orientation, where the newer MK II version allows you to change the orientation of tilt and shift independently. Still, I think the lens will be a nice creative tool.

Mark, there is a way to change the tilt/shift to work on the same orientation. It takes a good precision screw driver and nerve! I have the Mark l 24 3.5L also. I tried once but one screw wouldn't loosen readily so I gave up.

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/modify-canon-tilt-shift-lens/

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It takes a good precision screwdriver and nerve! I have the Mark l 24 3.5L also. I tried once but one screw wouldn't loosen readily so I gave up.

Thanks for the link. Bummer on the screw. Looks easy enough. Maybe it would be possible to replace the screws with thumb screws so the lens can be easily changed on the fly. They are very small screws though. What screwdriver does it take, a 000?

Cheers, Mark
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Thanks for the link. Bummer on the screw. Looks easy enough. Maybe it would be possible to replace the screws with thumb screws so the lens can be easily changed on the fly. They are very small screws though. What screwdriver does it take, a 000?

I'm not sure what size the screwdriver needs to be. I since bought a small set of Japanese-sized precision screw drivers and I might give it another shot. I'd have to dig through some stuff to find it right now, though. I've moved since I bought those.

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