My 17mm TS-E Review

FM Forum Rules
Canon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 end

Archive 2009 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Mac D.
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Hi, everyone... if anyone is interested in this lens, I did a little write-up, as well as a comparison between the TS-E and the 17-40 L...

(I screwed up on the first group of 100% crops and you can't click through to the full size, but with the other samples you can... hopefully, I'll re-upload those and fix that.. you can still see the difference even with the thumbnails)

This review isn't made to be 100% comprehensive or anything.. just a first look at the lens for people who are considering it...

http://macdanzigphotography.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/a-first-look-at-the-canon-ts-e-17mm-f4-l-and-a-test-vs-the-17-40-l/

thanks for lookin...

-Mac

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:06 AM

dadagallery
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · My 17mm TS-E Review

I appreciate you sharing your images and reflections on these two. I'm one of the ones with the 17-40 due to needing the kidney more than the TS-E, but it does get me thinking that I do have two kidneys.

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:58 AM

n0b0
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · My 17mm TS-E Review

I had to wait for almost 2 weeks on my backorder for this lens. I think it's worth it though.

Very entertaining and honest review. One thing I'd like to add is how much I like the bokeh, soft and gaussian blur-ish.

Nov 07, 2009 at 06:22 AM

pcho
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Thanks mac for review. Well done. I totally agree with everything you said. I absolutely agree with everything you said. I was told by my store that canon will be releasing so sort of a filter for 17 mm lens that somehow attaches to the grooves of the lens cap fits on. I hope he is correct.

Perry

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:38 AM

Yakim Peled
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #5 · My 17mm TS-E Review

I really don't want to hear any more.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:25 AM

Daan B
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · My 17mm TS-E Review

I can't believe there is no hood available for it...

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:44 AM

pcho
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Yakim Peled wrote:
I really don't want to hear any more.

Nov 07, 2009 at 11:18 AM

n0b0
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · My 17mm TS-E Review

You know you want it Yakim... Resistance is futile.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 07, 2009 at 11:33 AM

abdul10000
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Excellent review Mac.

"(Having the ability to rotate the barrel 45 degrees from right angle to paralell for both tilt and shift is an invaluable feature and doubles the creative possibilities of a tilt-shift lens)."

What do you mean by this? Is a function that is not available on the 90mm TS-E?

Nov 07, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Geofn
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · My 17mm TS-E Review

abdul10000 wrote:
Excellent review Mac.

"(Having the ability to rotate the barrel 45 degrees from right angle to paralell for both tilt and shift is an invaluable feature and doubles the creative possibilities of a tilt-shift lens)."

What do you mean by this? Is a function that is not available on the 90mm TS-E?

Not without partially dissembling the lens by removing four screws and manually roatating the front assembly, then re-assembling the lens. It can be done, bit it's rather a pain in the a$$. So much easier on the 17 and the 24 II.

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:11 PM

abdul10000
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Geofn wrote:
abdul10000 wrote:
Excellent review Mac.

"(Having the ability to rotate the barrel 45 degrees from right angle to paralell for both tilt and shift is an invaluable feature and doubles the creative possibilities of a tilt-shift lens)."

What do you mean by this? Is a function that is not available on the 90mm TS-E?

Not without partially dissembling the lens by removing four screws and manually roatating the front assembly, then re-assembling the lens. It can be done, bit it's rather a pain in the a$$. So much easier on the 17 and the 24 II.

I see, what is the benefit of this move?

Nov 08, 2009 at 03:39 AM

pcho
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · My 17mm TS-E Review

abdul10000 wrote:

I see, what is the benefit of this move?

Have a look at this

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/modify_canon_tilt-shift.html

Perry

Nov 08, 2009 at 05:39 AM

Mac D.
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #13 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Thanks, everyone!

n0b0, that's an awesome shot. perfect example of what tilt can do.

pcho: I have also heard the filter rumor... let's hope it happens.

Abdul: as you can see, the hack you had to do in the previous versions is kinda involved, and I'm pretty sure it voids the warranty. now you can do it in 2 seconds while the lens is mounted... One of the benefits of barrel rotation is the ability to shoot in vertical (portrait mode) and still have the same native tilt/shift functions. Or, of course, reversing the native functions on a normal landscape mode shot, making the tilt work horizontally and the shift work vertically.

Nov 08, 2009 at 07:40 AM

Peter Montanti
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Daan B wrote:
I can't believe there is no hood available for it...

My experience with the lens so far is that it is very resistant to glare. But yes your right, no lenshood is available though there are other ways to shade the glass. If a lenshood is what you need you better pass on this lens. On the other hand if an amazingly well built and performing wide angle TS lens is what you want, this may be the lens for you.

Peter

Architectural Photography by Peter Montanti, www.mountainphotographics.com

Nov 08, 2009 at 01:16 PM

Geofn
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · My 17mm TS-E Review

My experience, too, has been that the 17 is quite flare resistant. Below are a couple of crops showing flare detail. This shot does not have the sun in the actual image, but full sun was hitting the front element of the lens when the shot was taken. This lens is by far the most flare resistant of any lens I've ever used.

2012 © Geofn

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:50 PM

lms1
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Got any more shots with the 17?

Larry

coastwise2@comcast.net

Nov 08, 2009 at 11:26 PM

Rajan Parrikar
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #17 · My 17mm TS-E Review

For more information, see this

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:33 AM

khurram1
Online
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #18 · My 17mm TS-E Review

thanks for the review, i found similar improvements in sharpness, when comparing my 24TSE II to using my 16-35LII and 24-105L at 24mm.

I actually had the 17TSE on order but passed when it arrived last June, since it doesn't take ND grads. I read somewhere that someone is working on a solution for this lens and the nikon 14-24, so that filters can be used. If a viable option to use filters is available, I think this lens would be number #1 on my lens lust list

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:40 AM

n0b0
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · My 17mm TS-E Review

As a pure landscape lens, this lens' ability really is hampered by the lack of filter mount but as a cityscape/architectural lens, it's still very much a viable option.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:49 AM

cwolf
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #20 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Nice review with stunning sharp images from the TS lens compared to the 17-40L.
The TS is a killer in terms of sharpness, but a killer in terms to your budget.
I think I will stick to my 17-40L and try using it as much as possible on a tripod and above F8. Have fun with your lens!

cwolf

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:53 AM

pcho
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #21 · My 17mm TS-E Review

17mm tse

17mm with 16-35L

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Perry

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:54 AM

Peter Figen
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #22 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Here's a - believe it or not - two handheld horizontal grab shots stitched - one running the shift all the way up and the other shifting down. I say grab, because I was on Kaiser property and couldn't set up a tripod without attracting security goons. I'm in the process of trying to get legitimate permission to go back and shoot for real, but I've run in to the most paranoid idiots you can believe. They're afraid - get this - that I might actually want to SELL them an image, and that would be taking advantage somehow of Kaiser. The level of corporate stupidity knows few bounds...

2012 © Peter Figen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III 17 mm f/10.0 1/500 sec 200 ISO 0.0 EV

Nov 09, 2009 at 07:57 AM

Peter Montanti
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #23 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Peter Figen wrote:
Here's a - believe it or not - two handheld horizontal grab shots stitched - one running the shift all the way up and the other shifting down. I say grab, because I was on Kaiser property and couldn't set up a tripod without attracting security goons. I'm in the process of trying to get legitimate permission to go back and shoot for real, but I've run in to the most paranoid idiots you can believe. They're afraid - get this - that I might actually want to SELL them an image, and that would be taking advantage somehow of Kaiser. The level of corporate stupidity knows few bounds...

If I were hoping to obtain some work with a particular company I sure wouldn't call them stupid paranoid idiots in a open forum anyone could read.

Nice shot BTW, good luck with this endeavor.

Peter

Architectural Photography by Peter Montanti, www.mountainphotographics.com

Nov 09, 2009 at 01:11 PM

Yakim Peled
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #24 · My 17mm TS-E Review

pcho wrote:
Yakim Peled wrote:
I really don't want to hear any more.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Go on Yakim, you only live once go get the 17 and 24 tse and you will love. I originally want the 90tse for food and macro. When the 17 & 24 were released I got them instead hoping a new 90tse would follow suit. Well I could not wait anymore and I purcased the 90tse as well. I got into the bug just like you.

Perry

n0b0 wrote:
You know you want it Yakim... Resistance is futile.

Yes, it's hopeless. I've already started to say my prayers for the sin I'm about to commit.

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Nov 10, 2009 at 05:01 AM

ViscaB
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #25 · My 17mm TS-E Review

Great write-up. Thx!

I love this lens. It changes the manner in which you can take images. Next to making impossible architectural shots possible I love the lens for giving me a new way to shoot images. This image for example was possible without the crazy shift.

I have learnt a lot so far how to use it. Especially that you have to shoot buildings from angle and beware of putting relevant items/ tall buildings on the side of the frame because of distortion.

Shifted up almost fully.

Shifting for a 3 shot pano.

Because of its sharpness I also use it with a nodal ninja to make panos.I don't have to stop down as much which saves critical time.

1 image in portrait

3 images in landscape.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:02 PM


FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 end