Canon launch full-frame 17mm tilt-shift
Canon today announced the launch of two new tilt and shift lenses, the Ultra-Wide angle
TS-E 17mm f/4L and the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, an upgrade to the popular TS-E 24mm f/3.5L.
At 17mm, the TS-E 17mm f/4L has the widest view angle of any tilt and shift lens currently available; coupled with outstanding image quality across the whole frame, it is an ideal choice for architectural or landscape photography. Building on the success of its predecessor, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, like the
TS-E 17mm f/4L, now includes Canon’s sub-wavelength structure coating (SWC). Canon’s patented lens coating is specifically designed to minimise ghosting and flare caused by internal reflections to help deliver crisp, clear images.
Canon was the first company to offer 35mm camera users a combined tilt and shift lens, With 36 years experience in this field, Canon has now added a new unique functionality to the TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, allowing users to rotate the direction of the tilt and shift independently of each other. This affords greater control over the focal plane, replicating the movements of a large format view camera. Canon’s revolutionary tilt and shift revolving mechanism is particularly useful when shooting product shots from a perspective where specific framing and focal plane is required.
The new lenses, influenced by feedback from professional photographers, have been created to produce the best image quality with high resolution, high contrast and low distortion. The use of high-precision asphercial front elements keeps distortion, common in wide angle lenses, to an absolute minimum, even at the edges of the frame. The TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II also feature multiple UD elements to reduce chromatic aberration and optimised focus mechanisms.
Canon today has also introduced a new range (52mm to 72mm) of versatile, multi-functional PL-C B polarizing filters to help reduce reflections from glass or water or darken blue skies. The PL-C B’s, which are now available in 52mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm and 82mm filter thread sizes, also allows the lens cap to be attached to the lens to prevent damage to the filter if left attached when not in use.
Key features of the TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II include:
- Tilt and shift lenses compatible with all Canon EOS cameras
- Ultra Wide 17mm / wide 24mm focal length, ideal for architecture and landscapes
- High precision lens elements for low distortion and high resolution to the edge of the image
- ± 6.5° Tilt and ±12mm Shift (TS-E 17mm f/4L)
- ± 8.5° Tilt and ±12mm Shift (TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II)
- Tilt and shift mechanism rotates +/-90° allowing shift in any direction
- Tilt mechanism rotates +/-90° allowing tilt in any direction relative to the shift
- Aspherical and UD lens elements minimise chromatic aberration
- Sub-wavelength structure and super-spectra coatings minimise ghosting and flare
- Circular aperture for creative, blurred highlights
- TS-E 17mm f/4L has a floating internal focus mechanism delivers high image quality throughout focus range.
Pricing and Availability:
The TS-E 17mm f/4L is available from May 2009 priced at £2749.99 / €3049.99 RRP inc. VAT.
The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is available from May 2009 priced at £2399.99 / €2659.99 RRP inc. VAT.
My only concern as a landscape lens is the fact that it is not possible to attach filters to the from of the 17mm lens. In addition clearly there is nothing to afford protection to the front lens element. Does this mean the front lens element is not coated and therefore can be regularly cleaned without wear, this would have to be the case to make an investment like this worthwhile.
It should be right up your street Chris. I took a look at at Focus on Imaging – they actually had the lens – and it is a vulnerable as it seems, also of course you can focus so close that the sharp end of your Scheimpflug almost puts that front glass into intimate contact with your subject… at £2600 (quoted by Canon) it will be quite an investment.
The only thing missing, I guess, is an extended shift mode for using with APS-C Canon bodies. They have restricted the shift for obvious reasons, full frame is incredible demanding at this focal length. More could be used with the smaller sensor bodies. Then again, the message I’m getting is that smaller sensor bodies are now dead for the professional user. It’s full frame all the way from now on.
David
The 17mm looks very exciting for architectural and industrial photography and I can see it being really useful in tight small environments like a lab or a process where I used to try and get a 5×4 and eventually used fisheyes on 35mm – but a rectilinear lens is much better. Thanks for the info. Chris