Canon TS-E17mm f4L
Canon TS-E 17mm f/4 L
Collection of information and links for Canon’s all new TS-E 17mm f/4 L
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The Canon TS-E 17mm f/4 L is the widest lens of its type and represents an all new design from Canon.
- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 17mm 1:4
- Lens Construction 18 elements in 12 groups
- Diagonal Angle of View 104°
- +/- 6.5° Tilt and +/-12mm Shift
- Focus Adjustment Manual focus, overall linear extension system
- Closest Focusing Distance 0.82 ft./0.25m (0.14x)
- Max. Diam x Length. 88.9 x 106.7mm | 28.9 oz./820g
UPDATE 2018: We have a detailed TS-E17 review to go alongside our reviews of Canon three new (2017) TS-E lenses.
Article Index
Other TS-E17 info
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Tilt and Shift
I’d been waiting for this all new 17mm tilt/shift lens for some time… this page covers pre-release information and technical specifications, such as MTF charts
After it turned up, I carried out a few tests and comparisons. There are some sample photos further down the page, looking at just what you can do with it.
In the few years I’ve now had this lens, it’s become a key part of my architectural photography, along with the new TS-E 24mm mk2
In a 2012 exhibition of local architectural photography it was the most used lens – there are notes indicating which lens I used on the exhibition information page.
If you’re unfamiliar with this sort of lens, I’ve written a lengthy article about using a tilt/shift lens.
Latest TS-E17mm news
2018 July
5th Keith has written a detailed TS-E17 review to go alongside our reviews of Canon three new (2017) TS-E lenses.
May Review of the Benro GD3WH geared tripod head. Three axis geared adjustment with up to 6kg of camera gear supported. Arca Swiss style adapter plate for quick release. Head weighs under 2 pounds in weight.
A TS-E17mm shot taken whilst testing the tripod head (click to enlarge).
January Review of the Rogeti TSE frame – lens mount for Canon TS-E 17mm and 24mm tilt/shift lenses. Attaches lens directly to a tripod for parallax free image stitching. Accurate image stitching for wide coverage.
2015 July I’ve just got the new 50MP Canon 5Ds. This puts a square stitched TS-E17 shot at around 75MP. The lens is easily up to the increased resolution.
2013 May Nearly four years on and the TS-E17 is a staple of my architectural work, images both single and stitched have been part of many projects and exhibitions, such as these two from a look at some of my home city, Leicester
New Walk, Leicester
Curve, Leicester.
2013 April Test of a specialised TS-E lens mounting bracket for parallax free stitching (17mm and 24mm).
2009 July 17th Our 24mm has turned up – it’s raining, so no tests today :-)
4th Test chart info added to links above.
June 24th A quick test of the TS-E 17mm with a 2x teleconverter
A few more sample images – Walking into Leicester
17th More sample images in the blog – Using the TS-E 17 hand held
Here’s an evening shot, taken at dusk few days ago. it’s the new Curve theatre in Leicester.
10th More sample TS-E 17 images below.
9th We’ve a new article about how to use lens tilt that includes an example using the TS-E17
Jump to Earlier news items
Using the TS-E 17
A few quick tests outside of the house.
These were made in windy conditions, with rather quickly changing light.
I’m sure the lens is even sharper at f/8 than some of these shots suggest.
I was using a cable release but no MLU, and the shutter speed was relatively low (less than 1/100).
These images have given me a feel for what the lens is like to use when shifted. For tilt I need to do a bit more testing.
If you get one, take care with that lens cap. It won’t take much to damage that exposed front element.
The lens has a good solid build and all movements are free without backlash or sticking.
Images are from a 1Ds3, processed in ACR.
In particular, I’ve not applied any sharpening to the images here, so the 100% shots look a bit softer than I’d expect in real use.
Images (here) are JPEGs in sRGB at medium quality.
The view across the street is the same one I’ve used for doing quick tests of various 3rd party lenses when fitted on the 1Ds3 with an adapter.
A bit of vignetting visible at f/4 – move mouse over image to see at f/8
The top LH corner at f/4 – move mouse over image to see at f/8
Here’s the view with the 14mm 2.8L II
Stitching two TS-E17 images gives this. It’s 12mm shift each way, and flat stitched in Photoshop CS3
Here’s the LH corner at full shift
Stitching vertically (@f/8) gives this. It’s the equivalent of a 17mm lens on a 48x36mm sensor.
A 42MP image from my 1Ds3
At full vertical shift with the camera horizontal, there was no overlap of frames, so this is from 3 images stitched together
When stitching images like this I found that it’s important to check focus each time.
I’ll have to investigate this further, but it -might- indicate a degree of field curvature that might be important when making very high resolution stitched images.
I’ll finish with a quick 100% detail from the top LH corner
That’s it for the quick test today :-) I now have a feel for the lens FOV and its general performance.
Using the lens more seriously…
I took the lens with me when I was on a job in Leicester, and took some hand-held shots on the way, ans some using the tripod later.
The Guild Hall Leicester – circa 1400. The original town hall for Leicester.
(slightly cropped to remove a few bit of building on the RH side and obviously processed to make a decent B/W picture)
This on the way back has only had some slight adjustments of brightness etc in ACR
Leicester clock tower at night
Some 100% crops (unsharpened – Canon 1DS mk3 1/2 second exp @f/10, ISO 100, 12mm of vertical shift)
The clock maker is Chloride Gent
Here’s the old Pex building by the canal (1Ds 3 hand held 125 @f/8 200 ISO) probably ~3mm shift
and an unsharpened 100% crop
Older TS-E 17 ‘News items’
June 5th Quick tests added above
The lens is here…
I’m just off out on a short job, but will post some images later
Anyway, here’s the box…
…and what was inside.
It included a small screw and knob.
So, withing minutes of getting an expensive lens, the screwdriver is out.
This is the shift knob
Here’s the larger version fitted. It’s for cameras without a pop-up flash :-)
A lot of glass – compared to the 14mm 2.8L II
Two big lens caps
Now of to do a quick bit of work. I’ll post some images later today
4th Our 17mm lens is on its way and I’m told that Park Cameras (UK only) has -one- left in stock (@lunchtime)
May 28th 3 lenses turn up in Austria, and there are sample images posted in this DPR thread.
The lens looks very good :-)
May 20th Early June is the best estimate we’re getting at the moment for delivery – however Canon are being a little obscure in giving dealers any hard info…
4th Few people getting to look at one yet, but one comment on LL looks good:
“The 17 displayed absolutely straight lines, absence of vignetting and very little CA, even shifted the full 12 mm. The construction & finish also were of a much higher standard than the previous TSE lenses.”
April 30th We’ve kindly been sent some TSE-17 sample images which show it’s going to be a pretty good lens.
A full res. sample of another image shows that whilst (unshifted) it’s slightly softer in the corners, there is no sign of CA. Now I’m really looking forward to trying the 17mm and 24mm.
I’ll include a sample here courtesy of Edgard Marques in Spain.
There are more examples on his photography blog.
29th A sighting of the new TSE lenses and a description of their performance (no pics) in a DPR post.
March 1st
There are some further publications from Canon describing features of the new lenses.
Also from the Canon TSE article above, the diagram shows just how much improvement of the image circle is offered with the new lenses.
February 27th A useful LL article on understanding more about the MTF graphs below… (see also info for the 24mm)
26th Feb More Canon CPN info on the new T/S lenses
From Canon Japan, we have MTF charts that show just how good the lens should be at f/8
A lot of elements inside this lens
More info to come
The new 17mm is a first, and that’s a big lump of glass on the front.
The US press release points to a May shipping date at US$2499 and CDN$2999.99. The UK one says
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.
Accvording to Canon Germany, they are ready in April and it’s 2399 euro for the 17mm and 2099 euro for the 24mm, and that’s including 19% VAT – quite a bit less than the prices in the UK press release.
The new design allows fully independent movement of tilt/shift axes, so no longer any need to modify your lenses as we illustrated with a TS-E90 modification.
+/- 6.5° Tilt and +/-12mm Shift
- Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 17mm 1:4
- Lens Construction 18 elements in 12 groups
- Diagonal Angle of View 104° (without tilt or shift)
- Focus Adjustment Manual focus, overall linear extension system
- Closest Focusing Distance 0.82 ft./0.25m (maximum close-up magnification: 0.14x)
- Max. Diameter x Length, Weight 3.5 x 4.2 in./88.9 x 106.7mm (maximum lens length), 28.9 oz./820g
MTF Chart
Sample image – from Canon
TS-E 17mm f/4 L
A top down view of the lens
Some pricing info puts this lens at some 2500 euros
According to a German online dealer the lens will be available in April
CANON U.S.A. EXPANDS ITS LENS PORTFOLIO WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW WIDE-ANGLE TILT-SHIFT LENSESCanon Introduces the New TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Lenses
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and optics, today introduced two new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L. These two new L series lenses expand the Company’s extensive lens line-up of TS-E lenses giving photographers creative control over perspective and depth of field in their images. Both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L are specialty lenses ideal for landscape and architectural photography and are compatible with all Canon EOS system single lens reflex cameras1. The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, a replacement for Canon’s TS-E 24mm f/3.5L introduced in 1991, has significantly improved operability with low distortion when photographing buildings, consistent image quality throughout the image and reduced chromatic aberration when shooting at ultra-wide angles. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is the world’s shortest focal length Tilt-Shift lens with full-frame 35mm coverage. “These two new lenses are Canon’s answer to photographers who have requested wider angle Tilt-Shift lenses, with the new TS-E 24mm for wide angles and the all new TS-E 17mm for ultra-wide angles. We continually seek to expand our optics portfolio to meet the demands of our photographers to ensure that they have the best tools available to capture some of the most stunning images on the planet,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. An innovative feature on both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L lenses is Canon’s new TS Revolving System. This feature allows tilting and shifting lens movements to be adjusted in parallel or at right angles to each other, with detents at 45˚ intervals. Additionally, once the TS Revolving System has been set, the orientation of the entire lens can be rotated freely through a range of ±90˚, with detents at 30˚ intervals. The amount of tilt is ±8.5˚ for the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and ±6.5˚ for the TS-E 17mm f/4L. The amount of shift is ±12mm for both lenses. The image circle diameter for both lenses is an impressive 67.2mm. (The diagonal measurement of the full-frame 35mm format is only 43.2mm.) The high-precision glass molded aspherical and UD glass lens elements and accurate aspherical GMo along with a large diameter in new TS-E lenses deliver outstanding image quality, high resolution and super-low distortion to all edges of the image. Each lens incorporates a new type of anti-reflection coating, Canon’s SubWavelength structure Coating (SWC) that continuously changes the refractive index on the lens surface via wedge-shaped structures more minute than wavelength of visible light. Canon’s SWC helps minimize flare and ghosting caused by bright light from large angles of incidence. The new TS-E lenses are the 2nd and 3rd Canon EF series lenses with SWC, following the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that was introduced in 2008. Pricing and Availability About Canon U.S.A., Inc. † Based on weekly patent counts issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office * Prices are estimated retail prices. Actual selling prices are set by dealers and may vary. All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners. Prices, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. |
Canon strengthens tilt & shift range with two new additions Canon launches ultra-wide angle 17mm tilt and shift lens – the world’s widest in 35mm format photography New 24mm tilt and shift lens offers largest range of movement availableHi-res versions of the images can be downloaded from http://www.canon.co.uk/press_centre <http://www.canon.co.uk/press_centre>United Kingdom / Republic of Ireland, 18 February, 2009: Canon today announces 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.
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More lens use related articles
All articles and reviews are listed on our main Articles and Reviews page, or use the search box at the top of any page. Experimental items, hacks and how-to articles are all listed in the Photo-hacks category.
Some articles that may be of interest:
- Using a tilt/shift lens - what it is they actually do
- Focus with tilted lenses - lots more information about what's going on when you tilt a lens. See also: Focusing the view camera - External link to [very] detailed coverage of camera movements
- Keith's tilt table spreadsheet (zipped file)
- Using old lenses on your DSLR - fun with adapters
- Keith's lens reviews and lens related articles
More of Keith's articles/reviews (Google's picks to match this page)
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