Rogeti TSE Frame Mk.3 features added

Improved diagonal shift support for the lens mount

Rogeti have produced a new version of the TSE Frame which better supports diagonal stitching.

The diagonal mode of stitching allows for four shots to be taken without parallax, for maximal coverage to the TS-E lens image circle.

The lens mount for the Canon TS-E17mm and TS-E24mm mk2. lenses lets you attach the lens to a tripod and shift the camera, to reduce parallax errors when stitching.

For a detailed review about using the TSE Frame and why it’s a fixture in Keith’s kit bag see:

• TSE Frame Review
• Using shift lenses

Update: There is now a specific version of the TSE Frame for the Canon TS-E50mm lens

The Rogeti TSE Frame is available for $359
This is an affiliate link, added some time after my review – it helps support the site and if you use it, is greatly appreciated – Keith

TSE Frame Mk3 changes

The TSE frame is now an absolute fixture in my camera bag when out doing architectural work with the Canon 24mm and 17mm lenses, so when Rogeti asked if I’d check the new Mk3 version, I did wonder just what it did differently.

Putting it behind my old one, I can see it’s been slimmed down a bit, making it just a bit easier to access the focus ring.

Looking at the other side I spotted the new 45º swiss style mount plate.

This lets me attach the TSE Frame to a level tripod after rotating the frame 45º

Previously, you had to tilt the head by 45º, but now you can keep it level. This also has the advantage that you’re not moving the camera off to one side, so improving stability.

The camera then needs rotating via the lens mount by 45º to level it (a bubble level on the camera hot shoe may help here (if it’s an accurate one).

In the example above, the camera has been shifted diagonally up and to the right. This is equivalent to moving the lens downwards and to the left.

Note too the two sighting notches in the frame, now at the top, that let you ‘aim’ the lens. The two circular holes you can see are for the optional support and sighting frame which is the same as before.

In the second example, the camera has been fully shifted the opposite direction.

The lens tilt axis will need moving by 90º to get the other two diagonal shifts (see my TSE Frame review for many more examples)

Using the frame

I’ve not used a full four shot diagonal stitch very often, partly because most of my stitching just needed 1,2 or 3 shots in a single plane. The other reason would be that leaning the whole assembly over and the lack of 45º stops on the lens mount made it feel less solid than I’d like.

It turns out that just adding the 45º plate to the frame does make it feel a lot more solid for the 45º stitch option.

Rogeti information

This chart shows all the parts of the Mk3 frame

Here’s their quick guide to the coverage you can get by stitching.

How I use the TSE Frame

For a detailed review about using the TSE Frame and why it’s so useful see:

• TSE Frame Review
• Using shift lenses

One quick example from the review showing four images, shot on the diagonal and their stitch.

Stitched and corrected.