Today, one day after your very nice video, I’ve received the lens I ended up choosing after careful thought, and that is the TS-E 24mm II. It’s quite a beautiful piece of mechanical optics. It brought back the memories of a time when I was very tempted by a Toyo 4x5 field camera. Using the 1.4x Extender was part of the plan, as I already have it because, well, the EF 100-400. Keep up the good work 👍
Great video! Have had the TSE 24mm for over 5 years. I love it and agree with the argument about filter use and pairing with a 1.4x extender. Also picked up the Rogeti TS-E frame which I mainly use for landscapes.
Yes, removes any parallax and supports the weight on the lens. It does prevent the use of tilt when in the frame, but then I only ever use shift for landscape and architecture.
Great video as always, mate. I’ve thought about getting the 17mm in addition to my 24mm but decided not to in the end as I generally find I can get the shot I want with the 24mm and the added distortion means that the 17mm shots generally get cropped down to something like 24mm anyway. That and you or Adam have the 17mm so I’ve borrowed those ;))) Canon have long had a registered patent or copyright (not sure which) for an all purpose TS adaptor that means you can attach any lens to it and transform it into a TSE equivalent lens.. but they’ve never put it into production. When I went over to a Sony camera I bought a Mirex TS adaptor and use it to attach Nikon fit manual aperture lenses. The results are fantastic.
If you shoot mirrorless, it allows you to use mount adapters with a filter slot. This allows the use of CPL / VND filters with the TS-E 17mm and even the 8-15 fish.
Be careful with the CPL filter. The ND filter placed in the adapter helps prevent vignetting. On the other hand, the effect of the polarizing filter will vary depending on the light source (100% effect if it comes from the left or right but 0% if it comes from the front or back and of course all intermediate values). With a 17mm, you risk having a sky whose blue varies from left to right of the image and it is very difficult to catch up with this in post-production.
@@marchinderickx8193 I have seen that effect with 'front mounted' CPLs on wide angle lenses as well. As with every tool, you need to understand its limitations.
Excellent James, good to see the comparison. In fact I thought that the best shot was the 'combo' of the 24mm and the x1.4 because the ceiling rose on the varanda looks more as the eye would see it. Merry Christmas and a Great New Year to you and yours. :)
@johnhaynes9910 100% agree - this is what people overlook. They were all real quick edits to be honest as I was struggling to get them done for the video. But I really like the adapter with the 24mm.
Thanks James, a useful comparison. I have the Samyang 24mm which I use with an adapter on my GFX50S, giving me the FF equivalent of around 19mm, so somewhere between the two you’ve compared. I shoot mostly landscape and find the tilt function most useful for overcoming the depth of field issues with medium format. But the shift is great for straightening trees and doing panoramas. With the larger sensor of the GFX I lose some of the extreme ends of the shift to vignetting, but not as much as you’d imagine. I chose the Samyang over the Canon for its manual aperture control, allowing me to use it with a “dumb” adapter.
Totally concur with your comments James. I have the 17mm and Mark II 24mm. I did invest in a filter and CPL system for the 17mm and it was costly as well as bulky as it uses 150mm filters. I do like the additional capability it offers though, as I found out on a return trip to London as a previous image I wanted wasn't possible with the 24mm TS-E. My 24mm is normally the first lens in my bag and definitely the Mk II is sharper than its predecessor. Even if the RF versions come out, I would expect the price point to be a potential barrier so I can see my 17mm and 24mm EF counterparts being in my line up for a while yet. Really loved fining your channel earlier this year and look forward to seeing your work in 2025
@scotty4418 hey thanks for watching and for joining the journey. The next 12 - 14 months are going to be super, got some big plans and I hope to mix content styles as well along that route - many ideas to follow. :)
Another great video James. I'm in the Nikon camp and use the D850 and 24mm f/3.5 PC-E, a combination that works really well. I've considered adding the Nikon 19mm PC-E (unfortunately Nikon don't make a 17mm) but don't think I'd get much benefit from "just" a 5mm change in focal length plus the used prices are rarely below 2000GBP.
Yeah - I looked that up as I was going to have a segment in this video about Nikon and off brand versions (but ran out of time to film it). Seems the Nikon 19mm is actually now the most expensive (and becoming rare).
If I was to have one it would be the 17mm and use a x1.4 with it.. I am more than happy with my laowa magic shift adapter with built in optics I basically get a 17-33 zoom shift lens using my 12-24 sigma art due to the x1.4 from the magic shift adapter, I can use my camera in either landscape or portrait on the tripod and can turn the adapter full and shift up down, left right or at a 90° angle honestly they are brilliant bits of kit..
![Overrated: Camera features that don't matter [ft Gerald Undone]](/img/1.gif)
Today, one day after your very nice video, I’ve received the lens I ended up choosing after careful thought, and that is the TS-E 24mm II.
It’s quite a beautiful piece of mechanical optics. It brought back the memories of a time when I was very tempted by a Toyo 4x5 field camera.
Using the 1.4x Extender was part of the plan, as I already have it because, well, the EF 100-400.
Keep up the good work 👍
That's an excellent choice, and I love the Toyo 4x5 connection! I hope you get lots of great shots with it.
Great video! Have had the TSE 24mm for over 5 years. I love it and agree with the argument about filter use and pairing with a 1.4x extender. Also picked up the Rogeti TS-E frame which I mainly use for landscapes.
@WillLloyd126 I think I want to get it as it's actually great for using the TSE "correctly" and you can make additional panos right?
Yes, removes any parallax and supports the weight on the lens. It does prevent the use of tilt when in the frame, but then I only ever use shift for landscape and architecture.
Great video as always, mate. I’ve thought about getting the 17mm in addition to my 24mm but decided not to in the end as I generally find I can get the shot I want with the 24mm and the added distortion means that the 17mm shots generally get cropped down to something like 24mm anyway. That and you or Adam have the 17mm so I’ve borrowed those ;)))
Canon have long had a registered patent or copyright (not sure which) for an all purpose TS adaptor that means you can attach any lens to it and transform it into a TSE equivalent lens.. but they’ve never put it into production. When I went over to a Sony camera I bought a Mirex TS adaptor and use it to attach Nikon fit manual aperture lenses. The results are fantastic.
Borrowing mine - I thought you and especially Adam retired during covid. I would love to travel with you again! 📷
If you shoot mirrorless, it allows you to use mount adapters with a filter slot. This allows the use of CPL / VND filters with the TS-E 17mm and even the 8-15 fish.
Be careful with the CPL filter.
The ND filter placed in the adapter helps prevent vignetting. On the other hand, the effect of the polarizing filter will vary depending on the light source (100% effect if it comes from the left or right but 0% if it comes from the front or back and of course all intermediate values). With a 17mm, you risk having a sky whose blue varies from left to right of the image and it is very difficult to catch up with this in post-production.
@@marchinderickx8193 I have seen that effect with 'front mounted' CPLs on wide angle lenses as well. As with every tool, you need to understand its limitations.
Very good points! 😁
Excellent James, good to see the comparison. In fact I thought that the best shot was the 'combo' of the 24mm and the x1.4 because the ceiling rose on the varanda looks more as the eye would see it. Merry Christmas and a Great New Year to you and yours. :)
@johnhaynes9910 100% agree - this is what people overlook. They were all real quick edits to be honest as I was struggling to get them done for the video. But I really like the adapter with the 24mm.
Very interesting and helpful, I will check the secondhand market for the 24mm in readiness for next years Sicily trip, if no luck I will hire one.
Sounds great! Sicilia is fast becoming the trip I am most excited about in 2025. 🙏📷💪
Thanks James, a useful comparison. I have the Samyang 24mm which I use with an adapter on my GFX50S, giving me the FF equivalent of around 19mm, so somewhere between the two you’ve compared. I shoot mostly landscape and find the tilt function most useful for overcoming the depth of field issues with medium format. But the shift is great for straightening trees and doing panoramas. With the larger sensor of the GFX I lose some of the extreme ends of the shift to vignetting, but not as much as you’d imagine. I chose the Samyang over the Canon for its manual aperture control, allowing me to use it with a “dumb” adapter.
Also great feedback - loving some of the comments this video provided me with and yours is another.
There are some great use cases.
Totally concur with your comments James. I have the 17mm and Mark II 24mm. I did invest in a filter and CPL system for the 17mm and it was costly as well as bulky as it uses 150mm filters. I do like the additional capability it offers though, as I found out on a return trip to London as a previous image I wanted wasn't possible with the 24mm TS-E. My 24mm is normally the first lens in my bag and definitely the Mk II is sharper than its predecessor. Even if the RF versions come out, I would expect the price point to be a potential barrier so I can see my 17mm and 24mm EF counterparts being in my line up for a while yet. Really loved fining your channel earlier this year and look forward to seeing your work in 2025
@scotty4418 hey thanks for watching and for joining the journey. The next 12 - 14 months are going to be super, got some big plans and I hope to mix content styles as well along that route - many ideas to follow. :)
Another great video James. I'm in the Nikon camp and use the D850 and 24mm f/3.5 PC-E, a combination that works really well. I've considered adding the Nikon 19mm PC-E (unfortunately Nikon don't make a 17mm) but don't think I'd get much benefit from "just" a 5mm change in focal length plus the used prices are rarely below 2000GBP.
Yeah - I looked that up as I was going to have a segment in this video about Nikon and off brand versions (but ran out of time to film it). Seems the Nikon 19mm is actually now the most expensive (and becoming rare).
Hi James,
What would you think of the Laowa 20mm f4 shift as a "good" (?) compromise between the 17 et 24?
I would imagine those are great, honestly. Not tried one - but yeah, would give you compromise.
If I was to have one it would be the 17mm and use a x1.4 with it.. I am more than happy with my laowa magic shift adapter with built in optics I basically get a 17-33 zoom shift lens using my 12-24 sigma art due to the x1.4 from the magic shift adapter, I can use my camera in either landscape or portrait on the tripod and can turn the adapter full and shift up down, left right or at a 90° angle honestly they are brilliant bits of kit..