17mm TS-E F4 L Tilt-Shift Lens

Canon's TS-E 17mm f/4L is a fantastic lens for architectural photography; especially interiors with smaller tight spaces. I am often asked which Canon wide angle tilt-shift lens to purchase (first), so here are some thoughts: 1. The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is slightly sharper and better corrected against chromatic aberration. Another asset for the 24mm is that is much easier to use with filters (I use the Lee Foundation kit with 4" x 6" gradient neutral density (GND) filters). The 24mm is my go-to tilt-shift lens and I prefer it for landscapes. But, when I need a wider field of view, especially for architecture, I regularly reach for the TS-E 17mm f/4L lens. 2. Although the 24mm tilt-shift is in some ways better, the TS-E 17mm f/4, might be the best tilt-shift to start with for any one of three reasons: 1. You plan to shoot interiors, 2. You plan to shoot cityscapes with tall highrise buildings (shooting downtown NY or Chicago for example), 3. You supplement your purchase with a Canon 1.4x EF Extender III. Extenders work beautifully with Canon's tilt-shift lenses, and a TS-E 17mm f/4L used in conjunction with a 1.4x extender will produce a 24mm focal length. One final note to those considering this lens: The bulbous nature of the front element makes using filters a challenge. But, thanks to Fotodiox, you can use a circular polarizer and neutral density filters with this lens with their "WonderPana" filter system, which they have made custom fit to this lens (they also have WonderPanas for other bulbous lenses, like Canon's excellent EF 14L f/2.8L II). The WonderPana simply attaches to the TS-E 17mm f/4L exactly the same way the lens cap snaps on. A brilliant design by Fotodiox! I still can't use GND filters with the lens, but between the the 1.4x Extender III and the WonderPana system, I can mostly replicate the TS-E 24mm with the TS-E 17mm. I still prefer having and using both, which I do, but knowing these things might be helpful for those struggling with the dilemma of either starting with a TS-E 17 vs the TS-E 24mm.

I love this lens, it really allows you to get unique perspective on your shots, AND you can use a 1.4 teleconverter to get a 24mm field of view. I plan to buy the Nisi S5 filter system to use with this lens. You can add a polarizer, and ND filters to this lens. I adapt this lens to my Sony A7Riv and my Fuji GFX 100s the image quality on these 60mp and 102mp is superb. It also gives metadata and I can change the aperture in camera with the adapters. If you love to take landscape photos the tilt shift features are incredible. The lines are much straighter and perspective is controlled. Love this lens

It's a great lens. That goes without saying. But if you are going to buy it - or any camera gear - DON"T BUY FROM AMAZON! This lens - sold BY AMAZON (not another source) - arrived with no packing. The shipping box was just deep enough to hold the box from Canon, was about twice as wide as it need to be. The empty side was badly crushed, indicating that the shipping box was under something heavy. And there was NO bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts, etc. Amazon changed the game, but no longer a good choice!

This remarkable lens is now an active part of my lens kit, serving special purpose and landscape photography. This is the most creative lens that I have ever been privileged to own or use. I often carry the 14mm L II for faster and wider interior shots but use the 17mm T &S as first choice. Focus is not that time consuming and once you experiment with the tilt and shift controls you will have a preset that needs only fine tuning to produce the most amazing photos that I have taken to date. Aftere one month of use the retaining screw for the tilt knob fell out and I did not notice it as it was night time. Have to buy a new screw which seems not up to Canon standards. I will check the rest of the screws on the knobs on this as well as on my 24mm T & S lens. Definintely below standards that I have come to expect from Canon.

No one else has yet done anything like this. It would be a superb lens even if it were not shift and tilt. I have used shift lenses since 1971 on 35mm cameras, and done large-format view camera shooting. This lens is the closest you can come to the latter control in a 35mm format, and it is short enough to even provide useful T/S control on APS-C format digital cameras where it would be the equivalent of the formerly shortest 'traditional' tilt-shift lenses on so-called "full-frame" cameras. The other makers will eventually equal this, I suppose, but for now, this is the king of its class.

i liked everything

PRO: You must use this lens if you shoot architecture or interiors. Even it you have to buy a full frame Canon body to use it's full potential because you use some other system, just consider this lens & camera a necessary purchase. The TS-E 24mm, a splendid lens, often lacks that little bit more to make the framing perfect. The TS-E 17mm gives that little extra that makes everything right. CON: I miss having a filter to protect the front surface of the lens. Just pay attention to what you are doing.

It’s great lens. Tilt and shift tightening works well. Photo quality is top notch.