24 TSE II, talk to me...

I'm typical a landscaper shooting with a 7D, 10-20, 17-55 + a bunch of other stuff.

I've always been looking at a FF body, and within the next 6 months I will have a 5d2 (or 5d3).

But right now I have a chance at some decent paid commercial work, shooting 9 bars/hotels/restaurant​s ( they want 160 finished shots including a bunch of night shots etc).

I can/will borrow a 5D2 + 17-40L and will have 3+ speed lights if needed.

I'm pretty convinced I want to be shooting on FF with a prime, and probably the 24mm f3.5 TSE mkII.

I also think it would be awesome for this gig, I kinda have the money to buy it, and I expect the gig would pay it back (and a bit). I also know its trickier to use, I understand tilt and shift (in theory!) and will have live view and can shoot with remote if needed (or transformer using remote app).

So who has it? Is it wide enough on FF for most indoor shots of this type? I like the 17 but it has filter issues. It (the 24) looks a damned near perfect lens optically.

Check out the architectural and interior shots thread, you'll find some commercial photogs in here.

Regarding the lens, I have personally used it for commercial interiors and it was brilliant. On occasion I could have used a 17, but the shifting capabilities of the 24 will allow for a wide enough FL in most scenarios (at least ones that I encountered).

I use mine for landscape, normally with filters. Check my Flickr for examples. I love to shift with it and make higher-res files, too. Optically, yes - it's incredible. Virtually no distortion, CA, or flare to this lens. And of course, it's very sharp.

There's a reason I'm so vocal about this lens on these forums - it's easily my favorite in my collection, versatile, and it goes with me everywhere. The thing you need to determine for yourself, is whether or not the FL is right for you.

Rob, I have the Mk1 version to the 24 and while it is fairly wide on full frame, for interiors, I would be tempted to go for the 17.

If your client is looking for some night shots, I assume the business will be in operation and perhaps speed of set-up may be a consideration. With the 17, generally no need to stitch shots together etc.

Both are stunning and the 17 makes a great landscape lens if you spend the money to get the right filter set for it.

Thanks!

I'm thinking I can shift left/right -12/+12 and stitch if I need wider and get an easy stitch ( if not I have pt gui anyhow).

I'm guessing any fastish action nightclub/event kind of shots I will shoot with 17-40 and flash. ts will be used for static/tripod shots only.

Does anyone hand hold a ts?

Still got a bit of light fall-off to deal with on the extreme shifts. Not as bad as the Mk1 but still there.

Hand hold, sure, when I use it as a 24mm prime but not when shifting!!

I hand-hold mine all the time. It's my main travel lens as well. Hand-holding is much like shooting any other lens, just taking that extra second to focus properly.

I have managed to shift & stitch while hand-holding, but admittedly that requires more care than I prefer.

Mark Vuleta wrote in post #13341124
Still got a bit of light fall-off to deal with on the extreme shifts. Not as bad as the Mk1 but still there.

Hand hold, sure, when I use it as a 24mm prime but not when shifting!!

I don't think this is too bad of an example. This was shifted -/+ 12 in both directions over 4 frames and stitched. No filters:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/ken2000ac/62535​63170/

RobDickinson wrote in post #13341118
Thanks!

ts will be used for static/tripod shots only.
Does anyone hand hold a ts?

24 TSE II with tripod 99% of the time, as I usually use tilt, which is very, very hard to fine tune while hand holding. However, it can be done by estimating the amount of tilt (no fine adjustment of tilt) using the tables described here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial​s/focusing-ts.shtml

Then using focus confirm, and the viewfinder for focus, and shooting.
That's how I got this one:
http://www.fototime.co​m/B2B4B2586B0DC85/orig​.jpg
Mike K

Hmmm probably $2100NZ + postage + GST so $2400-2500, I can get a new one delivered for about $2950

There's no finer glass in that range... NADA. Check out the lens sample section. Every time I use it something magical happens.

I rented one to use with my 5D2 on a vacation. Outstanding image quality.

Rob, like you I'm very keen on this lens except for landscape work. Is there a steep learning curve in learning to shoot with this lens? Does anybody have any experience with using a step-down ring with 77mm filters, considering some ND filters like B+W only go up to 77.

ljjf wrote in post #13346532
Rob, like you I'm very keen on this lens except for landscape work. Is there a steep learning curve in learning to shoot with this lens? Does anybody have any experience with using a step-down ring with 77mm filters, considering some ND filters like B+W only go up to 77.

My review of step-down rings: https://photography-on-the.net …?p=10297662&pos​tcount=209

I use 77mm step down rings so often with this lens it's ridiculous. Often I stack filters as well, since I like to do Long Exposures almost exclusively. The image circle on this lens is so big there's very little loss in the corners.

ken2000ac wrote in post #13346573
My review of step-down rings: https://photography-on-the.net …?p=10297662&pos​tcount=209

I use 77mm step down rings so often with this lens it's ridiculous. Often I stack filters as well, since I like to do Long Exposures almost exclusively. The image circle on this lens is so big there's very little loss in the corners.

Excellent photos, I'm very keen to dabble in long exposures as well. I've read up on the benefits of tilt/shift lenses and if i'm correct, is it possible to achieve sharp focus up to infinity at large apertures using the tilt function, thus avoiding diffraction from using a smaller aperture, or is it more suited to plane of focus control.

You should go for it Rob. Mike K and Ken have posted great images with this lens. I don't see how you can lose when this lens has so much versatility.