Canon TS-E 17mm f/4 L vs. Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5 L II

If you could only pick one of these two fine lenses for mostly landscape (including panoramas) and also a bit of architectural work, which one would you choose?

The 17.
Reasons?
I could crop an image taken with the 17 to closely resemble one taken with the 24, but the reverse would require stitching.
A stitched panorama would take fewer frames with the 17 than the 24.
The difference in speed probably isn't significant for landscape work.

If you want to use filters: the 24

Just choose the focal length you like best. It's very personal.

Some people suggest the 17 and use a 1.4 TC to get to 24.

I did a brief test and was not blown away by what my TC did to my 17. I got the 17 as I had the old 24 but recently ordered a new 24. The 24 is out of stock right now so I expect it will take a month to get it but when I do if I am in a pixel peepiing frame of mind I will compare 24 to 24 MkII to 17 +1.4TC so people can see the what that looks like.


On the other hand 17 is getting so wide that it is becoming an even more specialized lens in a group of already specialized lenses. If I knew I only could have one I would take a 24 but as J-B said it is personal and you need to get the focal length you prefer.

On full frame I'd get the 24 and on crop I'd get the 17. You're going to get a lot of superwide perspective distortion with the 17mm lens on a full frame camera. If you're shooting superwide landscapes ~ 17mm on full frame, then you're going to have an enormous DOF anyway and won't need tilt, and you'll have a huge angle of view and won't need much shift.

Thanks folks. Its certainly been a question on my mind ever since they announced the 17mm.

I'll probably go with the 24mm. I guess if it doesn't suit I could always sell it, but I like the idea of being able to use filters for some creative work and of course the 17mm won't allow that.

I'll be very interested in your comparisons, Quad.

Quad wrote in post #9517200
On the other hand 17 is getting so wide that it is becoming an even more specialized lens in a group of already specialized lenses.

This.

Quality wise, you can't go wrong with either, but I find the 24mm FL to be more useable for me.