Canon's Tilt-Shift Evolution: What's Next?

[EOS 4 Life]

Does anyone here use RF-S or even EF-S (with adapter) on a full frame camera like the R5ii? Pros and cons?

From what I read, it'll automatically crop but keep the 45mp?

I'm really just curious if there's any benefits to getting a lens designed for crop sensors on a full frame camera. It's seem like the pixel density would be great. (I could have the terminology wrong! )

Hopefully Sigma, Tamron and others can start making RF mount lenses soon!

There is only an advantage when the lens is compatible with teleconverters.
It would cover the entire sensor then.

 

[EricN]

That's very true. I've actually found Google AI wrong about things quite a few times. I think it mainly just takes information from the top 1-3 websites. Not just in relation to photography but other things as well.

If you know any topics with misconceptions from the general public, you can ask ChatGPT to make a chart or outline and in my experience, it makes mistakes more often than I expected. If when point out the mistake, it'll correct it. It's interesting, but I don't think it is very useful for me (yet).

 

[scyrene]

There is only an advantage when the lens is compatible with teleconverters.
It would cover the entire sensor then.

I would say there's an advantage *if* the crop resolution is sufficient (I use crop mode a lot, even with the R6, because for a lot of what I do, 7MP is enough); *and* if you already own a crop lens and don't want to replace it; *or* if you want to save money by buying a crop lens. Additionally, it can save storage space as the files are much smaller.

 

[CharlesB]

There is only an advantage when the lens is compatible with teleconverters.
It would cover the entire sensor then.

Thanks for the information! I was just curious if there's any benefits and that seems to be no. At least not for me. Nature, macro photography. I like more resolution and being able to crop, especially with macro. Not always but it's helpful!

If you know any topics with misconceptions from the general public, you can ask ChatGPT to make a chart or outline and in my experience, it makes mistakes more often than I expected. If when point out the mistake, it'll correct it. It's interesting, but I don't think it is very useful for me (yet).

Thanks for the heads up! I do see it quite often. I generally don't rely on it for a whole lot. I think in time it'll get better. I just found it weird that I looked and it actually said the R5mii maintained it's resolution and then when I looked again it said basically what the other guy said about the 17mp. I really wanted to screenshot it, so I didn't look so silly but I couldn't find it again. Oh well. I enjoy asking questions on here and getting different opinions. Not that there's different opinions on if it holds the same resolution or not but if there's any benefits to using an EF-S or RF-S lens over a FF lens.

 

[Loswr]

… if there's any benefits to using an EF-S or RF-S lens over a FF lens.

In some cases, cost and size are benefits. Those are the generally applicable benefits of crop sensor systems, and they apply to lenses as well as bodies.

Compare the RF-S 18-150 to the RF 24-240, for example. Or the EF-S 18-55 vs the RF 24-105 non-L.

 

[bobwilmes]

I used to shoot Velvia 4x5 Quickload on a Arca Swiss view camera. I bought Keith’s excellent book and a used Canon EF TS-E 90 mm tilt shift lens. With my Canon 1DX Mark III I’m experimenting with depth of field at f22 while using ISO 100 with an ND filter to bump up the exposure times. It’s not really the same technique as using the view camera. The depth of field I get is much shallower than I expected.

 

[EricN]

I used to shoot Velvia 4x5 Quickload on a Arca Swiss view camera. I bought Keith’s excellent book and a used Canon EF TS-E 90 mm tilt shift lens. With my Canon 1DX Mark III I’m experimenting with depth of field at f22 while using ISO 100 with an ND filter to bump up the exposure times. It’s not really the same technique as using the view camera. The depth of field I get is much shallower than I expected.

Have you tried focus stacking?

 

[CharlesB]

In some cases, cost and size are benefits. Those are the generally applicable benefits of crop sensor systems, and they apply to lenses as well as bodies.

Compare the RF-S 18-150 to the RF 24-240, for example. Or the EF-S 18-55 vs the RF 24-105 non-L.

That's a very good point I never really considered. The only crop sensor I had was the Canon T3i, which is when I started. Back then I was using a reverse lens setup and a kit lens. Obviously not the greatest images but it was enough to get me into photography as a hobby.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Torsten]

“Canon’s first shift lens, the FD mount TS 35mm f/2.8 SSC appeared in 1973, and although updated in 1975, Canon has never got round to offering another 35mm tilt/shift since then”

I’d love it if someone made a 35mm TS.

I'd by a 35mm TS-E instantly the moment Canon makes ones.

Been quite happy with my TS-E's, even though it took a while to get really comfortable with. Which, btw, was mostly Keith's "fault".
I've got the 17mm and 24mm and been looking for getting the 50mm but no reputable dealer had one on stock or could say when it would be available again. Even asked Canon Germany, but since I'm no longer a CPS member I had to talk to regular Canon people and they didn't know or care.
Just noticed yesterday that the 50mm just went on-stock with my currently preferred dealer and ordered immediately.

I'm not sure I have much use for TS-E above 50mm, but beside a 35mm a TS-E wider than 17 mm would be interesting.

 

[DSB]

If Canon does bring such new lenses to production, how will they differ from the current TS-E range and how do they bring tilt, shift, image stabilisation and autofocus under camera control? More to the point, how can they be used and what can be done with them?

Read The Full Article

Autofocusing would be a nice addition, allowing the TS lenses to be used for faster paced experimental portraits, handheld street photos and various other styles. More importantly, it would probably increase their use in video.

However, for the standard purpose (shooting architecture, realestate and products) I doubt AF would be a huge deal. Pretty sure I would still switch the AF off and make sure the focus is perfect and more importantly locked between multiple shots.

Same thing for the theoretical IS.

Basically, the lenses would become more approachable and more usable for general public.

As for the theoretical motorized tilt/shift, now that would be a massive gamechanger. Imagine having a tilt/shift menu in the camera and simply selecting "3-step horizontal HDR panorama" and then letting the camera do all the work while you stand there and pick your nose. Pretty cool stuff.

I doubt we'll see that, though. It would probably mean that the whole tilt and shift mechanisms would have to be "in-lens-body".

Now if I'm being totally honest, I would just be happy if Canon abandons the little gear knobs and takes a lesson from Laowa shift lenses which use a dedicated lens ring to move the lens up or down. That mechanism is SO much better than the knobs on Canon. I couldn't believe how good they are.

 

[1ll]

Any additional murmurs about the RF tilt-shift lens?

 

[Del Paso]

Any additional murmurs about the RF tilt-shift lens?

 

[1ll]

I'm forced to purchase an EF model and an adapter while waiting for Canon to move on an RF tilt-shift. I wonder what Canon sees that we don't that explains their reasoning, same thing goes for the RF 100-500mm f4.

 

[Del Paso]

I'm forced to purchase an EF model and an adapter while waiting for Canon to move on an RF tilt-shift. I wonder what Canon sees that we don't that explains their reasoning, same thing goes for the RF 100-500mm f4.

Maybe they just see a continuously shrinking market.
Could they stop it by bombarding us with cute little innovative lenses and cameras???

 

[P-visie]

Maybe they just see a continuously shrinking market.

Adding AF and motorizing tilt and shift makes TS lenses even more complex and expensive. Some users of EF TS lenses have stated on this forum that they do not care about AF since the subject matter (architecture, landscape) encourages slow and deliberate photography.

Chinese manual focus TS lenses for RF mount (full frame) have prices between 300 (Astrhori 50mm) and 1550€ (Laowa 55 and 100mm macro).

EF TS lenses currently retail for +/- 2500€ (incl VAT). Add a 50-100% premium for AF and/or motorized TS and you get 4000-5000€ lenses. I suspect that Canon thinks that the market for these lenses is not large enough and has changed priorities.

 

[1ll]

Maybe they just see a continuously shrinking market.
Could they stop it by bombarding us with cute little innovative lenses and cameras???

Smartphones might be the problem. Many people feel their smartphone is every bit as good as a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Others prefer the simplicity of a point and shoot, which everyone has attached to their smartphone.

 

[1ll]

Adding AF and motorizing tilt and shift makes TS lenses even more complex and expensive. Some users of EF TS lenses have stated on this forum that they do not care about AF since the subject matter (architecture, landscape) encourages slow and deliberate photography.

Chinese manual focus TS lenses for RF mount (full frame) have prices between 300 (Astrhori 50mm) and 1550€ (Laowa 55 and 100mm macro).

EF TS lenses currently retail for +/- 2500€ (incl VAT). Add a 50-100% premium for AF and/or motorized TS and you get 4000-5000€ lenses. I suspect that Canon thinks that the market for these lenses is not large enough and has changed

 

[1ll]

Canon is no longer manufacturing EF lenses. At some point it will manufacture an RF tilt-shift lens, I'm hoping. Then there is the end of service point for EF lenses.

 

[frankchn]

Canon is no longer manufacturing EF lenses. At some point it will manufacture an RF tilt-shift lens, I'm hoping. Then there is the end of service point for EF lenses.

End-of-support point for the TS-E 135L is November 2027, and unannounced (so presumably later than that) for all other current TS-E lenses: https://canon.jp/support/repair/period

 

[1ll]

End-of-support point for the TS-E 135L is November 2027, and unannounced (so presumably later than that) for all other current TS-E lenses: https://canon.jp/support/repair/period

Based on that, I'll get at least 2 years of service of an EF tilt-shift lens, if I buy a new lens tomorrow.