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

[EricN]

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

This list isn't necessarily any indication of an RF timeline. You can see top sellers such as 50mm 1.8 stm have TBA or future dates, but already have RF versions.

 

[Del Paso]

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.

Sorry, but I really cannot see smartphones competing with TS lenses.

 

[Del Paso]

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.

I'd happily spend $5000 on a Canon 14mm TS with automated tilt-AF. Could be extremely useful for architecture and landscapes.
Not so expensive, since it would cost about as much as a Summilux M 35mm.

 

[1ll]

I'd happily spend $5000 on a Canon 14mm TS with automated tilt-AF. Could be extremely useful for architecture and landscapes.
Not so expensive, since it would cost about as much as a Summilux M 35mm.

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.

Canon produced the RF 100-300mm f2.8 for $9,000. That lens is on backorder. There are many, including myself, who's willing to pay for an RF TS lens with autofocus, IBIS, and other up-to-date features.

 

[1ll]

Sorry, but I really cannot see smartphones competing with TS lenses.

I mentioned the smartphone as a replacement as something thought by others of the general public. There are those who I met that think interchangeable lens cameras are obsolete. At one time, many of those people would have purchased point and shoots or cheaper versions of interchangeable lens cameras.

 

[EricN]

Canon produced the RF 100-300mm f2.8 for $9,000. That lens is on backorder. There are many, including myself, who's willing to pay for an RF TS lens with autofocus, IBIS, and other up-to-date features.

I often see people who don't seem to have any imagination of ways to use TS with autofocus outside of the already established manual use cases.

 

[1ll]

I often see people who don't seem to have any imagination of ways to use TS with autofocus outside of the already established manual use cases.

Autofocus adds speed and convenience and the option to use manual focus is always there. I don't own a DSLR, so I need an adapter. I'd rather not use an adapter. It's a matter of preference.

 

[EricN]

Autofocus adds speed and convenience and the option to use manual focus is always there. I don't own a DSLR, so I need an adapter. I'd rather not use an adapter. It's a matter of preference. Plus, I can afford it.

I'll sell my house and live in a cardboard box behind the convenience store if I have to!

More seriously, I don't buy camera equipment because I want to take photos to get rich, I take the photos because something inside me believes the images can be important.

 

[1ll]

I'll sell my house and live in a cardboard box behind the convenience store if I have to!

More seriously, I don't buy camera equipment because I want to take photos to get rich, I take the photos because something inside me believes the images can be important.

Recording history with photography. Photography is art. It conveys to the viewer important moments in time. It expresses a feeling.

 

[DSB]

Current EF TS lenses are all excellent and there's really no reason not to get them if you need them for architecture or landscape work. I don't think the RF TS lenses are coming any time soon and it's also reasonable to expect they'll first announce one, or at best two lenses. So it might be a long while before there's a whole RF TS set (17-24-50-90-135).

My guess is that a RF 24 TS will be the first (or whatever is closest in terms of angle), followed by RF 90 TS to satisfy the product photographers.

The possibility of AF versions to me seems essentially unnecessary, especially if it causes huge price increase. What I would very much like to see (and find waaay more useful) is an included lens collar with all of these lenses. Fuji GF 30 TS is a great example. Also, I would love to see better shift controls. The knobs are fiddly and difficult to use. I think Laowa has this nailed down to perfection with their ring controls.

Speaking of which, Laowas zero-D shifts are very good and you save a bunch of money if you don't need the tilt functionality. I personally use tilt extremely rarely and 99,9% of time it's shift only.

 

[Del Paso]

My dream TS would be something quite unachievable, a 14-24mm TSE .
I'd rob a bank to get it!

 

[EricN]

My dream TS would be something quite unachievable, a 14-24mm TSE .
I'd rob a bank to get it!

I'd pretend to be gay and seduce an ugly bank manager, international spy style, to learn some important thing to help you rob that bank.

 

[EricN]

Current EF TS lenses are all excellent and there's really no reason not to get them if you need them for architecture or landscape work. I don't think the RF TS lenses are coming any time soon and it's also reasonable to expect they'll first announce one, or at best two lenses. So it might be a long while before there's a whole RF TS set (17-24-50-90-135).

My guess is that a RF 24 TS will be the first (or whatever is closest in terms of angle), followed by RF 90 TS to satisfy the product photographers.

The possibility of AF versions to me seems essentially unnecessary, especially if it causes huge price increase. What I would very much like to see (and find waaay more useful) is an included lens collar with all of these lenses. Fuji GF 30 TS is a great example. Also, I would love to see better shift controls. The knobs are fiddly and difficult to use. I think Laowa has this nailed down to perfection with their ring controls.

Speaking of which, Laowas zero-D shifts are very good and you save a bunch of money if you don't need the tilt functionality. I personally use tilt extremely rarely and 99,9% of time it's shift only.

Can you really not imagine using autofocus opening more new possibilities for t/s than a lens collar would? Or the chance Canon or a third party would provide lens collars for rf to lenses?

 

[EOS 4 Life]

Some users of EF TS lenses have stated on this forum that they do not care about AF since the subject matter

I do not think they would be the target market.
The market would be everyone who wants the benefit of tilt/shift without doing it manually.
That is a much bigger potential market.
The patents tell us that Canon is doing the design research, but we have no idea about their market research.

 

[1ll]

Current EF TS lenses are all excellent and there's really no reason not to get them if you need them for architecture or landscape work. I don't think the RF TS lenses are coming any time soon and it's also reasonable to expect they'll first announce one, or at best two lenses. So it might be a long while before there's a whole RF TS set (17-24-50-90-135).

My guess is that a RF 24 TS will be the first (or whatever is closest in terms of angle), followed by RF 90 TS to satisfy the product photographers.

The possibility of AF versions to me seems essentially unnecessary, especially if it causes huge price increase. What I would very much like to see (and find waaay more useful) is an included lens collar with all of these lenses. Fuji GF 30 TS is a great example. Also, I would love to see better shift controls. The knobs are fiddly and difficult to use. I think Laowa has this nailed down to perfection with their ring controls.

Speaking of which, Laowas zero-D shifts are very good and you save a bunch of money if you don't need the tilt functionality. I personally use tilt extremely rarely and 99,9% of time it's shift only. I need a tilt-shift lens in a bad way. For now, I'll purchase the Canon TS-E 17mm and the TS-E 24mm.

My dream TS would be something quite unachievable, a 14-24mm TSE .
I'd rob a bank to get it!

 

[1ll]

Current EF TS lenses are all excellent and there's really no reason not to get them if you need them for architecture or landscape work. I don't think the RF TS lenses are coming any time soon and it's also reasonable to expect they'll first announce one, or at best two lenses. So it might be a long while before there's a whole RF TS set (17-24-50-90-135).

My guess is that a RF 24 TS will be the first (or whatever is closest in terms of angle), followed by RF 90 TS to satisfy the product photographers.

The possibility of AF versions to me seems essentially unnecessary, especially if it causes huge price increase. What I would very much like to see (and find waaay more useful) is an included lens collar with all of these lenses. Fuji GF 30 TS is a great example. Also, I would love to see better shift controls. The knobs are fiddly and difficult to use. I think Laowa has this nailed down to perfection with their ring controls.

Speaking of which, Laowas zero-D shifts are very good and you save a bunch of money if you don't need the tilt functionality. I personally use tilt extremely rarely and 99,9% of time it's shift only.

For now, I'll purchase a TS-E 17mm and a TS-E 24mm, plus the adapter and wait for Canon to release the RF versions. Hopefully Canon provides a TS 10mm, 17mm, and 24mm f1.2 for low light (wish list).

 

[Del Paso]

For now, I'll purchase a TS-E 17mm and a TS-E 24mm, plus the adapter and wait for Canon to release the RF versions. Hopefully Canon provides a TS 10mm, 17mm, and 24mm f1.2 for low light (wish list).

Yes Yes Yes!
Gimme the 10 and 17mm TSE.

 

[Del Paso]

I'd pretend to be gay and seduce an ugly bank manager, international spy style, to learn some important thing to help you rob that bank.

This is utterly shocking!
I'll inform your *wives about your total lack of moral sense!
* numerous

 

[1ll]

I'd pretend to be gay and seduce an ugly bank manager, international spy style, to learn some important thing to help you rob that bank.

I actually did that once on a job to avoid getting written up for sexual harassment. It was over some foreman who I said was a crossdresser.

 

[EricN]

This is utterly shocking!
I'll inform your wives about your total lack of moral sense!

She's worse than me... she'll stop her car to steal from her neighbors' gardens. Fantasy autofocus tilt shift zoom lenses doen't grow on trees you know... and I'm giving much needed fake love to an imaginary lonely bank manager not just taking!