Canon TS-E 24mm 3.5L II Tilt Shift

The reason most people give for not investing in this top tier glass is that perspective correction in software is a cheaper and an efficient option. While it is possible to straighten lines and scew/distort images in software to get a desired result, most people are missing the main point of these lenses and the purpose of shifting on location.

Rock solid, razor sharp, virtually no distortion or CA. But understand why you need one before you buy one. If you won't use a tripod then buy something else and be happier.

Being my first TS lens - the picture quality - sharpness, color reproduction and contrast is exceptional. I own several L lenses and this has definitely one of the most sharpest pictures!! Playing with the Tilt and Shift does take time getting used to but learning this lens is fun. Would definitely recommend this lens.

If you have looked up resolution on this lens on The-Digital-Picture you already know it is incredibly sharp and distortion free. It has become my favorite lens for the type of industrial work that I do for heavy industry.

I mainly take pictures of my kids and this is another tool I use on my arsenal. Going to do some bowling? Use the tilt capabilities to keep the whole lane in focus even at f/3.5. The combination of tilt and shift ca be used to produce some very unique pictures of the family. Colors and picture quality are fantastic! Highly recommended.

I've used this lens, which replaced the marginal Mk I version I owned previously, for over a year. Awesome doesn't begin to describe the image quality you can get with it. Canon engineers hit a home run with this lens.

I was first a bit skeptical, but after being out in the field and getting used to the endless possibilities of tilting and shifting the focus plane I can't do without it.

I agree - it is not your everyday lens, not even your every week lens. To be honest, if you do not have a need for it will quickly become your once-in-a-quite-long-long-while lens. Then you may feel disappointed, but it will not be because the product is not good, it will be because you didn't bother to think whether you really need it when buying it. It is also a demanding lens to use - you most probably will use a tripod (unless you have super steady hands), be patient, and take some time to learn how to use it. Btw - architectural and landscape photography, where this lens finds most applications will require a tripod and some patience (when composing) in most cases anyway. However, when you do need features of this lens and take time to learn how to shoot with it - nothing comes close to quality you will receive. If anybody claims that he/she can do the same with regular lens and some post processing while retaining the same quality, he/she either never really used this lens or doesn't really needed such lens and doesn't want to spare time to learn how to use it. If a bit of PS magic would give you the same effects / quality no one would buy TS lenses any more and manufacturers would stop producing them. Somehow, Canon not only has not stopped, but they are refreshing (24 mkII) and expanding (17) TS lens line). Asking for a fast autofocus in this lens - when at least 50% (if not more) of joy from using it comes from manipulating the focus pane, point and DoF - is like asking for a big trunk in a sports coupe. With respect to infinite DoF by tilting instead of gong down to f16-22 and loosing detail due to diffraction - please refer to YMHARNC review. Expensive? Definitely yes. But are other special application tools that you know of or use - when compared to regular items of their category - cheap?

The lens does two things that are practically unrelated, and both of which are borderline useless in the extreme wideangle.

As soon as I learned how to use a view camera, I became disappointed in my 35mm because it lacked some of the controls available in large format. Notably, one could not correct perspective distortion or achieve a deep field of focus under some conditions.