Canon TS-E 50mm f/2.8L Macro Tilt-Shift Lens

If this lens and its special features are what you need (or you can make it work for your needs), it is a very good performer in a well-built package.

Take a 50mm f/2.8 full frame standard lens, make it a macro that focuses down to half life size and then give it tilt and shift capability and you have this chunky, impressive looking new optic from Canon.

Of the three new Tilt Shift Macro lenses, it’s arguably true that the 50mm option is the most versatile. It’s a handy focal length to use for a variety of different subjects, including portraits, landscapes, architecture, food and products.

This lens is the long awaited update. Based on early use, it is sharper than the 45mm in the center and corners. It also maintains its optical performance better when shifted. Shots taken with the lens if shifted position still exhibit sharpness across the entire image field.

Improved in every way over the predecessor 45 mm TSE. Not earth shattering enhancements but solid incremental enhancements. Some will wonder why not use Photoshop to do something similar. That approach is vastly inferior to using a proper tilt shift or perspective control lens.

I use the 17mm and 24mm, and now have added this lens for detail work in architectural photography. So far it is every bit as good as the wider lensessharp and with great color rendering. But now with the macro and the large aperture I have greater control over depth of field.

The annoying thing about all these Canon TSE lenses is that they dont fully rotate for shifting. You might just need to rotate one click and then realize that youve come to the end and then have rotate almost a full circle in the other direction just to shift.

I just rented this lens for a week long shoot. Coupled with a Canon 5dsr, a tripod and careful focusing in live view this combination will easily outperform the 4x5 cameras I shot with for 30 years.

I have waited so long for an update to the old TS-E 45mm that I never liked enough to own. When I saw Canon had released this new version I knew it was the lens I'd been waiting for. Its a real gem.

• +

  Durable, Great Features, Great Picture Quality

• -

  Expensive

I've wanted to own a TS lens for a long time. When Canon came out with the new additions to their collection I decided to try one out. I borrowed the new 50mm macro through Canon CPS and fell in love with it.