PMA 2009: Canon Slips Out a Pair of New Tilt Shift Lenses



Feb 18, 2009
Canon Tilt Shift

Editor's note: Here's one that took us by complete surprise. Usually we get some forewarning on Canon's professional products ahead of the big PMA show -- coming up this year in Las Vegas in early March -- but not so with its two new new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II ($2,199) and the TS-E 17mm f/4L ($2,499), which were introduced in the United States just after midnight this morning, and in Europe several minutes before that.

Canon's already canceled a planned NDA meeting with us at PMA this year which would suggest they will only be introducing consumer-oriented products at the show. Could the surprise announcement of these two pro tilt-shift lenses mean that some pro digital SLRs -- maybe a replacement for the much maligned Canon 1D Mark III -- be next? As always, stay tuned to PDN for all the info about PMA 2009.

And in the meantime, check out Tony Eckersley's musings on the new Canon tilt shift glass on his blog.

More info in the Canon USA press release below.


CANON U.S.A. EXPANDS ITS LENS PORTFOLIO WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW WIDE-ANGLE TILT-SHIFT LENSES


Canon Introduces the New TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L Tilt-Shift Lenses

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 17, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and optics, today introduced two new Tilt-Shift lenses, the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L. These two new L series lenses expand the Company's extensive lens line-up of TS-E lenses giving photographers creative control over perspective and depth of field in their images. Both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L are specialty lenses ideal for landscape and architectural photography and are compatible with all Canon EOS system single lens reflex cameras1. The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II, a replacement for Canon's TS-E 24mm f/3.5L introduced in 1991, has significantly improved operability with low distortion when photographing buildings, consistent image quality throughout the image and reduced chromatic aberration when shooting at ultra-wide angles. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is the world's shortest focal length Tilt-Shift lens with full-frame 35mm coverage.

"These two new lenses are Canon's answer to photographers who have requested wider angle Tilt-Shift lenses, with the new TS-E 24mm for wide angles and the all new TS-E 17mm for ultra-wide angles. We continually seek to expand our optics portfolio to meet the demands of our photographers to ensure that they have the best tools available to capture some of the most stunning images on the planet," stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

An innovative feature on both the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and the TS-E 17mm f/4L lenses is Canon's new TS Revolving System. This feature allows tilting and shifting lens movements to be adjusted in parallel or at right angles to each other, with detents at 45ıı intervals. Additionally, once the TS Revolving System has been set, the orientation of the entire lens can be rotated freely through a range of ±90ıı, with detents at 30ıı intervals. The amount of tilt is ±8.5ıı for the TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II and ±6.5ıı for the TS-E 17mm f/4L. The amount of shift is ±12mm for both lenses. The image circle diameter for both lenses is an impressive 67.2mm. (The diagonal measurement of the full-frame 35mm format is only 43.2mm.)

The high-precision glass molded aspherical and UD glass lens elements and accurate aspherical GMo along with a large diameter in new TS-E lenses deliver outstanding image quality, high resolution and super-low distortion to all edges of the image. Each lens incorporates a new type of anti-reflection coating, Canon's SubWavelength structure Coating (SWC) that continuously changes the refractive index on the lens surface via wedge-shaped structures more minute than wavelength of visible light. Canon's SWC helps minimize flare and ghosting caused by bright light from large angles of incidence. The new TS-E lenses are the 2nd and 3rd Canon EF series lenses with SWC, following the EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM that was introduced in 2008.

Pricing and Availability
The TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,199.00*. The TS-E 17mm f/4L is expected to ship in May for an estimated retail price of $2,499.00*.








Objects - Profoto BatPacObjects of Desire: Profoto BatPac
July 01, 2010 - Profoto's come up with a pretty nifty fix to meet your on-the-go energy needs: the "power-in-a-bag" BatPac which you can sling over your shoulder—or, more accurately, over your assistant's shoulder—and bring to your next outdoor shoot.More
Objects of Desire: Olympus PEN E-PL1
Objects of Desire: Defog It
Objects of Desire: ShutterSnitch
PDN Review: Adobe Photoshop CS5
PDN Review: Steadicam Merlin
MoabFive Great Inkjet Photo Papers
July 01, 2010 - Distinctive fine-art papers can add some pizzazz to your gallery show.