Canon TS-E 90mm f2.8 review

This lens is great for shooting product photography. I use it for food, shoes, bags, jewelry, and a lot of things. Sometimes, I add two macro rings and get fairly high magnification (like 1:2) but the image quality is still very good, with very little chromatic aberration. However, when doing product photography, I want to have independent axes for tilt and shift. This lens ships with cross-axis configuration, which I changed to in-axis, which is a bit more useful, but frequently, I want 30 or 45-degree between those axes.

I also use it for corrective portraiture, when shooting headshots with people with round face, double chin, or some other difficult features. Since there is no autofocus, this is not the easiest thing to do, but people who are really conscious about their facial features will usually listen to me when I tell this is one of the best tricks I can use, combined with lighting technique, etc... If the model has no such issue, I prefer to shoot 85mm with AF.

This lens is great for shooting product photography. I use it for food, shoes, bags, jewelry, and a lot of things. Sometimes, I add two macro rings and get fairly high magnification (like 1:1 or half life size) but the image quality is still very good, with almost zero chromatic aberration thanks to the true double Gauss design. However, when doing product photography, I want to have independent axes for tilt and shift. This lens ships with cross-axis configuration, which I changed to in-axis, which is a bit more useful, but frequently, I want 30 or 45-degree between those axes.

I also use it for corrective portraiture, when shooting headshots with people with round face, double chin, or some other difficult features. Since there is no autofocus, this is not the easiest thing to do, but people who are really conscious about their facial features will usually cooperate with me with this slow working lens, when I tell this is one of the best but unknown tricks anyone can use, combined with lighting technique, etc... If the model has no such issue, I prefer to shoot 85mm with AF.

I took one star away because I can't change the axes of tilt and shift independently.

Incidentally, TS-E 45mm is terrible at anything like half life size, and it gets a lot worse with tele converter. That lens is good for bigger objects.

I also own the newer Canon 24mm 3.5L mark II tilt shift so I wasn't sure if I'd be happy with this earlier version of a Canon tilt/shift but I wanted to add tilt/shift capabilities in a 90mm. After using it for a few weeks, I must say it is a very impressive lens. While this one does not sport the "L" designation, it is as sharp as my "L" lenses. Color and contrast is very good, and it produces a wonderful bokeh as well. I use it with a full frame Canon 5D mk II. As with my other tilt/shift, it is easier to focus these manual focus lenses using Live View as you can also better view the effects of your tilt/shift combination. The focus confirmation works, but Live View (zoomed in) gives you a more critical focus.

Unlike the 2 newer TS/E models (24mkII and 17), you can not rotate the tilt and shift axis seperately. Your tilt and shift rotate together on this model. I understand you can have Canon rebuild to a 90 degree seperation if you so desire, but it is not something you can do out in the field when using the lens. However, in most shooting situations, this limitation will not be a problem. Also, as with other tilt/shift, it is better to get your exposure readings before making tilt/shift adjustments as the angle can fool your through-the-lens exposure readings. The lens is fairly compact for a tilt/shift model. The tilt/shift adjustment knobs are a bit on the small side but still managable.

I am very favorably impressed with this lens, and while it sells for much less than its newer siblings, it can still hold its own in critical shooting situations. It has a wonderful rendering of images that is very pleasing. This focal length can be used for macro (you can use extension tubes with it), portraits, products, and architecture when shooting from a distance. Because of its outstanding optical quality it can even be used for landscape when you don't need a wide angle. It will also work with the 1.4X extender.

Overall, this is a very versatile lens that can be used in many creative ways. If you are looking for a tilt/shift and don't need wide angle, this lens has exceptional optical quality, sturdy build, and costs much less than the newer models recently introduced. Highly recommended.

I also own the newer Canon 24mm 3.5L mark II tilt shift so I wasn't sure if I'd be happy with this earlier version of a Canon tilt/shift but I wanted to add tilt/shift capabilities in a 90mm. After using it for a few weeks, I must say it is a very impressive lens. While this one does not sport the "L" designation, it is as sharp as my "L" lenses. Color and contrast is very good, and it produces a wonderful bokeh as well. I use it with a full frame Canon 5D mk II. As with my other tilt/shift, it is easier to focus these manual focus lenses using Live View as you can also better view the effects of your tilt/shift combination. The focus confirmation works, but Live View (zoomed in) gives you a more critical focus.

Unlike the 2 newer TS/E models (24mkII and 17), you can not rotate the tilt and shift axis seperately. Your tilt and shift rotate together on this model. I understand you can have Canon rebuild to a 90 degree seperation if you so desire, but it is not something you can do out in the field when using the lens. However, in most shooting situations, this limitation will not be a problem. Also, as with other tilt/shift, it is better to get your exposure readings before making tilt/shift adjustments as the angle can fool your through-the-lens exposure readings. The lens is fairly compact for a tilt/shift model. The tilt/shift adjustment knobs are a bit on the small side but still managable.

I am very favorably impressed with this lens, and while it sells for much less than its newer siblings, it can still hold its own in critical shooting situations. It has a wonderful rendering of images that is very pleasing. This focal length can be used for macro (you can use extension tubes with it), portraits, products, and architecture when shooting from a distance. Because of its outstanding optical quality it can even be used for landscape when you don't need a wide angle. It will also work with the 1.4X extender.

Overall, this is a very versatile lens that can be used in many creative ways. If you are looking for a tilt/shift and don't need wide angle, this lens has exceptional optical quality, sturdy build, and costs much less than the newer models recently introduced. Highly recommended.

I also own the newer Canon 24mm 3.5L mark II tilt shift so I wasn't sure if I'd be happy with this earlier version of a Canon tilt/shift but I wanted to add tilt/shift capabilities in a 90mm. After using it for a few weeks, I must say it is a very impressive lens. While this one does not sport the "L" designation, it is as sharp as my "L" lenses. Color and contrast is very good, and it produces a wonderful bokeh as well. I use it with a full frame Canon 5D mk II. As with my other tilt/shift, it is easier to focus these manual focus lenses using Live View as you can also better view the effects of your tilt/shift combination. The focus confirmation works, but Live View (zoomed in) gives you a more critical focus. Unlike the 2 newer TS/E models (24mkII and 17), you can not rotate the tilt and shift axis seperately. Your tilt and shift rotate together on this model. I understand you can have Canon rebuild to a 90 degree seperation if you so desire, but it is not something you can do out in the field when using the lens. However, in most shooting situations, this limitation will not be a problem. Also, as with other tilt/shift, it is better to get your exposure readings before making tilt/shift adjustments as the angle can fool your through-the-lens exposure readings. The lens is fairly compact for a tilt/shift model. The tilt/shift adjustment knobs are a bit on the small side but still managable. I am very favorably impressed with this lens, and while it sells for much less than its newer siblings, it can still hold its own in critical shooting situations. It has a wonderful rendering of images that is very pleasing. This focal length can be used for macro (you can use extension tubes with it), portraits, products, and architecture when shooting from a distance. Because of its outstanding optical quality it can even be used for landscape when you don't need a wide angle. It will also work with the 1.4X extender. Overall, this is a very versatile lens that can be used in many creative ways. If you are looking for a tilt/shift and don't need wide angle, this lens has exceptional optical quality, sturdy build, and costs much less than the newer models recently introduced. Highly recommended.