How good is the Canon TS-E17mm F4L tilt shift lens on the medium format Fuji GFX100S

Summary

In this video, Keith Cooper explores the use of the Canon TSE 17 tilt-shift lens on the Fujifilm GFX 100S medium format camera. He discusses the lens's capabilities, including its wide-angle perspective and how it manages architectural photography without vertical distortion. Cooper shares insights on image cropping options, vignetting challenges, and the importance of understanding lens performance in commercial work. He emphasizes the balance between technical limitations and practical photography, encouraging viewers to experiment with lens settings to achieve desired results, while also hinting at the upcoming review of additional lenses.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Canon TSE 17 tilt-shift lens can be adapted to the Fuji GFX 100S, which features a 100-megapixel medium format sensor.
• 😀 Users can choose between cropping the image to a 36x24mm aspect ratio or utilizing the full 33x44mm medium format sensor.
• 😀 Tilt-shift lenses have a large image circle, making them suitable for use on larger sensors without significant issues.
• 😀 The TSE 17 lens offers a wide-angle equivalent of approximately 13mm in 35mm terms, making it ideal for architectural photography.
• 😀 Shifting the lens upward helps avoid converging verticals in architectural shots, which is a primary use for these lenses.
• 😀 While the TSE 17 lens is generally sharp, it may not perform as well as the TSE 24 lens, especially at wider apertures.
• 😀 Users should be aware of potential vignetting, especially when using maximum shifts or stopping down to smaller apertures.
• 😀 Vertical and diagonal shifts allow for creative composition while maintaining level lines in photographs.
• 😀 Filters are challenging to use with this lens due to its design; users should consider hand-holding the lens to block sunlight.
• 😀 Adapted lenses can still be viable for commercial work, and shooting in 35mm crop mode yields images sufficient for most needs.

Q & A

What is the main subject of the video?

The video discusses using the Canon TSE 17 tilt-shift lens with the Fuji GFX 100S medium format camera, including its performance and applications in architectural photography.

How does the sensor size of the Fuji GFX 100S compare to traditional 35mm sensors?

The GFX 100S features a 33x44mm medium format sensor, which provides a significant increase in imaging area compared to a 36x24mm full-frame sensor.

What advantages does the TSE 17 lens provide for architectural photography?

The TSE 17 lens allows for significant shifts that help correct converging verticals in architectural photography, providing a more accurate representation of structures.

What crop options are available when using the Fuji GFX 100S?

Users can crop the image to a 36x24mm format (3:2 aspect ratio) or use the full 4:3 format of the medium format sensor.

Why might a photographer choose to crop the image instead of using the full sensor?

Cropping may be necessary if the adapted lens is not capable of delivering sharpness across the larger sensor area, potentially resulting in vignetting or blurriness.

What does the speaker note about the sharpness of the TSE 17 compared to the TSE 24?

The TSE 17, while capable, is noted to be slightly less sharp than the TSE 24, especially at extreme wide angles.

What is the recommended aperture range for the TSE 17 when using shift?

The speaker suggests using f/9 to f/11 for optimal sharpness when shifting, though f/6 to f/8 can be acceptable with less shift.

How does the speaker view concerns about diffraction with high megapixel sensors?

The speaker believes that diffraction, while a consideration, should not be overly feared and that practical experience in photography often contradicts theoretical limitations.

What issues might arise from using maximum shift with the TSE 17 lens?

Using maximum shift can lead to noticeable vignetting, especially in the corners of the image, which may require careful management.

What is the speaker's opinion on using filters with tilt-shift lenses?

The speaker generally avoids filters due to complications they introduce, especially with significant shifts, though he occasionally uses graduated or neutral density filters for specific effects.