Hello, I am new to this site and hoping I can get some help picking out my next lens. My current landscape lens is Canon's 17-40f4L. I am looking to upgrade and can't decide between Canon's 16-35 or the 24mm tilt shift. Ultimately I would love to own both but can only afford one at this time. Any thoughts on advantages or disadvantages between these lenses? I realize there are certain benefits due to the tilt shift nature of the 24mm but would like to know if there is a difference in quality. Based on some of the reviews I have read there are varying thoughts on this. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I use the canon 17-40 lens and am quite pleased with it. Are you having troubles with yours?
At one time, I was tempted by the 16-35 lens, but this NPN comparison review of the two lenses pretty much scotched that idea for me. I've seen other reviews that drew the same conclusion.
You would also lose a lot of the wider end you currently enjoy with the 17-40 lens by switching to a 24mm lens.
A number of Canon users have started using the Nikon 14-24 lens with an adapter, as that particular Nikon lens is said to have unrivalled image quality among wide angle zoom lenses.
Here's a detailed report from one who made that switch.
Sounds like an idea worth pursuing, re the Nikon lens. However, as one who has both the 16 - 35 and the 24ts (and the 17 ts!), my recommendation for a fantastic lens is to go with the fixed ts options. Both of these are fantastic instruments and the ts function os invaluable. I would only now ever use the 16 - 35, which is also not a bad lens, for fast action photography when a zoom function is very useful and image quality not so critical.
Another two cents on the subject - I've got the 16-35 & the 24mm TS-E (latest version). The 24mm is considerably sharper and is a fantastic lens. Even if you don't use the tilt & shift, the images are so sharp throughout the aperture range. I have not seen comparisons on image quality of the 24 vs. the Nikon 12/24, but I can't imagine images any sharper than the 24 produces. Also you have the ability to stitch together images without moving the camera with the shift feature. This can give you even wider images than with the 16-35, but requires the stitching and the subject matter to be very still. As your familiarity with the tilt function increases, you can also do some great things with depth of field on certain subjects.
All in all, I'm considering selling the 16-35 & getting a 17-40 for weight & cost considerations. I'd have a hard time in the field without both the zoom and the 24mm TS-E.
I also have both the 16-35 2.8L II and the 24mm 3.5L TS. I agree with everything Wick mentioned. The 24 TS is a wonderfully sharp lens and I find I hardly use the 16-35 any more. With regards to tilt shift, be aware there, may be learning curve.
You have all given me some things to think about. Sounds like the consensus is the 24mm is a great lens and after reading posts and reading the review by Darwin Wigget (thank you John for the link to the article) it doesn't sound like there is much of an advantage to upgrade the 17-40 to the 16-35. My 17-40 is a nice lens but as Darwin's article mentions it is a little soft on the edges. I have never owned a fixed lens to compare to. I am leaning right now towards the 24 tilt shift. I am also going to research more about this Nikon lens. I am hearing a lot of great things. It would be nice if Canon would come out with something similar. Thank you everyone for your posts. This is only my second day as a member and I am already reaping the benefits.
I can't offer any answers here, but I'm interested in this discussion and I have a couple questions to ask those who have used these lenses in the field.
1. How do you deal with lens flare on subjects that are not front lit with the TSE WA lenses?
2. Can you use ND grad filters with the TSE lenses, and if not, how do you resolve issues that ND grads take care of at capture if they are not an option?
I can only speak to the Canon 24mm TS-e, but there is virtually no lens flare with this lens. It's quite refreshing.
On the filters, yes, the 24 is like any other lens with a flat front, although it takes an 82mm filter - larger than most. I buy the 82mm filters and have step down rings for those lens in my bag that use 77mm. You could easily hand hold a grad ND or use one of the screw on holders for it. The 17mm TS-E has convex lens glass at the front and will not take standard screw-on filters. I'm not sure what you would do there (maybe handheld?), I'll defer to others that know about that sort of thing.
I don't use ND Grads - I bracket shots that have high dynamic range & then hand blend them in photoshop - usually two image captures for one photo. I did find this link to a handmade holder for a Grad ND for the 17mm: http://www.aenderbrepsom.com/articles_149572.html
Discussion
7 repliesAt one time, I was tempted by the 16-35 lens, but this NPN comparison review of the two lenses pretty much scotched that idea for me. I've seen other reviews that drew the same conclusion.
You would also lose a lot of the wider end you currently enjoy with the 17-40 lens by switching to a 24mm lens.
A number of Canon users have started using the Nikon 14-24 lens with an adapter, as that particular Nikon lens is said to have unrivalled image quality among wide angle zoom lenses.
Here's a detailed report from one who made that switch.
Consider the 17 ts also!
Hope that helps.
All in all, I'm considering selling the 16-35 & getting a 17-40 for weight & cost considerations. I'd have a hard time in the field without both the zoom and the 24mm TS-E.
1. How do you deal with lens flare on subjects that are not front lit with the TSE WA lenses?
2. Can you use ND grad filters with the TSE lenses, and if not, how do you resolve issues that ND grads take care of at capture if they are not an option?
On the filters, yes, the 24 is like any other lens with a flat front, although it takes an 82mm filter - larger than most. I buy the 82mm filters and have step down rings for those lens in my bag that use 77mm. You could easily hand hold a grad ND or use one of the screw on holders for it. The 17mm TS-E has convex lens glass at the front and will not take standard screw-on filters. I'm not sure what you would do there (maybe handheld?), I'll defer to others that know about that sort of thing.
I don't use ND Grads - I bracket shots that have high dynamic range & then hand blend them in photoshop - usually two image captures for one photo. I did find this link to a handmade holder for a Grad ND for the 17mm: http://www.aenderbrepsom.com/articles_149572.html