The Canon TS-E 90 mm f/2.8 is a tilt-shift, telephoto prime lens that provides the equivalent of the corresponding view camera front movements on Canon EOS camera bodies. Unlike most other EF-mount lenses, it does not provide autofocus.
Canon Inc. is a Japanese multinational corporation specializing in the manufacture of imaging and optical products, including cameras, camcorders, photocopiers, steppers, computer printers and medical equipment. It's headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.
In photography and cinematography, a telephoto lens is a specific type of a long-focus lens in which the physical length of the lens is shorter than the focal length. This is achieved by incorporating a special lens group known as a telephoto group that extends the light path to create a long-focus lens in a much shorter overall design. The angle of view and other effects of long-focus lenses are the same for telephoto lenses of the same specified focal length. Long-focal-length lenses are often informally referred to as telephoto lenses although this is technically incorrect: a telephoto lens specifically incorporates the telephoto group.
In film and photography, a prime lens is a fixed focal length photographic lens, typically with a maximum aperture from f2.8 to f1.2. The term can also mean the primary lens in a combination lens system. Confusion between these two meanings can occur if context doesn't make the interpretation clear. People sometimes use alternate terms—primary focal length, fixed focal length, or FFL to avoid ambiguity.
The TS-E 90 mm f/2.8 provides three degrees of freedom, allowing ±8° tilt with respect to the image plane and ±11 mm shift with respect to the center of the image area; [1] the movements can be rotated ±90° about the lens axis, though not independently.
Shifting allows adjusting the position of the subject in the image area without moving the camera back; it is often used to avoid convergence of parallel lines, such as when photographing a tall building. Tilting the lens relies on the Scheimpflug principle to rotate the plane of focus away from parallel to the image plane; this can be used either to have all parts of an inclined subject sharply rendered, or to restrict sharpness to a small part of a scene. Tilting the lens results in a wedge-shaped depth of field that may be a better fit to some scenes than the depth of field between two parallel planes that results without tilt.
The Scheimpflug principle is a geometric rule that describes the orientation of the plane of focus of an optical system when the lens plane is not parallel to the image plane. It is commonly applied to the use of camera movements on a view camera. It is also the principle used in corneal pachymetry, the mapping of corneal topography, done prior to refractive eye surgery such as LASIK, and used for early detection of keratoconus. The principle is named after Austrian army Captain Theodor Scheimpflug, who used it in devising a systematic method and apparatus for correcting perspective distortion in aerial photographs.
Depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that are in acceptably sharp focus in an image. The depth of field is determined by focal length, distance to subject, the acceptable circle of confusion size, and aperture. A particular depth of field may be chosen for technical or artistic purposes. Some post-processing methods, such as focus stacking allow extended depth of field that would be impossible with traditional techniques.
Unlike most view cameras, the shift mechanism allows shifts along only one axis, and the tilt mechanism allows tilts about only one axis; however, the rotation of the mechanisms allows the orientations of the axes to be changed, providing, in effect, combined tilt and swing, and combined rise/fall and lateral shift. The tilt and shift functions cannot be independently rotated. The lens is supplied with these functions at 90° to each other (e.g., providing tilt and lateral shift); they can be changed to work in the same directions (e.g., providing tilt and rise/fall) by removing four screws, rotating the front of the lens 90°, and reinstalling the screws.
On August 29, 2017, Canon announced the TS-E 90mm f/2.8L MACRO, the fellowship of the TS-E 90 mm f/2.8. Main difference compare to the TS-E 90 mm f/2.8 is the Macro capability and the change to the L line. Macro photography is possible up to 0.5× magnification with lens only and up to 0.82× with Extension Tube EF 25 II. The closest focus distance has decreased from 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) to 0.39 metres (1.3 ft). The new lens allows tilt up to ±10° and shift up to ±12 mm.
Macro photography, is extreme close-up photography, usually of very small subjects and living organisms like insects, in which the size of the subject in the photograph is greater than life size . By the original definition, a macro photograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative or image sensor is life size or greater. However, in some uses it refers to a finished photograph of a subject at greater than life size.
An extension tube - also called extension ring - is used with interchangeable lenses to focus closer, useful in macro photography.
Attribute | TS-E 90 mm f/2.8 | TS-E 90 mm f/2.8L MACRO |
---|---|---|
Image | ![]() | |
Key features | ||
feat-special | Perspective control, Scheimpflug principle | |
application | Product, Macro, Portrait [2] | |
Autofocus capable | ![]() | |
Full-frame compatible | ![]() | |
Image stabilizer | ![]() | |
Ultrasonic Motor | ![]() | |
Stepping Motor | ![]() | |
L-series | ![]() | ![]() |
Macro | ![]() | ![]() |
Technical data | ||
Focal length | 90 mm | |
type | Tilt-shift lens | |
Aperture (max/min) | f/2.8 – f/32 | f/2.8 – f/45 |
Construction | 6 elements / 5 groups | 11 elements / 9 groups |
# of diaphragm blades | 8 | 9 |
Closest focusing distance | 0.5 m (1.6 ft) | 0.39 m (1.3 ft) |
Max. magnification | 0.29× | 0.5×, 0.82× with EF 25 II |
Horizontal viewing angle | 26.6° (without any tilt or shift) | |
Vertical viewing angle | 15.2° (without any tilt or shift) | |
Diagonal viewing angle | 27° (without any tilt or shift) | |
Physical data | ||
Weight | 645 g (22.8 oz) | 915 g (32.3 oz) |
Maximum diameter | 73.6 mm (2.90 in) | 86.9 mm (3.42 in) |
Length | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 116.5 mm (4.59 in) |
Filter diameter | 58 mm | 77 mm |
Accessories | ||
Lens case | LP1016 | LP1219 |
Lens hood | ES-65III | ES-84 |
Lens cap | E-58 / E-58II | E-77 II |
Retail information | ||
Release date | April 1991 | August 2017 |
Currently in production? | ![]() | ![]() |
MSRP US$ | 1,100 | 2,199 |
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