Canon TS E 90mm f/2.8 is a lens that many photographers consider adding to their collection. It costs $1,399 directly and Amazon is $1,399.00. This is not an everyday optic. This lens can perform tilt-shift movements, as was possible with large format films cameras. The lens allowed for photographers to adjust the angle that the light from the camera hits the negative. But you needed a sturdy tripod—and film had to be loaded sheet-by-sheet into holders in total darkness.
This movement ability was almost eliminated by the advent of small portable cameras. Instead, the lens is kept parallel to the film plane. Specialized lenses with tilt and shift capability like the TS-E 90mm f/2.8 bring that ability back to a camera that you can carry in one hand—though you'll want probably still want to use a tripod.
The lens can be moved up and down to achieve architectural photography. It doesn't alter the focus plane. It is useful for those times when you are photographing a tall object and can't get quite enough lift from your tripod to shoot it dead on—angling the head up results in keystone distortion, the same type you experience when craning your neck up to peer to the top of a tall building.
The angle of light hitting the sensor is affected by tilting the lens. It is possible to focus only on one subject in a single focal plane while blurring other objects that might otherwise be sharply focused. It's the same principle that creates the diorama-like miniature effect when shooting distant subjects—you can blur the background and foreground, leaving the middle of an image in sharp focus. It is often used in cameras to create a special art filter.
The Canon TS E 90mm f/2.8 can be used to capture this capability if you don't have it. It has a relatively long focal length—Canon makes similar lenses in 17mm, 24mm, and 45mm focal lengths if they are better suited for your photography. The 90mm lens measures 3.5 by 2.9 inches (HD), weighs in at a hefty 1.2 pounds, and uses 58mm filters—the front element does not rotate as you manually focus the lens, so using a polarizing filter is possible.
Imatest revealed that the lens was extremely sharp when mounted on the Canon EOS 6D ($1,699.00 Amazon). At f/2.8 it recorded 2,486 lines per picture height—a score that is much better than the 1,800 lines required for a sharp image. Because the lens projectes a larger circle of image than necessary to fully cover the full frame sensor, it is sharp throughout the frame.
This allows for tilt and shift movements to be taken into account. The lens records 2,770 lines at its highest resolution, which is f/5.6. Distortion is a non-issue—our tests showed less than 0.2 percent pincushion distortion. The lens can be shifted to the extreme, which does a little but does not significantly soften it. The lens can manage 2,262 lines at F/2.8 and 2,424 lines for F/4. It also has 2,636 lines at F/5.6.
The Canon TS-E90mm f/2.8 lens is well worth the investment if you are able to afford it. Landscape and architectural photographers will love the shift function. They can use it to remove the keystone effect. The tilt effect is also useful for artistic and technical reasons.