Filter system needed for 17mm TS-E tilt shift - help/advice sorely needed!

Hi

The LEE system will fit both the 17 and 24 TSE with the right lens rings.

If you want a 150mm+ filter system, it's going to cost you.  You're not getting out of this without spending a lot of money.

The Lee system is very well made, and can be adapted for screw in lenses as well.

I'm not sure I understand why you think you need the 150mm system. The 100mm filters will cover a 17mm lens; at least they work on my 16-35mm and 24mm TSE lenses. You don't need to worry about the shift function since the filter is fixed to the front of the lens and moves up and down (or side to side) with the shift movement. You could easily put a screw-in filter onto the lens and it will work just as well, so I don't see your problem.

Do you mistakenly think that the lens shift moves the location of the lens centre across the plane of the filter ring? That might be causing your confusion.

ajscullard wrote:

I'm not sure I understand why you think you need the 150mm system. The 100mm filters will cover a 17mm lens; at least they work on my 16-35mm and 24mm TSE lenses. You don't need to worry about the shift function since the filter is fixed to the front of the lens and moves up and down (or side to side) with the shift movement. You could easily put a screw-in filter onto the lens and it will work just as well, so I don't see your problem.

Do you mistakenly think that the lens shift moves the location of the lens centre across the plane of the filter ring? That might be causing your confusion.

The 100mm filter system won't mount on the TS-E, because it doesn't have filter threads

...but you can fit the 100mm holder if you use the Lee adapter made especially for that lens. Scroll down here.

ajscullard wrote:

...but you can fit the 100mm holder if you use the Lee adapter made especially for that lens. Scroll down here.

Ah. Although it also says you can only use a bit more than half the movement

"This new ring will adapt the Foundation kit filter holder to fit the Canon 17mm TS-E lens and will allow more than half of the total amount of movement that is normally possible with this lens before vignetting"

Yeah, it's a long time since I looked at the TSE17 and I'd forgotten about the lack of a filter thread. I know with the TSE24, you start to get vignetting at the extremes, even without a filter. I guess if you want the full range of shift on the TSE17 you pretty much have to go with the 150mm holder.

In the olden days, I would take Kodak 3" x 3" gelatin filters, cut them into small circles, and tape them to the back of the lens. It was clumsy and slow but it did the job. Of course having a 16x ND filter on your lens would make it impossible to focus or compose a shot, but if you're working on tripod with slow deliberation, the back and forth required might not be so bad.

Jayaus wrote:

Unsure where to post this as its cross-posted in another forum, but its related to the 17mm TS-E and flexible use with my other lenses - I truly need some educated help here!

I'm about to receive my Canon 17mm tilt-shift lens, and wish to get a filter system to suit 6, 10 or 16 stop Neutral Density filters and perhaps a polariser (note that I understand the uneven effect of polarisers on UWA like 17mm) though *if possible* I'd also like there to be adapters to use it on my 24mm TS-E (82mm) and 16-34 f/4 (77mm) - especially due to high costs.

I'm finding it *REALLY* hard to work out a system that possibly offers some flexibility AND good image quality.

First of all, there is the Lee 150mm filters (ideally need 150 for the full range of shift on the 17mm) incl. the Big and Little stoppers, 10 & 6 stops each. Both damn expensive, US$250 EACH equivalent in Australia, so $500 for 16 stops - and some serious concerns about colour cast.

Formatt-Hitech do Firecrest which are apparently great 16 stop ones, good neutrality, for about 100 GBPounds, but in 165x165mm Lucroit system that costs at least 200 GBP for the adapters (a lot for a few simple bits of machine aluminium and plastic IMO).

Fotodiox do the great looking Wonderpana system, but its unclear if they do really big 10 or 16 stop filters, and are 145 x 145 (so wont fit lee or the Firecrest ones). Also expensive.

Then there is the NISI ones but I havent found out much about their quality and seem similarly ridiculously expensive also - US$225 each, so 450 USD for 16 stops. Comes in 150x150. Again, an expensive holder system considering simple machined aluminium and plastic.

And some other one called Benro which holds 150s but couldnt seem to find much about the filters, so assuming they fit Lee also.

Effectively, it seems near impossible to be able to make an informed decision given no store on the face of the earth would stock them all, let alone someone know about them all or be able to look at them side by side. There doesnt seem to be many reviews comparing different systems either, just individual reviews which are of only limited value. Some future-proof flexibility would go a long way also in terms of lens upgrades and not having to purchase this stuff twice! Figuring there wont be much of this for used/sale second-hand either.

Anyone with any experience, help or thoughts on any of the systems? Thanks in advance.

I will try my Cokin 130mm and see if it vignettes with full shift.

You may also consider Haida 150mm x 150mm for ND and 150 x 180 for GND

I have the holder which is very well build with the 17mm TSE

No issues stacking up to 2 filters - the most I normally use and they have a good range - 3 stops to 16 stops

I have the 3 . 6 . and 10 Stop NDs and they work like a charm without giving any noticeable casts.

Of course one thing to note, when working with filters if you happen to mount it on a Pano plate you will need some offset to so that the filter adapter does not hit your rail (although stitching an adjust shift is tricky)

I have quite a few pictures which I share from time to time on the weekly landscape show and tell In this subforum itself that uses the 17mm TSE and ND filters

neil holmes wrote:

Jayaus wrote:

Unsure where to post this as its cross-posted in another forum, but its related to the 17mm TS-E and flexible use with my other lenses - I truly need some educated help here!

I'm about to receive my Canon 17mm tilt-shift lens, and wish to get a filter system to suit 6, 10 or 16 stop Neutral Density filters and perhaps a polariser (note that I understand the uneven effect of polarisers on UWA like 17mm) though *if possible* I'd also like there to be adapters to use it on my 24mm TS-E (82mm) and 16-34 f/4 (77mm) - especially due to high costs.

I'm finding it *REALLY* hard to work out a system that possibly offers some flexibility AND good image quality.

First of all, there is the Lee 150mm filters (ideally need 150 for the full range of shift on the 17mm) incl. the Big and Little stoppers, 10 & 6 stops each. Both damn expensive, US$250 EACH equivalent in Australia, so $500 for 16 stops - and some serious concerns about colour cast.

Formatt-Hitech do Firecrest which are apparently great 16 stop ones, good neutrality, for about 100 GBPounds, but in 165x165mm Lucroit system that costs at least 200 GBP for the adapters (a lot for a few simple bits of machine aluminium and plastic IMO).

Fotodiox do the great looking Wonderpana system, but its unclear if they do really big 10 or 16 stop filters, and are 145 x 145 (so wont fit lee or the Firecrest ones). Also expensive.

Then there is the NISI ones but I havent found out much about their quality and seem similarly ridiculously expensive also - US$225 each, so 450 USD for 16 stops. Comes in 150x150. Again, an expensive holder system considering simple machined aluminium and plastic.

And some other one called Benro which holds 150s but couldnt seem to find much about the filters, so assuming they fit Lee also.

Effectively, it seems near impossible to be able to make an informed decision given no store on the face of the earth would stock them all, let alone someone know about them all or be able to look at them side by side. There doesnt seem to be many reviews comparing different systems either, just individual reviews which are of only limited value. Some future-proof flexibility would go a long way also in terms of lens upgrades and not having to purchase this stuff twice! Figuring there wont be much of this for used/sale second-hand either.

Anyone with any experience, help or thoughts on any of the systems? Thanks in advance.

I will try my Cokin 130mm and see if it vignettes with full shift.

Just tried mounting my Cokin X-Pro holder with 130mm circular polarizer.

I think at maximum shift there might be the tiniest bit of vignetting in the extreme corner....I say think because I just don't have the patience to mount it fully.....set up carefully and properly it could also be (just) ok even at maximum shift....it would be close either way.

I don't shift anywhere fully very often anyway.

I have a TS-E 17mm and Lee 100mm system. Will you need to use a polarising filter? If you mount the 105mm polarising filter on top of two ND or coloured filters you will see vignetting.

Jayaus wrote:

neoroblitz wrote:

You may also consider Haida 150mm x 150mm for ND and 150 x 180 for GND

I have the holder which is very well build with the 17mm TSE

No issues stacking up to 2 filters - the most I normally use and they have a good range - 3 stops to 16 stops

I have the 3 . 6 . and 10 Stop NDs and they work like a charm without giving any noticeable casts.

Of course one thing to note, when working with filters if you happen to mount it on a Pano plate you will need some offset to so that the filter adapter does not hit your rail (although stitching an adjust shift is tricky)

I have quite a few pictures which I share from time to time on the weekly landscape show and tell In this subforum itself that uses the 17mm TSE and ND filters

OK interesting.

Are they Haida filters or Lee or another? Are they interchangeable across different filter holder systems?

What is the Pano plate though? I'm using a geared tripod head with built-in bubble level, so assuming a pano plate is for other tripods (though in reality, if I was to be stitching, I'd be probably be horizontally shifting)

The haida filters comes in both Holder and Filter Sets - So its a complete system

It is compatible with other holders

I got them from their Singapore Distributor http://photospheresg.com/

Jayaus wrote:

neoroblitz wrote:

Jayaus wrote:

neoroblitz wrote:

You may also consider Haida 150mm x 150mm for ND and 150 x 180 for GND

I have the holder which is very well build with the 17mm TSE

No issues stacking up to 2 filters - the most I normally use and they have a good range - 3 stops to 16 stops

I have the 3 . 6 . and 10 Stop NDs and they work like a charm without giving any noticeable casts.

Of course one thing to note, when working with filters if you happen to mount it on a Pano plate you will need some offset to so that the filter adapter does not hit your rail (although stitching an adjust shift is tricky)

I have quite a few pictures which I share from time to time on the weekly landscape show and tell In this subforum itself that uses the 17mm TSE and ND filters

OK interesting.

Are they Haida filters or Lee or another? Are they interchangeable across different filter holder systems?

What is the Pano plate though? I'm using a geared tripod head with built-in bubble level, so assuming a pano plate is for other tripods (though in reality, if I was to be stitching, I'd be probably be horizontally shifting)

The haida filters comes in both Holder and Filter Sets - So its a complete system

It is compatible with other holders

I got them from their Singapore Distributor http://photospheresg.com/

Right ok, another model/option to think of, haha!

I had read something about different depth ND filters and that some wont fit into some holders.

Guess I better work out the width of these holders vs the width of the filters themselves, ie the Lee Big & Little stoppers, the Formatt Hitech Firecrest 16 stop ND filter etc.

Aside from thicknesses, is it safe to assume 150x150 filters will work in any of the 150mm holders then?

Pretty much so!

one note, I used to try Firecrest on the 100x100 filters but experienced horrible image degradation from it - Maybe you shd check around in Amazon for a bigger pool of users if they had solved this issue.