Much has been written about the sharpness of this TS-E lens and it's true, so I'll not be redundant. After using it a few times, I'm commenting on the fact that it is manual focus and that I use it to get sharp focus front-to-back group photos at meetings or at dinners. Therefore, one must first calibrate one's eyeball or more accurately, ensure that the diopter setting on your camera (if you don't have live view) enables you to see that the lens is in focus. I admit that I had not set the diopter setting on my Canon EOS 5D as I have been relying on the camera's automatic focus to get sharp photos. I set the diopter by using an autofocus lens to get an image in focus, then turning the diopter know until I saw it clearly. I leave it at that setting for focusing the TS-E. The other issue is setting the tilt correctly. This takes some patience. What I found works best is to set the tilt at zero and put the center of the group in focus, then tilt the lens until the front (i.e., those nearest me) and the back are in focus. Sometimes I have to reset the main focus. This work results in tack-sharp photos, but it takes nearly a full minute to do. Thus, this is not the lens to use in general shooting of a meeting where you look for the poses that add interest and you need to take the photo immediately -- it's best for the overall record of who's there. I have taken some excellent photos with this lens hand-held, but feel most comfortable when using it on a tripod to ensure the focal points don't move because I do, especially should I inadvertently tilt the camera. In the past, my solution was to take three photos, each at different focal points, then merge them together in Photoshop layers. But because people move, I found it often impossible to get an acceptable merge. This TS-E lens is the only solution that works every time! Highly recommended for group photos!

I shoot primarily landscapes and cityscapes. Only recently have I started concentrating on wide angle glass. My 16-35 is incredible for covering a lot ground, but distortion and perspective effects can be very strong with some subjects. When I got this lens I went back to several sites where the 16-35 had been used, and re-shot to see the difference. The resultant images were very satisfying. In addition to the perspective control, the lens is just very sharp. An even bigger thrill was when I started to use the lens for DOF control for landscape work. It can do amazing things. I like it so much that I have planned some shoots where it will be the only lens used, just to force me to learn it capabilities.

Unreally sharp, superb contrast, no distortion, beautiful color rendering, precise focusing

Over thirty years as a professional photographer who has sought out and owned some of the finest large format lenses from Goerz. Kodak, Zeiss, etc. And having been disappointed with many of Canons lenses, I have to say this lens exhibits those hard to describe intangible qualities of depth, clarity, luminosity and color fidelity. The values have that buttery tone and richness that we were used to when shooting 4x5 and 8x10. With phenomenal edge to edge sharpness. Canon you got it all right on this one.

I was first a bit skeptical, but after being out in the field and getting used to the endless possibilities of tilting and shifting the focus plane I can't do without it.

Landscape and architecture get a new meaning, but also portraits/wedding can get that nice addition if you use the TS intelligently.

Perfectly sharp (sharper than the corresponding prime, IMHO) the superiority is easily visible on my 5D mkii.

Not having an auto focus (no, I am not complaining), I would suggest also to add a manual diaphragm control for quicker control.

This is one amazing lens. Sharp from edge to edge even when shooting wide open. No noticeable light fall off at any aperture. When focused properly the image quality is indescribably sharp. I had never used a t-s lens before, so if you're new to this type of lens, it will take a bit of practice, but it will be so worth it. I use this on a 5d-II and 1ds-III. I have been able to focus quite accurately on near subjects while doing hand held, but anything at a longer distance will require the use of a tripod and live view with a wide angle lens such as this one. I couldn't be happier with this lens. Highly recommended

What I liked most was the ability to get close and change aspect with the tilt / shift. Wish it was autofocus. The lens is just beautiful. Look forward to experimenting with it some more.

I use this lens in landscape and product photography to control the location of the in focus plane across the field of view and the perspective of the image. The tilt feature of this lens enables me to control where the focus plane is in the image in order to put the entire field of view in focus or to isolate a subject/object from the rest of the frame. The lens does not increase the depth of field but allows the user to place the plane of focus where they need it to be. The shift movement of the lens shifts the location of the lens's imaging circle relative to the cameras sensor. This means that the lens's center of perspective and the image's center of perspective are no longer the same and is as if you were only using a crop from the side of a correspondingly wider angle lens. This feature allows me to control the perspective of the image so buildings or trees are not leaning away from me in an image. In addition I can capture a series of three images left, center and right by just shifting the lens and then combining them in photoshop to get the equivalent of a 60% increase in image size captured. Optically this lens is the sharpest of the 9 L lenses that I use and that is saying a lot. There is a learning curve involved until you get used to the tilt and shift functions of the lens and when and how to use them in conjunction or independently. The lens is also manual focus but you have to give some things up to get the functionality of the tilt shift movements. And finally, if you look at the rear lens element it is supposed to be open around the element (there is a 1-2mm gap around the floating element that you can see the inner gears and electronics). I was initially concerned that it was not sealed by some gasket or rear piece but after talking with canon they said it was indeed designed that way.

Even before going into the tilt shift aspect, this lens just as a fixed 24mm is a joy to use. Manual focus is buttery smooth, and focusing through live view on a 5d II is an experience unto itself. The movements are extremely versatile, both using downward tilt for added DoF for landscapes (while still being able to keep the aperture below a number that starts being affected by diffraction) and shift for both miniatures and for fixing keystoning. The movements come at a small price: no weather sealing. I think the extra versatility makes up for it. The build quality is outstanding. Usual Canon L-ness.

This lens is amazing. I own 8 L lenses and this is the very sharpest of them all. The Tilt Shift comes with a learning curve, but the possibilities are endless. If Architecture is your avocation, this is a MUST HAVE lens.