I was cruising around youtube this morning looking for something useful to explain how a Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 lens can manipulate the plane of focus. I didn’t find anything specifically for Canon TS-E lenses but I found a nifty video describing the Scheimpflug principle and focusing a 4×5 camera. You can watch the video here. I would have embedded the video but the youtube poster does not allow this. 
How lame……
Canon DSLR shooters using the TS-E 45mm lens could use a technique similar to the one in this video. In this scenario the photographer would verify critical focus by using various AF points in the viewfinder. I suspect that most shooters using the TS-E lenses just chimp the LCD though. A 5D Mark II shooter, or a 40D/50D shooter, would have an advantage here as he/she could use live view to verify focus in real time. A quick zoom on the rear LCD would take the place of the loupe. How cool is that!
What do you think? If you use the TS-E lenses for their intended purpose how do you achieve critical focus?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Video is interesting. Is it just me or does he rip one at 3:00?
I don’t think it is just you!
I didn’t catch it the first couple of times I browsed it but I do hear someone ripping one at the 3 minute mark. Why in the heck did they not shoot that part over?