24mm Mk II TS-E Problem

[neuroanatomist]

...both lenses improve the more you stop down, however if anything the 17-40 moves closer to the TS-E.

That's what I'd expect. Even inexpensive lenses like the 50/1.8 and 18-55 kit lenses sharpen up a lot at f/8. Much of what you're paying for with more expensive lenses is sharpness at wide apertures. While the 17-40 is not cheap as lenses go, it's cheaper than most L lenses and it's wide open performance isn't stellar.

[mikegml]

it's wide open performance isn't stellar.

Which is why I'm none too pleased with the TS-E which 'is' supposed to be excellent wide open yet I see little difference between my two examples.

Suppose I'll have to wait and see what the replacement TS-E is like.