Canon FD: your thoughts?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I just took delivery of the Canon FD 35/2.8 SSC tilt/shift lens, with the intention of using it with micro 4/3ds. (I will post a thread about this elsewhere once I've experimented a bit, but it seems I will probably use the tilt a lot more than the shift on m4/3, given the doubled effective focal length.) Needless to say, I figured there was no reason not to pick up a cheap AE-1, and the one I found happens to have the FD 50/1.4 attached to it, and so it looks like all of a sudden I have a second film SLR system.

What are your favorite Canon manual focus SLRs and lenses? Any bargain optics that no FD user should be without? The 28/2 looks awfully enticing. There's a lot of love here for Nikon and Olympus SLRs, but not many posts about Canon...I know you're out there...let's hear it.

 

[stupid leica]

I enjoy the A1 quite a bit. Beautiful and rugged camera, with a very reliable meter. I don't think i ever had a shot from my A1 that was poorly exposed due to the camera.

I have wanted a (new) F1N for several years now. Now that i have started "collecting"(hoarding?) old mechanical SLR's (F, F2), i think it might be time to pick up a F1!
The F1 is just an amazingly well-built machine. Feels so good in the hands.

 

[Jonas B]

I'm an old Canon FD user. That was during my years as student and also during many years of mainly family use (three kids didn't allow me to buy and sell lenses the same way as today).

I loved my old Canon F-1 cameras and I still have my Canon EF. The 50/1.4 is a good working horse, just as today the FD85/1.8 was a good lens. On the wide side I also have an FD 24/2.0 which is a great and fast wide angle.

Unfortunately I don't know of any secret bargains anyone should have. I sometimes wished my 85mm was longer but basically that is the same setup as I use today with my Pnasonic G1; one wide angle, one normal and one short tele. OK, the WA today is a zoom but otherwise not much has happened.

 

[David Murphy]

The FTb QL is one of the nicer Canon SLR's - this handles Canon SLR duties for me now. These can be converted easily to use modern batteries. The TX is not too bad. The Pellix is a masterpiece if the condition is good - I just don't like the light-loss penalty of the mirror. The original F1 is a dream if you can find a good one (many are run-out), but they are still a little pricey. I don't use electronic cameras, but if I did I'd probably own an AE-1 - pretty darn reliable for its breed.

There are many wonderful Canon FD lenses (also many nice FL lenses that are compatible) and most are bargains. If you enjoy fast primes, checkout the 55/1.2, the 55/1.2 SSC, and the 58/1.2 FL (has amazing build quality). All the wides are excellent (FL and FD).

 

[sojournerphoto]

I've got an AE-1 that I've had from new (bought for me by my Grandfather) in 1979 or 80. My lenses comprise the 28/2.8, 50/1.8 and 85/1.8. The 85 is a must have if you're going to use the system, just lovely.

In terms of bodies, the F1N is a great workshorse if you can find one at a reasonable price. The (much) later T90 forshadowed todays dslr form factor, and a friend is stil using his with a collection of glass we gatehred together in the late 80's from a variety of secondhand shops (remmeber them?)

Mike

Mike

 

[xayraa33]

another thumbs up for the FD 85mm f1.8 it is my favorite 85mm lens.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I am quite amazed at the build quality of the 35mm TS. It's even nicer than my Pentax-M lenses, which are the benchmarks for me in manual focus SLRs.

EDIT: just checked prices on the 85/1.8. Good god, it's outrageously cheap.

 

[venchka]

EF body
50/1.4 S.S.C.
50/3.5 Macro S.S.C. with 25 Tube
FD 24/2.8
35/3.5 S.C. (Possibly the sharpest lens I own)

I bought the camera, 50 Macro and 35mm lenses new. I picked up the 50/1.4 & 24/2.8 for about $100 total in recent memory.

 

[chrishayton]

I bought an a1 a few weeks ago and just got roudn to fixing the'cough'. Really wanting a wide for it but theres not much on ebay really.

Anything 24mm and wider thats a good buy and cheapish?

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

24/2.8 looks very affordable from where i'm sitting

 

[Krzys]

I dont like the bodies much. Ive used each of the generations.

But I do love the FD 17mm f/4

Its the size of your standard 50mm prime! Though the front element is quite large and the lens hood is monstrous. You just have to shoot it naked with some confidence.

 

[andydg]

I had an F1n with AE finder, should never have sold it. Wonderful tool. Also the Vivitar Series 1 28-90 lens was excellent.

 

[jmcd]

For almost 20 years I have used two F1 cameras, and one F1n, the second all-mechanical version.

The F1 is a very nice solid camera, and I love its heft, viewfinder, and excellent match-needle metering system.

I use a Criscam battery adapter with a silver oxide battery.

 

[bmattock]

I grew up on the Canon FL system (predates FD). Canon FX body, Canon FL 50mm f/1.8 lens, a roll of bulk-loaded Tri-X and I was good to go.

I still have that rig, all CLA'd and with a bunch of the lenses I could not afford back then. 55mm f/1.2, 58mm f/1.2, 50mm f/1.4 II, 85mm f/1.8, 135mm f/2.5 and so on. I really like them all.

I have added to it some FD bodies and FD and FDn lenses. My favorite combination is the Cosina-made cheap-as-chips T60 with FDn 50mm f/1.4. Light, fast, easy to use. I also have and like the Canon FTbN, the TX, the Canon-made Bell & Howell branded FD35, and I think I have a few more FL bodies such as the FT.

One of my all-time favorite lenses for the FD system is not a Canon lens, but a Vivitar Series 1 90mm f/2.5 with 1:1 macro attachment. A lovely lens.

I like to use my T60 with a simple M42 adapter and my M42 glass from time to time. There is also a 39mm thread-mount adapter which I have that was intended to allow LTM lenses to be used (macro only). But I have a selection of Paxette M39 lenses and they focus to infinity just fine with that adapter.

 

[Mackinaw]

My favorite Canon FD camera was the original Canon F-1. I have no use for any Canon "A" series "T" series SLRs'. I like most all of the original breech-lock FD lenses because Canon seemed to have spared no expense with their design and manufacture (big, heavy and built for heavy-duty use). Likewise, I have little use for the smaller and lighter FDn lenses (too much plastic) though I will admit that some are pretty good optically. My favorite FD lens is the 55mm F1.2 aspheric which is absolutely excellent wide-open.

Jim B.

 

[hans voralberg]

I am quite amazed at the build quality of the 35mm TS. It's even nicer than my Pentax-M lenses, which are the benchmarks for me in manual focus SLRs.

EDIT: just checked prices on the 85/1.8. Good god, it's outrageously cheap.

Strange you said that, one of the reason I never buy into Pentax is that I find their lens feels cheaper than Canon/Nikon/Oly. As for Canon FL/FD I like the Ftb for body, and must have lens is the 58/1.2, the 58/1.2 has some funky bokeh 😉

 

[bmattock]

As for Canon FL/FD I like the Ftb for body, and must have lens is the 58/1.2, the 58/1.2 has some funky bokeh 😉

I believe the only 58mm f/1.2 was an FL lens, not an FD. You can use it on an FD body, though. I have both the 55 and the 58. The 55 is sharper, but the 58 indeed is quite smooth.

 

[David Murphy]

I believe the only 58mm f/1.2 was an FL lens, not an FD. You can use it on an FD body, though. I have both the 55 and the 58. The 55 is sharper, but the 58 indeed is quite smooth.

Yes the 58/1.2 is an FL lens. It is rather inexpensive as well. It is horrible wide open. It is, however, a mastercraft of glass and metal - an enormous beautiful lens. I recommend it, but stopped down a bit in use. The 55/1.2 (FL and FD) and 50/1.2 (FD) are quite acceptable when used at F1.2 - that's been my experience. I think they made a version of the 50/1.2 that used Fluorite glass, which is still wickedly expensive (and surely very sharp). There's a lot to choose from on the Canon FD/FL lens menu.

 

[paxnobiscum]

I hope I'm not highjacking the thread, but I would highly appreciate your opinion on the Canon Fd 20-35mm L f3.5, Canon Fd 80-200 L macro f4.0 and the 35mm macro f2.8 for Canon Auto Bellows.

Best regards

Petur, Iceland

 

[jpa66]

I always enjoyed the fd 20mm lens ( at least I think it was a 20mm, and not a 21 ). A super-nice lens that I wish I still had, but now that I've got an Oly OM 4 with a 21mm, I rarely use the Canon. I still like my AE-1 P, which was my first slr, and will never get rid of it. It's easy to use, and can produce great images.