Canon FD: your thoughts?

[bennyng]

The 7.5mm or 19mm are fun wide angles lenses to use. And with the Lens Mount converter B, you can use it for RF too (albeit scale focusing only)!

I also like Canon macro lenses. Well built!

Cheers,

 

[dogberryjr]

I love the F1N body. I wanted one very badly when it was new and only had to wait 20 or so years to get one. Over the years I've assembled an interesting collection of FD glass to included the fabled 55mm f1.2 "blue AL." You know you are holding something when that thing is in your hand, and it is a wonder even wide open.

 

[kermaier]

I've used the AE-1P (was stolen), the A-1 (still have 1) and the F-1N (still have 3). The A-1 is great: light, fast handling, both aperture and shutter priority AE. The F-1N is an absolutely indestructible tank - you could literally pind nails with it - and is both very simple and very sophisticated with it's range of system accessories.

As for lenses, I've had:
24/1.4 L (amazing lens, sold it)
28/2 (excellent, compact lens)
35/2 (very sharp and compact)
50/1.2 L (probably my all-time favorite lens)
50/1.4 (excellent)
50/1.4 SSC (excellent, built like a tank)
50/1.8 (good, tiny, gave it away)
85/1.8 (very good, a bit soft for an all-purpose lens, great portrait lens, sold it)
85/1.2 L (astoundingly sharp, big, sold it)
135/2.8 (good travel lens, very compact, sold it)
135/2 (amazing performance, big, sold it)
200/2.8 (excellent, sold it)
35-105/3.5 (great lens, 2-touch zoom, as sharp as many primes, too heavy to wear around the neck all day, sold it)
70-210/4 (OK, not great, 1-touch zoom, gave it away)

Since I've gone digital for everything that 35mm used to do, I haven't put a roll through my FD gear in a couple of years, so it's all on the block (except the 50/1.2 L and 1 body).

This stuff was a great bargain for a couple of years, but prices have gone up for the fast glass since m4/3 breathed new life into it. I now regret having sold the 24/1.4 and 85/1.2 when I did. Oh, well.

The 24/2.8 is supposed to be a very good lens, and fairly inexpensive. The 20/2.8 also used to be a steal, but I don't know now. The 28/2, 35/2 and 50/1.4 are great lenses for the money. The 50/3.5 macro is really sharp, and if you can find a 100/2, that's a great one. For macro lenses, BTW, the Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 is a classic.

Ari

 

[dogberryjr]

If you like strange lens behavior, find a Vivitar 28mm f2 Close Focus with a serial number starting with 28. For a more usable WA lens, though, I'd go with the 17mm or the 24mm f2, though it can be a bit difficult to find. There is also a stunningly compact 100mm f2.8 if you want to stand back a bit.

 

[raid]

I have been using Canon FD cameras and lenses for about 27 years now. My favorite cameras are the F1N and the T90. The lenses are wonderful.

I love these: 85mm/1.2L, 50mm/1.2L, 80mm-200mm/4L, 28mm-50mm/3.5 SSC.

The 35/2.8TS cost me (new) about $550 from B&H. It still looks like new.

 

[kuzano]

Komine (Vivitar Series 1)

Komine (Vivitar Series 1)

If you like strange lens behavior, find a Vivitar 28mm f2 Close Focus with a serial number starting with 28. For a more usable WA lens, though, I'd go with the 17mm or the 24mm f2, though it can be a bit difficult to find. There is also a stunningly compact 100mm f2.8 if you want to stand back a bit.

Lenses made for Vivitar by Komine (those with 28 beginning serial number) had the best optical characteristics of the many mfrs who supplied lenses to Vivitar. I always look for the Komine versions on vivitars. They can match or exceed some OEM glass.

 

[amateriat]

Oh, those FDs! My first "proper" camera system (early F-1, EF, 24 f.2,8, 50 f/1.8 [later f/1.4], 100 f/2.8, 135 f/2.5 [vastly underrated, IMO], 200 f/2.8. Used a lot in my train-chasing project days, and one shot got published and paid for the lens, and then some, in one shot:

Turboliner on the Hudson, 1978

(Technical: Canon F-1, FD 24mm f/2.8 S.S.C., Kodachrome 64)


- Barrett

 

[Mephiloco]

I have a Canon T90, which I've been neglecting lately that I cannot bring myself to sell. I sold of all the lenses except for the 35/2.8 and was planning on getting a 35/2 but never got around to it upon getting my M and subsequent lenses.

In my opinion if you're going to get a film SLR system the FD system is perhaps the best. The t90 in particular has all the features you could want (although it is very loud) and is built like a tank. I have no doubts that it will outlast my M unless some electronics burn out somehow or the shutter gets the dreaded EEE error.

I've toyed with the idea of buying a ae-1 program again or an a1 (since it's nicer looking) as they're both metered and relatively small, and the lenses are very cheap. Even the 50/1.8's are great performers. I had no problems with my 28/2.8 either, but for some reason liked the 35/2.8 better.

As pointed out, the 55/1.2 is a real gem of a lens, as are a few of the other 'radioactive' lenses. If I could merit sinking more than $100 into a FD lens, they'd be on the top of my list.

 

[gb hill]

Though not a prime the Canon 35-70 3.5-4.5 macro is very lightweight as well as dirt cheap fd lens. Very good lens. I use this Canon FD Lens test sheet I found online a couple of years ago that might be of a help to you.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070626170411/http://www.members.aol.com/canonfdlenstests/default.htm

 

[dogberryjr]

Lenses made for Vivitar by Komine (those with 28 beginning serial number) had the best optical characteristics of the many mfrs who supplied lenses to Vivitar. I always look for the Komine versions on vivitars. They can match or exceed some OEM glass.

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest that I didn't like the lens, in fact it was a pleasant surprise find. It's just that it has some, uh, unique characteristics.

 

[David Murphy]

Love this shot and its classic heritage (trains, Kodachrome, Canon FD, etc.)

Oh, those FDs! My first "proper" camera system (early F-1, EF, 24 f.2,8, 50 f/1.8 [later f/1.4], 100 f/2.8, 135 f/2.5 [vastly underrated, IMO], 200 f/2.8. Used a lot in my train-chasing project days, and one shot got published and paid for the lens, and then some, in one shot:

Turboliner on the Hudson, 1978

(Technical: Canon F-1, FD 24mm f/2.8 S.S.C., Kodachrome 64)


- Barrett

 

[payasam]

I used the FD 100/2.8 for decades. Not so fast, but handy and sharp.

 

[Frontman]

When I was young, I was always fascinated by the Canon F1 camera, but I never could afford to buy one. Last year I was looking around the local junk shop, and I found a very clean Canon F1n camera with a 50/1.4 lens attached to it. To my surprise, the battery was good (the old Varta batteries can still be found here in Asia), and the meter functioned perfectly. Unfortunately, the 50/1.4 had a bit of fungus on it, so I decided to go out and shop for some better lenses.

Canon stuff is common and popular here in Japan, and used camera shops always have a huge selection of inexpensive stuff to choose from. The first lens I bought was the 24/2.8, which I found to be a wonderful lens. Wide as it was, I wanted something wider, so I bought a 20/2.8 as well. This is one of my favorite lenses now, and it's always in the bag with my F1. Rather than get another 50mm lens, I found a good deal on a 55/1.2L SSC lens. The next lens I found was the old 35/2 concave model, and so far this has proven to be my favorite of the bunch. It's a chrome-nose model, which comes with the thorium glass, and there is a noticeably warm tint when I look through the viewfinder while using it. But it is very sharp, and is the perfect all-around focal length for my type of photography.

The only downside to FD gear is it's size and weight, and this is one of the reasons I usually carry Olympus OM gear. The OM 55/1.2 is quite a bit smaller and lighter than the FD lens of the same specs, and the Olympus 35/2 seems to be nearly half the weight and size of it's FD counterpart. But I hate to let gear sit unused, so I still take out the FD kit from time to time and run a roll or two of film through it, the most recent time being last weekend. The results were as wonderful as always.

 

[bmattock]

Yeah, the FD kit always weighs a ton. My Pentax stuff is likewise heavy, but much lighter by comparison. But there is something very comforting to me to have my FX with me. Feels reliable somehow. I also like my ultra-light Cosina-made plastic-fantastic T60, but for different reasons.

 

[newspaperguy]

I too have had good experiences with Canon FD.
Used the F-1 and a T-90 on the job.
A T-70 I bought many moons ago as a back up
is still doing duty as my wife's real estate tool.

 

[Krosya]

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest that I didn't like the lens, in fact it was a pleasant surprise find. It's just that it has some, uh, unique characteristics.

I actually like the way it draws - very cool lens that 28/2 Vivitar Close focus.

 

[kuzano]

Canon T90 for me....

Canon T90 for me....

Used the EF and A1 for some time, but the Canon T90 is the last MF Canon body to use the FD lenses. Being the predecessor to the EOS, it has some advanced metering modes, Exposure shift and compensation.

I still have one nice T90 left and will keep, along with a selection of lenses. There is a fellow who is a Canon tech and posts repairs for the EEE error on the lens shutter, plus he can install a proper PC sync port on the outside of the body below the lens. Lots of good feedback. While he's still out there, I am going to send my T90 to him for service and update.

Frankly, I would not buy another T90 without factoring in the $100 service from this fellow. I've seen a couple with the EEE error and would consider the camera an absolute winner without this potential flaw.

 

[wlewisiii]

35/2 S.S.C.
50/1.4 S.S.C. (finest 50 I've ever used from any mfg on any camera)
85/1.8 S.S.C.

I always prefered these over the L lenses - they are better but they also still get mega-bucks on the price tag. These are better bang/buck to my mind. I shouldn't have sold mine as now I have to find them again for my newly CLA'd FTbN... :bang:

(Heh, just realized this was an old thread. Still fun)

William

 

[not_in_good_order]

I have an AT-1 with a 50 1.8 that was given to me after the original owner passed away. The AT-1 is a budget model and has few features, but the meter is accurate and the 50 1.8 is a fine performing lens. Unfortunately, the seals have to be replaced, so it doesn't get much use, but I intend to replace the seals at some point in the future. I like keeping an FD body around in case I ever run across a good deal on a 35mm tilt shift.

 

[Krosya]

Funny how we all like same yet different things. I like FD system. Yet I just recently sold my T90 with 50/1.4 SSC. they were both good pieces of gear, but for some reason I prefer and kept A-1 ith Canon 50/1.8, and Vivitars 28/2 and 28/2.8 both close focusing - AWSOME LENSES and a very good, IMO, Vivitar 70-150/3.8. For some reason I prefer Vivitars in most cases to Canon's own ones. Go figure....😉