Canon FL 58/1.2 - a new found love

[Krosya]

A while back I picked up a Canon FL mount 58/1.2. Sort of stuck it in a bag and just finally decided to try it out last weekend. So far - I'm loving it -very nice vintage SLR glass IMO:

 

[Krosya]

 

[Keith]

Wow ... OOF areas are 'out there!'

 

[Krosya]

 

[menos]

I love metal workshop shots Krosya! Post more ;-)

The lens looks nice - can you point me on some history of it?
I just found a Nikon 58 1.2 and love it to death.
Is there a connection to the 58 Canon lens historically or technically?

 

[peterm1]

I have a soft spot for the Canon FL mount lenses which were much less "plasticy" than the later FD mount ones. I love their metal solidness and the excellent optical quality (for their era). Very like the early Nikkors in some ways - in build quality I mean. The one problem is that unless you own a micro 4/3 camera they are well nigh impossible to use these lenses on any other digital so far as I am aware due to their relatively short register distance. I also own a 58mm f1.2 and pretty much like Kroszya put it away without using it. They also made a 55mm f 1.2 and one of thesse two is reputed to be somewhat better but off hand without looking it up, I cannot recall which is the better one. I also have several other FL mount lenses of this era including a comparatively rare (well, less common anyway) 85mm f1.8 FL mount. I really must get out one of my early Canon bodies and use the darned things as they are very nice. I must say that if these were more widely compatible with digital cameras I would have an even larger collection.

Link to Canon FL lenses on the MIR site

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fllenses/index.htm

 

[Kombrig]

Be careful.
There are a significant number of lenses produced from the 1940s through the 1970s that are measurably radioactive. Main source of radioactivity is the use of thorium oxide (up to 30% by weight) as a component of the glass used in the lens elements. Thorium oxide has a crystalline structural similar to calcium fluoride (fluorite). Like fluorite, its optical properties of high refractivity and low dispersion allows lens designers to minimize chromatic aberration and utilize lenses of lower curvature, which are less expensive to produce. Contrary to often seen statements to the otherwise, lenses containing lanthanum are not appreciably radioactive - lanthanum is only 1/10,000th as radioactive as thorium. Radioactivity in lanthanum containing lenses is due to the intentional inclusion of thorium in the optical glass mix. The presence of thorium can sometimes, depending on the mixture of other elements in the lens, cause moderate to severe browning of the lens element(s)

Lenses Reported Elsewhere As Radioactive

• Canon FL 58mm f/1.2
• Canon FD 35mm f/2.0 (versions from the early 1970's)
• GAF Anscomatic 38mm f/2.8 (GAF Anscomatic 726 camera)
• Kodak Aero-Ektars (various models)
• Kodak Ektanon 50mm f/3.9 (Kodak Bantam RF camera)
• Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 (early variant with thorium glass elements)
• SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (Asahi Optical Co.)
• Super Takumar 6x7 105mm f2.4 (Asahi Optical Co.)
• Yashinon-DS 50mm f1.7 (Yashica)

Here is the source of information
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_lenses

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Thorium is used in the inner elements of the Canon 58/1.2. It is an Alpha emitter, which are easily blocked.

If you open it up for cleaning do not ingest any of the glass. I would not polish an inner surface.

 

[Krosya]

I used mine with Canon A-1 camera in manual mode. Didnt realize that this lens may be radioactive. But I really like it's signature for some reason. I tried to shoot it wide open when I could, but it was a very bright day, so it didnt really work at all times. Wide open I't hard to focus precise. Stopped down it's very sharp. In some ways it reminds me of Canon 50/1.2 LTM I used to have and sold when I got the M-Hexanon 50/1.2. I think it'll be a keeper for me (unless I find a better superfast lens for my FD system). A couple more pics (not sure if I had some old film or they botched it in developing at the Wal-Mart, but all pics seem to have red tint. I suppose I could have fixed it in PS, but I was too lazy. 😉 ):

 

[Krosya]

Here is a wide open one - I missed the focus, but still like the look of it:

 

[andredossantos]

Nice, Krosya.

I have the 55mm f/1.2 FL and love it to bits.


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr

 

[Rogrund]

This is really OT, but the left flag in the second picture in post #9 looks exactly like the flag of the President of the Republic of Finland... how odd is that!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Finland

 

[Mackinaw]

....If you open it up for cleaning do not ingest any of the glass.....

But thorium optical elements are pretty tasty when dipped in salsa.

Jim B.

 

[john_van_v]

Be careful.
There are a significant number of lenses produced from the 1940s through the 1970s that are measurably radioactive.

Jupiter-8 too, that's why the pictures are so psychedelic, especially on Superia, which has LSD as a ingredient.

 

[dc5]

Krosya,
Years ago, I used the FL 85 for indoor events. It is a fine lens, but
when I could I used the Canon FL 100 f 3.5. I still think it is the sharpest lens I have ever used, but over time it developed haze inside. Glad to
know you enjoyed the Cincy Ren Faire also.
Dave

 

[Krosya]

RenFest is fun - I try to go when I can.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Jupiter-8's do not use radioactive glass, not to worry.

Way back in Physics Lab, we did measurements of various radioactive materials, required to wear gloves and wash well after handling. Alpha particles are stopped easily, but the teacher warned if you ingested it- your stomach lining would be damaged. No snacks in Physics Lab. I mention this, there is a famous video of someone curing the yellow glass in a Takumar by hitting it with a sledge hammer. Let's hope he could hold his breath and washed down after doing the video.

 

[pagpow]

I have a soft spot for the Canon FL mount lenses which were much less "plasticy" than the later FD mount ones. I love their metal solidness and the excellent optical quality (for their era). Very like the early Nikkors in some ways - in build quality I mean.

Peter,

Are you referring to the later new FD lenses, after the change from breech lock to bayonet? When they made that mount change, they also lightened the lenses significantly. The old FD lenses, that came right after the FL, did not seem plasticky to me.

Giorgio

 

[peterm1]

Peter,

Are you referring to the later new FD lenses, after the change from breech lock to bayonet? When they made that mount change, they also lightened the lenses significantly. The old FD lenses, that came right after the FL, did not seem plasticky to me.

Giorgio

Yes that is quite true - I was forgetting that the earliest versions of the FD lenes in which they kept the metal breechlock arrangement were still very robust. It was the later FD lenses I was thinking of as "plasticky".

 

[filmtwit]

You can add the minolta Rokkor 58mm f1.2 to the list.

Be careful.
There are a significant number of lenses produced from the 1940s through the 1970s that are measurably radioactive. Main source of radioactivity is the use of thorium oxide (up to 30% by weight) as a component of the glass used in the lens elements. Thorium oxide has a crystalline structural similar to calcium fluoride (fluorite). Like fluorite, its optical properties of high refractivity and low dispersion allows lens designers to minimize chromatic aberration and utilize lenses of lower curvature, which are less expensive to produce. Contrary to often seen statements to the otherwise, lenses containing lanthanum are not appreciably radioactive - lanthanum is only 1/10,000th as radioactive as thorium. Radioactivity in lanthanum containing lenses is due to the intentional inclusion of thorium in the optical glass mix. The presence of thorium can sometimes, depending on the mixture of other elements in the lens, cause moderate to severe browning of the lens element(s)

Lenses Reported Elsewhere As Radioactive

• Canon FL 58mm f/1.2
• Canon FD 35mm f/2.0 (versions from the early 1970's)
• GAF Anscomatic 38mm f/2.8 (GAF Anscomatic 726 camera)
• Kodak Aero-Ektars (various models)
• Kodak Ektanon 50mm f/3.9 (Kodak Bantam RF camera)
• Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 (early variant with thorium glass elements)
• SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (Asahi Optical Co.)
• Super Takumar 6x7 105mm f2.4 (Asahi Optical Co.)
• Yashinon-DS 50mm f1.7 (Yashica)

Here is the source of information
http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_lenses