Canon FD: Popularity of SLR systems here

[Brian Legge]

My parents purchased an A1 shortly before I was born. It was always around and was the first camera I used. When I left home and moved to Washington, my girlfriend picked up an AE1 for me. I grew up on the system.

When I eventually went digital, I switched to Nikon as the D70s was too good a match (and too cheap used) to ignore.

Returning to film, I wanted to share lenses with both my digital body and film bodies so I picked up a F4s as a manual focus/serious camera and an FG as an attempt at a cheap aperture priority/manual street camera. The lens compatibility is what kept me running with Nikon.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

"My parents purchased an A1 shortly before I was born."

Man, don't say that. Nobody is that young! 😉

 

[HuubL]

Don't tell me they're ugly....

The F-1n, black AE-1, and T90 are missing in this family portrait. I got to make a new one..

 

[kermaier]

I think there isn't much chatter about the FD line because the lens mount is orphaned. Many folks here use vintage lenses on both vintage and modern bodies, and Canon stands out as having made FD infeasible thus, until m43 arrived. I didn't see that coming, an sold off most of my best FD glass, because I just wasn't shooting 35mm film anymore.

My first real camera, at age 15, was an AE-1P, with FDn 50/1.8 and a Vivitar 70-210/4 zoom. My first outing with that kit was on a family trip to Yosemite. (Oh, the delightful cliche of it all!)

I puttered around with that same kit for the next 20 years, not seriously involved with photography, but still enjoying it. Then my gear was stolen on a trip to France, and I became the Charles Bronson of GAS. I was determined that rebuilding my kit - 100-fold - would be the best revenge! I immersed myself in photography and gear-headedness with a vengeance. At it's peak (or nadir, as my wife would have it), my kit included:

A-1, power winder A2
F-1N (x3), power winder FN, motor drive FN
24/1.4 L
28/2
35/2
50/1.8
50/1.4
50/1.4 SSC
50/1.2 L
85/1.8
85/1.2 L
135/2.8
135/2
200/2.8
35-105/3.5

Most of the glass is sold now, but I still have the bodies and a few wide and normal primes. Great, great equipment.

Ari

 

[Water Ouzel]

I started using FD kit around 1971, and sold it off in 2004 to go digital (Olympus 4:3).

F1, FTb👎, F1n (2) and a T90. 50/100/200mm FD macros, 24/2.8, 50/1.4, 300/4L FD primes, and a 70-210/4 macro FD for most of the time. Lots of bugs and weeds shooting.

Served me well for a long time, paid the bills for a while, too.

 

[crawdiddy]

Browsing the threads at rff a lot of users seem biased towards either Olympus or Nikon SLRs. Why is it that Canon FD is quite unpopular in comparison?

I have an AE1 sitting right in front of me next to a M6. The Canon is very compact, feels right, has a bright finder and operates smoothly after all these years without seeing service once (!). The FD 50/1.8 turns just as nice as the Summicron 50.

Im particularly impressed by Canons "new" FD series of lenses, which are smaller and lighter compared to older FD (breech lock) types and comparable Nikkor AIS lenses. Most importantly they still work super smooth, no matter how much plastic seem to be involved. I had a hard time recently trying to build a Minolta SRT System because virtually all MC lenses I could gather were mechanically impaired in some way. Very disappointing.

I also used Nikkor AIS and Minolta OM gear in the past but never felt as "home" with them.

And I find it funny that I could buy around ten to twenty AE-1s + 50/1.8 combos for the price of one Leica M6 + Summicron. 😱

So what do you say about Canon FD?

First of all-- I love your avatar.

Second-- I too am a big fan of Canon FD. My first serious camera (given to me by my girlfriend) was an AE-1P. Still have it. I have also acquired a couple of F1-n's. My FD glass includes a 55mm f1.2, 35mm TS, 15mm fisheye, and a Tamron 300mm f2.8 (ok, that's not FD glass, but nice nevertheless).

I didn't abandon FD, even though Canon did. I was pissed off when I realized that, if I had collected Nikon lenses, I could have mounted them on DSLR bodies. I was tempted to switch, but daunted by the many exchanges required to pull it off, and the disappointment and loss of dollars.

And it worked out, because I decided I didn't want a DSLR anyway.

The lenses hold up very well. Whether breech or bayonet, I've had no issues with any of them, except for a 50mm f3.5 FD macro that I dropped on a hard surface (but I purchased a replacement FL version from Peter Kitchingman that works great).

There seems to be a lot of love for Canon Rangefinder bodies and lenses here. FD and SLRs don't get the same respect, at least not universally. Anyway, I'm a fan. I keep hoping to pick up bargain "L" lenses, but no such luck yet.

 

[kossi008]

My very first camera was an AT-1 and it is still in my possession and working. I've had it overhauled and it's like new now. I did tone down on the ridiculous amount of lenses I had for it, keeping only the 28/2, 50/1.4, 100/2.8 and 200/4 FDn ...

I also have an Ftb-QL with a breech-lock 50/1.8. That thing is *sharp* wide open. I'm never letting go of that one...

I'm just never mentioned this 'cause this is an RF forum after all, so I thought it didn't much matter what kind of evil SLR I'm using...

 

[3 Olives]

My 15 yr. old son "borrowed" my A1 two years ago. He now has a second A1, an F1, and six FD lenses. We hope to someday find a fisheye lens or super wide angle at a good price. I have no complaints as he has gotten a lot of use out of them. In fact, I just finished putting in orders to Sprint Photography and Freestyle.

 

[johannielscom]

That FTb sure looks nice, Huub!

Can anybody tell me whether a 55mm FL lens would fit a Canon FTb?

Is there any thread or site that explains the compatibility of all these Canon mounts regarding cross-use from one lens on another camera?

 

[dogberryjr]

That FTb sure looks nice, Huub!

Can anybody tell me whether a 55mm FL lens would fit a Canon FTb?

Is there any thread or site that explains the compatibility of all these Canon mounts regarding cross-use from one lens on another camera?

The 55mm FL would be fine on the FTb. There were only a couple off odd duck FLs that have mounting issues and that is because of rear intrusion. As far as cross use, FL=FD=FDn.

 

[raid]

I use Canon Adapter B for mounting Canon FL and FD lenses on Leica and Canon RF cameras. The 19cm 3.5 is a great lens.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

The 55 1.2 FL works GREAT on an FTB. Here's mine.

 

[mfunnell]

What happens when you cross karma with GAS? I wrote, in this thread:

[...]I picked up an F-1N in near-mint condition for a very nice price. [...] But just after that I had to go to Melbourne for work - and an unfamiliar and incomplete system didn't come with me. Once I go home I'll pick up at least a couple of FD lenses (say, a 35mm or 50mm and something wider) and see what I think. It is a very nice and solid camera and may suit me well.

And immediately some nice FD lenses pop up in the RFF classifieds. I couldn't really resist, now could I? :angel:

These forums are dangerous 😱

...Mike

 

[3 Olives]

What happens when you cross karma with GAS? I wrote, in this thread: And immediately some nice FD lenses pop up in the RFF classifieds. I couldn't really resist, now could I? :angel:

These forums are dangerous 😱

...Mike

I hope some more pop up! 🙂

 

[pagpow]

Browsing the threads at rff a lot of users seem biased towards either Olympus or Nikon SLRs. Why is it that Canon FD is quite unpopular in comparison?

I have an AE1 sitting right in front of me next to a M6. The Canon is very compact, feels right, has a bright finder and operates smoothly after all these years without seeing service once (!). The FD 50/1.8 turns just as nice as the Summicron 50.

Im particularly impressed by Canons "new" FD series of lenses, which are smaller and lighter compared to older FD (breech lock) types and comparable Nikkor AIS lenses. Most importantly they still work super smooth, no matter how much plastic seem to be involved. I had a hard time recently trying to build a Minolta SRT System because virtually all MC lenses I could gather were mechanically impaired in some way. Very disappointing.

I also used Nikkor AIS and Minolta OM gear in the past but never felt as "home" with them.

And I find it funny that I could buy around ten to twenty AE-1s + 50/1.8 combos for the price of one Leica M6 + Summicron. 😱

So what do you say about Canon FD?

Great thread you started, fujitsu. I had wondered myself -- thought maybe there wasn't much Canon bragging because Canonistas were comfortable and secure, had no need to brag, and didn't want to drive prices up.😎

Was I wrong?

I started on a Canon FTb in '71, sold to me by a salesman who swung it open slamming it onto a counter to show how strong it was. Went on to the F1. It had the advantage of having the meter in the body, rather than in an attacheable finder, a la Nikon then. Finally, control dials rotated in same direction as the Leica, making for easier transitions, which is why I then bought Leica.

F1 was easy on the eyes and I liked the primes a lot.

 

[Steve M.]

I think that people like the Olympus cameras because they're small, like the rangefinder cameras. The Nikons are liked (just guessing here) because they made a lot of great cameras that have tons of pro features. Having a shutter speed of 1/4000 or 1/8000 is a good thing if you shoot 400 ISO film and want to shoot wide open in blazing sun. A lot of the Nikons are considered classics because, unlike Canon, they didn't change their lens mounts and can use some of the great old glass on the newer bodies.

I have fond memories of my first real camera, an AE-1 w/ a 50 1.8 FD lens. The camera was a blast to shoot and took very nice photos. But the image quality of FD glass (or Nikon, Pentax, etc) is not the same as Leica R, which is why I went to that system and never looked back in the SLR format.

 

[wlewisiii]

The first camera I bough was an AE-1 from the PX while stationed in Germany. I've always preferred FD's for my SLRs since then. I've tried a bunch of other things, Oly's, Canon EF, etc but I always come back to the FD instead.

Last winter I bought a really nice black FTbN for $40 and then dropped $170 on a CLA & meter adjustment for it. Now it's good for another 40 years 🙂

William

 

[andredossantos]

The 55 1.2 FL works GREAT on an FTB. Here's mine.

The FTb was my first camera, given to me by my father and I was out shooting with the 55mm FL 1.2 today as a matter of fact. It is, simply put, a superb lens. I am usually amazed when I get back a roll of film and see what it can do in low lght.

I have a metric crapload of FD gear, given to me by some family members who have gone digital. Their loss is my gain 🙂 I have an FT, and F1, and an AE-1P and I had and sold an A1. My favorite is the FT followed by the F1. Just love the "old" style, heavy, mechanical machine.

Aside from the 55mm FL I have the FL 50mm f2.8 Macro and the rest all FD: 20mm f2.8, 28mm f2, 50mm f1.4 and two 50mm f1.8's, 100 f2.8, a Makinon 135mm f2.8 which is surprisingly good, and a 70mm-200mm f4 zoom macro. I may even have some more.

I also love using the WLF on the F1. Actually, my F1 needs a cla and i'd love to have it changed over to be able to use modern batteries. Anyone know if this is possible?

Here's some photos made with FD gear:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&w=9286123@N04&q=Canon+-5d+-canon5dmkii+-digital+-EF+-mkii&m=text

 

[andredossantos]

55mm 1.2 FL, wide open

 

[lmd91343]

That FTb sure looks nice, Huub!

Can anybody tell me whether a 55mm FL lens would fit a Canon FTb?

Is there any thread or site that explains the compatibility of all these Canon mounts regarding cross-use from one lens on another camera?

the 55/1.2 FL will work fine. One of the 19mm (there were two) lenses and the 58/1.2 will have problems with mirror clearance on some FD bodies. That 19mm requires mirror lock-up. The 58/1.2 FL is one of the two Canon Thorium lenses. The other is the 35/2.0 FD concave. That 35mm is an extraordinary lens. I just sold that also.

I've sold off many of my Canon FD and FL lenses including the 85/1.8 FL. Selling that 85 was a terrible mistake. I liked it much better than my 85/1.8 FDn.

The stuff I still have:
17/4 FD
19/3.8 vivitar (used on my RF with the "B" converter)
24/2.0 FDn
28/2.0 FD
35/2.0 FDn
50/1.2 FDn
50/1.4 FD chrome nose (I bought it in '71)
50/1.8 FD x2
50/3.5 FD macro
55/1.2 FD chrome nose
55/1.2 FD ASPH
85/1.2 FDn L
85/1.8 FDn
100/2.8 FD
100/3.5 FD macro
135/2.0 FDn
200/2.8 FD
300/4.0 FD
300/5.6 FD
400/4.5 FD

19-35 S1 vivitar "plastic fantastic"
24-35 FD ASPHERICAL
28-200 Tokina
28-85/4 FDn
35-85/2.8 S1 vivitar
35-105/3.5 FDn
80-200/2.8 Tokina ATX SD
90-180 flat field S1 vivitar
100-300 FDn L
100-300/4 Tokina ATX SD

FTb (I bought it in '71 and the shutter speeds are still dead on after hundreds and hundreds of rolls of film)
F1n with all the "L" screens and a speed finder & winder
F1 New AE X3 with a speed finder and all the spot screens
T90 X2

The stuff I have left is just too terrific to part with. I've already sold three cameras and more than a dozen lenses.