Canon FD: your thoughts?

[kuzano]

Originally Posted by 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.

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/200706261...ts/default.htm

[dogberryjr]

Originally Posted by kuzano

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.)

Originally Posted by 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

[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]

Originally Posted by dogberryjr

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]

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...

(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....

[drew.saunders]

I sold all my FD bodies (F-1 original, F-1N) and lenses (24/2.8, 35/2.8 engraved "US Navy," 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 100/4 Macro w/ tube, 300/5.6) a while ago in trade for a large format lens, which I don't regret. The best lens of the lot was the 100/4 macro with 50mm extension tube. I sent it all to Keh for one trade-in price, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 100 macro was at least half the value. I always got great results from the little 35/2.8, and found the "US Navy" factory engraving to be kind of an interesting touch. I got it new at a used price many years ago, I'm guessing either Canon made too many or the Navy ordered too many, but Brooklyn Camera Exchange got the extras and passed them on at a great price. I watched the Keh web page for a few days to see my old lenses come and go, and the macro never even made it to the web page.

For the curious, I got a Fuji 250/6.3 large format lens for all of that plus a little cash. Fuji's EBC coating is just amazing stuff.

[sahe69]

Bodies:

EF
A-1
F1N
T90

Lenses:

17/4
24/1.4 ASPH (or L)
35/2 - all versions are really good
55/1.2 ASPH (or L)
85/1.2 ASPH (or L)
100/2 FDn, a true gem
135/2
80-200/4L

The whole FD system is a real bargain today, most likely because the lenses can't be fitted on DSRLs in a sensible way.

The only downsides with the system are that
a) due to the very good prices it can become very addictive (!!!!GAS warning!!!!)
b) should you decide to let go of them it can take some time to sell, even if you have good prices.

Been there, done that. Twice. And considering to take the plunge 3rd time because I never owned all the three APSH primes mentioned above.

[Krosya]

Originally Posted by sahe69

Bodies:


The whole FD system is a real bargain today, most likely because the lenses can't be fitted on DSRLs in a sensible way.

:

I have a FD to EOS adapter that works well for all of my FD lenses. Works good on digital EOS as well as film ones.

[filmfan]

My dad has the AE-1 with the 58mm f/1.2 FL lens on it. It has been sitting in a drawer for 20-30 years...
I have toyed with the idea of getting a T90 (or just going for the 1n EOS...)
I have never heard of the F1n... I will check it out I guess.

[icebear]

filmfan,

as many wrote already FD lenses can be found at bargain prices and why go for EOS (i.e. autofocus film) ? I also had 2 T90's , started out with the AE-1. For concert photography I used 1.2/85L and 2.8/200, both great lenses... long time ago in evil SLR land.

[sahe69]

Originally Posted by Krosya

I have a FD to EOS adapter that works well for all of my FD lenses. Works good on digital EOS as well as film ones.

The general opinion is however that the optical element which is necessary in the FD-EOS adapters adversely impacts the image quality. Unless you have the original Canon-made FD-EOS adapter which are ultra-rare and priced accordingly. That being said I never had a Canon DSLR so never tried it out myself - just relied on other's reviews.

I'm shooting myself nowadays with a Nikon DSLR and am so far happy with the Nikon offering. However at times I wake up at night sweaty and screaming "Aspherical FD!!!"

[dogberryjr]

Not to suggest that I'm addicted to FD or anything, but here's a list off the top of my head, and not counting duplicates: Bodies- T70 (my first camera), AE1, AE1 Program, A1, F1N; Lenses- 50mm 1.4, 1.8, 3.5; 55mm 1.2 AL (the original ASPH), 85mm 1.2L, 28mm 2.8, 2.0, 2.0 CF; 35mm T/S, 2.0, 17mm 4.0; 24mm 2.8, 2.0; 100mm 2.8, 135mm 2.5, 70-210 f4, 80-200 L . . . and more.

Yeah, I'm a fan.

[Fujitsu]

Originally Posted by mabelsound

What are your favorite Canon manual focus SLRs and lenses?

Canon FT with FL lenses (will create a beautiful "retro" look) or the F1 (first generation) / FTb with early FD series lenses.

Absolutely great stuff.

Im less a fan of the late FD stuff with electronic cameras. Even though my AE-1 is still working perfectly and has NEVER seen service or care. Take that Leica M!

[spyder2000]

There quite a few FD bargains out there to be sure. One of them is generally not the BW-52C lens hood for the New FD 24 f/2 lens. I still have and use an F1n, a 'new' F1, and an A-1. The A-1 was an impulse buy because I couldn't afford one when they were new. I so wanted to be hexaphotocybernetic.

The F1's are as smooth as silk. The A-1 feels like an "A" series camera in comparison.

[dogberryjr]

No connection to the seller.

There is an 85mm f1.2 L for sale for $300 in the Cincinnati Craigslist. Unless it's incredibly beat, this is a steal. http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pho/1794697053.html