danny dale
Well-known member
I see several Canon FD lenses on eBay and was wondering how much of a difference the SSC versions will have verses the regular FD's?
are Canon FD SSC lenses way better that regular FD's?
- Thread starter danny dale
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commanderspike
Carbonite Member
The way I believe it to be is that the SSC is better than an OLD none-SSC lens but the newer FD lenses (i.e. the lighter ones with a slightly different mount, not the silver metal one) have the SSC coating anyway.
It's basically just a coating to stop lens flair and improve contrast.
It's basically just a coating to stop lens flair and improve contrast.
danny dale
Well-known member
thanks for that... I checked out your Vimeo page - did you ever get a Canon FD 50mm 1.4?
commanderspike
Carbonite Member
Yes, very happy with the Canon FD F1.4 for the money.
Mine is a newer version. Made in 1990. It's the same as the SSC versions from the 70's I believe, but black plastic casing with green numbering and no silver mount ring, and it's lighter.
I actually prefer the old FD lenses for build quality and the mount has some advantages over the newer FD ND mount, but image quality is the same.
Mine is a newer version. Made in 1990. It's the same as the SSC versions from the 70's I believe, but black plastic casing with green numbering and no silver mount ring, and it's lighter.
I actually prefer the old FD lenses for build quality and the mount has some advantages over the newer FD ND mount, but image quality is the same.
danny dale
Well-known member
will all these older and newer FD's work with the adapters selling on eBay? I ask because some of the older FD's say breech-lock mount and the others say bayonet mount...
danny dale
Well-known member
well I just pulled the trigger and got one of the older ones off eBay - a Canon FD 50mm F1.4 chrome nose with the breech-lock mount. I was reading up on these lenses and came across this info on Wikipedia about the coatings:
"The earliest breech-lock Canon FD lenses (1971-1973) are recognizable by chrome (silver) bayonet-ring at the front (this ring is used to mount appropriate bayonet-type hood). In these 'chrome nose' lenses, Canon used two new proprietary lens coatings, designated "S.C" (Spectra Coating) and "S.S.C." (Super Spectra Coating). These were both multi-coatings, but indicated two quality grades. In the chrome nose series, only the large-aperture 50mm f/1.4 and the 55mm f/1.2 (regular and 'AL'-type) lenses used S.S.C. coating.
The second series of breechlock FD lenses (1973-1979) lenses is inscribed "S.C." or "S.S.C." in red on the front of the lens mount. S.S.C. coating was extended to most lenses in this series. The basic S.C. coating was, for the most part, limited to the more inexpensive consumer lenses.
In 1978, with the introduction of the 'New FD' or 'FDn' series, the coating type was no longer specified on the lens front. All these lenses received S.S.C coating (with the exception of the 50mm f/1.8 lens)"
According to that info the lens I bought has the SSC coating - I hope that's accurate because I based my purchase on it.
"The earliest breech-lock Canon FD lenses (1971-1973) are recognizable by chrome (silver) bayonet-ring at the front (this ring is used to mount appropriate bayonet-type hood). In these 'chrome nose' lenses, Canon used two new proprietary lens coatings, designated "S.C" (Spectra Coating) and "S.S.C." (Super Spectra Coating). These were both multi-coatings, but indicated two quality grades. In the chrome nose series, only the large-aperture 50mm f/1.4 and the 55mm f/1.2 (regular and 'AL'-type) lenses used S.S.C. coating.
The second series of breechlock FD lenses (1973-1979) lenses is inscribed "S.C." or "S.S.C." in red on the front of the lens mount. S.S.C. coating was extended to most lenses in this series. The basic S.C. coating was, for the most part, limited to the more inexpensive consumer lenses.
In 1978, with the introduction of the 'New FD' or 'FDn' series, the coating type was no longer specified on the lens front. All these lenses received S.S.C coating (with the exception of the 50mm f/1.8 lens)"
According to that info the lens I bought has the SSC coating - I hope that's accurate because I based my purchase on it.
commanderspike
Carbonite Member
Yes that's accurate.
The newer 80's / 90's FDn lenses are all S.S.C, it just doesn't say so on the front of the lens.
The older 70's FD lenses won't have S.S.C coating if it isn't specified on the lens in red letters.
The newer 80's / 90's FDn lenses are all S.S.C, it just doesn't say so on the front of the lens.
The older 70's FD lenses won't have S.S.C coating if it isn't specified on the lens in red letters.
danny dale
Well-known member
cool... I will sleep better tonight :thumbsup:
Now I just have to get an adapter from Ceicio7...
Now I just have to get an adapter from Ceicio7...
J Davis
Veteran
I'm in currently running a few tests between four fairly cheap 50mm lenses
Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC
Canon FD 50mm f1.2
Nikon AI 50mm f1.4
Nikon AIS 50mm f1.2
and I can tell you now the Canon FD SSC 1.4 blows the crap out of the faster and more expensive Canon FD 50mm f1.2
not compared nikons yet.
Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC
Canon FD 50mm f1.2
Nikon AI 50mm f1.4
Nikon AIS 50mm f1.2
and I can tell you now the Canon FD SSC 1.4 blows the crap out of the faster and more expensive Canon FD 50mm f1.2
not compared nikons yet.
danny dale
Well-known member
very cool... let us know when you compare it to the Nikons.
Good to know. A little while back got the Canon 50mm 1.4 SSC and 85mm 1.8 SSC in 'as new' condition. Very reasonable prices. Not a flaw and am stunned by the footage. I just need to find a wide angle. Best I have right now is a 24mm. Not great.
danny dale
Well-known member
is that the FD 24 F2.8? I'm looking at one of those as well... also looking for some feedback on the FD 28mm F2.8 & the FD 35mm F2.
does anybody know if the FL lenses will work with the FD adapters?
lastly, anybody got info on the FL 35mm F2.5?
24mm f2.8 is alright as a starter lens, but the 24mm f2 is much better. Had an f2.8 for about a year then sold it and got an f2. Hard to judge sharpness on a wide angle but I'd dare say the f2 is sharper.
The 35mm f2 isn't a bad lens, it's reasonably sharp, but it's not exemplary like the 85mm f1.2.
These two grabs were from a 35mm f2 at f4. Canon A1, Letus EX.
The 35mm f2 isn't a bad lens, it's reasonably sharp, but it's not exemplary like the 85mm f1.2.
These two grabs were from a 35mm f2 at f4. Canon A1, Letus EX.
J Davis
Veteran
Hey guys I was wrong. In my earlier post I wrote
This was based on some tests in central park today at the end of a rehearsal with an actress I'm working with. Shooting 1080p at f2 the canon 50/1.2 had a stop less of light than the canon 50/1.4. Turns out this is because the locking mechanism on my canon FD 50 f1.2 is a littled jammed and unless its forced the aperture doesn't open up properly. Now that I am home I can see how its snaps fully into place.
I just finished repeating the tests between the two lenses, similar light level but tungsten not daylight, still life not an actress.
At f2 there is very little difference in the sharpness, brightness and bokeh between the two lenses.
EDIT:- I'l post all my stuff in this thread later
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=179874