Canon FD Lenses on an F3

W

WestView Digital

Active member
My F3 is on its way to me and I have a handful of old Canon FD-mount lenses. A 19mm wide, couple of mid-size primes, a zoom that I think goes up to 300mm. Some are decent, some are the ones I could afford in college too many years ago to think about.

Before I get an FD adapter, does anyone have any experience putting FD lenses on an F3?

Part of it would surely be just for fun since I got the kit version with the primes.

Just wondered if anyone has opinions on brand of adapter and if you have any advice.

I also have a couple of EF lenses for my T2i and could expand my selection of those but EF lenses cost so much more and have the aperture issue.

Or I could forget about my 20 year old FDs and start building a kit around Nikon mount. Nikons seem much more prevalent in the second-hand market. Is there any conventional wisdom around canon vs Nikon for this type of application?

I would love to start building a kit around PL but that's just not going to happen anytime soon.

Thanks!
 
I've got a set of Nikon AIS lenses for my F3 (and use the Adaptimax adapter), and I love them. And I can't speak highly enough about the Adaptimax.
 
I bought the MTF adaptor so I could have a play with old FD lenses on my F3 and was pleasantly surprised by how good they looked. My 70-210mm f/4 even tracks like a real parfocal. To use seriously I'd think of getting the apertures "de-clicked" but it's still worth a look when budgets are tight, (or until your Anenieux Optimo's get delivered)!


However, if I'd had Nikon lenses lying around I'd have gone with the Adaptimax Nikon mount instead. There's a better range of glass available and they seem more suited to the F3.
 
I had the Adaptamax Canon mount for the newer lenses not the FD. I didn't like it as I found some wide lenses would not focus so I got rid of it.

Since I also had numerous Nikkor lenses I bought the Adaptamax Nikkor mount which worked great.

Then I got in on the group buy for the Optitek ProLock Nikon mount. Althought it's more expensive it has a lot going for it. It's very well made, has a PL style mounting system that locks the Nikon lens to the adaptor. Controls the aperture from the adaptor so there is no need to declick lenses and you can use the Nikkor G-lens. Well worth the cost.
cheers
Morton
 
sunny_j said:
will prime FD lenses cover a 5d mkii sensor?
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The image circle is large enough, yes (they were designed for 35mm still frames). The issue with adapting to EF is that the flange distance for FD is shorter than EF mount, meaning that to achieve infinity focus you would need to have an optical element. This is not ideal in terms of optical quality or light transmission.

There are adaptors that do not have optical elements, but are only useful at macro distances (you loose infinity focus)
 
I have used FD's on the f3 since I got it and love them together- the FD L series is great looking on the f3- probably my favorite slr lenses.I liked them so much- Recently I had my Fd L lenses converted to EF mount so I can use them on more cameras (dslr, c300, scarlet, epic)- now I don't have much need for my 2x fd f3 adapters- I was thinking of selling them if anyone is interested. (replaced them with dumb EF mounts)
 
what do u mean by FD L? never heard of L..... i know about EF l, but FD L hear it for the 1st time
 
anatusa said:
what do u mean by FD L? never heard of L..... i know about EF l, but FD L hear it for the 1st time
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FD refers to the mount. It is an older style and the new style mount is the EOS system. Since the FD mount is somewhat obsolete its often available for a lower price.

The L refers to their professional line of lenses. L lenses are the best glass and coatings whether they are FD or EOS. The L lenses have less flare and usually are their fastest. In addition the build is stonger and smoother, usually nearly all metal construction.
 
So a little help with the math and understanding field of view.

The FD adapters say they add a 1.5 magnification factor. Does that mean that if I have a 19mm wide angle, then that would be an equivalent field of view as a 28.5mm regular lens? and when I say regular lens, I'm talking about the 35/50/85 primes that come with the F3 kit.

In other words, if I had a Canon FD with an adapter lens that was 24mm, it would be basically the same as my 35 Sony prime.
 
WestView Digital said:
So a little help with the math and understanding field of view.

The FD adapters say they add a 1.5 magnification factor. Does that mean that if I have a 19mm wide angle, then that would be an equivalent field of view as a 28.5mm regular lens? and when I say regular lens, I'm talking about the 35/50/85 primes that come with the F3 kit.

In other words, if I had a Canon FD with an adapter lens that was 24mm, it would be basically the same as my 35 Sony prime.
Click to expand...

Are you looking at an FD to EF adaptor?
 
The 1.5x magnification factor (I prefer to call it crop factor) refers to the difference in sensor sizes between 35mm film (or full frame) and the S35 sized sensor in the PMW-F3. So in other words, the field of view from your 19mm FD wide angle will appear cropped on the F3, (to the equivalent of 28.5mm)... but only when compared to 35mm stills film or FF sensor. A lot of people who've only shot digital wonder why we still use 35mm film as the reference point, but it's more understandable when you think all these FD lenses were originally designed for film!

However, these FD adaptors don't change the focal length of the FD glass in any way. There are no optics involved in FD or EF adaptors for the F3. So, a 50mm FD lens on the F3 will have exactly the same field of view as the Sony 50mm prime. (Or to use your example, your 24mm FD lens will have a wider field of view than the Sony 35mm prime). A 50mm lens will always be a 50mm lens, no matter what camera you mount it on!

Hope that makes sense.
 
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Duke M. said:
FD refers to the mount. It is an older style and the new style mount is the EOS system. Since the FD mount is somewhat obsolete its often available for a lower price.

The L refers to their professional line of lenses. L lenses are the best glass and coatings whether they are FD or EOS. The L lenses have less flare and usually are their fastest. In addition the build is stonger and smoother, usually nearly all metal construction.
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that i understand but is there anyway to indicate these FD L lenses? for example EF L lenses have Red line around the lens.....

regards
 
The FD L lens line also has the thin red line around the front barrel of the lens. The red is carried over from the FD. You can buy them on ebay or keh.com. 50mm F1.2 and 85mm F1.2 FD's are L lenses. Too much for me.
 
JPM Photography said:
Are you looking at an FD to EF adaptor?
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I'm thinking of getting an FD adapter for my new F3. I've got a decent collection of old FD lenses from many years ago and I'm wondering if getting the FD adapter for my F3 is worth it or are will the field of views be basically the same. Now that I understand that the 1.5 crop factor is the same no matter the lens, being able to use my 19mm and my 300mm zoom sounds very appealing. Of course my 50mm is basically useless given the 50 that came with the camera.
 
Duke -- have you used the Nikkor f/1.2 with adapter, it is also 50mm and a manual lens? I was thinking it might be a nice addition.
 
lasikdenver said:
Duke -- have you used the Nikkor f/1.2 with adapter, it is also 50mm and a manual lens? I was thinking it might be a nice addition.
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I've got the 50mm f1.2 AIS, using it with the Adaptimax on the F3. It's a wicked lens, but I think the 85mm f1.4 is even better.
 
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