Canon FD question

taylormade

taylormade

Well-known member
I was thinking of getting a nice set of Canon FD lenses for use on the AF100, and still having the set to use if I upgrade to another camera in the future. But after reading about these particular lenses I notice that although they work great on a 4/3 Micro system with the correct adaptor, they will not work on other cameras. I quote from Wikipedia: "The 42mm flange focal distance of the FD mount is shorter than that of most other lens mounts. Although FD lenses can be mounted on most other types of camera with the appropriate adapter, the lenses cannot focus to infinity unless the adapter contains an optical correction element."

I've always been a Canon guy and have loads of Canon still lenses, but I don't want to waste time and money having a set of Canon primes cine-modded only to find they are useless on other large format cameras - i.e. a C300 or FS100. I guess I could go with Nikons, but the reverse focus ring has always put me off. I'd love to go with Zeiss ZF Lenses, but my budget can't carry the load. Any suggestions or advice?
 
i was in the same boat as you a year ago. i was thinking of getting some FD lenses but i found out about the flange issues with other cameras. i ultimately went with a tokina 11-16 2.8, nikon 35 f2D, nikon 50 1.4D & I'm happy. to be honest with you the reverse focus deal isn't that big of an issue for me & i have tons of canon L lenses too.
 
I bought a few Canon FD's and they work great on the AF101, the focus direction wasnt really an issue and tbh the FD lenses were as cheap as chips so I figured if I do change in the future I'll probably get what I paid for them via ebay.

Steve
 
It's the cost of the cine-mod that's killing me. If I'm going to spend a grand, I want something I can use down the road. Finally bit the bullet and ordered some Zeiss ZF glass.
 
taylormade said:
It's the cost of the cine-mod that's killing me.
Click to expand...

I have de-clicked my canon lens by myself. It's easy, you can find a lot of tutorials and video tutorials on the web, also on this forum

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...icking-Canon-FD-lens-to-get-stepless-aperture

After you add your preferred gear and you have your set of cheap gorgeous Canon FD cine lens, that you can sell in future as Cine modified lens

I'm very happy with my Canon FD set: 24mm f2,0, 35mm f2.0, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2, 100mm f2.8, 135mm f2.5, 200mm f2.8 and 300mm f5.6. They all are fast, optically perfect for the price of 1.500 USD all together and I'm sure that in future I could sell them for much more money, but I'll keep: I've paid a little price and they produce the identical mood of the photoes I shot 30 years ago and I'm a nostalgic

:-)

Regards

Gary
 
I couldn't be happier with my Canon FD's, especially after testing them against Leica R summicrons. More importantly for me, I need long lenses, 200mm and over, I can get those in Canon FD and they match my shorter focal lengths. I'm a little confused with the issue raised regarding flange-focal-length, Canon FDs can be adapted to just about everything except (ironically) Canon EF.
 
I went with 18,25,50 and 85. But all these Canon fans have me thinking. As usual, as soon as you think you've made a choice, everyone chimes in. :)

The biggest problem I've had in borrowed/rented lenses is the add on gears. This is why I wanted to cine-mod anything I was going to put together. If I can de-click them myself, maybe i can save some money. Does anyone have a recomendation on good, non-binding add on gears that actually work?
 
taylormade said:
I went with 18,25,50 and 85. But all these Canon fans have me thinking. As usual, as soon as you think you've made a choice, everyone chimes in. :)
The biggest problem I've had in borrowed/rented lenses is the add on gears.
Click to expand...

Your choice is certainly a better choice, FD is only a less expensive but working solution. I use Canon FD because I've a sort of 'imprinting' of FD mood, due to the reason it was the first system I used as photographer, when I was young.

My lens gears are definitive: I've used these gears without the extender http://www.shoot35.com/products/cinefocus/lensgear/flexigearframe.html . There are also cheaper similar flexible solutions

You could still consider to go with ome Canon FD's for the focal lenghts you lack. I can suggest you 35mm 2.0 (NOT the silver ring one: it is fantastic but it is a thorium lens and tends to yellowish. You could clear the fornt element using UV but is a long and tedious work). The right price for 35mm f2, in my opinion, is between 200 and 300 USD for a good copy. Two other great lenses are: 100 mm f2.0 and, expecially, 135mm f2,0. The last one is a very sharp lens, even wide open. in '70s it was one of the best portrait lenses available. On m43 it has the same angle of view than a 275mm on full frame, so you have a fast telephoto lens that can be used in night shootings with incredibles bokeh's on street lights. The only defect is that this is an heavy (but compact) lens. It doesn't need any support due to the short lenght. It is more expensive than 35mm, the rigt price, in my opinion, is around 400-500 USD for a very good copy (on eBay it is more expensive, but you can find new and unsealed samples from Germany). Finally I suggest you the 200mm f2.8. It is not heavy and you can use it without a support, despite its relative lenght. It is fast and sharp wide open and you have the power of a 400mm at f2.8. The right price in my opinion is between 250 and 350 USD for a good copy.

Finally, if you go with some FD lenses, as adapter I suggest you strongly the Novoflex... and don't be afraid to mix these lenses with Zeiss ones

Regards

Gary
 
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