how to check if aperture is working properly on a Canon FD?

danny dale

danny dale

Well-known member
Hope someone can help me out here...

I just got my Canon FD 28mm 2.8 (one of the "New" ones) that I bought off of eBay. I can see that the aperture blades are half-way open (or closed) and I'm trying to get them to move with the levers on the back and by turning the aperture ring and nothing happens. I've tried various aperture settings (all make click sound and lock in place) and even the locking "A" setting. I can move the blades on my other FD purchase ( a 50mm 1.4 chrome nose),but not this one. I don't have the FD adapter yet (ordered one from Ciecio7), or a camera that these will attach to.

Is this lens messed up or am I doing something wrong? the seller said the focus and aperture operated properly...

Any help would be great - thanks.
 
Sounds like the lens might be messed up....is there any kind of clutch mechanism like a little switch that is engaged? Most lenses lock the aperture ring when you do this but there might be a switch somewhere that is engaged that normally would allow a canon camera to control the aperture electronically. Look around on/near the ring.
 
I don't see anything other than tiny contacts in the recessed area of the bayonet mount that would be depressed if mounted to something... but these things are tiny.
 
Hey Ben,

there is a bump on the aperture ring, but it seems to be the lock release for when it is put under the "A" setting (auto, I presume). My FD 50 1.4 (older chrome nose model) has the breech lock where you turn the sliver mount to lock the lens, not turn the lens like the bayonet mounts. the aperture blades won't move unless that silver mount is rotated all the way to the left (where it would be to lock the lens to the camera), then I can open and close the blades with the lever on the back of the lens. I think the "new" FD might have to be mounted to something to do the same but I'm not sure. I just want to see if the blades open and close freely to see if oil is in there (which can make them stick).
 
Hmmm so can you disengage the lock release? Maybe set it to the aperture it's supposed to lock at and toggle a few times? Hmm....weird. Hopefully it works when it gets your mount...I dont have much experience with canon lenses...on the nikons you set them (usually to closed) and flick the switch and it locks the ring.
 
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