What makes FD lenses cinematic?
- Thread starter dracore
- Start date
+1 on the 35mm f2.0. I snagged one recently on ebay for $130 and I was cautiously optimistic after reading reviews and I gotta say, if I was forced to choose one lens to keep on my GH13, this would be the one. I absolutely love the look and focal length. It blends nicely with my Nikon 50mm 1.8 and sits right in the middle of my three lenses... 20mm 1.7 panny, 35mm canon FD 2.0 and 50mm nikon 1.8. I'm going to be looking for another FD in the 85mm range next and that should round out my collection nicely.
Nice score, that's a good price for a Canon FD 35mm f/2 in good shape. Is yours yellow/brownish tinted? This lens is unique among Canon FDs, having a radioactive thoriated rear element which unfortunately darkens over time. Some like the "built-in yellow filter" effect, particularly for B&W stills, but the tint does rob the lens of light and so it becomes somewhat slower than a true f/2.
The good news is, you can clear the 35/2 up with some ultraviolet light. I cleared up both my 35s with this UVA bulb from Home Depot -- wrap the lens in tinfoil, shiny side against the lens, with the rear element exposed. Set up the UVA bulb so it's right above the rear element, almost touching it, and leave it on for a week or two. I set this up in a closet so it wouldn't be disturbed, and both my lenses came out water clear.
Enjoy your lens, it's my favorite of my Canon FDs.
The good news is, you can clear the 35/2 up with some ultraviolet light. I cleared up both my 35s with this UVA bulb from Home Depot -- wrap the lens in tinfoil, shiny side against the lens, with the rear element exposed. Set up the UVA bulb so it's right above the rear element, almost touching it, and leave it on for a week or two. I set this up in a closet so it wouldn't be disturbed, and both my lenses came out water clear.
Enjoy your lens, it's my favorite of my Canon FDs.
Mine is the FDn which is the latest manual focus build so I don't have the yellowing issue. I was a little surprised at how sharp it is... just hair more than my 50mm nikon but the contrast is just right... I'm really happy with it.
Ah, yours goes up to f/22, yes? The thoriated FD35s only go up to f/16. If yours is the FDn and goes to f/22, you're right, no slow radiation poisoning for you.
You may want to hunt down the earlier concave front element version. I've never tried the FDn but the concave front element FDs are the ones everyone's hot and bothered about.
You may want to hunt down the earlier concave front element version. I've never tried the FDn but the concave front element FDs are the ones everyone's hot and bothered about.