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Year
Lens Groups
Lens Element
Aperature Blades
Minimum Aperture
Closest Focusing
Max. Magnifcation
Filter Size
Diameter x Length
Weight
Hood
2024-01-20

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
Sharp with good image quality overall
some softness at f2.5

This lens is very solid as were generally most lenses from the early 1960s. lt focuses to about 14-18 inches which is useful in a wide-angle lens. I found in testing it that sharpness was pretty good at f2.5 although sharpness fall off at the corners. most of which was caused by curvature of field inherent in this lens. Thia affected sharpness at the corners only at close shooting distances—at distances over 20 ft. this lens corner sharpness was greatly improved. At f/8 sharpness was good throughout with only a little fall off in sharpness at the corners. There is no further improvement at f11 or f16. This 35mm was the widest lens available for the Flex series of cameras between 1959-1964. Super Canomatic R lenses fit on any R, FL, FD, nFD mount camera. However, FL, FD, nFD lenses cannot be mounted on Flex cameras without damaging the lens or camera or both. R lenses are coated. Coating on the 35mm is Magenta (on the 50mm f1.8 the coating is Amber). The filter size is 58mm, same as the 50mm, 85mm, 100mm and 135mm. It is a seven element lens. There are two aperture rings, one which presets that aperture, and the other for stop down viewing. I generally leave the second one wide open to aid focusing. Although the glass is very good on the R lenses, they tend not to hold up nearly as well as the FL and FD lenses. Mold/fungus/dust is commonplace. Image quality is better with my FL 35mm f3.5 or the nFD 35mm f2.8. There is no real reason to purchase one of these unless you own a Flex series camera or like to collect one of everything!

2024-01-07

altprocess

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Very solid build, light meter, four frame lines in viewfinder
No hot or cold shoe

The Canon 7 is a beautiful camera that is very well made with excellent ergonomics and bright frame lines and focus patch. It is a weighty camera for those assuming that a rangefinder would be lighter. My copy has a working selenium meter that can have its sensitivity set for light and dark conditions. It seems quite accurate after all these years. The one glaring omission is the lack of a cold or hot shoe, which they fixed with the Canon 7S. It would be nice to be able to mount a flash easily or a modern light meter such as the SEKs meter I use on a meter less Nikkormat FS. Early Canon Rangefinders had the film advance on the bottom which interfered with using a tripod. The 7 has a single stroke lever on top, that can also advance the film with several small strokes instead. I found it somewhat difficult to load the film, but that could be a me problem! The 7 is well laid out with the front timer and minimal clutter on top. The shutter speed is easily adjusted from B to 1/1000th and a push button on the back of the camera allows for easy ISO adjustments. It is interesting to note that this body was contemporaneous with the Flex series of SLRs from Canon. It is certainly less bulky than those. It takes LTM mount lenses also referred to as M39 or Leica mount. This means that lenses are not cheap. The Canon 50mm f1.8 that came with the camera is full of fungus and haze. I purchased a beautiful Serenar 50mm f1.8 from 1951 to replace it. Many Soviet era M39s are available at a somewhat reduced cost, but the quality can be hit or miss. Jupiter and Helios lens seem to be the best according to aficionados. This is the only exchangeable lens RF I own so I have nothing to compare it to in that regard. It is more solidly built than the Canonets I own or the Yashica Electo. The Canon 7 has jumped in price recently with the revival of film. It is still vastly cheaper than a Leica or Minolta CLE or Voightlander Bessa, all of which use the same lens mount. I also firmly believe that the glass and film are more important that the body in film cameras. If you want to get into RFs Canon provides many less expensive options, including the beautiful 7. All the specs for this camera are on Canon Museum website.

2023-09-20

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
sharp, colorful, contrasty, smooth, rugged,
heavy (but who cares), huge focus ramp

Just bought this for a commercial shoot and holy shite is this thing sharp. I've been a prime guy my entire life, but this is the first lens I pulled the trigger on because I thought it would be worth it and frick is the ROI high. I worked with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L, and optically this was like that--except two focal lengths greater, a stop slower, and without auto-focus.

Build: large filter diameter that fits 6x4 Tiffen glass just fine. Zoom ring is silky smooth. Focus ring twists freely while telescoping with the front elements. The aperture ring is still clicky-clacky. Despite being a 'lighter' nFD, it still feels as heavy as an old mostly metal FD. However, I do not see this as a drawback but more of a testament to its rugged well-built quality. The focus ring is slightly stiff with attached gears for wireless follow-focus systems.

Optics: the IQ is stupidly sharp across the entire range from 50mm-300mm at f/5.6. Extremely light vignette all the way open on a full-frame Sony a7III but non-existent on a super-35 Arri Alexa Classic. Lens breath can be jarring (or awesome) if rack-focusing from a subject 4ft away to 100ft away. Zooming with it was so much fun as the light and silky zoom ring made it buttery smooth which made for dope vertigo shots.

Cost: $3800. Worth every penny. Its modern equivalent is the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6, which is half the price, lighter, auto-focusing, and faster... but it's not a Canon FD lens. Which has a specific look, and is probably why you're here.

2023-09-10

altprocess

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
Fairly fast lens. Preset aperture feature. Solid build.
f16 is the minimum aperture

Based on research it seems that I have the mkiii version as the lens has 1:1.8 instead of f1.8 on the two earlier versions. The Super Canomatic R lenses have a reputation for not aging as well as the FL and early FD models. My copy has some light haze but nothing major. The R lenses have two aperture rings--one to preset the aperture and the other to view depth of field. This is a neat feature of these lenses. The manual for R lenses state that all are SC coated, with the 50mm 1.8 having an amber coating (the 58mm 1.2 has magenta). The lens barrel has a DOF scale, distance scale, and infrared scale as one would expect. While the R mount will work on FL/FD bodies the reverse is not true. I now own 50mm f 1.8 lenses in R, FL, FD and nFD, and f1.4 in FL and nFD. The R version IQ is less sharp and color reproduction is more muted. Interestingly, at the moment they are often more expensive than the nFD f1.8. Unless one is collecting there is really no reason to own this lens as a shooter. It is built like a tank, however.

2023-09-02

altprocess

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
nice lens
loud with sketchy electronics

This was Canon's first attempt at auto focus. It is a point and shoot camera that takes convenient AA batteries. The lens is fast and sharp-40mm f1.9. The auto focus technology was primitive, and shots can be hit or miss. Pre-focus requires being a contortionist and pressing multiple buttons and switches with both hands. The film advance motor is loud by any comparison to any camera. It is not a great shooter, but it is pretty. Prices have been high since some bloggers wrote about it and film newbies jumped on it. I also own several of the ML model that replaced it, which is a nicer camera to use ergonomically speaking. Keep in mind that both the A35F and AF35ML have late 70s early 80s electronics, fairly cheesy battery doors, and are subject to failure. If you are looking for a good Canon point and shoot, go with the Sure Shot Supreme which is phenomenal. The Ace is also excellent in that category of camera.

2023-08-23

altprocess

Features
8.0
Build
9.5
8.5
Very well built, rare, fun to shoot
tripod mount placement

According to reports from Canon, 14,000 units of the R2000 were built but only 8721 were available for sale. Serial numbers started at 50001. Even though the Internet Directory of Camera Collectors claims that serial numbers began with 50646 mine is 50488, so clearly that is incorrect. They also claim that the last serial number was 59281, but other R2000 owners have numbers over 59400. I imagine that some had flaws and were destroyed. But Canon is clear that only 8721 were put up for sale. The Canon Museum website can give you all the specs on the camera so I will not bother with those details. The R2000 is arguably the first commercially available camera with a top speed of 1/2000th, thus its name. It is the second to last of the four Canonflex cameras built and mark Canon's entry into SLRs. The first three models do not have a built-in light meter, but an attachable external selenium meter was available for the Canonflex and Canonflex RP. That meter maxed at 1/1000th. The external selenium meter for the R2000 maxed at 1/2000th although the other meters would work. The Canonflex RM has a built-in selenium meter and was the last of the line. The RM replaced the R2000 in 1962 before being replaced by the FX in 1964. The R2000 is extremely well built and was produced to compete with the Nikon F as professional camera. An eye-level and waist-level finder were both available and attaching and detaching the finder is quite simple. A lever is depressed on the left side of the camera face and the finder slides out. The layout of the camera is simple, too. The top right-hand side has the shutter speed, frame counter, and shutter button. The frame counter counts up from zero. The left-hand side has a rewind lever. Pulling up the lever gives access to set the ASA/DIN and to set another dial for BW, Color, or Tungsten film. The front of the camera has a self-timer. The bottom has the rewind button, tripod mount on the right, and lever to open the back of the camera. which is folded out and turned to unlock (or lock) the back. Film advance is on the bottom of the camera too. A small metal flap is unfolded allowing one to advance the film with the pinky finger of the right hand. Super Canomatic R lenses are used and are the only lenses that fit on the Canonflex bodies. FL and FD lenses can damage the body--and probably the lens. The R lenses have SC coating. The widest angle is 35mm and the narrowest is 1000mm. Three zoom lenses were available. The lenses have two aperture rings--one is to preset the aperture while the other allows for viewing depth of field. That ring needs to be set back to the widest aperture before firing the shutter. I only own the 50mm f1.8 mark III. While the lenses seem to be very well built, some claim they are more prone to failure than the FL and FD lenses. That might just be age. My lens works great although at first I thought the preset ring was stiff. I now think that is normal to prevent accidental movement. My copy looks as though it was never used although the light seals were replaced. This is not a TTL camera/lens combo so using filters requires knowledge of the filter factor. I leave a Y1 on the lens for protection which has a 1.5X factor equivalent to about 2/3rds of a stop. I am looking for a working meter but now simply use the sunny 16 method. Since lenses are hard to find and often suspect, I would not recommend this camera unless you are a collector or stumble across one cheap. Nonetheless, I love it.

2023-07-03

altprocess

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
Easy to handle--the AE-1P of the T series cameras
top of the camera layout

I own and use the T70, T80, and T90 cameras. The T70 is nice but I am not as enthralled with it as other reviewers appear to be. I do not like the top of the camera layout, but hey that's me. Its features are compatible with the AE-1P in my opinion, but with the addition of a built-in motor drive, which might make it more attractive to some users. Personally, I like manually advancing the film in my A and F series cameras. Basically, you choose shooting modes which best represent the scene in front of you. My concern with all of the T series cameras is that the more electronics there are in the camera the more likely the failure over time. Given a choice of buying the AE-1P or A-1, those A series cameras would be my choice, especially as both were still be made when the T70 was available. I today's market, however, the T70 is less expensive if you are just starting out. Other reviewers give all the technical specs below so I will not rehash those. Nice camera but does not make my heart beat faster like the T90 and New F-1.

2023-06-24

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Very sharp with great contrast and overall image quality
lens hood

This is one of my favorite lenses, probably second to the 15mm f2.8 in the wide to ultra-wide range. It is my third favorite with the 200mm f4 macro taking the prize (which should be called L glass). As with all my reviews, this one is based on using the lens for film with the T90, New F-1, and EF bodies. This lens is very sharp, with excellent contrast, and overall image quality. As I use it mostly for landscapes it is almost always shot stopped down to f8-16. I have shot a few images at 2.8 and 4 and they are more than acceptable for 4x6 and even 8x10 prints. My only negative is that the hood for this 72mm front end is unsightly and unwieldy. It's not heavy but it just gets in the way. My other negative is really unfair, but I wish it had built in filters like the 15mm f2.8 which would save me from lugging around a bunch of 72mm filters. I know, first-world problems... I think the contrast and color rendering is better than the 24mm f2.8, but I shoot far more BW film than color. Super-wide lenses are cool to use with color shifting film such as Lomocrhrome Purple and Lomochrome Turquoise.

2023-06-03

altprocess

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Solid build, pellicle mirror, "switch" to black on viewfinder
takes time to get used to--a little clumsy at first

The Pellix QL is a beautiful camera featuring a pellicle mirror which means that it does not move. It is a thin membrane which allows light to pass through to the film for exposure. There are much better explanations of the mirror on the web for those of you more mechanically inclined. The pellicle mirror allows for more frames per second and (I believe) faster shutter speeds, even though the Pellix fastest shutter speed was 1/1000. The Pellicle mirror was used on later cameras such as the New F-1 High Speed Motor Drive, EOS RT, and EOS-1N RS where a stationary mirror was taken full advantage of. This camera features Canon's Quick Loading system which most of you are familiar with. Film from 25-1600 ISO can be shot at list speed. Shutter speeds range from 1/1-1/1000 and work mechanically, plus bulb. There is an X for flash synchronization. Flash needs to be tethered as the camera sports a cold shoe. Canon made a booster for low light. The booster needs two batteries and attaches to the cold shoe and then to the battery terminal. The light meter requires a battery (1.35v) and works only in stop down mode. This is the part that takes getting used to. The meter one must push the stop down/timer lever to the left to get a reading. The lever can be locked in place. With my index finger on the shutter button I use my middle finger to push the shot down lever to the left (pulling to the right sets the timer). It is not rocket science, but it takes some getting used to. The light meter is the typical matchstick variety. R, FL, FD, and nFD can generally be used, with a few exceptions based on whether the lens extends into the body of the camera (the FL 19 f3.5 cannot be used. Instead Canon made a 19mm F3.5 R for the Pellix). FD and nFD lenses cannot be set on A to attach them to the body You need to set any other aperture and then the lens can attach. FL lenses can be set on A. I do not own any R lenses but those must be shot in full manual mode only, no automatic exposure. Double exposures can be made by depressing the rewind button on the bottom of the camera and then use the film advance lever. The camera also has a eyepiece shutter to keep out light when using the timer. The other nice feature is that the release for the back is on the bottom of the camera and must be intentionally used--no accidental opening of the back of the camera can occur.
I bought the copy I own because it was inexpensive and had an FL 50mm f1.4 version ii attached. This lens is fantastic. I got lucky that the camera was in remarkably good condition. As the body is almost 60 years old silvering on the mirror is common, but mine has none. Make sure you can see the condition of the mirror if you intend to buy a Pellix or Pellix QL. This camera is more of an historical artifact or novelty due to the pellicle mirror. I will shoot mine because it is in such remarkable condition, but I would not encourage anyone to buy this camera over an F-1, EF, A-1, or AE-1P (or T90 or T70 for that matter).
The build of this camera is typically solid for its day. I knocked the "features" down to an 8 since it is clumsy to use and should have been able to have a higher shutter speed or should have had a motor drive since it should be able to shoot several frames per second.

2023-06-02

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Solid build, pellicle mirror, "switch" to black on viewfinder
takes time to get used to--a little clumsy at first

The Pellix QL is a beautiful camera featuring a pellicle mirror which means that it does not move. It is a thin membrane which allows light to pass through to the film for exposure. There are much better explanations of the mirror on the web for those of you more mechanically inclined. The pellicle mirror allows for more frames per second and (I believe) faster shutter speeds, even though the Pellix fastest shutter speed was 1/1000. The Pellicle mirror was used on later cameras such as the New F-1 High Speed Motor Drive, EOS RT, and EOS-1N RS where a stationary mirror was taken full advantage of. This camera features Canon's Quick Loading system which most of you are familiar with. Film from 25-1600 ISO can be shot at list speed. Shutter speeds range from 1/1-1/1000 and work mechanically, plus bulb. There is an X for flash synchronization. Flash needs to be tethered as the camera sports a cold shoe. Canon made a booster for low light. The booster needs two batteries and attaches to the cold shoe and then to the battery terminal. The light meter requires a battery (1.35v) and works only in stop down mode. This is the part that takes getting used to. The meter one must push the stop down/timer lever to the left to get a reading. The lever can be locked in place. With my index finger on the shutter button I use my middle finger to push the shot down lever to the left (pulling to the right sets the timer). It is not rocket science, but it takes some getting used to. The light meter is the typical matchstick variety. R, FL, FD, and nFD can generally be used, with a few exceptions based on whether the lens extends into the body of the camera (the FL 19 f3.5 cannot be used. Instead Canon made a 19mm F3.5 R for the Pellix). FD and nFD lenses cannot be set on A to attach them to the body You need to set any other aperture and then the lens can attach. FL lenses can be set on A. I do not own any R lenses but those must be shot in full manual mode only, no automatic exposure. Double exposures can be made by depressing the rewind button on the bottom of the camera and then use the film advance lever. The camera also has a eyepiece shutter to keep out light when using the timer. The other nice feature is that the release for the back is on the bottom of the camera and must be intentionally used--no accidental opening of the back of the camera can occur.
I bought the copy I own because it was inexpensive and had an FL 50mm f1.4 version ii attached. This lens is fantastic. I got lucky that the camera was in remarkably good condition. As the body is almost 60 years old silvering on the mirror is common, but mine has none. Make sure you can see the condition of the mirror if you intend to buy a Pellix or Pellix QL. This camera is more of an historical artifact or novelty due to the pellicle mirror. I will shoot mine because it is in such remarkable condition, but I would not encourage anyone to buy this camera over an F-1, EF, A-1, or AE-1P (or T90 or T70 for that matter).
The build of this camera is typically solid for its day. I knocked the "features" down to an 8 since it is clumsy to use and should have been able to have a higher shutter speed or should have had a motor drive since it should be able to shoot several frames per second.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
7.5
Build
8.5
7.8
Great old school look
Grainy, lower film speed and silver content, curliness is so annoying, low contrast

I would shoot more Fomapan if it didn't curl up like it does. The look lends a lot of atmosphere to an image. It's a good film with some quirks. The real film speed of Foma films is a little less than what's on the box.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
8.0
Build
9.5
8.5
Nice rich blacks, good contrast, pushes well
Harsher grain than HP5+

It's a classic, but depending on how you develop it the grain can get big and crunchy. Especially after expiration. It has a nice tonality. I prefer the similar HP5+.

You can push this to 1600 nicely if it's fresh.

Has a 70s/80s look. Looks more recent than HP5+.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
5.0
Build
6.0
5.3
Cheap (or it used to be), widely available
Grainy, too much red in the shadows

I prefer Superia to Gold. I also think ColorPlus is better than Gold. But I'd use Gold over UltraMax.

Now that consumer color negative is so similar in price to professional, there isn't much reason to buy it.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
Good purples, greens, and blues, better than Kodak Gold, inexpensive
Somewhat grainy

I used to buy this for $2 a roll for general photography. I think it's the best of the cheap 400 speed color negatives.

At the prices it goes for now, I'd use Portra or Ektar instead.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Low grain, high edge detail, nice natural colors
Requires more careful exposure than negative film

Picks up the colors nicely, low grain. A good slide film. Better in soft lighting situations.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
The legendary deep colors
Hardest film to use, not for portraits, tiny exposure latitude, expensive

This film is the opposite of Reala. It makes images into a fantasy - which can be a dream or a nightmare. As with most slide film the grain is barely there. It is incredibly critical to expose it properly - the multi-spot metering of the T90 may help you there. Many people also use graduated ND filters with it.

Not a film to use for portraits, though it might work for African skin tones.

Soft lighting works best for this film, because it is so contrasty already. You get very little exposure latitude.

But when you hit it with Velvia, it's incredible.

Half-stop exposure bracketing is recommended, along with a dedicated light meter.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
All time favorite color negative, terrific greens and blues
Some will desire more saturation

Just a great color film for everything. I wish they still made it. Gave an absolutely fantastic look.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Very fine grain, handles expiration well, good tonality
Less exposure latitude than traditional emulsions, a little pricey

10 year expired Delta 100 performed well. It's a little pricey and requires you to hit the exposure more accurately than HP5+ or FP4+, so it's less good for beginners. It doesn't give as much nostalgia in the look it imparts to images, more of an 80s than a 50s vibe.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Huge exposure latitude, scans well, fine grain for its speed, nice color rendition
Doesn't handle expiration well

I have shot this fresh as well as 10 years expired. The colors are always great and grain is mild. However the 10 year expired roll had tiny black specks all over the images.

Renders skin tones well and can handle being off on exposure - making it good for beginners. These days, it's similar in price to budget options like Gold, Ultramax and ColorPlus, so it's a no brainer. It can resolve a high level of detail.

For landscape I usually prefer Ektar. Portra is of course the king of portraits, although Ektachrome can be nice there too.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Pretty good for all-mechanical, 1/2000 speed
Mine scratches the film slightly, and I got spoiled by the features of the T90, heavy

Light meter is pretty accurate but harder to use than the T90's readout. The focusing screen also seems a little dimmer than the T90.

Mine scratches the film a little bit, even though I got it CLA'd. Not sure what's going on there but I'd definitely use it more if it didn't do that. I keep it around as a backup.

It is built super strong. I like the metal feel of it. It's really good looking.

It's pretty heavy for its size. Something like a Pentax Spotmatic is much lighter. I like that the viewfinder prism detaches.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, contrasty
Needs UV treatment for yellowing, bokeh has less character than FD 50mm f/1.4

The lens is sharp, but it's not impeccable wide open. I'd put it in the same class as the FD 50mm f/1.4. However, the 50mm has more characterful (busier, less creamy) bokeh. The 35mm will also flare slightly more. Radioactive which means yellowing over time, solved with a UV light. The out of focus area from this lens in the foreground when focused at infinity does have a slight swirl.

At f/4 and narrower the image quality will be unimpeachable.

It is a little expensive, but not too crazy. A little big and heavy.

One of the best lenses in the FD lineup, but not my absolute favorite.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Fine grain, high resolution, high contrast, deep, rich blacks
Less exposure latitude than some B&W negative

This film handled being underexposed one stop okay. I have heard it doesn't like overexposure, though.

The blacks come out very rich and in general it has a lot of contrast and pop. This makes it great for dull lighting. Perhaps not the best choice for a harshly lit scene. Use Acros for that.

The resolution is very high.

It's a little expensive compared to other black and white films, especially in 35mm.

Handles expiration very well.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Incredible tonality, pretty much grainless, fantastic reciprocity
Modern look may not appeal to everyone

This review is for the original version, not II.

Acros is the master of B&W tripod long exposure photography. No reciprocity compensation up to 2 minutes.

The grain is extremely fine. The tonality stunned me when I first saw it. It's a good performer in contrasty lighting situations. Resolution is high.

I can't speak for the 2nd version, but I'm glad it's still available in some form.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Incredibly low grain for 400 speed, stores well
Color may be slightly too cyan for some

At first I didn't care for the color of this film, but that changed after I used it for some landscape work. It records a very high level of detail with astonishingly low grain for 400 speed, even long after its expiration date. Wish they still made it.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
All time favorite in its class, good grain, massive shadow detail, tonality
It isn't made anymore

This film was called Neopan 400 Professional outside of Japan, where it was called Presto.

My all-time favorite 400 speed black and white negative film.

Gives your images a shimmery, silvery look that is hard to describe. Its style does not look old or nostalgic like Tri-X or HP5+.

Incredible exposure latitude and shadow detail. Look at this shot. It was accidentally shot at 3200 and developed at 400. And that's with being expired 10 years.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61055661@N08/52751298530

The tonality is somewhat similar to Acros. Develops great in HC-110.

I have been able to get about 40 megapixels of detail from it by printing it with an enlarger.

I think it looks best when pushed 1/2 to 1 stop.

Shoot it if you find it.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
7.5
Build
8.0
7.7
Light, inexpensive
Not very usable wide open, flares a lot for an nFD

This is the widest lens I own. It needs to be stopped down at least to 5.6 and it can get a somewhat strong flare from the sun. Wouldn't buy it again - the 28mm f/2.8 is better.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
If you can only choose one lens, this might be it. And inexpensive!
A tiny bit of softness wide open, but still better than competitors

This is just one of the best 50mm f/1.4s ever made. It's similar in sharpness to the equivalent Takumar. Out of focus areas are nice and characterful, not completely creamy, though creamier than the Takumar. Sharper than the equivalent Minolta. This lens is a very good value.

The coating is excellent and it's hard to make it flare. If I don't want to take a lens hood, this is the normal lens I choose.

Unlike the Takumar or FL 58mm, this lens is not radioactive and will not yellow.

Great for portraits as well as general photography. But sometimes a touch too sharp for portraits! Count the eyelashes.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.5
Build
7.0
8.7
Best compact telephoto
Spring? broke inside mine, leaving it stuck wide open

The lens for when you want a telephoto without the size and weight.

I might have had a bad copy, but something broke inside mine and it's stuck wide open. It didn't come that way and it's been lightly used. I may buy another because I enjoy using it.

Was always a tack sharp lens stopped down, and good wide open too.

I slightly prefer the image quality of the FD 135mm f/2.5, but it's big and heavy.

The coating is good and the lens does not flare much. Contrast is good.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Like Tri-X 400 with less contrast and more nostalgia, lots of exposure latitude
More grain than Delta 400

Classic emulsion. I prefer it to Tri-X 400. Might be Ilford's best all around film. You can push it, you can over and under expose it. This makes it great for beginners. Tons of nostalgia in any shot you take with it. Works well in HC-110.

It does have more grain and less contrast than Delta 100/400.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Good tonality
Average grain for speed

Think of this as a slower HP5+. It's a good film and I like the look of it. It is also one of the best films to reverse into black and white slide.

Similarly to HP5+, it will lend an old, nostalgic look to your images. Works well in 510-pyro developer.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
5.0
Build
3.0
4.3
Saturation can be nice for landscape, strong contrast
Really don't like the harsh colors of this film, shadows turn purple

Someone got this film for me as a present, I would not use it again. The colors are just wild, and not in a good Velvia way. You'll probably enjoy it if you're into the cross-processing look.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp wide open. Nice swirl and creaminess to bokeh. Lens hood attached.
Heavy and large compared to nFD 100mm f/2.8

Might be my favorite focal length. This lens takes great portraits. And it can do some landscape too. It has excellent optical quality. I use it instead of the nFD 100mm f/2.8 when size and weight is not an issue, though that is also a good lens. Here is a portrait example.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61055661@N08/52765372699

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
8.0
9.3
Closest thing to slide film in color negative, fine grain, good contrast and color
Skin can be harsh, slightly too much red

If you want a color slide look but prefer the ease of C-41 processing or like a little more exposure latitude, this film in the best affordable alternative. I didn't like it at first due to the redness, but you just have to know how to use it. Works well in softer light and for landscapes. The grain is very fine.

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
1/4000 shutter, great light metering system, durable, lasts a very long time
Loud winder, only 36 exposures

I picked up my T90 for $60 in 2011 after investigating all the FD mount cameras, because it had the richest features. The low price was due to cosmetic scuffs. Spent $125 for a CLA at Camera Clinic. I left it in a box completely unused from 2013-2023, with the AA batteries removed. After loading it with new batteries, it had no problem coming back to life after its storage. People say the internal battery and LCD screen don't last long, but I haven't found that to be the case. I've put 20 or 30 rolls through it since the storage and the shutter is accurate at all speeds.

It has the most accurate and versatile light metering system of any camera I own. Extremely ahead of its time for 1986. Shooting difficult film like Velvia is no problem with this thing. Multi-spot metering is really cool.

The 1/4000 shutter speed comes in handy when you desire shallow depth of field in bright light. It's rare to find film cameras with speeds this high.

It's hard plastic on the outside, and heavy, with an excellent grip.

It can only shoot 36 exposures, so you'll spend slightly more on film. I consider it a small sacrifice for everything else the camera gives you.

The AA batteries last for around 100 rolls of film at normal temperatures in single shot mode. I've almost never needed rapid fire mode, only once using a 500mm lens on some birds, but it's cool that it's available. Extremely good battery life because they designed it with this in mind.

The only real drawback is its loud winder, everyone will know when you shoot with it, and definitely if you reach the end of a roll. A slower, silent mode would have been cool.

It is my all-time favorite of around 20 cameras I have owned.

The icing on the cake - you can use FL lenses on it with no adapter, M42 and others adapted! The short flange distance gives you access to so many lenses in other mounts. You will need to use it in stop-down mode for the non-FD lenses.

If it stopped working I would get a repair or buy another. If that one stopped working I would buy another again. But for me this camera just works!

2023-05-02

loccdor

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp in focus areas, great dreamy out of focus areas, smooth transition between
Can get some flare from bright light sources

I am using this on a Canon T90. The manual says that the mk1 version of this lens will not mount to the camera, and the mk2 will not work with the metering. My serial is 64322, which is higher than most of the others I saw, so it's a mk2.

My lens has no problem mounting to the T90. When using it wide open, I put the camera in stop down mode and -2 exposure compensation, and it seems to meter accurately enough for negative film. But I recommend carrying a light meter when using any non-FD lens if it's not bright enough for the sunny 16 method.

Here is an example, approximately 30% removed from the 35mm frame: https://www.flickr.com/photos/61055661@N08/52823643992/

Skin pores and eyelashes are visible, along with individual eyebrow hairs. It's quite easy to miss focus for 1.2 portraits, so plan on taking several shots while refocusing each time.

This lens flares a lot more when the sun hits it than a newer lens like the FD 50mm f/1.4. Getting a lens hood for it is a good idea. It is relatively compact and doesn't feel that heavy to me. The metal construction seems solid. Yes, this lens is mildly radioactive. My copy did not have any yellowing, but if yours does, buy a UV LED light, wrap it in tin foil, and expose both sides for a few days.

If I was traveling and only had room for 1 lens on a Canon FD mount camera, it would be a toss up between the FD 35mm f/2.0, FD 50mm f/1.4, and this. All of those lenses are sharp, but the 35mm has a little less character in the bokeh. I don't know if the 1.4 or 1.2 is sharper wide open, but I expect the difference to be slight. User focusing error is likely to have a bigger impact.

At the time of this writing, this is possibly the most affordable f/1.2 that you can get, and largely unknown. A definite sleeper pick.

2023-04-30

Dragonfire

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Dreamy bokeh, very solid build, moderate vignetting , smooth and well damped focus
LOCA on high contrast edges, requires a dedicated adapter (see text)

I have had much enjoyment from this lens. It is soft, but quite usable wide open and decently sharp when stopped down. It is worth noting that it has good low contrast detail even wide open, so it responds well to sharpening in post. Anyone looking to create dreamy portraits should look at this lens. It does have a fair bit of green/red LOCA on high contrast edges, but the overall contrast of the lens is low enough at f/1.2 that the LOCA is not very noticable at normal viewing distances and some care in lighting mostly eliminates the issue. AFAIK, there is no percevable difference between the mk I and mk II versions. My lens has a higher serial number than the image of the mk II in the Canon Museum, so I am assuming it is a mk II. For those who take lenses on airplanes, be aware that this lens (as well as the mk I) is radioactive. The design includes a Thorium glass element which does add some weight and it will wake up your geiger counter. A side effect is that the radiation will eventually yellow the glass in several elements, but if you place the lens over a UV lamp for a couple of weeks, the yellowing will clear up. I used an off-the-shelf UV LED lamp successfully, so short wave UV is not required, but may work faster. this lens has a protrusion on the mounting flange that interferes with the stop-down pin on virtually all adapters, so you have to dedicate an adapter and remove the pin. The lens has a DOF preview ring that allows the lens to be stopped down without the pin being moved, so other than dedicating an adapter, the protrusion does not cause any problems and this is a lens that most will want to use wide open anyway. Just remember that at f/1.2 neither the camera nor the subject can move between focus aquisition and the shot (particularly with close shots).

2023-04-30

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Dreamy bokeh, very solid build, moderate vignetting , smooth and well damped focus
LOCA on high contrast edges, requires a dedicated adapter (see text)

I have had much enjoyment from this lens. It is soft, but quite usable wide open and decently sharp when stopped down. It is worth noting that it has good low contrast detail even wide open, so it responds well to sharpening in post. Anyone looking to create dreamy portraits should look at this lens. It does have a fair bit of green/red LOCA on high contrast edges, but the overall contrast of the lens is low enough at f/1.2 that the LOCA is not very noticable at normal viewing distances and some care in lighting mostly eliminates the issue. AFAIK, there is no percevable difference between the mk I and mk II versions. My lens has a higher serial number than the image of the mk II in the Canon Museum, so I am assuming it is a mk II. For those who take lenses on airplanes, be aware that this lens (as well as the mk I) is radioactive. The design includes a Thorium glass element which does add some weight and it will wake up your geiger counter. A side effect is that the radiation will eventually yellow the glass in several elements, but if you place the lens over a UV lamp for a couple of weeks, the yellowing will clear up. I used an off-the-shelf UV LED lamp successfully, so short wave UV is not required, but may work faster. this lens has a protrusion on the mounting flange that interferes with the stop-down pin on virtually all adapters, so you have to dedicate an adapter and remove the pin. The lens has a DOF preview ring that allows the lens to be stopped down without the pin being moved, so other than dedicating an adapter, the protrusion does not cause any problems and this is a lens that most will want to use wide open anyway. Just remember that at f/1.2 neither the camera nor the subject can move between focus aquisition and the shot (particularly with close shots).

2023-03-11

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Gorgeous color and tiny grain
like all positive film there is very little latitude

Absolutely stunning colors and fine grain make this a remarkable color film and worth the extra cost of mounting them. Shot this in the 90s with an AE-1P but now use a T90.

2023-03-11

altprocess

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Amazing image quality and built in filters
lens flare

I love the look of a full-frame fisheye more so than the circular fisheye. The image quality is excellent wide open and super sharp at f5.6-16. It can focus very close to the subject--just inches away. It has four built in filters: Sky, Y3, Orange and Red making it perfect for black and white film photography. I have only used this lens with film cameras (New F-1, T90, T70). The permanent hood helps to protect the lens but does little to stop light flares. But with a 180-degree diagonal view any other hood would interfere with the image. One needs to be careful with tuck in the elbows when shooting as the field of view is so wide. The angle that the camera is held determines if there is any distortion at the edges or across the horizontal. You can choose to bend the horizon convex or concave or not at all. I chose this lens over the 17mm f4 for the extra stop. I also have the 20mm f2.8 if I am concerned about distortion. It has some weight to it because it is well built. Minimum aperture is f22.

2023-02-05

altprocess

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
Acceptable autofocus speed and decent contrast
Slow and Servo easily fooled.

Given its place as one of the first Canon autofocus lenses, this lens does a decent job, on par with the FDn 35-70mm f3.5-4.5 (a lens I really like for travel). One shot autofocus works very well on sunny days with contrasty subjects. Servo struggles with objects moving towards the shooter, although is pretty good for subjects moving horizontally. Any series of vertical or horizontal lines gives it fits. Manual focus works well in these situations. Obviously, this is not a fast lens and dark spaces render the autofocus lens than ideal. Images are sharp (ish) when the T80 is set for greater depth of field. This is the easiest lens to find for the T80 among the three that were produced as it was sold as the kit lens for the camera. I also own the AC 75-200 f4.5 but have yet to test it. As the AC lenses cannot be used on any other camera it would not be wise to spend money on them unless you find a cheap T80. I got a T80 with AC 50mm f1.8 for $20US so it was worth it to have some fun.

2022-11-08

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Pretty sharp at f1.4, smooth focussing, small and light.
None

I use it with my Fujifilm X-T1. It's easy to focus (smooth focus ring), I love that it's so small and light. Sharpness is pretty good at f1.4, very sharp stopped down at f2.8. It's a lot sharper at 1.4 than the Canon 50mm 1.4 EF mount that I used to own.
I actually like the build, I don't mind that it's not full metal. I prefer a lighter and smaller lens. Camera/Lens feels well balanced when adapted to a system camera.
There is some vignetting and a tiny bit of CA when shooting wide open, but that can be fixed when post-processing the images.
Great lens for doing portraits on an APS-C camera or for low light photography or filming. You can still easily find it for less than 100 Euro/Dollar.

2022-10-26

Shot_by_Hunter

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Closest I've found to the famous 'dream lens'
A little on the heavier side and low smallest aperature

This lens... wow. This was the first serious lens I have ever bought for my FD cameras. I had some fun with the common 50mm 1.8 and a 28mm 2.5. But looking into the options for an upgrade from the 50mm, I stumbled across this. THIS IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF FL LENSES period. It's super well built, an absolute tank of steel and glass, it has a crazy aperture of 1.2, the closest you can get to the .95 dream lens for the money. I picked mine up for $150 on eBay and I don't regret it at all. This lens gives a golden glow to everything it shoots, whether that's on my Canon EF or A-1, or on my mirrorless m50 with an adapter. This lens has buttery smooth focusing, a clicked aperture, a massive front element that not only works well, but looks great too. Speaking of the glass, this lens flares unlike anything I've seen, sublty, but beautifully. My only complaints are that it's a little heavy. which I guess can be explained by the stelar build (with this and my EF it comes in just over 6 pounds), and the minimum aperture is 16, which is enough, but leaves something to be desired. All in all, amazing lens

2022-10-25

Nate_C

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Superb image quality for an affordable price
No negatives at this price point

This was the first of many nFD series lenses I've bought, both adapted for modern mirrorless bodies as well as it's original A series film bodies. This lens is very affordable, I bought it for around $120 USD in mint condition, but can be found for less. It's very sharp and straight forward to use, the focusing mechanism is buttery smooth and it can be adapted to modern mirrorless cameras with a cheap $15 USD adapter which makes this a lens still relevant to this day. It's great for beginners looking for a nice low-light lens, the f/1.4 aperture makes it great for night-time photography, and I think you should opt for this one as opposed to the f/1.8 version since the price difference isn't that drastic. Bokeh is silky smooth but with enough character to make it unique, and the size and weight is very small and manageable for travel and for carrying around in a small bag. If you're lucky enough to buy it with the hood, it doesn't add that much more weight or size to it although it needs to be said that the nFD series hoods were held in place by a rubber wedge that melts and degrades over time causing many of the old hoods to slide off easily (if the camera or lens is rotated quickly) and you're better off buying a screw-on collapsible hood that attaches directly to the filter thread to make sure it doesn't come off and protects the beautifully coated front element.
I should also mention that if using with some mirrorless cameras you need to enable something along the lines of 'allow shutter release without lens' since the lens is mechanical and has no electric contacts to let your camera know there is a lens attached. Also if using with Canon's old film cameras like the A-1 or AE-1 Program you can set the lens to automatic aperture by moving the aperture ring to the green 'A' symbol while pressing the little black button on said ring.
Overall a very good lens for casual photography, portraits, film, and just about anything else you can think of.
Keep in mind if used with a crop sensor mirrorless camera the focal length will round up to about 80mm making it great for portraits but perhaps too tight for group photos or some street photography. If you want something wider for crop sensor cameras I highly advise you check out the Canon FD 28mm 2.8 which is also affordable and has a much wider angle although it's a full stop slower but still a nice little lens that goes well side by side the Canon nFD 50mm f/1.4

And last but not least, there is an older FD version of the lens with a silver ring mount and yellow lettering and the title S.S.C. that stands for 'Super Spectra Coating'. This version came before and I do not personally own it but from what I've heard it's build quality is heavier but the optics are almost identical of not the same but they are more or less the same size and dimensions however if you want to compare both lenses or don't know which to buy I suggest you do some research online or check out reviews from the FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C on this website

2022-09-04

altprocess

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Fast, sharp with accurate autofocus on most subjects
Bulky due to the autofocus mechanism

This lens only works with the Canon T80, more or less Canon's first autofocus SLR. Canon had already put out some autofocus point and shoots in the late 70s and an autofocus lens (Canon's first entry into autofocus was the AF 35-70mm f/4 zoom lens which had a focus button on the lens). The lens being reviewed has an FD-AC mount that enables autofocus by slightly depressing the shutter button (as one does on the EOS line and various digital models). Setting the lens to "one shot" it is fast, sharp, and focuses well considering it was such an early autofocus model. It only struggles to autofocus with low contrast subjects or series of vertical or horizontal lines, but Canon EF lenses today often struggle with low contrast subjects. The lens can be set to One Shot, Servo, or Manual focus. As mentioned, One Shot is accurate and fast to focus on most subjects. Servo was a nice idea that needed a lot of refinement. It works fairly well when the subject is moving either left to right or right to left in front of you with slight variations in distance. It works okay when the subject is moving away from you. It rarely works well when the subject is moving quickly towards you. Again, that should not come as a surprise as modern EF lens have difficulty with that as well. Manual focus is controlled with a knurled wheel at the front of the lens. Even with manual focus the T80 offers focus assist. This is a strange looking lens as the autofocus mechanism is on the side of the lens. But it is still fairly lightweight as it is built with similar polycarbonate materials as the nFD lenses. I put this at least on par optically with the nFD 50mm f1.8 and maybe even the f1.4 (a lens I love). I recently bought the FD 35-70mm f3.5-4.5 AC for under $12US. I will review that one once I put it through its paces.

2022-08-23

altprocess

Features
7.5
Build
8.5
7.8
Fun and solid
no real manual capabilities

This is a fun camera that should get a little more love. It is not in the same area code as the T90 in terms of features, but it is solidly built and fairly compact. In many ways it is a considerable jump up from a T50. Certainly, a lower prosumer model. Creative control only so far as choosing one of five shooting modes and no ability to set the aperture or shutter speed. Basically, there is program, shallow depth of field, greater depth of field, movement blur, and movement no blur. The 50mm f1.8 focuses well and fairly fast for an early autofocus model. Cannot handle multiple vertical or horizontal lines but can be manually focused. Also has a Servo function but not good for fast objects moving towards the shooter. I like using it as a snapshot camera for dogs and people. Would you be better off buying a cheaper EOS model and using EF lenses? Absolutely, but for $20 US with the lens, I could not walk away.

2022-08-23

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Very sharp with great contrast and overall image quality
none. It is heavy but can be shot hand-held easily with the tripod ring off

Incredibly sharp 1:1 macro lens. It serves as a very nice telephoto lens too with its relatively fast f4. Built in lens hood is very convenient and it comes with the tripod mount which is easily attached or detached (something that Canon does not always do with EF or R lenses). I have primarily shot professional slide film with this lens with either the T90 or New F-1 and there is no vignetting at 1:1. There was no vignetting when used with my Canon 7Dii and the Canon FD-EOS macro adapter. It is one of my favorite FD lenses, the other being the nFD 20mm f2.8. This is an expensive used lens, but still cheaper than an equivalent modern macro lens. I found that it performs much better with the Canon adapter for digital than an aftermarket one. That said, it will perform well with any glassless adapter for macro work.

2022-04-21

hvfrancesco

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Solid and sharp even wide open

This lens is surprisingly sharp and lovely to use. It's normally quite undervalued and not widely known, so it's usually a great bargain on the second hand market. I have two equally good samples.
Solid building, very reliable.
Renders very nice colors and gives images a special character.

2022-01-25

tootansimooon

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
THIS LENS IS MAGICAL
LARGE

I don't want to give a technical review of the lens. Those are ten a penny and can be found elsewhere. What interests me - having owned hundreds of various lenses (from FD to Zeiss to no-brand Russian oddities) is the character of a lens, the usability, how enticing it is to pick-up and ultimately if the resulting pictures help to capture magic.

For me, my taste, and my use: this lens is magical, I'm drawn to it, I use it for stills photography (variously t90, FTb, A7riii) and for cinema (bmpcc4k [with speedbooster] and Alexa Mini LF) and of all the 85mm I've used this lens renders almost every shot with a stunning depth and beauty that I've rarely found elsewhere. The perfect balance of softness and sharpness it catches light and holds it just the right way to soften highlights without losing depth in the shadows.

For stills: its large and heavy, but even if I'm going somewhere involving a long walk, squeezing through public transport or risking damage or theft, I frequently prefer to grab a bag for the camera - rather than grabbing a smaller lens, or a smaller camera - and struggle my way through the day because I know that I'll come home with a picture that I love rather than many that are so so.

For cinema/video: get a copy

Did I mention that when I bought mine, I thought I was being ripped off because when it arrived the front element was covered in scratches and plenty of internal dust (which wasnt listed on the advert, and the f***ers wouldn't grace me with a partial refund to have the camera CLA'd?) [Carmarthen cameras: avoid] - well having begrudgingly used it, immediately, on a short film set I quickly realised it didn't matter at all! My copy of this lens is a total beauty. I'd buy another if I could afford it.

2022-01-22

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Great System camera
none

There are several really good reviews of this camera below, so I won't rehash what was already said. However, I do want to make a correction. One reviewer stated that a motor drive was necessary for aperture priority. This is not true. A motor drive or winder is needed for shutter priority. All that is needed for aperture priority is the AE Finder. Of the five available finders I own two--the two I think are most important: the AE Finder and the Speed Finder (I have three speed finders). As note above the AE finder allows for aperture priority. The speed finder swivels allowing it to be used as a waist level finder or to be used with googles or other eye coverings. One can see the full screen from 60mm away using the speed finder. The camera with just the eye level finder is an excellent all mechanical camera akin to an Olympus OM-1 MD for example. The shutter fires electronically from 1/60th and slower, or mechanically from 1/90th to 1/2000th. That means it can run without a battery at those shutter speeds (although there cannot be any battery in the battery compartment). The 1/2000th speed is faster than any of the A series cameras (and not surpassed, I believe for FD, until the T90, which is 1/4000th). My copy is from 1984 with the gold lettering for the LA Olympics--this adds a "cool" factor in my opinion, but nothing more than that. Although instructions state not to add or subtract a motor drive or winder while film is in the camera, I believe that is "recommended" rather than vital. I have done it without fogging the film. I have both the winder and motor drive. For the motor drive I have the NiCd super speed pack, the NiCd slower speed pack, and the 12 AA battery pack. But for my needs the 4AA winder is perfect for its weight and adding shutter priority to aperture priority with the AE finder. One of the best things about the New F-1 is that it won't work if you are using it incorrectly. In other words, with AE finder and no winder/motor drive it will not allow the user to try to shutter priority. The film won't advance, and the shutter won't work. Brilliant!

If you are reading this review you might wonder if the camera is for you. Maybe. If you want an advanced camera that you do not need to add equipment for, buy an A-1. If you want a program camera for days that you don't want to "think" photography, get an AE-1P. If you want an all-manual mechanical camera, you can get one of the F-1s with just an eye-level viewfinder (older F-1 and F-1n take mercury cells). If you want a true system camera that is competitive with Nikon's professional film cameras than the New F-1 with an AE finder, Speed Finder, motor drive or winder is the way to go. I adore this system camera. It is a tank that just keeps pushing on even after more than 100,000 shutter movements. I own five FD bodies (New F-1, A-1, two AE-1Ps, and T90) and four EOS film bodies (EOS 3, Elan, Elan IIe, and the 10s), and three Olympus bodies (OM-1 MD, OM-2n, OM-2Sp) and if I could only keep one it would be the New F-1.

2021-08-04

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Great grain and saturation
a little too red

I will confess that I shoot black and white film three times more than color. I "see" in black and white. But, in order to grow as a photographer I have been trying to shoot more color. Ektar 100 is very nice. The "grain" is tiny and color saturation is good. It is, however, high on the red side. The high red factor makes portraits challenging for me so I use it for architectural and landscape photography. I shot it using an EOS 3 simply because I wanted to see the results from a professional Canon camera and my A series are considered more "prosumer". (Although I think the A-1 is superior to the F-1.) I have only shot 35mm with this film.

2021-08-04

altprocess

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Super fast and flexible

I like big grain and I cannot lie! I have shot many rolls of this film, usually indoors at dog shows where flash cannot/should not be used. I have blown up these to 13 x 19" and they look amazing. I am not taken aback by grain when shoot 3200. Maybe a little too "contrasty" considering the grain size causing a little loss of shadow sharpness. If you need to shoot 3200 this is the film to use.

2021-08-04

altprocess

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Sharp, tiny grain, excellent contrast
as with TMAX 100 it depends upon how much contrast you like

For me this is the sharpest 400 iso film on the market. Very sharp for its speed with excellent grain structure and contrast. I have shot it in 35mm and 120 format.

2021-08-04

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Very sharp with great contrast
Some may find it has too much contrast

This is my favorite black and white film emulsion. Super fine grain allows for large prints--I have printed up to 13 x 19" in studio, which is the biggest enlargement I can currently make. I love the contrast since I tend to add more contrast during the enlarging process to other films. If you prefer to add contrast during printing Tri-X might be the better pick. I have shot this film in 35mm and 120, but not in large format. It is amazingly sharp in both formats.

2021-04-30

BarryReid

Features
7.5
Build
8.5
7.8
Feels Solid, good viewfinder
Heavy to the point of awkward, not as reliable as it looks

My least favourite FD camera of all. I've owned 2 of these unwieldy beasts. Yes, you can use the EF without batteries, yada yada, but for most users that really is moot as they probably won't know how to get a correct exposure anyway. It's other big win is a nice viewfinder with a good level of information, although it's not as bright as the later A-1 or T90, for examples. The problem is that - for these small gains - there is a lot of metal here yet it, in general use it's like a heavier like an AE-1 in most ways. Personally, I'd always pick up the latter unless I was using a heavy bit of glass like a 55/1.2 or a bigger telephoto.

2021-01-19

bob1650

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Flatteringly sharpness, bokeh
Rare

For me this is the best manual Canon 85mm. I also own the famous FD 85mm f/1.2 L, the FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. and the new FD 85mm f/1.8 but still prefer the old FL for it's buttery smooth bokeh and flattering rendering of skin, wide open. The lens is a direct descendant of the highly regarded Canon rangefinder 85mm f/1.8 and shares the same optical formula. You don't see them much but if you get a chance, grab it.

2021-01-05

altprocess

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
Light weight, great for travel and street photography
Like all new FD lens it is plastic casing

I like this lens a lot. I have owned its slightly bigger brother (35-70mm f3.5-4.5) for 35 years and used it extensively as it was once the only lens I owned. The focal length of 28-55mm is very useful for travel and street photography and its light weight build makes it great for portability. Yes, it's slow and the image quality is good rather than great, but it does the job on either my A1 or AE1P. I have even gotten some good indoor, low light images at slow shutter speeds without a tripod because it is so light weight. I can travel easily with this lens and the 100mm f2.8 in case I want a portrait or need a short/medium telephoto lens. The bokeh is okay and it is better shot at 5.6 or 8 like most other non L-glasses lenses. This lens along with the 35-70mm have jumped up in price recently. I was fortunate enough to find a new old stock lens hood making it more practical in bright sun. Are you better off with a 28mm f.2.8 and a 50mm f1.4? Yes. But buying both of those now will set you back at least twice as much if not more. It is more flexible than having the two lenses since you don't have to change lenses. As always, know what you are buying and don't expect lenses to do more than they were made for.

2020-10-07

altprocess

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
Image quality and zoom range
huge lens hood

I should first point out that all of the lens reviews I have written involve using the lens on a Canon film camera--an A-1 or an AE-1 Program. I mention this because a lot of reviews are understandably written about the lens being used for digital work. I do own a Bower FD lens to EOS body converter by find it to be pretty lousy overall and none of the lenses function well. I am glad to hear they perform better on other digital cameras.

That all said, I like the image quality of this lens. As with most lenses it seems to peak its performance from 5.6-11 with sharpness drop-off at f4 and beyond f11. It is light due to the use of polycarb materials instead of metal which makes it easy to add to the camera bag. It is a fairly obtrusive lens and would not be ideal for street photography if you are worried about the subject knowing what's going on. The zoom range does make it ideal for street work nonetheless. If you use the lens hood you might as well where a bell around your neck to announce your arrival. The hood is huge--bigger than the opening of a coffee mug. I love using hoods for protection of the lens and to cut down on flare, but this one is hard to pack into a walk around camera bag--yes it's that big. I'm sure there is a perfectly acceptable reason for this, but I cannot currently think of one. I put the build at 8.5 because I am concerned about plastic and age. Alsatian makes some good points about this in their review. All my FD lenses look great and work great, while the nFD worry me due to build. On the other hand, the older I get the happier I am with lighter weight lenses and the nFD have far better coatings on them--normally multiple coatings. Definitely worth buying for film use if you can get it reasonably ($50-70 US). I sold my 35-105 once I got this lens--I think it has much better image quality.

2020-09-18

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Great design, ease of handling, built strong, yet light weight
slow shutter speed

There are a lot of reviews online referring to this camera as the :poor man's Leica". I've never owned a Leica so I cannot really say that. What I can say is that this is a beautifully designed and functioning rangefinder camera, perfect for street photography. The lens is a 40mm f1.7, which is fast and within close range of the film's diagonal measurement of slightly more than 43mm. It is closer to the human eye than the "normal" 50mm. The lens is very sharp. The filer size is 48mm, allowing a range of black and white filters for those inclined. The camera accepts film from 25-800 ISO and it has a hot shoe for a pretty good little flash--Canonlite D. The f-stop range is 1,7 to 16. Shutter speeds range from B-500. This is the drawback for me--I wish it went up to 1/1000th at least. The maximum shutter speed and aperture combination makes choosing film speed tricky. On a beautiful sunny day even 400 ISO can be too much. Metering is not TTL so use of filters requires knowledge of how much to adjust/compensate exposure, It is a Quick Load camera so loading film is easy. It is set for a 1.35v mercury battery. I use Wein cells with a rubber O ring or 1.55v A625 battery. I do not know if this negatively impacts the circuitry, but it does not seem to impact exposure. Matchstick or needle reading for exposure is large and easy to read. Aperture can be set to A for automatic exposure. I also own a Yashica GSN which many feel is a superior rangefinder. It, however, has two problems not found in the GIII. One is the electronic shutter--it is difficult to find a working model today. The other is the clumsy focus ring--my fingers are always in the way. The GIII has a lovely focus lever that pairs beautifully with the bright viewfinder and focus screen. It is also smaller and lighter than the Yashica. If you want a rangefinder the GIII is a "must have".

2020-09-02

altprocess

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
easy to use and relatively inexpensive
weight

Really not much to write about. Winder A allows you to take photos more quickly since the film advances automatically. It works very well but adds considerable weight to the camera using multiple double A batteries. As I get older I have removed winders and film advancers from my cameras to lighten the load. Having to manually advance the film makes me slow down and compose the shot. I also find that manually advancing the film is very soothing. But the winder works very well and is quite inexpensive to find today if you want to use one.

2020-06-27

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
very high IQ for a mirror lens, very compact, nice construction
mirror lens donut bokeh, very expensive due to relative rarety on the market

The famous Tamron SP 350mm f/5.6 mirror lens delivers in the resolution and contrast department, with very crisp shots at other than minimal focal distances. Up close, the sharpness drops to a mediocre level. Vignetting is pronounced, distortion negligible. Build quality is very high but the lens has a tendency to develop a separation between two rear elements so you should take care when buying. Note as well that presently price tags are very (unreasonably...) high for this lens. If you're looking for a good closeup tele lens, please consider the SP 300 mm f/5.6 lens which offers even better sharpness throughout and much nicer background rendering or alternatively the Sigma Apo Tele Macro 300 mm f/4.

2020-06-27

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
very good IQ at ininity and up cose, nice contruction , MFD at 1.3 m (1 ; 3.3), light
some CA (manageable during postprocessing)

This is a very nice tele macro lens that offers very good resolution and contrast from 1.3 m to infinity. Light and compact for a 300 mm lens, the Tamron SP Adaptall-2 300mm handles very well and offers great and smooth bokeh f/5.6 at closer distances. Very useable for macro photography of shy animals, the lens is very much at ease at longer distances. There are hardly any weak spots and even wide open IQ is high, with low-contrast but high resolution throughout the frame (tested with Sony A7 and A7R).

2020-06-27

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
very high resolution and contrast on par with prime lenses , excellent construction
quite heavy, vignetting wide open, distortion at both extremes, MFD at 1,5 m

This is a very rare and thus hard to find zoom lens with a quite weird but very useful zoom range from standard to moderate tele lens. With f/3.5 at all focal lengths and an eight bladed diaphragm, the Canon New FD 50-135mm f/3.5 can produce nice bokeh at longer focal lengths, resolution, and contrast are extraordinarily high at all apertures and focal lengths, rivaling fixed focal length lenses throughout the range. On the other hand, chromatic aberrations are visible but easily manageable in a good Raw converter, vignetting is pronounced wide open and distortion only disappears in the middle of the range. Images have a very modern rendering, crisp with high contrast and sharpness. The construction is as sound as the optical performance: heavy but very smooth. Unfortunately, the minimum focal distance is at 1.5 m only and the"macro" setting only reestablishes "normal" conditions (0,6 m) at the 50 mm setting. All in all, the Canon New FD 50-135mm f/3.5 is a real gem, overlooked because of its rarety and the strange focal range. It would be worthy of a Leica or Zeiss label!

2020-06-15

altprocess

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Well-built, metal lens
a little bit heavy due to quality build

Mine is the 67mm version mentioned in a previous review. Quality optics and metal construction. I have only used it outside in good light. I prefer the Canon FDn 70-210 f4 although some argue that the Vivitar has better IQ, and is slightly faster. Mine has a bit of an issue with lens creep despite the "locking" mechanism, but I find this less annoying in manual focus lenses. But I imagine it is an issue with more than just my copy, thus the "8.0" on build. I haven't checked prices in a while, but it is definitely worth owning if it is significantly cheaper than the FDn.

2020-06-15

altprocess

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Well-built, metal lens
a little bit heavy due to quality build

This is a really nice all purpose zoom lens. It is very well built, a bit of tank actually, compared to the Canon FDn 28-85 mm f4. This is a faster lens than the Canon and the optics are fantastic. Both B/W and color images turn out true with virtually no flare. I don't want to repeat with others have written, which is spot on. It's quirky, "heavy-ish" but a great performer. The filter size is 67mm.

2020-06-15

altprocess

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
Well-built, metal lens with macro feature
a little bit heavy due to quality build

I was given this lens by a friend. I already owned the Canon FDn 35-70 f3.5-4.5 which I really like due to its portability and overall image quality. Some complain that it is cheaply built. If you want a tank that has a continuous f4 than the Tokina fits the bill. It is very well built, has a 55mm ring and features an excellent macro focus. The image quality is very good, at least equal to that of the Canon mentioned above. Very inexpensive to buy used even today (2020), compared to the Canon equivalent. Overall a nice all-around "normal" zoom lens. Some slight vignetting wide open around the edges.

2020-05-16

altprocess

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Ease of use. Fast lens.
nFD lenses are primarily plastic

Picked up a pristine, hardly used copy from 1980. Fast lens at f2.8, lightweight and great for portraits (when one cannot afford an 85mm 1.8). Cannot comment too much on edge to edge sharpness since most images taken with this did not require edge to edge sharpness. Fairly pleasing bokeh. The only real limit is the camera body only shooting at 1/1000 when using 400 iso film. My DSLR bodies are Canons and I have not found a really good adapter to shoot FD lenses. I use a Bower adapter. Would be happy to learn if there are better ones that members have used. I have found the lens hood to be very helpful.

2020-04-27

Jeroen

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
2020-01-10

altprocess

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Ease of use. Focus lever
Slow maximum shutter speed (1/500)

The "new" Canonet QL17 sports a very fast 40mm f1.7 lens. The QL 17 and QL17 G-III are often referred to as the "poor man's Leica." A silent shooter, it incorporates many of the best rangefinder qualities but without interchangeable lenses. Shutter speeds range from Bulb to 1/500th and the aperture range is f1.7 to 16. It has a hotshoe which takes a very functional small flash which is great for fill light. The QL stands for quick loading, which is true. It was designed to use a 1.35 mercury cell which is no longer available. Many shooters will use a 1.4v Wein cell made for hearing aids that fits in the chamber. Some put a small rubber o-ring around the battery for a better fit. The downside of the Wein cell is that it lasts only about 3-4 months and is activated by air, so removing the battery does not extend its life. I have found that a 1.5v px625 works perfectly fine in the camera and does not affect the image or the camera. These batteries are cheaper and easier to find than the Wein cell and last a lot longer. I have shot positive film using this battery and get correct exposure every time. There is a handy check battery light and the aperture in camera display uses a simple needle. Basically the camera is either shot in aperture priority, automatic or manual. Due to age, most of these cameras have gummed up light seals which need to be removed and replaced. Kits are available for around $10 but there are plenty of videos for those that want to buy a "foamy" sheet and do it themselves. I replaced mine myself and it works great. If the internet is to be trusted many prefer the GIII version but the battery is harder to replace in my opinion as the px625 simply does not fit. I recently acquired a GIII model in great shape but have yet to shoot it. It is smaller and lighter than the excellent Yashica Electra 35 that many swear by. However, I find the viewfinder brighter in the QL17 and the focus lever keeps your hands out of the picture better. The Yashica takes a lot of practice whereas the Canonet does not. You can shoot film from 25-800 iso. I generally shoot 100 iso since the aperture range is very fast. The QL17 is cheaper to find online than the GIII and since the battery is easier to find I would purchase it before the GIII, Both have a self-timer if that is a requirement. It seems to be a 10 second timer. It makes for a nice little travel camera too.

2020-01-09

altprocess

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Easy to use for beginners yet many features for more advanced photographers
Slow maximum shutter speed (1/1000), no exposure compensation dial

This was the first camera that I bought and owned. Purchased around 1985 with the kit lens (35-70 mm f3.5-4.5). This camera has traveled with me throughout the US, UK, Africa and a little bit of Asia. Shot mostly color position film (slide film) for class use (history professor). Usually shot aperture priority, although I'm sure there were some "program" shots along the way. Captures great images in all kinds of light using unforgiving film and a pretty cheap and slow lens. Amazing camera for a photography student, too. I wish it had a easy way to do exposure compensation (such as the A-1 dial). You cannot go wrong with this camera. Mine has taken a little abuse as a few dents show, although I am generally very careful with my gear. I have to own one in all black at some point in my life, just because it looks cooler in my opinion. I've been adding lenses over the past 15 years, but all of my early work was with the one kit lens. Sometimes less is more!

2020-01-09

altprocess

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Great design, ease of handling, built strong, yet ligh weight
Needs a little more speed.

A lot of reviews on the camera already so I will try not to be redundant. Love the ability to do multiple exposures and extensive latitude in exposure compensation. The in-camera "read out" was well designed and easy to see in all conditions, even bright light. It is a light-weight tank, meaning excellent build quality but can be carried around with ease even with the 70-200 f4 attached. Easy to focus. Would have it as a complete "10" all around with a higher maximum shutter speed. An earlier comment suggested difficult to find batteries but it takes a lovely 6v (no mercury issues!) such as the Duracell 28A which I find in most drugstores, Walmart, CVS, Walmart, etc. I have a slight issue moving between shutter and aperture priority as the switch is a little inconvenient for thick fingers. I will invest in another one of these when funds permit. This is my favorite analog camera (even though I own a gorgeous EOS-3). Cheaper than any of the F1 versions. As mentioned in a previous review the F1 has 1/2000 which is great and can work without a battery. That said, I'm unconvinced that the F1 is worth the extra cost.

2020-01-06

altprocess

Features
8.0
Build
7.0
7.7
Light weight, great for travel
plastic, plastic and more plastic

This is the first lens I owned. Bought it along with the AE-1P in 1985 (or so). It has traveled throughout the world with me and never failed to produce nice images using predominately slide film. F5.6 and f8 seems to be the sweet spot for mine so I normally shoot it in aperture priority. Generally cheap to find now and worth it for $20-30. I agree with an earlier reviewer that you need to know what you are buying. Do not think this will perform at L glass level. It is plastic and fairly slow, but the results are overall pleasing as long as you do not intend to make massive prints.

2019-12-31

Alsatian2017

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
Very good IQ, low price, small and lightweight
build quality is average but sufficient

Very often, the perceived value of a lens follows either a certain "hype" or simply reflects the verdict of one or several Internet reviews. Born as a low-cost standard lens for cheap entry-level bodies such as the Canon T50, the FD 50 mm f/2 doesn't have a decent reputation and furthermore one website writer even claims that it would be one of the three worst lenses of the FD system. In reality, the FD 50 mm f/2 is just a copy of the FD 50 mm f/1.8 which sports an additional ring in front of the aperture reducing the original speed by one-third of an f-stop. Thus, the mechanical and optical construction, as well as the performances of the two lenses, are strictly identical even though the f/2 version might show slightly better sharpness wide open thanks to the "bottleneck " . If You can find one (they are quite rare...), don't hesitate since its optical qualities are very good.

2019-11-30

Journalist1943

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Solid SLR, Mirror lockup, Spot Meter, Innovative Film Loading
Almost All Models need to updated with meter relinkage to accept modern batteries.

Very Sturdy and reliable SLR from Canon, a worthy challenger to Nikon at the time. It's very well featured for a prosumer model of the time, between the spot meter, mirror lockup, ASA range 25-1600, and Innovative film loading that allows up to 39-40 Frames if loaded in the dark. Highly recommend to those who need a workhorse standard SLR, with no crazy gimmicks, just a metal body with a reliable meter.

Speaking of the meter, one will need to send their model to be updated to accept 1.5 volts, as opposed to the 1.5 mercury cell it was designed for, in addition to oiling the shutter mechanism. However after a basic CLA any FTb should be working fine.

2019-11-30

Journalist1943

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Tack Sharp, Fast, Solid Build, Exceptional Coatings
None

The Gold Standard of the FD lineup. Reasonably sharp for the standard 50 1.4, Bokeh is pleasing, very well built, not too heavy or light, focus is easy with its fast speed.
All in all 100/100 must buy for FD collection.

2019-11-24

Eelco

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
Cheap, lightweight, easy handling
limited apertures

This lens is very rare. I bought it more as a collectors item than for practical reasons while i already own a 50mm 1.4, a 1.8 and the 3.5 macro prime.
Very little is known online about this lens, but the main info is that is was sold as a cheaper version of the 1.8 and was a kitlens for the Av-1 en later van de T50. It was only sold in some countries like the US and UK.

Basicly it's identical to the 1.8 but with a limited aperture on both ends. So the range is 2.0 - 16 instead of 1.8 - 22.
Size, weight and lensconstruction are the same.

2019-08-09

bastopole

Features
8.5
Build
7.0
8.0
Really sharp from wide open, lightweight, distorsion ok
Flare resistance, extreme corner soft before 8

I've owned this lens for a while now, and I can say it is really good even by today's standarts. I have compared it to sony fe 28mm. Distorsion is way more controled on the canon, sharpness is always better in center and midframe, but the sony is better on the extreme corners, is less prone to flare, and has a softer bokeh.

2019-08-04

Vintagephotographerpaul

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Image quality, even wide open. Build-in hood
The only I can think of is the weight.

This lens is great for the concertphotography I do. I never leave for a concertshoot without it. More than sharp enough wide open at f2.5.
It also makes fantastic portraits. The build-in hoods prevents I have to struggle with loose screw or clamp hoods. I think the only better 135mm lens is the nFD 135 2.0 but is do not know if the difference is worth the amount of money.

2019-06-26

davidwogan

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
Edge to edge sharp wide open, small, light, cheap
Wide open at 70mm is soft

What a totally remarkable lens. Cheap and cheerful, yet the bottom line is that this 1981 zoom is better wide open than my Zeiss Contax 35-70mm f/3.3. Tested on a Sony A6300, the results were indistinguishable from my EF 24-70mm f/4 IS. I will happily use this lens at f/4 at 35 and 50mm - 70mm at f/4 is not so good, but is excellent at f/8.

2019-06-25

Alsatian2017

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Excellent build and image quality, sharp from wide open
long and heavy, sunshade not built in, blue and yellow chromatic abberations

I recently found one of those olf FL tele lenses in a bad state. After repairing it, I was highly impressed by the sharpness throughout the frame and the superb mechanical construction. Unlike the Mark II version which sports an integrated sunshade while keeping the same optical formula, this version needs an additional sunshade to avoid flare, contrast loss and reflections, given the lens is only single coated. Like any other lens without special glass, the Canon FL 200mm f/3.5 suffers from slight chromatic aberrations which are easily corrected nowadays in postproduction. Vignetting and distortion are negligible while sharpness and contrast are just excellent from wide open (tested with a Sony A7).

2019-06-21

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Queen of the A-Series, multitude of features
None

First of all I like to mention that the A-1 always has to compete with the (New) F-1. Which seems fair on the first look but when you think about it, hardly any of the F-1's advantages really impact your daily use of an anlog camera. You are going to Siberia and the camera mustn't be battery dependant? Go with F-1, no doubt. An A-1 should do the trick for all the other photographers that remain. The F-1's 1/2000s shutter speed is its only real advantage, though. Having used an A-1 for a long time now, I have to say that it is delightfully easy to work around that shutter speed limitation.
The A-1 has been by far the most advanced camera of its time when it was relased in 1978. Featuring program ae mode, shutter speed-priority ae mode, aperture-priority ae mode, preset aperture-priority ae mode and Speedlite ae mode it can do basically everything you could wish for. A bright and easy to focus viewfinder with a 7-segment LED readout that adapts to the brightness is a pleasure to look through. Ergonomics also have been improved with a grip over the battery hatch, the same grip would later also be installed at the AE-1 Program, which inherited many of the technological advancements of the A-1.
Furthermore, the A-1 features a designated multi-exposure lever and two extra buttons around the lens mount housing, one for activating the metering like a half-pressed shutter release button and the other one for saving metered settings for the nextt shot. A high ISO range and the possibility for back-light-compensation are also featured. In case you got four Speedlites you can control all of them with the A-1, if you have the cables to connect them to the camera of course.
In addition to a smooth film advance lever there is also the possibility to have the Power Winder A or A2 for an automatic film advance speed of approx. 2fps or the hefty Motor Drive A (specifically built for the A-1 but can also be used with the AE-1 Program since its basically the same camera internally) which manages a film advance speed of 5 fps and also delivers two additional shutter release buttons.

In the end, there is nothing more to say.
The A-1 remains until today one of the best film cameras and claims undoubtedly the throne of Canon's famous A-Series.

2019-06-11

kr_13

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Usable sharp in the center wide open, stop down to f/4 it's very sharp. Lightweight
Corner sharpness is only usable from f/5.6, good at f/8 (peak)
2019-06-11

kr_13

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Extremely sharp wide open at all aperture, well corrected CA, lightweight.
Push pull zoom design, distortion is unneglectable, image contrast not impressive.
2019-06-04

jajong

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
sharp and contrasty; handy walk-about lens in old city centres and the like.
build quality fair; a well used one will be sloppy in the zoom department
2019-05-23

Alpha

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Great value, pretty sharp, compact, build-in lens hood, lightweight
Narrow aperture, sticky push-pull zooming

Very cheap price, got mines for about $20 and produces great quality pictures. Great for a sunny day but when the sun goes down or indoors its a pain to use. Love the low weight and slim compact design. Zooming is sticky on mines but manageable and build-in hood is a great feature to have. 70-150 range is very practical and also the constant f4.5 aperture.

2019-05-23

Alpha

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Excellent image quality at f2.8, Very sharp and contrasty, metal build, price
Some purple fringing at f2.8, heavy, push-pull and rotating front barrel for others.

The Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 80-200MM F2.8 LD Model 30A is truly quite a lens to behold. On the Exterior, the moment you pick it up the thick metal barrel and solid dense weight, it feels very substantial like a tank. Even the lens hood is very thick metal and heavy. The Push-pull zoom and focusing ring is very wide and focuses buttery smooth, essential for focusing precision. Zooming with the ring doesn't creep on my example and it is old school compared to modern separated two touch designs. I don't mind at all but some may find the old Push-pull a finicky proposition. The large 77mm front barrel rotates which can pose a problem for polarizing filters and extend when focusing. The barrel does't extend when zooming. The MFD is 1.5m, which is generous for this type of zoom but don't expect pseudo-macro capabilities or a dedicated macro mode on this lens. The Adaptall quick mount system works well and permits the use of other lens mounts with a simple quick adapter swap at the rear of the lens. A truly ingenious idea of Tamron. Find one with the tripod collard ring to use it on a tripod of monopod because this lens is heavy but it is definitely worth it for the optical quality alone.

Optically, this lens is where it excels. Very, very sharp and contrasty wide open at f2.8. From 80, 135, and even 200mm the images are extremely consistent and holds well for an early f2.8 zoom. One look at the front element holds that light sucking f2.8 glass and the special glass used to make that all possible. This lens uses one Low-Dispersion element designed by Tamron to compete against the big guns at Canon and Nikon at the time. Color and contrast pops out and sharpness excels on this lens signifying where the "SP" or Super Performance designation came from. The LD element to help control lens deficiencies and increase image quality but one area of concern in this particular model is the tendency of introducing purple fringing in high contrast areas at f2.8. Sometimes the purple fringing appears and depends on the shooting angle and light intensity of the subject. Best to stop it down to f4 and it almost disappears completely. If you need f2.8 then the fringing is a slight trade-off otherwise using this lens at f4 is still excellent and can beat other lenses at this aperture. The fringing can easily be corrected in Lightroom but it proves how far lens designs had mature since then with newer designs and more exotic glass elements. Utilizing 9 aperture blades, the bokeh is very smooth when stopping down and it is a great portrait lens for stationary, composed subjects.

For the excellent performance for the time and even today, universal adaptall mount system, build and image quality, this lens has become a true gem in the Tamron's history. The great price of this fast telephoto glass also comes into consideration because they go from $150-$300. These lenses are not getting any younger and they're becoming rarer.

2019-04-21

Eelco

Features
6.0
Build
8.0
6.7
Cheap, lightweight, easy handling
dissapointing sharpness between 200 and 300 mm,

I got a mint condition copy of this lens for only € 50,- but it dissapoints me. Of course, it was produced as an affordable, entry level, large FL zoomlens but the range between 200 aan 300 mm does degrade in sharpness quickly while that extra range is just the reason it exists. If you are looking for an affordable zoomlens the 70-210 f/4 is a much better alternative.

2019-04-21

Eelco

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
IQ, precision focussing, build quality
Weight

This lens is a piece of art. It produces crystal clear images with almost unnoticeable CA even at it's largest focal length. The possibility of zooming is useful to find a distant subject like birds etc. and than zooming in to enlarge it. I use this lens for video mostly. In a theatre you can zoom from a full bodyshot to a close-up.
The weight of 1.6 Kg is a downside during transport but an advantage during shooting on a tripod. It makes your setup more steady and stable.

The lens has a built in hood and uses the rare IX series screw-in filters. It also has a tripodcollar.

2019-04-06

blaha41

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
Versatility
Minimum focus distance

NOTE: I don't do still images, I only do cinematography so that's where this is coming from...

Overall: If you don't need perfection, then for the price it's the most versatile lens I've found.... I'm pairing this lens with an a7Sii for location scouts and small crew travel/interview documentary shoots.

- Minimum focusing distance is real and shockingly hard to get used to.
- As sharp as it needs to be while still looking "organic."
- Focus pull almost as smooth and as long as a cinema prime (BEST feature for me personally). Really good with a follow focus.
- Parfocal! Lovely... never takes you out of the moment.
- Macro is very usable, but not good enough if the majority of your important shots needed to be macro.
- It barely warms the image up compared to the newer L-series glass.
- De-clicked aperture is very useful, but the aperture pull could be much longer.
- Unexciting flares.
- Can't bokeh on command, which is good so you don't fall back on lazy images, but bad if you want to be lazy.
- I've gotten used to (lazy with) the sony 24-70 2.8 and going up to a 3.5 was an adjustment and I have to remind myself I can't bring this lens to *any* situation and expect to make something pretty while still being lazy.

2019-03-25

Jaap_Breukel

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Just bought it. Immediately completely okay on a Sony A7 II. Handling: superb.
Don't know yet.

My copy of this lens just came in. Feels much nicer on a Sony A7 II than a lot of other 300mm lenses. Okay: not a wonder in 'light sucking', but what a delight that the lens feels immediately appropriate on the A7 body (with Novoflex adapter). Color rendering seems to be much more genuine than with some new (expensive) lenses. Rather sharp in the focus area.

2019-03-14

MarkB

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Build quality, bokeh, sharp wide-open, price
Some fringing, bigger/longer lens

As others have stated, this is another fabulous lens in Canon's old stable. Even for today, this lens delivers sharp and contrasty shots wide-open. It also has fantastic colors and bokeh that is really creamy. The lens is a bit long, particularly with its build-in lens hood (which is actually well constructed), but considering this is a 2/135, its actually not nearly as big as its current EF counterpart nor the Zeiss offerings. This makes a great portrait lens on the Sony A7 cameras and is about half the price one would pay for an nFD 85mm f/1.2L - both are beautiful lenses and would serve you well. I have a Flickr album dedicated to this lens as well as other classic Canon lenses, please enjoy!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157660868030108

2019-03-14

MarkB

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Build quality, bokeh, sharp wide-open
Fringing, flare control

I own both of the FD 1.2/85mm variants as well as previously owning the second EF successor - I had sold the latter to fund the manual lenses and couldn't be happier. Both of these lenses are sharp wide-open, particularly in the center of frame and get very sharp when stopped down - amazingly, the EF wasn't any sharper even though it was released decades later. There have been definite improvements in coatings in the EF versions, but all the 1.2/85mm's still have their fair share of fringing. Some say the bokeh is legendary on these 85's, I wouldn't disagree. Many people have said the FD 85's share the same lens design, possibly, but there is definitely a difference in how the lenses were polished as the out-of-focus points of lights on the nFD contain concentric rings (similar to the EF versions) while the original breach-lock does not have these rings. The nFD also seems to have a warmer look versus a bluer/cooler tone about it. Other differences include the number of aperture blades, the nFD has 8 where the breach-lock has 9, not that they get used that often. The breach-lock version is heavier and feels more sturdy, but I wouldn't say either of them are light, both are well built. The nFD 85 has plastic hood that is easily worn and no longer fits tightly. The nFD version is definitely the more-affordable of the two, but one could expect to pay $600 or more for a good copy. The older version is rarer and has seemingly picked up a cult status as of late and I've seen prices exceed $2000 on eBay, nuts. I have dedicated Flickr albums to both of these and other classic Canon lenses. Enjoy!

Canon nFD 85mm f/1.2L
https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157674189782574

Canon FD 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157677998805186

2019-03-14

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Build quality, bokeh, sharp wide-open
Fringing, flare control, lens hood

I own both of the FD 1.2/85mm variants as well as previously owning the second EF successor - I had sold the latter to fund the manual lenses and couldn't be happier. Both of these lenses are sharp wide-open, particularly in the center of frame and get very sharp when stopped down - amazingly, the EF wasn't any sharper even though it was released decades later. There have been definite improvements in coatings in the EF versions, but all the 1.2/85mm's still have their fair share of fringing. Some say the bokeh is legendary on these 85's, I wouldn't disagree. Many people have said the FD 85's share the same lens design, possibly, but there is definitely a difference in how the lenses were polished as the out-of-focus points of lights on the nFD contain concentric rings (similar to the EF versions) while the original breach-lock does not have these rings. The nFD also seems to have a warmer look versus a bluer/cooler tone about it. Other differences include the number of aperture blades, the nFD has 8 where the breach-lock has 9, not that they get used that often. The breach-lock version is heavier and feels more sturdy, but I wouldn't say either of them are light, both are well built. The nFD 85 has plastic hood that is easily worn and no longer fits tightly. The nFD version is definitely the more-affordable of the two, but one could expect to pay $600 or more for a good copy. The older version is rarer and has seemingly picked up a cult status as of late and I've seen prices exceed $2000 on eBay, nuts. I have dedicated Flickr albums to both of these and other classic Canon lenses. Enjoy!

Canon nFD 85mm f/1.2L
https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157674189782574

Canon FD 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157677998805186

2019-03-14

MarkB

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Build quality, bokeh, color, sharp stopped-down
Resistance to flare, bokeh, fringe

This one has been in my collection of classic 50's for a couple of years and is a favorite. While it doesn't capture the same level of attention as some of the other more renown 50's, it's still a ton of fun to use. The build quality is beyond reproach, nothing buy metal and glass, the thing just feels solid. Wide open, there is a glow due to low contrast and resolution or some other aberrations I'm not really qualified to talk about - this definitely gives the photos a vintage look to them. Stop the lens down a bit and image will become sharp and contrasty enough for most - actually kind of fun to have this much variability in a lens. Colors are fantastic and saturated, but the lens does B&W quite well too. Bokeh is of the bubble variety and can be distracting at times if there is a busy out-of-focus background (like a bunch of trees) when you are focusing on something at mid or longer distance. For closer distances, the bokeh is quite buttery particularly when using a close-focus adaptor or extension tube. If you're looking at getting into these old manual lenses and want that fast aperture this one won't disappoint, at around $350 for a good copy, this might be your ticket. I have several Flickr albums dedicated to Canon's old lenses - here is the location for this beauty!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157662474029203

2019-03-14

MarkB

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Build quality, wide-open resolution, bokeh, cheap
Distortion, wide-open contrast, resistance to flare, bokeh

This is the newest addition to my collection of classic 50's. Relative to the other f1.2 lenses, this is probably the best value out there. The build quality is beyond reproach, nothing buy metal and glass, the thing just feels solid. I would say the only true weakness is resistance to flare as it seems any direct light source really washes out the contrast. Resolution is surprisingly strong across the frame, even wide-open, but the contrast is not as notable until stopped down. There is barrel distortion that is noticeable if you're shooting anything with straight lines in your frame - a +6 correction in LR seems to counteract this nicely however. Bokeh is of the bubble variety and can be distracting at times if there is a busy out-of-focus background (like a bunch of trees) when you are focusing on something at mid or longer distance. For closer distances, the bokeh is quite buttery particularly when using a close-focus adaptor or extension tube. If you're looking at getting into these old manual lenses and want that fast aperture without breaking your bank, at around $150 for a good copy, this might be your ticket. I have several Flickr albums dedicated to Canon's old lenses - here is the location for this beauty!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83792268@N03/albums/72157704504236591

2019-02-23

Jaap_Breukel

Features
7.0
Build
6.0
6.7
You get what you pay: an average, low-priced wide-angle.
Too much parameters are mediocre.

I have several copies of this lens. Not any of them really is a friend. They have all been serviced, but all stay mediocre.

The build for me is just acceptable, but in terms of 'influence' on image quality there is something wrong with the design. Every copy that I have is too loose in build (shake it, and you feel it). Just think about that: lens groups that aren't stiff calibrated.

In my humble opinion: mostly over-rated by Canon FD-lovers.

2019-02-23

Jaap_Breukel

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
My copy of this lens never failed, but don't expect razor-sharp. Ideal for portraits.
Be careful in harsh light. SSC is not like Zeiss T*.

This really is my best friend for certain purposes. Not only portrait, but in this respect I did not find a better lens.

Like most older lenses: get it cleaned inside and you will be amazed. And again like most older lenses: not weatherproof at all.

2019-02-23

Jaap_Breukel

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
One of the most 'balanced' lenses I know of. Superb color rendition.
Despite the SSC-coating, doesn't handle flare that well. It's not a Zeiss T* :-)

For me this might be called the real photographer's 50 mm lens. I have used it extensively for film in the 1980's and 1990's. Now it's one of my best companions on a Sony A7 II (with Novoflex adapter). In some respects it can produce nicer pictures than the amazing Sony/Zeiss 55mm f1.8, which is sometimes too sharp and a bit harsh (I also do use this lens). Almost any normal good picture taken with this lens gets selected for the EyeEm-market !

Very important: in my humble opinion this lens needs service (especially cleaning inside) to get the best results. Like most older lenses: not weatherproof at all.

2019-02-09

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Image quality, versatile zoom range, flare resistance, fixed aperture, parfocal
rotating front, some vignetting on the wide end, no aspherical front element

This is a very, very underrated lens. It was one of the latest designed FD lenses (1985) and was build on experiences from the popular 20-35 f/4L and 35-105 f/3,5.
It's versatile zoomrange still allows close focussing up to 0,5 mtr over the entire range without the need to pull a switch to 'macro'.
Ofcourse it is an all plastic build, but focussing and zooming feels almost like the older FD's.
This lens is perfect for video because it's fixed aperture and focus over the entire zoomrange.
There is a clear range overlap with the smaller 35-105 f/3,5-4,5 from the same year but this one is much better.

2019-01-24

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Excellent color rendition, contrast, sharp
Zoom bushing can get bad...

For an "L", this lens is a great versatile, modest speed optic that will provide great wide angle Landscapes and interiors. It is sharp even wide open but with a bit of visible vignetting but stopped down it becomes less noticeable. 98% of the time, this lens is going to be stopped down to at least F5.6+ anyway. Expect very little bokeh and less than ideal close-ups as this lens minimum focusing distance isn't the greatest. Due to it's odd numbered 5 bladed aperture, sunstars are nice 10 point sunstars unlike the ugly 6 bladed sunstars of the older 24-35L. Distortion is pretty much unavoidable in wide zoom lenses so this one is no surprise. The aspherical lens does help with controlling the amount of barrel and pincushion distortion but it can all go away with a click of button if using on digital mirrorless. Chromatic aberrations are also present. Don't expect prime levels of correction overall but for a zoom, it's not that bad.

Some copies of this lens has seem to get used quite a bit and so the zoom bushings can get worn out over time. The front barrel and zoom ring can develop a rough or loose resistance so look for a copy that doesn't rattle as this is a good sign of the plastic bushings still intact. If it's shaken and something's really loose, then the bushings will have to be replaced. If you don't, the front group will not align allowing proper focus and the lens image quality will be very soft and useless.

For an "L" this one is pricey and it's worth depends on the lens condition ultimately.

2019-01-07

MordecaiRigby720

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Extremely Sharp, Weight, Price ($150-$250) and Looks great on Sony Mirrorless System
N/A

This lens truly lives up to its iconic status. Excellent product. SUPER SHARP!

2019-01-07

MordecaiRigby720

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharpness stop down, Weight, Looks, Price.
CA wide open, Plastic.

Very light, Good sharpness at F 1.4 , Extremely Sharp stop down to F 2.8, I use it for video, at night its excellent, nice shallow depth of field, for the price its worth it.

2018-12-28

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very good image quality, great build
sensitive to flare, filter mount turns with focusing, minimum focusing distance

If ever you manage to find a solid specimen without rotten slide bearings the New FD 35-105 mm f/3.5 might be one of the best bargains in Canon FD land. I had to sample a few before finding a good one and I'm very happy with it: IQ is very good throughout the full frame (Sony A7) and operation is smooth and nice. The standard sunshade BW-72B might be difficult to find and rather costly but the expense might be worth it since the lens is quite prone to reflections and flare.

2018-10-28

Alpha

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
SUPER SHARP! Beautiful radiation glass, excellent build quality
Weight not 420g but rather near 500g!

Sharp, sharp, sharp...It hurts! Read alot of forums/users and finally can see why there's a cult following of this lens. Simply, the most sharpest FD lens ever. Even wide open at F2 it's remarkable. The detail on trees, fences, people portraits, landscapes, objects...Pretty much anything is in good crispy, contrasty goodness. This truly deserves the Canon "L" name if it did.

There's one issue though...

The yellow thoriated glass can is quite noticeable and some photographers leave it on for B/W photos. Others said to reduce the yellow tint with either weeks in the sunshine or the IKEA Jansjö LED lamp for a couple of days. There's a bit of an debate on which is "right" for this one special lens as the yellowing is a feature to some. I removed mine for primarily color photography but a small bit of that yellow radioactive character still remains. I don't mind a bit of warmer photos, not just yellow photos. It would eventually come back after a couple of decades anyway...due to the decay of Thorium.

Speaking of which, the Thorium element is reportedly safe as if you don't sleep next to it every night, give it to your pets/kids or smash it to pieces. The magic is in the radioactive element.

2018-10-14

MordecaiRigby720

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharpness, Simply stunning!
Heavy

I have a Sony a6300 with a speedbooster, I can't say much that everyone else has already said. It's sharp, it's fun to use, it's been on my camera 100% of the time since I purchased it from ebay. The f2 aperture is amazing and has a very shallow depth of field. The bokeh is awesome and really makes the subject in the photo or the video pop. 10 out of 10 Highly Recommended !

2018-10-14

Miles360

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
SHARP! SHARP! EXTREMELY SHARP!
N/A

It's so sharp , Excellent for video and photo, get this lens now! this is such a bargain lens for the price($250) as of 2018

2018-09-21

Alpha

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Sharpest FL lens, lightweight, smooth focusing
Flaring

Very sharp wide open with impressive corner to corner performance. Color and contrast holds up well and pops out. Tessar formula gives it that really great 3D look and characteristic bokeh rendering at close distances. Smooth precise focusing throw for close-ups and combined with the additional life size adapter, it can get to 1:1 macro magnification compared to just 1:2 without. Even though the front element is fairly recessed deep, this lens is prone to flare easily when pointing at bright sources of light which is the only negative about this stellar lens.

2018-09-20

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Cheapest f1.2 lens, sharp even @f1.2, built like a tank, snappy aperture ring
Some spherical aberrations, heavy, long MFD, lack of newer coatings, so-so bokeh

This is a good entrant into the world of f1.2 lenses. Not so expensive and also very good build quality. Find a good one in good condition and this lens is gold. This lens is heavy. Metal and large glass combined to make such a beast. The front metal aperture ring is miles better than nFD lenses and it clicks with such satisfaction. The dot next to f1.2 is f1.4, to note ;) Image quality is good albeit a bit of spherical aberration at open apertures but quickly goes away at around f2.8. Sharpness is usable at f1.2 and really stirs up at f2.

F1.2 produces the most characteristic aspect of this lens. What's the point of an f1.2 lens than!? Dreamy and creamy with a bit of glow with just enough sharpness for portraits that extrudes a vintage look wide open. Bokeh is not the strongest showing a slight noticable field curvature and cat eye effect but it's flare and low contrast can be a issue due to the lack of advanced multi coatings but it's okay because this lens has a sort of old charm to it. Colors are good still with a bit of old character. The front element is yellow but this one is not radioactive like the 58mm f1.2. It's clear inside so no UV treatment necessary. Stopped down and this monster can get quite sharp and picks up in contrast and sharpness impressively.

For what's it's worth, this lens is remarkable especially for the value today. Find/buy them while they're still in good condition and prices.

2018-09-20

Alpha

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
Sharp, lightweight, good microcontrast, short MFD
Plastic feel, flaring, pentagon bokeh

Similar to the Canon New FD 50mm F1.4, this lens shows good performance. Sharp wide open @f2.8 and very vibrant, punchy colors. Contrast is very good, surpassing the 50 f1.4 even. Minimum focusing distance is at a close 0.3 meters and it can get quite close to objects given it a 3-D pop to them. 7 floating elements gives this a great close-up qualities.

The downside is the flaring due to the bulbous front element and the 5 blade aperture giving stopped down bokeh a very define pentagon shape.

Due to its weight, This lens is the second lightest nFD lens and it balances well with small mirrorless cameras.

2018-09-20

Alpha

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
Vibrant colors, lightweight, very smooth focus ring
Sticky aperture ring, Plastic feel, Chromatic aberration at wider apertures

The prices of these old lens are going up especially with more Full Frame Mirrorless cameras now. I used this with the Zhongyi lens turbo II with a mirrorless Aps-c camera.

The lens is lightweight and sturdy mostly constructed with thinly stamped metal and plastic. Great color and contrast even wide open @ f1.4 but with a bit of chromatic aberrations. Flare performance is OK, and a good hood is probably a great idea. SSC coatings retains good microcontrast even wide open.

2018-09-16

Eelco

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Sharp, contrasty, versatile, cheap
none

This is a very underrated lens. I got it for only € 25,- but it turned out to be very valuable lens for video. I use it a lot. It's sharp, contrasty, zooms butter smooth and is easy to operate due to the push-pull focus/zoom ring.

I use it with an EF 58mm lenshood wich fits perfectly and gives the lens a contemporary look.
There is no visible distortion at all focallengths wich is nice for architecture.
At 70mm it has an MOD of only 44 cm, in other focal lengths it's 1,5 mtr.

2018-08-24

Eelco

Features
8.5
Build
10.0
9.0
Precise, long focussing. beautiful build. Lightweight. Tripod collar.
busy bokeh

I found a really pretty copy. The donut shaped rings appear much less than i expected in normal use. It's pretty sharp, contrasty and can compete with regular FD lenses. Crank the ISO a bit and you will end up with shutterspeeds that allow for handheld shooting but a tripod is needed for the best handling. Feels good in your hands during handheld.

Don't know the purpose of the drop in type 'regular 1x' filter at the rear. Can't find othe filters for it.

Nice lens for candid shots.

2018-04-29

Gaius73

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
It’s wide :0 ...
Zip

Bought for 180 on eBay Uk ... love this lens it’s fanatic , wide , good results , sharpe at 5.6 , nice colours .. normal imperfections in the images as expected from a vintage lens .. other than that is really really good ... worth the cash

2018-04-29

Gaius73

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Good all round

Normal imperfections in the images from a lense 30-40 years old , other than that it’s very good , Sharpe , contrastie, nice results , build is great ,nice balance , tested on a Sony A7 .. it’s fine Bought for 80 quid on eBay UK ...

2018-04-29

Gaius73

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Great images and build and dof
None

Very surprised at this Len s it’s build quality , results and dof .. this is as good as or better than the ef50mm 1.8m.. can see any negatives. , of course their is the normal imperfections in the images , but., That is why we are buying them surely , that will be expected from a lens this old but other than this , nothing else can be faulted ..

2018-04-29

Gaius73

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Great images and build
2018-04-21

Gaius73

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Inky black blacks .. Sharpe enough to keep you happy
Maybe build if u are fussy

Good range in the zoom , seems to be a Sharpe across the range .. I paid about £70 for my copy with hood from Uk eBay ... it’s mint .. not scratch or mark anywhere . All controls are tight and work well .. the blacks in the images are very inky dark ... love the look it produces ... it’s a very good solid lens .. macro function is useful as well , not at the same level as the 100mm but if u have nothing else it will get you some interesting images ... nothing bad to say about it ...

2018-04-21

Gaius73

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Image quality and sharpeness
My copy has loose focus ring

Images quality of excellent for its age .. have had some really good images from this ... paid less than £70 on UK eBay for this and had my doubts about if from the start for some reason .. however the Lens has shown me to wrong .. it is incredibly Sharpe and has a great vintage feel to ts images .. starting to love it ... my copy has slightly loose focus ring , but other that .. it’s awesome /... IMAGES can be found on 500px guy Butterworth .. tested on Sony A7 ..

2018-04-21

Gaius73

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharpe as a the best
Zip

Images are Sharpe , dof is great , Bokeh is good , macro and 1-1 with 50mm extension tube is achievable.. great and Sharp as long lens. Really good alrounder .. paid about £140 feb 2018 UK eBay for Lens , 50mm extension tube and hood ... love this lens tested on both 6d and a7 ...IMAGES can be found on 500px guy Butterworth

2018-04-21

Gaius73

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
The nuts . Stands up against the newer models ..
A bit dark

I have adapted declicked ef mount copy done by the lens doctor up in Scotland .. bought for £240 of a bbc camera guy .. this lens is awesome , sharp , solid , contrasty images ... totally in ore of how well this lens does at 200mm handheld .. for the money it bets the newer ones hands down ... the only negative is , that it is slightly dark for a f4 . Which require high iso and slow shutter speeds in some situations compared with other lenses .. other than that it’s nuts ,, tested on both a 6d and a7 ...

IMAGES can be found on 500px guy Butterworth

2018-04-21

Gaius73

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Decent 28 mm , Sharper than you think
Corner blur might be a negative for some

Solid lens.. Sharpe for its age .. nice dof ... I like the softest in the corners and edges , but that night be for everyone ... good build , pretty light weight .. a fine wide lens... this has been used on a 6d and A7 ... IMAGES can be found on 500px guy Butterworth ..

2018-04-21

Gaius73

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Fantastic images and build
Getting expensive

Brilliant 35mm lens .. Sharpe and lovely image feel and look .. build quality is fantastic , the lens is a hefty for its size and comes with a yellow tinge to the images until you get to post .. tested on a 6d and Sony A7 ... the a7 produces some incredible images with it ... a true legend of a lense and getting rare really... get one if u can .. mine came from eBay UK for £270 April 2018 .. a classic in evey sense of the word ... images are on 500 px guy Butterworth .. if u want to see what it can do.

2018-04-11

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
image quality (resolution, contrast, vignetting and distorsion), construction
chromatic aberration, purple fringing

Another sleeper in Canon land ! Even though this lens and the "Luxury" version with UD glass showed similar MTF performance in an 80's Modern Tests comparison, the standard version shares the lack of popularity with other 300 mm lenses without low dispersion special glass. Nethertheless, you shouldn't discount the Canon New FD 300mm f/4 since most chromatic aberrations can be easily corrected (and sometimes even automatically) in modern Raw converters - aside from the aformentioned color flare, my lens offers a solid performance on a 24 megapixel full frame Sony A7, with very good sharpness at all apertures, miles ahead of its Minolta equivalent and similar to its slower sibling (300 mm f/5,6 FDn). Construction quality is top notch, with smooth and precise internal focusing. While the integrated lens shade is quite short, it can be blocked to prevent it from sliding down the lens barrel. The tripod ring (don't buy the lens without...) is very well made and the lens accepts custom 34 mm drop-in filters. On the other hand, there's no front filter thread, even though the front ring is threaded. The MFD of 3 meters is nothing special by modern standards but you can add an extension tube like the FD 50 in order to get closer to your subject. Furthermore, in adding an extender FD 2x-A or FD 1,4x-A , you will get a focal length of 420 or 600 mm - IQ will be lower and chromatic aberrations more pronounced but the result will be still quite acceptable, even with the doubler.

2018-03-03

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
solid construction and image quality, integrated lens hood, MFD 1 m
quite heavy

This is one of the oldest Canon zoom lens designs and it shows in its weight (790 g). On the other hand, construction is very solid, with very smooth separated rings for focal length and focus distance variation. The filter ring doesn't turn when focussing and the lens hood is built - in but a little bit short. The Canon New FD 80-200mm f/4 is a real sleeper, hiding in the shadow of the mighty New FD 80-200mm f/4 L lens. Its production numbers are much lower than those of the more popular New FD 70-210mm f/4 push and pull zoom lens. Still, the forgotten one has a lot going for it : image quality is competitive with prime lenses of its time, yet not as spectacular as the one of its L sibling but better than that of the 70-210 variant ; images are sharp and contrasty from wide open even though it's wise to close to f/5.6 (at 80 and 135 mm) or f/8 (at 200 mm) in order to obtain perfectly defined image borders and corners. Distorsion is well controlled and vignetting disappears by f/5.6. The lack of extra low dispersion glass produces (a still manageable amount of) chromatic aberration and purple fringing at the longer focal lengths but that is easily corrected in a Raw converter. The image quality doesn't falter at lower focus distances - the lens is near perfect for close focus (1 meter) and macro shots, with or without an achromatic close-up lens. Even nowadays, it is easy to understand why this lens was very expensive throughout its production time - it still holds its own if you're willing to correct its only shortcomings (chromatic aberrations) in postproduction.

Note that this lens exists in two versions : the nFD is slightly heavier and has a 58 mm filter diameter while the SSC version is slightly lighter with a 55 mm filter thread. Both share the same robust and solid built and optical construction. The antireflex coating seems to be slightly improved in the newer version but it shows mainly in the colours of the light reflections.

2018-03-03

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
very good resolution and contrast at all settings, hardly any chromatic aberrations
pronounced distorsion, limited focal range and luminosity, MFD at 1,5 m

The Canon New FD 70-150mm f/4.5 is a compact and lightweight, push-pull zoom lens which was meant to be a reasonably priced alternative to the more popular and versatile 80-200 or 70-210 mm zoom lenses. Limited by a mediocre luminosity (f/4.5), a minimum focal distance of 1.5 meters and a limited focal range, the lens doesn't seem of much interest for nowadays photographers. Nethertheless, it has its strong points as well : a very low market price (well below 50 euros), a very appealing optical performance with excellent resolution and contrast even wide open, lack of chromatic aberrations and vignetting and a small filter diameter of 52 mm. Construction is just as solid and robust as you would expect from other Canon nFD lenses and the hood is built-in. Note that the lens gets longer as you zoom from 70 to 150 mm - thus, on my Sony A7, i use an adapter with a built-in tripod collar to obtain better balance. All in all, the Canon New FD 70-150mm f/4.5 is a interesting lens, especially given the very low prices compared to other FD lenses. But i have to admit that i use my 80-200 much more frequently, even though its performance may be slightly inferior...

2018-02-28

Jeroen

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
2018-01-29

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
very good resolution and contrast, low distorsion, solid construction
vignetting wide open, quite heavy

A lens which offers astonishingly good optical performance from wide open on a "full frame" Sony A7 camera. Note that there are two versions of this lens : a first (Sonnar type, 4 elements in 3 groups) and a second (Ernestar type, 4 elements in 4 groups), the latter supposed to better than the former. Chromatic aberrations and distorsion are very well controlled and the heavy vignetting wide open is, with the weight, the only shortcoming of this very economic and largely underrated lens.

2018-01-28

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
solid construction and image quality, integrated lens hood, MFD 1 m
quite heavy

solid construction and image quality, integrated lens hood, MFD 1 m

This is one of the oldest Canon zoom lens designs and it shows in its weight (790 g). On the other hand, construction is very solid, with very smooth separated rings for focal length and focus distance variation. The filter ring doesn't turn when focussing and the lens hood is built - in but a little bit short. The Canon New FD 80-200mm f/4 is a real sleeper since it hides in the shadow of the mighty New FD 80-200mm f/4 L lens. Its production numbers are much lower than those of the more popular New FD 70-210mm f/4 push and pull zoom lens. Still, the forgotten one has a lot going for it : image quality is competitive with prime lenses of its time, yet not as spectacular as the one of its L sibling but better than that of the 70-210 variant ; images are sharp and contrasty from wide open even though it's wise to close to f/5.6 or f/8 in order to obtain perfectly defined image borders and corners. Distorsion is well controlled and vignetting disappears by f/5.6. The lack of extra low dispersion glass produces (a still manageable amount of) chromatic aberration and purple fringing at the longer focal lengths but that is easily corrected in a Raw converter. The image quality doesn't falter at lower focus distances - the lens is perfect for close focus (1 meter) and macro shots , with or without an achromatic close-up lens. Even nowadays, it is easy to understand why this lens was very expensive throughout its production time - it still holds its own if you're willing to correct its only shortcomings (chromatic aberrations) in postproduction.

2018-01-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
solid construction and image quality, integrated lens hood, MFD 1 m
quite heavy

This is one of the oldest Canon zoom lens designs and it shows in its weight (790 g). On the other hand, construction is very solid, with very smooth separated rings for focal length and focus distance variation. The filter ring doesn't turn when focussing and the lens hood is built- in but a little bit short. The Canon New FD 80-200mm f/4 is a real sleeper since it hides in the shadow projected by the mighty New FD 80-200mm f/4 L lens. Its production numbers are much lower than those of the popular New FD 70-210mm f/4 push and pull zoom lens. Still, the forgotten one has a lot going for it : image quality is competitive with prime lenses of its time yet not as spectacular as the one of its L sibling but better than that of the 70-210 variant ; images are sharp and contrasty from wide open even though it's wise to close to f/5.6 or f/8 in order to obtain perfectly defined image borders and corners. Distorsion is well controlled and vignetting disappears by f/5.6. The lack of extra low dispersion glass produces (a still manageable amount of) chromatic aberration and purple fringing at the longer focal lengths but that is easily corrected in a Raw converter. The image quality doesn't falter at lower focus distances - the lens is perfect for close focus (1 meter) and macro shots , with or without an achromatic close-up lens. Even nowadays, it is easy to understand why this lens was very expensive throughout its production time - it still holds its own if you're willing to correct its only shortcomings (chromatic aberrations)in postproduction.

2018-01-03

Alsatian2017

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
Constant aperture, image quality, lightness, minimum focus distance of 0,5 m
Flimsy construction, filter turns while focussing

This is one of the latest zoom lenses of the FD line and it show in its construction quality : while older zoom lenses use a mix of metal and plastic parts for the outer barrels, the Canon New FD 28-85mm f/4 is entirely clad in plastic parts. While this lowers the weight of the lens, it reduces the haptics. Furthermore, the lens uses the typical bearings for the zoom and focus rings which causes some problems with age - even though my lens looks like new, the zoom ring makes some grinding noise and it tends to move by itself when set to 85 mm. Otherwise, handling is great, thanks to a low weight and a low minimum focus distance. At 85 mm and wide open, it is possible to produce great close-up shots with very nice bokeh. In terms of sharpness, the lens holds up very well once the aperture reduced to f/5,6 - nethertheless, you will have to go to f/11 to assure a very good border sharpness at 28 mm with a Sony A7 "full frame" camera ( the outer corners stay a litt bit fuzzy). Distorsion is pronounced at 28 mm but basically non existant at longer focal lengths, vignetting ceases to be a problem at f/5.6. Against the light, the lens shows a pretty mediocre performance which is hardly surprising given the number of elements used - a lens hood is highly recommended.

2017-12-10

Eelco

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Can do anything!
do not forget to switch it off after use!

The A-1 was the first slr i owned. It thought me photography and awoke my love for creating images. I took it around the world, it captured my kids growing up and i spend many hours with it trying to make art.
It is still some sexy camera. I love to look at it and sometimes i buy some film and shoot it for fun.

Nowadays using an A7Sii professionally feels like returning to the eightties. With the ability to use my old FD glass the circle is round again. Old optical excellence meets a contemporary hightech body with more or less the same formfactor.

2017-12-10

Eelco

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
practical, cheap
no lowlight lens

This (kit) lens came with my A-1 when bought it in the late eightties and shot half of my slides with it. (The other 35% with an nFD 50 f1.8 and 15% on a vivitar 70-210 zoom.)
It zooms and focusses not as butterly smooth as most nFD primes, but that never bothered me. It is lightweight, affordable and has a practical range. MOD is only 50 cm, so close-ups are possible. My version has a metal hood wich has to be mounted with a small screw. An ideal holiday lens.

I don't know why i have never used this lens on my A7Sii.

2017-12-10

Eelco

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Sharp, lightweight, cheap, built-in hood
Not a common focal length

This is an underrated lens. It's sharp, has very little vignetting fully open, it's lightweigt and it's got that practical built-in hood and almost no CA.
The most common 52 mm filter thread makes it usable with most of my filters.

However it's great IQ, i do not use it that much because the focal length feels like a compromise between a portrait lens and a tele. In situations where i need some telephoto i usually mount the 70-210 f4 zoom, but i guess the 135 prime produces a slightly better image.

2017-12-09

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
compacity, lightness, close minimal focus distance, reasonable IQ
retracting filter ring makes use of filters (especially polarizers) quite awkward

Don't let yourself be fooled by some of the other comments of users who seem to approach this lens with expectations which are highly exaggerated - this was a cheap kit lens which a its time mostly equipped mostly entry level bodies like the T50, so don't expect stellar optical performances on par with fixed focal length lenses and high grade zoom lenses ! Nethertheless, the New FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 is not a bad lens, quite the contrary : sharpness is always ok in the center, once the aperture closed to f/8 (35 mm) or f/11 (70 mm), sharpness improves even more and reaches the corners, vignetting and distorsion are kept at manageable levels. If the barrels are made of hard plastic, the latter is thick and durable and operation hardly suffers because of it.

2017-12-09

Alsatian2017

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
compacity, lightness, very good image quality thanks to aspheric element
sliding aperture (f/3.5 at 35, f/4.5 at 105 mm)

Given the hype around its older sibling with constant aperture, this little zoom doesn't seem to garner a lot of interest which is reflected by the reasonably prices second hand. Yet, the Canon New FD 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 was the first photo lens equipped with a molded aspherical lens and this fact certainly helps for image quality and compacity. Optical performance on full frame (Sony A7) is very good and perfectly useable down to the image borders at f/8 and smaller apertures, the outmost corners stay a little bit fuzzy. For landscape this lens is perfect (vignetting is very well controlled) but architecture is not part of its best photography genres given that distorsion increases with focal length (note that the latter is practically zero at 35 mm, which is very useful for landscape and architecture, but quite heavy pincushion shaped at longer focal lengths). The performance against the light is quite OK for a zoom with that many optical elements, much better than that of the older fixed aperture lens). So, i think in real life (and not in the mind of photographers who only compare specs and alleged use of plastic parts...), the Canon New FD 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 is a much more useful lens than the Canon New FD 35-105mm f/3.5, at least for me (i have both).

2017-12-08

Eelco

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Versatile, sharp, close-up focussing
hard to find

This lens is on my A7Sii most of the time. Usable in various situations from portraits to landscape or lowlight.

2017-11-30

kcnorthstar

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Good image quality even wide open. Small size and light weight
A little soft around edges at F1.8, but overall acceptable
2017-11-30

kcnorthstar

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Outstanding image quality, Nice Bokeh, Small size
Expensive for a lens in this focal range

I had one of these years ago and loved it. I sold it when I went digital. Now that I am back to shooting film, I had to get another copy. This lens produces outstanding
image quality and the Bokeh is awesome. This is one of my favorite FD lenses.

2017-10-29

Alsatian2017

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
sharpness, contrast, lightness and small size
chromatic aberration

Given its average specifications, this lens doesn't seem to garner interest on the part of mirror less digital camera users. Thus the very low prices on the second hand market. But it would be wrong to discount it since it has quite a lot of qualities in the field and especially for photography genres with "patient" subjects such as architecture and landscape photography. The Canon nFD 300 mm f/5,6 is very light (635 g) and short (200 mm) for its focal length and it even could be operated without tripod or monopod. The use of a tripod adapter is not yet necessary and focusing is surprisingly light and smooth, thanks to the rear group focusing system. The lens doesn't change its length when focusing and at the minimum focussing distance of 3meters the optical performance is not altered.

In terms of optical performance, the lens performs very well, with good sharpness obtained thoughout the entire image area even at f/5,6. Closing the aperture helps to ccontrol vignetting and depth of field while resolution and contrast only benefits slightly. Since the lens doesn't integrate low dispersion glass, there is some chromatic aberration and purple fringing, but it can be easily hold at bay during raw conversion. Personnally, i often use this lens with very good results for landscape and urban photography and i appreciate its small size and weight.

2017-10-29

Alsatian2017

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
very light and compact, very good sharpness and contrast even wide open
barrel distorsion, nFD build quality.

This is a lens with astonishing properties when used with a Sony A7 full frame camera : sharpness and contrast are already very satisfying even in the far corners of the image and wide open and the lens is very light and compact. Vignetting is low while distorsion is a little bit high for a fixed focal lens of this type. The multi coating is pretty efficient against the light. This lens feels a little bit plasticky but this is a caracteristic it shares with most lenses of the New FD line. Nethertheless it seems quite sturdy.

2017-10-21

NIbarr

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Very great DOF, excelent sharpness, very study build
Harsh CA in high contrast and darned heavy!

I was lucky to find this guy at a garage sale at 500$ and I immediately had to jump before someone else did. It was worth it. I had my first great white. It was super heavy, but what is expected when you see a long focal length paired with an aperture of "2.8". Immediately, I loved the IQ. DOR is sublime and it is tack sharp. Surprisingly good at portraiture, great for nature, but very difficult to use in sports due to MF. However, when photographing the eclipse, I experienced very harsh CA along the edges of the moon.

Was it worth the 500? Heck yes! But I would not buy any listings that are above 1250$. It is good, but not that good.

2017-10-20

Alsatian2017

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
sharpness and aberration control, compacity and lightness
none

Hardly biggerand heavier than a standard lens, this little "portrait " tele lens delivers sharp and aberration free images (distorsion, vignetting and chromatic aberration) at all apertures, with just a tiny hint of softness fully open. Even though the minimal focussing distance is only 1 metre, it is possible to add an achromatic macro lens like the Canon 500D to get closer - with good to very good results.

In terms of build quality, this lens is, like most New FD lenses, nothing special but nethertheless perfectly adequate.

2017-08-29

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Image quality, integrated lens hood, tripod mount and filter holder, light weight
busy "donut" bokeh, closest focusing distance of 4 meters

In its time, this lens was considered one of the best 500 mm mirror lenses. It still impresses today with its image quality (lack of chromatic aberrations, good sharpness in the image center and periphery, quite good contrast for a mirror lens) and construction (integrated lens hood, tripod mount and filter holder, smooth focusing ring). While the NEW FD 500 mm f/8 is longer and heavier than other contemporary mirror lenses (Tamron SP, Tokina, etc.), it is extremely solid and well made. The results are better then i expected, sharpness wise, better than the first generation Tamron SP, even though vignetting is a little bit more pronounced and the minimum close up focus distance is at a mere 4 meters - the Tamron lens thus is better suited to closeup photography.

2017-07-24

twl

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
excellent central sharpness at f2.8, beautiful bokeh, 1:1, good construction
soft edges till f5.6, flare resistance not great, can be difficult to use at 1:1

This lens produces very sharp images on both the Sony A7s and a6500, especially in the centre. The edges aren't as good, but for macro work shot at f8 and smaller that's not a problem as the lens is sharp across the frame at that aperture. It's a versatile lens as it can be used as both a macro and a standard walk-around lens. It's bulky but pretty light.

My biggest gripe is usability at 1:1. At that magnification the front of the lens is so close to the subject that it's really only good for static objects. I might actually prefer shooting this lens at 1:2 because of that.

Check out my review of the lens with lots of image samples at http://www.theweekendlens.com/vivitar-55-f28-macro.html

2017-07-23

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Prime Lens IQ, lightweight and compact
mediocre construction, filters hard to use

This must be one of the most underrrated lenses in the nFD lineup. Yet, it has a lot going for it : image quality is stellar, resolution and contrast are already very good wide open and this even with a full frame body like the Sony A7 - i compared it to the latest version of the Minolta MD 35-70 f/3,5 Macro and the FD offers better sharpness at all focal lenghts while the Minolta seems to be much more popular around buyers. In a nutshell, the nFD 35-70 f/4 offers prime lens quality in a small and lightweight package, the MFD of 0,5 m enough leeway for nice close-ups.

On the flip side, the mechanical consruction of the FD is pretty flimsy - the bearings inside the lens degrade with time, introducing play and and rendering the operation of the focus and zoom rings much less precise. While the lens presents a sort of integrated (short) lens hood (a inner barrel with the lenses moves inside a outer barrel offering protection against stray light), it makes the handling of filters very difficult and sometimes even impossible (polarizers).

2017-07-23

Alsatian2017

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Excellent (close focus) or very good (at infinity) IQ, solid contruction
1 : 1 only reached with extension ring FD-25U

One of the best "traditionnal" standard macro lenses. Sharpness and contrast are perfectly uniform wide open and close up while it is necessary to close the diaphragm to f/8 to achieve perfect sharpness in the extreme corners at greater distances. Comparing the Canon FD 50 mm f/3,5 SSC to the Nikon Micro-Nikkor 55 mm f/3,5, the latter has better corner sharpness at infinity, while the former has less vignetting wide open and less distorsion.

2017-07-23

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very good IQ, excellent mechanical construction
Filters hard to adapt without lens hood, the latter being quite difficult to find.

While rediscovering some images taken with this lens in the nineties, i was flabbergasted by the sharpness and constrast of these color prints. So i decided to try out a second copy of this lens, found locally for a very decent price, on a Sony A7 body. With equally satisfying results - given that resolution and constrast are on par with fixed focal lenses between 24 and about 40 mm. Above 40 mm, contrast suffers a bit but closing the lens a few stops controls coma and residual spherical aberration. On a full frame sensor, uniform sharpness in 99 % of the frame is achieved by closing the lens to f/8, for extended depth of field it is possible to stop down to f/16, the visible impact on sharpness staying minimal. Distorsion is visible and distracting at 24 mm but it decreases at longer focal lengths. Vignetting is only visible at f/3,5 (24 mm) or f/3,8 (48 mm). Due to the number of elements ( 10 in 9 groups), flare is noticeable in backlight situations - unfortunately, the lens hood is seldom supplied with the lens and often sold at prices which are barely lower than those of the lens ! Furthermore, without the lens hood, there's no "official" way to place a filter in front of the lens. While a slightly modified Canon EW-63 II lens hood can be used to protect the front lens from stray light, it doesn't solve the annoying filter problem...

Mecanically, this is one of the finest lenses i've ever owned - while having a small and compact size, the body is made of metal, with very smooth operation focusing and zoom rings. The aperture ring, only piece made of plastic, sports clic stops at full values between 3,5 and 4 as well as 16 and 32, and half values between 4 and 16.

The Tamron SP 24-48 mm is a very good alternative to the two Canon FD-L wide angle zoom lenses - at a very interesting price !

2017-07-01

Jeroen

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
Dynamic range, highlight and shadow recovery is stunning
Not as sharp as expected

Shot two rolls with different cameras and lenses, both not very sharp (compared to Kodak UltraMax 400). Maybe FP4 degrades fast after expiration date. Still have three rolls to shoot, will update score when needed.

2017-06-15

Jeroen

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Great build, simple, beautiful, large viewfinder
Somewhat on the heavy side
2017-02-23

Langstrum

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Crazily sharp, smooth bokeh, extremely shallow DOF, very suitable for full body shots
The tripod mount position is not right, it's unbalanced with a camera mounted in

I got this lens some years after acquiring the EF version with the hope that I can use it without the fear of damaging the AF function and focusing system since it's focused by wire. If the lens stop working, I can't even use manual focus. On Canon DSLR, while the EF version can easily misses the focus point since it's very shallow and it can change during the shooting process, I need to do manual focus to ensure the critical sharpness and it's not that pleasure to do manual focus on the EF lens.

This FD lens is basically the same, with just a bit different in the outfit. It comes with a trunk and it even looks cooler than the one for the EF lens. I highly recommend using this FD lens on a mirrorless system, especially Sony A7. With some A7 camera, you can even autofocus the lens using Techart Pro adapter, as long as you have a tripod to support the lens from below.

The sharpness of this lens may be less than some high quality modern lenses but still exceed my need that a cropped photo is still enough for printing. I also didn't find any considerable trace of chromatic aberration even at f/1.8. However, this lens suffers from flare if a strong light gets into the lens view so it's recommend to use the hood in daylight shootings.

It's definitely the king of portrait!

For high resolution photo samples and comparison, you can check out my Flickr albums https://www.flickr.com/photos/langstrum/albums/72157679027880160

2017-02-15

twl

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Sharp, contrasty, small and light, decent bokeh
CA wide open, build quality could be better, noticeable vignetting until f2.8

This is a great little lens and the sharpest affordable vintage 50 I've used on mirrorless (of about 10 lenses from different manufacturers). I prefer it over the Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC because it's smaller and optically slightly better in my opinion, with better contrast, clarity, and smoother bokeh.

Downsides are CA wide open (especially on APS-C), noticeable vignetting, average flare resistance, average build quality.

Check out my site for a detailed review with many image samples: http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-nfd-50-f14.html

2017-02-14

NIbarr

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Very sharp, 1:1 macro with no tube, Built like a tank, Tripod Foot
Heavy for it's size, usually expensive used, noticable vignetteing at 1:1 macro, CA

This is a great lens that is on par or slightly sharper than the 80-200 F4L with a true macro capability.

It is razor sharp, at F4 but with heavy CA on the high contrast areas as typical. Stopped down to F5.6 it is greatly reduced but is still present. It is great compared to other macro lenses in the FD series because it does not require an extention tube to work at 1:1. It is also built very well, and you can feel it too. It is very heavy and because of that they have a nice compact tripod foot.

However, despite how great this lens is optically, it does suffer from vignetteing when at 1:1 or close to 1:1 focus. The helicoid focus also brings the problem of focus breathing for video use. Also it is very expensive, even on ebay as they can be easily found for around or over 300 USD. Some examples can be bought a little less. I got mine in a Japanese used camera store in Kyoto for precisely 25000 JPY, or around 240 USD.

This is a great macro and convention lens, but it is heavy and usually expensive. Vignetting and CA can turn off some people as well, but stopped down performance improves greatly.

2017-02-10

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Great entry level portraiture, affordable, moderately abundant, size
CA wide open, loss of sharpnes wide open

The 85 1.8 is a great starter portrait lens who can't afford the 1.2L.

It's attractive entry price for around 250-350 makes this an excellent fast portrait to start with, especially if one is a big fan of large bokeh. It is quite easy to find on ebay and KEH. Stopping down to 5.6 seems to be the best in terms of sharpness. The size is quite good and accepts the small 52mm filter as with other prime lenses from 24-135 with the exception of the 24 1.4, 85 1.2L, and the 135 2 of course. This makes it an attractive lens for compact setups.

It does suffer from very noticeable CA wide open in high contrast areas. It is also not very sharp wide open. Sharpness and CA greatly improves after stopping down to 2.8.

For those on a budget looking for a portrait lens, the 85 1.8 is an excellent choice with a great balance of price and quality.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.0
Build
7.5
8.5
Great fast zoom lens, good image quality, good focal range
Noisy zooming, variable aperture, clamp on hood can damage the front of the lens

This is a great zoom, although it is a variable aperture.

It has good image quality built on a fast aperture. It is great for general photography and covers a good focal range. This is great for full or upper body portraiture. The zooming to the long side makes the front element go deeper in acting as a built in lens hood. It does have a detachable clamp on lens hood, but it can leave some cosmetic issues.

Most of the time, you will find this lens with a dented front due to the clamping down of the lens hood by previous owners which is done by twisting a single knob to fasten itself to the lens. Also, my copy is very noisy when zooming creating this zipping noise, especially when zooming from wide to tele.

This is a great zoom lens for photography but not very good for video due to it's variable aperture. It can be useful, but accommodate for the change in brightness.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Affordable UWA, Lightweight, Fast
Minor moustache distortion, large filter thread

This was my first starter UWA and I can say like the 17, it is a great wide to start with.

It is quite affordable ranging between 250 and 350 for buy it now or bidding. It is very lightweight and fast at 2.8 for low light photography. This is the minimum focal length for UWA photography such as landscapes and architectural. Astrophotography may need to stop down due to coma and very minor smear.

It does have minor moustache distortion and an unnecessarily large filter. For that size, one could make it wider or F2. ;) They could have made the filter thread maybe around 58mm to keep it smaller.

This is a great starter UWA for people just getting into this style photography, but just note the minor distortion and large filter thread.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
8.5
Build
10.0
9.0
Nice metal build, AF, constant aperture, sharp, great collectible
Not very accurate, Hefty and small manual focus ring, awkward, heavy

This is a very unique FD lens that it uses AF on any lens it works on.

It has a nice metal build and has the "Canon Telephoto" White paint. It's AF system works well for stationary objects and in bright light. Itt's a very simple AF system: Push the button and it will autofocus. It's also a constant aperture which is surprising. The lens is actually quite sharp and good performing. But in the end, it's not a very practical lens. It does make a good collectible though.

The AF system suffers in low light and can take a while to focus. If you want to manual focus it, you have to turn a hefty tiny ring at the front of the lens. It almost feels like you are going to break the AF motor manually focusing this. It is also awkward in weight distribution because the AF motor is pretty big and lopsided to one side. Also due to the metal build and heavy motor system, it is very heavy to handle.

If you get this, It is fun to use occasionally, but not for very serious photography or video. It does make a fun to look at collectible and you can brag about having Canon's first interchangeable AF lens.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
Sentimental for me as my first nFD lens, image quality for price, constant aperture
Not a big focal range, flimsy stamped metal construction, push pull

This is sentimental for me as my first lens I bought at a thrift store while adapting to my E mount camera.

For the price, it is a great lens in terms of IQ and it even has a constant aperture. It is pretty small but long and has a built in filter.

Even though I like this lens because it was my first, I have to admit it's faults. It's not a big focal range and it's more flimsy feel may discourage serious photographers for tougher assignments. Also it's a push pull which can be an issue for video.

It's a great lens and I don't want to say it because it's my first, but because for the cheap price it makes good photos.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Wide focal length range, very small, cheap aspherical
Push pull makes it difficult for video, very sensitive zoom, variable aperture

This smaller sibling of the 35-105 is a great lens and slightly better performing in terms of IQ compared to it's brother, but has some hard things for it to live up to.

The 3.5-4.5 is a great lens in terms of general sharpness and especially size. It is almost half the size of the 3.5 constant version and has an molded aspherical element inside. Looking through the glass in a photo, there is a noticeable difference wide open, but very similar stopped down. It is also quite affordable.

The Push pull is not very useful for video unless one wants to do a zoom whip while calculating the parfocal nature of it's focus. It is also a very sensitive zooming mechanism as it is very easy to change from 35 to 50 without meaning to. It also has a variable aperture which is probably why this lens is so small.

If you want an aspherical non-L, this is your lens. It is affordable and good at wide open image quality while keeping a compact size.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Very sharp Macro, Hidden Hard and loose focus ring mode, affordable and common
1:1 requires a macro tube and hard to clean the front element

This is a great entry level Macro lens that is affordable and common.

This is very sharp at most settings. Macro is a bit tough at F4 though as the difference in focus is great. It does have a hidden feature most people do not know about and that is the hard and loose focus modes on the focus ring. Pulling it back will cause a yellow ring to appear. This means it is on the hard focus mode which makes the focusing stiffer for better macro photography. Pushing it forward makes this line disappear making it on the loose mode. This makes it easier to focus for conventional use.

It does require a tube for the 1:1 ratio and it is hard to clean the front element as it is buried deep inside the body.

This is a great macro lens to keep a distance from and is quite affordable for most people to acquire.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Unique Soft Focus, setting 3 and 2 for the 40's vaseline look, sharp at setting 0
Lack of sharpness at soft focus settings (as expected), rarity, setting 3 overdone

This is a unique lens for specific portraiture situations.

The unique soft focus effect is different than the simulated as it keeps most of the in focus subjects "sharp" as per say and the general image not exactally blurrd or out of focus, but "softened". This is great for photographers and cinematographers trying to achieve the 40s and 50's romance film look without the Vaseline. At setting 0, it's a tack sharp 85mm 2.8 lens at most aperture settings with F 11 starting to diffuse.

This does have a lack of sharpness at the soft focus settings. I don't know why I am saying this, it's a soft focus lens! It is quite rare. I got a boxed set at a very lucky bid for 202 USD but expect to see this pop up occasionally around 350-400 USD. Setting 3 is very overkill for the softfocus look as it is very hard to manually focus to the "sharpest" point.

If you do find this and you need to get a 40's-50's look, buy this for your film or photo project.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Underrated L lens, very unique, Fast for long distance landscapes in low light
Listed vs Going price, rarity, magenta cast at 1.4, general sharpness at 1.4 to 2.

Many people say ditch this lens and go for the 24 F2, but I beg to differ.

The 24 1.4L is one of the most underrated L lenses in the series. If you buy this lens, you buy it for the speed it utilizes. At 1.4, one can creat unique portraiture opportunities by creating a sharp subject and a out of focus background and foreground which not many wide angle lenses can do. This is also perfect for video as the sharpness is not an issue when shooting wide open. Using this for long distance landscapes or architecture is possible as long as one does not have a notable foreground object that creates an out of focus artifact. Be wary of using this for astrophotography as it will have coma at 1.4.

However, this is a pretty rare and overpriced lens. I bought this on ebay for 450, the typical going rate is up to 500. Expect this lens to be around 750 or higher when listed at a buy it now or bidding. It does have a magenta cast at 1.4 that is noticeably different when switching between 1.4 and slower. At F2 it's virtually gone. It's not very sharp at 1.4 though and this is usually the primary reason to buy the F2 version.

This lens is magnificent for creating unique wide angle images and is highly underappreciated for it's lack of sharpness at 1.4. This is a lens of character, not performance. But it does pack big guns when stopped down to F2 to F8.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
Affordable UWA, lightweight
Slow at F4, mild distortion, front filter size, don't use an inward lens cap!

This is a nice UWA with some flaws

It is an affordable UWA, usually priced around the 20mm 2.8 but harder to find. It is also quite lightweight for it's class. It is pretty good in terns of sharpness.

However, It is pretty slow at F4 so low light can be an issue. It has some mild moustache distortion as well. I don't know why they gave this a 72mm filter size. For that size, one can make this a 2.8 aperture or wider focal length. Most importantly, if you are like me and don't use filters for the sake of ghosting: Do NOT use an inward lens cap! If you do, it will create a nice perfect circular scratch on the front element. Stick with the old Canon FD lens caps for this guy. This is also the only lens I would invest in a multicoated filter to prevent this issue. Using an old filter will create ghosts that are annoying in low light.

Aside from the cons, this can be a very useful lens for the budding landscaper or architectural photographer as it is quite affordable.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Very high performing portrait lens, on par with the 100 F2, affordable
Large front end, heavy

This is one of Canon's best nFD lenses.

It's tack sharp at almost all aperture levels, but suffers a bit of diffraction around F22 and F32. It has very similar performance to the 100 F2, just a bit longer and much heavier and wider. It's also quite affordable, usually between 290-350 dollars. This makes it a bit cheaper than the 100 F2. It is also easier to find than the 100 F2.

However, it is bigger and heavier than the 100 F2. This dramatic size and weight difference for just 35mm extra focal length may not be worth it for some.

If you find this cheap, grab it right away. If you lift weights often, this lens won't be a problem.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
10.0
Build
8.5
9.5
Canon's best FD lens, Period. Affordable L, moderately fast constant zoom
Thinly stamped metal make it feel flimsy, push pull makes this hard for video

I find it hard to believe that a Push Pull, F4, 80-200mm is canon's best nFD lens.

At all apertures it is the sharpest FD lens I have ever tested, even at F22. Very little diffraction at F32. I even have slight haze and scratches and it beats other lenses. It is highly affordable, my copy bought in Japan for around 200 USD, 22000 JPY, and goes around at ebay for somewhere between 280 and 350 USD. Even though it is not fast, it is surprisingly compact for it's aperture size. Just a bit long.

However, it is a thinly stamped barrel, so it feels like it's gonna snap at any time you apply great force. Rubber ring feels nice though. The push pull nature makes this pretty hard for slow zooms for video and using a follow focus.

If you want a good quality lens from Canon, buy this lens.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
The Best balanced 50mm lens, very common and affordable, lightweight, fast focus
Thinly stamped metal build makes it feel flimsy, CA wide open

This is the lens every FD owner or adapter must start with.

This is a highly affordable lens, usually not costing more than 120 and as low as 50 USD, and very common on eBay or even thrift stores. It is lightweight and very fast to focus. Nice 1.4 aperture makes this a great affordable low light or min DOF lens. Very good image quality, with some CA wide open.

However, the thinly stamped metal (Yes metal, not plastic. I scratched paint off this and it is metal) makes this feel like a flimsy lens. The Only plastic is the focus and aperture ring.

If you are starting to adapt lenses for photo or video, this is a must go to lens to start with.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Canon's best portrait lens, Wide compact fast telephoto, 52mm filter, good build
CA wide open, more expenive and rarer than the 135 F2.

This is simply put Canon's best FD Fast portrait lens.

This is very small for an F2 100mm lens and accepts 52mm filters. It is very sharp at ALL aperture settings. Minor diffraction at F22 and lower but hardly noticeable.. The 135 F2 is just as sharp and well performing, but with a slightly longer Focal Length and much bigger. It is also more affordable than the 85 1.2L. A bit more expensive than the 135 F2, but the reasons why are stated above. It is also a bit harder to find than the 135 F2 as well. This has the size and weight edge over the 135 F2 which is probably why there are less people giving these guys up.

The only complaint is CA wide open, but it's expected of lenses from this era to have CA wide open.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Surprisingly fast zoom, covers UWA and Wide Angle lenses, sharpness, affordable L
Noticable distortion below 24mm

This is a surprisingly great zoom for its price.

The 20-35 is pretty fast considering it's age. 3.5 is only almost half a stop slower than 2.8 and challenges the 20 2.8 for sharpness. It also covers a pretty large range from the longer Ultra Wide Angle at 20mms to the longest wide at 35mm. It is also quite an affordable L lens for those who care about the red ring. Expect it somewhere between 350-450 buy it now or starting bid.

It does have noticeable distortion below 24mm, even in practical use. Wall-ceiling edges can have a noticeable moustache curve near the top and bottom.

This is a great L Zoom that is on par with the 80-200 F4L and greatly compliments it.

2017-02-09

NIbarr

Features
8.5
Build
10.0
9.0
Fast Ultra Wide, small for it's type, Nice Build, good for video use.
Smear and CA at the edges when adapted, not extremely sharp , very expensive

The Canon FD 14 2.8L is a treat. It's a nice quality Ultra Wide with quite a few hiccups.

Starting off bad, the 14 suffers from some smear and CA at the extreme edges when adapted to my Sony A6300 with a metabones focal reducer. This is obviously worst at 2.8, but the smear decreases at F4, but CA remains through the aperture range at the edges. To top it off, the whole image is not extremely sharp at all aperture levels, even at F11 where it seems the sharpest. Got it for $850 on ebay which is cheap, but most of the time expect it to cost over $1000 as a buy it now or starting bid.

On the plus side, it is a nice fast UWA for video use where sharpness and edge quality is less important. It's quite small for it's type. Maybe not as small as the Voightlander 10mm 5.6, but not a massive sphere like the 13 5.6 made by Nikon. It also has a nice build quality, not like the more thinly stamped metal nFDs but a bit thicker metal like the "old" FDs.

This lens is perfect for videos and okay to good for photos unless you do not care too much for the edges. It is also a nice collectible as well. Just don't drop the metal hood or the lens in general.

2017-02-02

Jeroen

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Image quality, bokeh.
Weight, expensive.

Check out my full review (comparison) against the 1.8 : http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/8/24/canon-nfd-85mm-lens-comparison

2017-02-02

Jeroen

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Center sharpness, reasonably small
Price, corners are a bit soft

I tested this lens with the nFD 50/1.4 and FD 55 SSC Aspherical;
Read part 1 of my full review here: http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/7/19/canon-fd-50mm-lens-comparison
And part 2: http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/8/26/canon-fd-5055mm-lens-comparison-part-2

2017-02-02

Jeroen

Features
8.0
Build
9.5
8.5
Indestructible, center sharpness
Big, heavy and expensive. Corners not so sharp

I tested this lens with the nFD 50/1.4 and nFD 50/1.2L;
Read part 1 of my full review here: http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/7/19/canon-fd-50mm-lens-comparison
And part 2: http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/8/26/canon-fd-5055mm-lens-comparison-part-2

2017-01-19

kellymjones

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharp, great out of focus character, smooth focusing.
None.

The 85 f/1.2 L holds up amazingly well compared to new lenses when mounted on a Sony A7II. At f/1.2 there just a little loss in sharpness. Stopping down to f/2.0 it is super sharp. I love the build quality and smooth focusing action. It's heavy, but I don't count that against it because that's just physics.

2017-01-12

spenj

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
compact and nice weight
min aperture 4.5-5

Nice lens -adapted with the Sony A7. Sharp and easy to focus

2016-12-26

twl

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
Excellent central sharpness from f2, good contrast, small/light
weak flare resistance, bokeh could be better, build quality

I've been shooting with this lens on both the A7s and a6000 and it's an excellent performer. Sharpness is its biggest strength. Portability, lack of vignetting, good CA resistance, minimal distortion are other positives. Flare resistance and build quality could be better.

Check out my review of this lens with loads of sample images here:

http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-fd-35-f2.html

2016-11-16

twl

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
very sharp starting at f2.5, excellent bokeh, great colour and contrast
CA, flare resistance

Excellent 1:2 macro lens. I love the rendering on both Sony mirrorless and on film (Canon AE-1). Works well as a short telephoto lens as well. You can see my review of the lens by following the link below:

http://www.theweekendlens.com/tokina-at-x-90-f25-macro.html

2016-11-07

AE-1an

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Very versatile, advanced for time period. Helpful automatic settings for beginners
Controls somewhat confusing

Very nice 35mm SLR Camera. Great for someone who wishes to begin using film. Easy to use, very cooperative. Sports a sleek and elegant design. Comfortable to hold with the palm grip. Accesories are easy to attach, as well as the battery being simple to change, although it is somewhat expensive. Overall a great camera.

2016-11-03

mareblu

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Good sharpness wide open, very sharp from f/8 to f/16
Chromatic Aberrations wide open in some light situations

I've tested this lens a few days ago in our local Zoo. The 400mm is a fantastic, well built, lens. The sharpness is very good but my 80-200 f/4 L is a bit sharper.

2016-09-29

roccosphotos

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0

This lens takes a 52mm filter, not a 55mm.

2016-09-05

VintageFanatic

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Timer, Mirror Lock-Up, Quick Load System
Bottom Chamber Unlock

Great all manual mechanical camera from Canon made in 1966, able to withstand the test of time, working even at the age of 50, took some of my favourite shots using it paired with the Canon FDn 50mm F1.8. The camera has more advanced features compared some other models made later on even though it was older, it had mirror lock up, which can be handy, a self timer, the great canon quick load system, really helps out in making the whole reloading process easier and even allowed for the occasional extra 1 or 2 shots if loaded properly. Wasn't able to test the light meter simply due to mine dying out.

Overall, this is a pretty nifty camera, if you can find one with a working light meter, no shutter capping/bounce, and no light leaks for under $30 USD, it would be a great purchase.

2016-07-11

harryq

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Slightly less than F1n
-

Who times a F-1 or F-1 n had in hand understands the fascination. It is on one side of a tank and on the other side a precision instrument. Because it works purely mechanically, it does so if necessary even without a battery. The F-1 is very good in the hand, all controls are logically laid out and has a bright viewfinder. It is the most robust camera that I know, it worked at 47 ° C in Twentynine Palms just like at -35 ° C in the ice laboratory, whether 100% humidity in the tropics or in the dusty Sahara. I own three F1n and F1, in some cases for more than 30 years. Meanwhile all cameras got a CLA, new seals and mirror dampers and I've still the same it rebuilt and adjust the meter to 1.5V. Now I can use the successor 625U instead of mercury battery.

2016-07-11

harryq

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Solid, works without batterie, a lot accessories
nothing for me

She's my favorite camera. Who times a F-1 or F-1 n had in hand understands the fascination. It is on one side of a tank and on the other side a precision instrument. Because it works purely mechanically, it does so if necessary even without a battery. The F-1 is very good in the hand, all controls are logically laid out and has a bright viewfinder. It is the most robust camera that I know, it worked at 47 ° C in Twentynine Palms just like at -35 ° C in the ice laboratory, whether 100% humidity in the tropics or in the dusty Sahara. I own three F1n and F1, in some cases for more than 30 years. Meanwhile all cameras got a CLA, new seals and mirror dampers and I've still the same it rebuilt and adjust the meter to 1.5V. Now I can use the successor 625U instead of mercury battery.

2016-07-10

harryq

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
light measure, flash, build quality
Life time of small battery inside

The T90 is the most technologically advanced MF camera from Canon. Except for the autofocus, it is the later EOS 1 par. The wealth of features requires concentrated work and longer training. It is a brilliant camera for extreme shots and is very robust. But it should be used regularly or they will get problems.

2016-07-10

harryq

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
IQ, sharpness, bokeh, build quality
a bit heavier than other 50mm lenses

This lens has a lot of reserve for low-light shooting.

2016-07-10

harryq

Features
5.5
Build
4.5
5.2
Focal range
Vignetting, heavy, build quality

Interestingly focal range but unfortunately vignetting and low image quality.

2016-07-10

harryq

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Optical performance, build quality
only f4 max speed

Stunning wide in combination with fantastic sharpness and very low distortion. I know of no better lens in this class.

2016-07-10

harryq

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Optical performance, build quality
Today used prices

The best portrait lens Canon has ever made. Light intensity, sharpness and a wonderful Bokeh, absolutely incredible. Overall, better than the successor and the current AF lenses. Mechanically a dream, everything goes easily and precisely. After twenty-five years still perfect in use, built for centuries. This lens was made by Canon without lens hood as available light lens on the market, but there is a well-fitting Canon lens hood, namely the screw lens hood from the EX 125 F3.5.

2016-04-26

kcnorthstar

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
IQ, Build Quality
Heavy

This has been for many years my all around zoom. I have owned quite a few zooms over the years and the image quality of this lens has always stood out above the rest. The only exception to that would be my FD 80-200 4.0L The build quality is excellent, although it is a bit heavy. I have always thought that this could have been an "L" lens. Nice focal range, fairly fast and I love the separate zoom and focus rings (I'm not a big fan of push/pull zooms) The macro feature is also a nice feature of this lens. Image quality and color rendition are excellent. I will continue to use this lens for many more years on both my AE-1 and A1.

2016-04-25

kcnorthstar

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Loaded with features, Controls are easy to use, Classic good looks
No Mirror Lock Up, Could use faster shutter speed

I bought an A1 in 1990 to replace my well used AE1. What a great camera the A1 is! In its day this was a very advanced camera. Accurate exposure meter. Bright viewfinder with led readout. Multiple exposure modes, and of course those classic looks that make it one of the best looking cameras of its day. The A1 is a joy to use. It just feels good in my hands and the controls are easy to use. The A1 is the main reason I cannot to totally digital. I just love shooting with it so much! The only fault I can give it is that it would be nice if it had a faster top shutter speed of at least 2000/sec. Also a mirror lock up would be nice. But even though its not perfect, this is a camera I will continue to use as long as they keep producing film.

2016-04-25

kcnorthstar

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
Reliable, Easy to use, Classic looks
No AE Lock

This was my first "real" camera. I bought it new in 1978. I took thousands of pictures with it for the 12 years I used it. It took a beating from many backpacking trips, but always worked perfectly. The AE-1 has a very accurate exposure meter. The viewfinder is bright and focusing is easy. This is a basic SLR with limited features, but that's what makes it such a fun camera to use. It does not have an AE Lock like the AE-1P, but instead it has a backlight button that opens the aperture 1 and a half stops for back lite scenes.
I would prefer an AE Lock instead, but other than that this basic SLR had all I ever needed to take some great pictures. I currently have one in mint condition that I use for black and white. Its just a fun camera to use and the classic looks really stand out. I will continue to shoot with my current AE-1 until I can no longer get film!

2016-04-17

julio1fer

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Framelines for commonly used focal distances, two ranges of light metering, ergonomic
It is relatively large and hefty

The Canon 7 is probably the best body ever made for L39 (Barnack) lenses, outside Leitz, especially because they go for reasonable prices. It is very ease to use, although if you use the light meter, you will need to learn how the two ranges of light metering work. It is not worse than the equivalent Leica M3 meter.

The light meter sensor is selenium, so no batteries, but also risk of a dead sensor and low sensitivity. The shutter curtains are metallic and wrink easily (which does not affect function).

The very nice viewfinder has framelines for commonly used focal distances, with 35mm being the full frame.

This camera can use the famous 0.95 normal lens, which is too expensive for my hobby. It goes on an external mount.

I have been using this RF for about one year now - it has become my favorite platform for L39 lenses.

2016-04-17

julio1fer

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
First item of an important series, good lens, easy to use
It may be hard to repair.

I used one of these for a few years before giving it to a friend. I had gotten the matching hood and a yellow filter with this Canonet.

The Canonet is the first item of the series. It has a selenium meter around a 1:1.9 aperture lens, which is very decent and gives very sharp images at f/4 and below. The film advance lever is in the bottom of the body, with an articulated end.

Autoexposure mode is shutter priority, with aperture is shown in the viewfinder. It has a flashmatic feature in which you set the guide number of flash and aperture is automatically set depending on the focusing distance. It may be operated in fully manual mode, which is good insurance in case the selenium meter goes dead.

The camera is relatively large but it has very good handling. It is excellent for general use and street. A very convenient RF, which usually goes for much less than later models.

2016-04-17

Jeroen

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Better corner sharpness over the 1.2L
Soft wide-open, sharp at 2.8

Small lighter weight 85mm.
At 1.8 it's about equal to the 1.2L wide open. Gets sharp at around 2.8. Corners on the other hand are way sharper than the 1.2L.

Check out my full review (comparison) against the 1.2L : http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/8/24/canon-nfd-85mm-lens-comparison

2016-04-17

Jeroen

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Sharp, cheap
nothing for $40.-

When I needed a 50/55 lens I always took the 50L with me. This way I had the extra speed over the 50/1.4 and not the weight and size of the 55/1.2 Aspherical. And it's an L-lens, you gotta love the red ring :)

But now I've seen my own test I think I'll pick the 50/1.4 over the 50L unless I really really really need the f/1.2. The corners of the 50/1.4 are so much better and I really like the cleaner bokeh. The other two are sharper at the center, but the 50/1.4 is good enough for me. Stop it down to f/2.8 and it's about as sharp as the other two. And it's about 1/10 of the price!

Read part 1 of my full review here: http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/7/19/canon-fd-50mm-lens-comparison
And part 2: http://www.jeroenterlingen.com/blog/2015/8/26/canon-fd-5055mm-lens-comparison-part-2

2016-04-16

Jeroen

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Sharp wide open, low distortion
Little soft in corners, but expected

One of my favourite FD lenses! You can find some images on my Flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/search/?tags=14mm&user_id=90612971%40N00

2016-04-09

dickodecco

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Great lens, quite sharp for age.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/30353875@N00/25724814993/in/pool-1046833@N24/

2016-03-23

twl

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
good sharpness wide open, amazing bokeh, good contrast, solid construction
heavy, lots of CA

I use this on both the Sony A7s and a6000 and it performs great, but better on the A7s. The ability to isolate your subject and flatten the field of view is impressive and bokeh is some of the smoothest I've seen. Good value - I don't think there's a cheaper lens out there that offers comparable dof control.

Here's a video shot entirely with this lens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmVkhoVdIvY

Also, check out my review for lots of image samples:
http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-fd-135-f2.html

2016-03-20

Guest

Features
1.0
Build
8.5
3.5
Build Quality
Rotating Front lens, Flares at all Focal Length, CA, Flat contrast

I had three examples of this lens and not one of them was good. Its a higly overrated lens. I compared the 28-85 - its much better Image quality. The 35-70 2.8-3.5 is much better too. The only good thing on the 35-105 is its sturdy construction. But that alone helps nothing. Front lens can easy be damaged. Prone to flare. Low contrast. Boring colors...

2016-03-10

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Build quality. Very good image quality. Fixed Aperture of 4 in all focal length.
Rotating front element.

This lens is very good. It�s much better than the 35-105 3.5. The flares are well controlled, sharpness is good and it good quite nice color rendition. The only thing i do not like is the rotating front element which makes using a polarizer not very comfortable. Despite it�s plastic body, the lens and its shell"has a very good build quality. It�s a rare to find lens. The price of it ranges between 25 and 150 $. The design of the lens is more modern and it has not that all-metal-feel the older fd lenses had. Because it�s a newer fd lens all the problems with optics are much better controlled than with older lenses."""

2016-02-29

pkmx

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Fast, sharp, good zoom range, inexpensive
Heavy, vignetting at 28mm, varifocal, short focus throw

The IQ of this vivitar is phenomenal for zoom lenses of its age. It is packed with an impressive 28-90mm zoom range and a fast f/2.8~3.5 aperture, making it very useful for event coverage or general walkaround. More importantly, it has done so without sacrificing IQ: it is very sharp wide-open in the center, only starting to show some softness at the extreme edges. It is also relatively inexpensive: good copies can usually be found for around $60 or less.rnrnThe lens is however pretty heavy at 600g, so it is kinda unbalanced if you mount it on mirrorless cameras. It also suffers from very severe vignetting at the wide-end, making it quite unsuitable for landscape photography, though stopping down helps that somewhat. The vivitar is also not a true zoom: it is vari-focal design, meaning that you need to re-focus every time you change the focal length. Another minor annoyance is that the focus throw is very short (only about 90 degrees), so nailing focus can be a bit difficult.rnrnAs an added bonus, this lens can also focus down to 3.3x magnification ratio at 28mm. Being at wide-angle, the working distance is very short though. This lens is also said to suffer from oily aperture blades easily, though mine does not have such a problem.rnrnOverall, this lens is an excellent performer, if you can accept its quirkiness and weight.

2016-02-29

pkmx

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very sharp after f/2.8, good bokeh
Soft wide-open, a bit heavy

This lens is soft wide-open with lots of CAs at f/1.8, but stopping down to f/2.2 eliminates most of the problems. It becomes very sharp after f/2.8 and offers very nice smooth bokeh.rnrnOverall, it is an excellent and affordable portrait lens.

2016-02-29

pkmx

Features
9.0
Build
7.5
8.5
Sharp, lightweight, inexpensive
Max f/4 aperture, build, nervous bokeh

For some reason, this lens is rarely discussed (perhaps shadowed by the legendary Minolta 35-70/3.5). As a result of this, it is very cheap on the market. I got mine in near pristine condition for $40.rnrnThe image quality is excellent starting from wide-open: sharp across most of the frame except slight softness at the corners. As others have pointed out, the build quality of this lens is quite bad and seem to suffer from mechanical failure over time. My copy has a somewhat loose and wobbly zoom ring.rnrnThe aperture is only f/4, so it is not very usable in low-light setting. I find the bokeh produced by this lens to be quite nervous, and the slow aperture and 6-blade diaphragm isn't helping at all.

2016-02-18

photog1514

Features
5.0
Build
9.0
6.3
Build quality, convenient zoom range
Edge sharpness

I bought this lens to use on a Sony A7R and A7R2. I really wanted to like this lens, but after trying three copies I have to give up on it. First, the positives: build quality is excellent and the lens is pin-sharp in the center, just as good as the legendary Contax/Yashica 35-70. The negative: edge sharpness on these cameras is woeful. At this point, I don't know if I've just had bad luck and tried three defective lenses, if the sensor is too much"for this lens"

2016-02-05

Photo_King

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
Better than expected image quality, Afforadale, Usable image quality at f/4, macro
Lens is front heavy, Not as good as the L version

Pleasantly surprised at the quality of this older lens which can be found for about $40 or less online. Image quality is good and still slightly competitive with modern offerings. At f/4 the image quality does suffer a bit, but is still usable if needed. Didn't get the dreamy bokeh effect I was hoping for at f/4 here for me. Stop it down a few clicks and the image is pretty sharp and usable. Nifty macro focusing is actually pretty nice, but only available at the minimum focusing distance of 70mm, darn. Great starter zoom for folks trying to learn photography.

2016-02-05

Guest

Features
6.5
Build
7.0
6.7
Looks pretty on the outside
Mushy focus and zoom ring, Unimpressive image quality at 300mm, lacks sharpness

Not much for me to like with my copy. Image quality isn't great at 300mm compared to any modern lens. Focus and zoom ring is mushy with zoom and focus creep when holding. Even the divots on the grip are kind of sharp and prickly feeling on my hands making it uncomfortable to hold. Even at F5.6 it's not a lot of light for a lens of this class.

2016-01-06

twl

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Sharp, excellent build quality, useable wide open, not huge, interesting bokeh
heavy, low contrast wide open, coating not as good as SSC

Great and affordable 1.2 lens. Sharp enough wide open. Bokeh can be a bit wild at times, but I like it. For image samples, see http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-fl-55-f12.html for a video shot with the lens, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT4pbGJsEh8

2016-01-04

twl

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, Great bokeh, Small but with good build quality
CA wide open, FDn aperture ring isn't great

Amazing lens! Probably my favorite FD lens so far. Great size/performance ratio. I prefer it to my fd 135 f2 (unless I'm going for ultra thin dof). For a detailed review and image samples, check out (http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-fd-100-f2.html) and for a video sample (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq9-6gC7TZc)

2016-01-04

twl

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
sharp centre, decent bokeh, close focusing, cheaper than other 24s
corners never get that sharp, vignetting can be heavy, build quality only ok

Decent lens for the price and definitely much cheaper than most other legacy offerings at this focal length. Visit (http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-fd-24-f28.html) for a detailed review and image samples and (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UY7XTfSlx8) for a video sample.

2016-01-02

twl

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
Sharp and Contrasty. Solid build. Smooth focusing. Cheap.
Heavy. Lots of vignetting. Bokeh can be harsh.

I use this on the Sony A7s and a6000 and it delivers great image quality. It's pretty sharp wide open and super sharp by f4 on both cameras.
The lens vignettes a lot at f1.4 and the bokeh isn't always the smoothest. It's all metal, so the mechanical quality is great, but it does mean that the lens is a little too heavy for my cameras. (there are lighter 50/1.4 lenses out there)
Still, it's a good value, and a good choice for video shooting, too.

To see a more detailed review of the lens and lots of sample shots, please go to:
http://www.theweekendlens.com/canon-fd-50-f14-ssc.html

To see a sample video shot with the lens, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vlklHrxVUk

2015-12-18

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Sharp! weight/size
Soft wide open

Very nice prime. Very sharp from 1.8 and up. Good built quality and light weight. Prices are super for a 'mint condition' version. Still using it on Sony A7

2015-12-18

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Supersharp, build quality!
sensor flare, wide open

One of the sharpest lenses I've ever had. Comparable sharpness with the Nikon 105mm macro!!! Wide open soft, but from f4 and up supersharp. Downside is sensor flare with digital, which is not acceptable for me. I've used it on Sony A7, but sold it due to sensor flare.

2015-11-03

DrPhil

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
awesome to hold, to look through, to go 'click'
No shutter priority or exposure lock

It's an awesome piece of metal. I have the PJ screen in it which I just love. Love the partial metering so much more the centre weighted... I actually know what its exposing for. Love the J screen, so bright and clear. There's really no going back. Which is a pain because theres a few gotchas. Like, um... why, why WHY is there no Shutter Priority unless you attach a bulky winder to it? Is there a single good reason for this?? I really miss that feature because I'm not a big fan of Aperture Priority. Theres also no exposure lock. That's also dumb. I guess at heart it's really an all manual camera, and if you use it as such its simply the best. I've not used the winders but I understand you can't take them on or off with film loaded which also seems like a pretty poor design too...

2015-11-03

DrPhil

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
beautiful to hold and look through and go 'click'
no shutter priority or exposure lock!

It's an awesome piece of metal. I have the PJ screen in it which I just love. Love the partial metering so much more the centre weighted... I actually know what its exposing for. Love the J screen, so bright and clear. There's really no going back. Which is a pain because theres a few gotchas. Like, um... why, why WHY is there no Shutter Priority unless you attach a bulky winder to it? Is there a single good reason for this?? I really miss that feature because I'm not a big fan of Aperture Priority. Theres also no exposure lock. That's also dumb. I guess at heart it's really an all manual camera, and if you use it as such its simply the best. I've not used the winders but I understand you can't take them on or off with film loaded which also seems like a pretty poor design too...

2015-09-28

Robb1954

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Auto Exposure, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual.
Depth of field preview and don't get it wet ! Those electronics don't like moisture !

Canon A-1 was a ground breaking camera for its day and age. Purchased my first A-1 May of 1979 and I’m still using these bodies today. Sleek and sexy in all black, It was more camera than I knew how to operate but it provided a good base to learn and grow with. A real ground breaker that it was the first SLR to offer electronically-controlled programmed auto exposure. Today this feature is found on virtually every camera in production. Marketed for the photo enthusiast it moved a lot of rank amateurs such as myself up to learning how to take better photos. Not to mention it worked with all of Canon’s FD lens. My favorite set up is still the A-1 with an original breech mount 50mm F 1.4.

2015-09-22

DrPhil

Features
7.0
Build
6.0
6.7
Lots of features, compact, great finder.
DoF preview, long exposures, crammed features and awkward design. Unreliable.

Okay... so I know this is a feature packed top of the line SLR that can do just about anything. I know it was a greatly innovative camera in its day. But I just don't like it that much. The program modes are great, and the viewfinder is a thing of beauty: bright, clear and easy to focus. I like the design of the multiple exposure lever. But their are so many features crammed into its tiny body that it feels cluttered and many of those features feel poorly implemented. Especially the depth of field lever, which must be the worst design on any camera ever. There are so many buttons I keep forgetting what they all do. Whenever I want to use the AE lock I have to try no less than three buttons to find the one that works. It's also prone to failures in its electronics, and the famous 'cough', or 'asthma' that effects its shutter and can ruin exposure. Also, its fully electronic shutter is not good for long exposures. It runs the battery down very quickly having the shutter open. There is no mirror lock up. I just find it all a bit gimmicky and awkward to use.

2015-09-22

DrPhil

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Well thought out all-manual classic SLR
noisy shutter, bulk and weight.

The FTb is an underrated classic. Its a really well thought out, full featured SLR design that is a real joy to use. Open aperture metering is great. I love the metering, which spot meters within a small central frame in the viewfinder. So you know exactly what you're metering, you can aim it around and really think about your exposure. The depth of field/self-timer/mirror lock up lever is a genius piece of design that in my opinion is really lacking on the New F1, and a distant dream compared to the fiddly and awkward controls on the A1. This is a great camera to take your time with, think about the image you're making and enjoy the craft of this very beautifully made machine. The only thing I don't like is the noise the shutter makes. It sounds like a rifle going off. Not great for candid street shots until you want to attract a lot of attention. But otherwise, its close to the perfect manual SLR.

2015-09-22

DrPhil

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
Solid, great in the hand, shutter priority, handsome
insane position of AE lock, not such fun as a manual camera.

Neat camera, I love using mine. I find TV AE soooo much more useful than AV AE, so in many ways this is my ideal camera. It a solid, all metal slab, great metering, has the best DOF preview of any Canon SLR (along with the FTb) and mirror lock-up. The shutter sounds great when you fire the thing off too, makes you want to keep taking photos. The camera is so easy to use I can just think about taking pictures.rnrnNothing is perfect though: The AE Lock button is in the most ridiculous place. I challenge anyone to think of a worse place to put it. My other gripe is that its not such a joy to use in manual mode. The meter in the viewfinder continues to show what its auto settings would be with no indicator of the current aperture setting. Not sure if its just my copy either, but the advance lever on mine is quite loose and rattly... thats kind of annoying. rnrnBut all in all, this is one of my favourite SLR's.

2015-09-13

gitithadani

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
light weight very well built sharp versatile lens

This is a lens I really love. It is very versatile and I use it a lot for textural work as it has excellent sharpness and very nice blur textures. Its a lightweight lens and I use it on canon eos m so it makes for a very compact system and gives me a 160mm lens equivalent at 2.8 and as a very light equivalent. Manual focus is very smooth and love the IQ and color rendition

2015-09-08

shaolin95

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Simply stunning! Sharp as a top 50mm wide open with gorgeous bokeh!
Nothing..yes its heavy but that do you expect from a 300mm 2.8? ;)

This lens is AMAZING! It is as sharp as my FE 55mm 1.8 when compared both at 2.8 and that is no easy task as the 55mm is one of the sharpest lenses around.rnCA is superbly controlled as well. The quality is so insanely good that even when using it as a 840mm lens (1.4x-a + 2x-a) , CA is barely noticeable at all without any corrections and sharpness remains very usable! rnHere is an image at 600mm and one at 420mm to show you how sharp it is:rn600mmrnhttps://farm6.staticflickr.com/5644/20943449929_2b8b6e098d_o.jpgrnrn400mmrnhttps://farm6.staticflickr.com/5666/20916193770_5eae47848f_o.jpgrnrn

2015-09-06

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, lightweight for its speed & focal length, very little CA
Bokeh can be a little harsh, color quality needs correction in PP

I'm using this lens on the Sony a7II where the IBIS is quite handy. Can be used hand-held with some effort but I prefer a shoulder stock + monopod. Specular highlights in the background show some double-ring bokeh and the color quality isn't as rich as a newer APO lens but with additional clarity & saturation can often perform quite well. All things considered a bargain at a 2015 price of about $1,000.

2015-09-06

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Fast aperture, sturdy build
Weak colors, very heavy, stupid tripod foot design

The optical quality was disappointing for an L lens. Very little if any CA but color quality is weak, I'd call it 'pastel' on a good day.

2015-09-02

hans

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
smooth OOF image, tack sharp in focus
needs a hood

I bought this lens for my sony nex-3, as a modest telephoto lens, after reading the praise it got on the internet. It really lives up to its reputation. Portraits come out especially beautiful thanks to its pleasant bokeh. Used wide open, it needs a hood to prevent flare & I don't find the Canon hoods very handy.

2015-08-11

rev

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
Sharp, fast, contrasty, light, and small
Prone to veiling flare

This is a solid lens. I've only used it on digital (Sony A7), so can't comment on performance on film. I was using the FD 35mm f/2 SSC (concave thorium) and liked the performance, but not the size and weight. When the opportunity to get the FDn came up, I went for it. The FDn is ahead in in terms of sharpness per aperture and the bokeh is a bit nicer in my opinion. rnrnUnlike some, I welcome the plastic build, if only because it saves weight. I'm not a big fan of the FDn aperture rings, but that's not specific to this lens. My copy has a bit of play in the otherwise smooth focus ring. rnrnCompared to the other ~28-50mm lenses I use, the FDn 35/2 seems to be a bit more prone to veiling flare. I don't have the hood, but I do intend to get one. Shading with my hand doesn't always eliminate it, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was still a problem at times with the hood.rnrnWhen considering price, I'd give this lens a 10.0. It's an excellent value.

2015-08-01

RBloggs

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
useful angle of view,minimal distortion, light weight
soft in corners wide open, strong purple fringing, strong vignetting

This really is a very nice lens. The problems it has are easy to clean up when used on a digital camera. I can see them being a much more serious concern for someone who shoots slide film. My review is based on my experience with this lens on a full frame digital camera (Sony A7).rnrnThe lens is solid and well built, yet relatively light. It can be soft in the corners, that's true. But I use it stopped down to at least f11 most of the time, and it's plenty sharp at those apertures. The purple fringing is strongest in the corners, and it will be a bother if you're shooting slides. It's fairly easy to clean up in digital images. There's remarkably little distortion across the image. I also use the Canon FD L 20-35, which has pronounced moustache and barrel distortion, especially at 20mm. In comparison, there's almost no distortion using the 17mm lens. The Canon FD 17mm f4 vignette quite heavily. However, I created a profile in Lightroom for the lens that makes dealing with the vignetting straightforward. rnrnBottom-line: if you need a 17mm lens and you're a Canon FD shooter, this is a nice choice. I also used to own the Tokina RMC 17mm lens, which was OK, but not nearly as good as this lens.

2015-07-27

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Incredibly sharp, 1:1, versatile
Long focus throw, very light

This is one of my all time favorite lenses to shoot with, incredibly versatile and tack sharp. The light weight can be seen as a pro or con, it's very well constructed but the actual glass only takes up maybe 1/3 of the length of the lens so you're getting a lot of hollow space. That being said, you can't go wrong with this spectacular lens.

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Inexpensive, incredibly sharp, decent contrast and colour, distortion free
Feels a bit flimsy, but not a serious issue; huge throw when focusing

I use this excellent lens on a Sony A7. It's wonderfully sharp and distortion free from f/5.6 through f/11, and it's even usable at f/16 and f/22 if you can live with some loss of sharpness due to diffraction. You can easily use this as a standard 50mm lens and as your walk-around macro lens. rnrnBecause it's a macro lens, the focus throw is really huge. Be prepared to crank it! As such, for walking-around, street shooting, etc., you're better off with a non-macro 50mm (like the FDn 50mm f/1.4).rnrnAnother plus: you can use a lens hood... but due to the design, the lens is so far back inside the body that you don't need a lens hood.

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Sharp, great colour, excellent contrast at all apertures and ranges
Awkward to hand hold; push-pull zoom

As everyone, everywhere, has said, this lens is unbelievable. From the largest aperture to f/16 it's amazing, at all focal lengths. It's also not so heavy that carrying it around is a major problem. But... I just don't love the push-pull design. I use it on a Sony A7 and I find it awkward to work with, and easy to loose focus by accidentally moving the focus/zoom ring. If you can live with that limitation, it's an unbeatable lens (if you like manual focus of course!)

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
8.0
Build
7.0
7.7
Cheap, surprisingly good image quality
Key parts wear out

I used this lens on a Sony A7. It was dirt cheap to buy. Image quality was amazingly good -- not just good for a cheap lens, but good (sharp across the zoom range, good colour and contrast). The only problem is the zoom and focus mechanisms degrade over time (as others have noted), so they get sloppy and loose. It's not fixable (or worth fixing) unless you have the parts on hand. It still worked, but focusing accurately was hard.

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Compact, useful zoom range, sharp and contrasty
Moustache distortion at 20mm

This is an excellent lens -- well worth what it costs these days. I use it on a Sony A7, where it shines. I use it mostly when I need a 20mm lens, but it's handy to have the other wide angle choices. I have not compared it directly to the Canon FDn 20mm prime, but people who have usually say the Canon FDn 20-35mm f/3.5 L is better; I can believe it.rnrnThe lens is compact, sturdy, and well balanced on the camera. The lens hood is very shallow (which it has to be). rnrnAt 20mm it suffers from a noticeable "moustache" distortion, which eases up at 24mm through 35mm. Correcting for this distortion on film may well be impossible. However, I created some custom profiles in Lightroom 5, and they work great. rnrnIf you need something wider on a full frame digital camera, I highly recommend this lens.

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
7.5
Build
9.0
8.0
Solid and well built; excellent at larger aperturers
Not particularly sharp from f/5.6 on

This lens was a real disappointment. It might just be my copy... but the one I tested was disappointing. Whether close, against a flat board with ISO lens test charts, medium distance or focused to infinity, it was only "OK". I compared it head-to-head with a Canon FDn 50mm f/1.4. The f/1.2 L was better (colour, contrast, resolution) at f1.4 through f/4. However, from f/5.6 on the Canon FDn 50mm 1.4 was as good, and even better than the "L" by f/11. Don't buy this lens for its performance at f/1.2 (soft, lower contrast).

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Great colour, sharp, contrasty, inexpensive, light weight
Soft at f/1.4; feels a bit plasticky (like most new FD lenses)

This is a superb 50mm lens. It's soft and loses a lot of contrast at f/1.4, but starts to get better at f/2 and is on its way at f/2.8. Colours are excellent. It's also fairly light. I use it on a Sony A7 and it's just terrific. rnrnI also own the Canon FDn 50mm 3.5 macro, which is a bit sharper (but slower). I compared the 50mm f/1.4 to a Canon 50mm f/1.2 "L" lens (see my review) and the f/1.4 was better from f/4 up. I returned the L lens and kept the 1.4.

2015-07-16

RBloggs

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Allows basic camera movements (tilt, shift); extremely sharp; good contrast
Knobs are fiddly; doesn't lock securely

This is an excellent way to have some view camera movements (tilt/wing and shift) with an SLR or mirrorless digital. I use it on a Sony A7. It's more than up to the job. The lens is compact for a tilt shift, but it still produces a large enough image circle to allow considerable tilting and shifting. Even though it's a very old lens, it works extremely well on my A7.rnrnYou need to know that it has a slight yellow colour cast (very easy to clean up in Photoshop or Lightroom). You also have to decide if you want to use it "landscape" or "Real Estate" style. The base comes apart so you that you can choose. In "landscape" style you can tilt down or up, and shift up and down. In "Real Estate" style, you can tilt up and down and shift side-to-side, or you can swing (side-to-side) and shift up and down. It's easy to remove the four screws and change the orientation, but you need a proper screwdriver (or you'll damage the screws), and it's not something you should do in the field. If you absolutely have to be able to tilt/swing and shift independently, you'll have to get yourself a Canon 25mmm TS-E Mark II.rnrnAnother quirk of this lens is that it has the old FD style mounting system minus the aperture controls.

2015-07-11

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Last, last, last, last.
None

These camera bodies, F1 & EF represented the pinnacle of SLR technology during the 1970s. Many opine that Nikon was top and Canon an 'also-ran.' Not true. The Nikon F and F2 metering heads 'Photomic' have not stood the test of time. So few can be found working now. Not so the Canon F1 or the EF. My F1 was bought secondhand in 1990. A 1976 F1n with film reminder slot and padded wind-on lever plus extended film speeds, it work for 15 years at a local newspaper before being PX for autofocus ones. I bought it and shortly after took it to Yugo when the fighting started. Just the F1 and 28/35/50/135 lenses. Sold my shots around the world. Always use the meter with PX625 1.5v cells and set film speed as it is. Difference in exposure is negligible though it is possibly reading 1/3 stop under. I cannot praise this camera enough. Will never part with mine. Finish? Unlike black Nikons, the black paint of an F1 is much much tougher. Ivor Matanle of Amateur Photographer magazine refers to the finish in a review of Canon many years ago.rnThe Breechlock lenses are amazing. Few realise that the chrome ring is spring loaded. Move the ring round so the red dot is at the top. Place the lens on the lens mount and apply slight pressure, the ring will turn by itself. At that point the lens is properly aligned for use and will not come off! This can save vital seconds in a rapidly changing scenario. When time permits, just tighten by slight twist. Compare this with the gaffing about you had to do with the Nikkormats first turning aperture ring one way, then the other. The first 'mat the FT and the first through the lens F Photomic required you to set film speed on a scale for lens max opening. Then, changing lens, you had to reset: 50mm F2 set 100 asa opposite f2, change to 200mm f4, reset f4 to asa 100

2015-06-22

unknXwn

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Solid build; superb image quality; great value!
Vignetting grows with focal length

My example came from a classic film shooter. The zoom+focus rings move way too easily compared to my other FD lenses. Albeit, they move super super super smoothly, which is trademark of FD lenses. The lens portrays a very usable zoom range when mounted to a full frame camera, such as my Sony A7. CA can be present wide open, as expected with almost all lenses, but retreats when stopped down. Weight can be an issue for the girls, but I don't mind it if it means it's because it's solidly built.rnrnThe lens is great value; I bought mine for about $80 and it is mint w/box and 3 Hoya filters, so these can be found easily for less than $80 on ebay, as of 2015.rnrnVignetting is obvious at 35mm F3.5 on a full frame camera and grows when zoomed to 105mm.rnrn"Macro" mode is activated by zooming down to 35 and pushing a switch on the lens forward and rotating the zoom ring down further into the "Macro" range. From there, you release the macro switch and you are now locked in macro mode, which allows you to focus quite close (within a foot if i recall). rnrnThe lens is actually quite sharp even at f/3.5, but f/5.6 would prob provide the best overall IQ, all things considered.rnrnI bought this lens along with a 24-35 3.5L to [mockingly] replace my 24-105 F4L because I sold my 7D for the A7, and wasn't fully committed to mounting an EF lens to it yet. Still getting used to dealing with two rings on a lens, as opposed to my FD primes., so if speed is a concern, that's something to consider.rnrnAll in all, definitely a lens I wouldn't want to do without. A good walkaround lens, though it is fairly long.

2015-06-03

kausthub

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Creamy Bokeh with a very sharp Focus!!!
Some may find it a bit heavy.

Yet another jewel from the Canon FD Line up. I use this on my Sony A7 series cameras and it has so far never let me down. This lens is an amazing portrait lens and its great to make tight portraits, especially of headshots. But it can also be a very useful telephoto portrait lens, where the subject can be captured in sharp focus and the background disappears magically in the form of a very creamy bokeh. Often this gives an effect of an almost 3D effect for the main subject. Focusing using the Sony A7 series is very easy, thanks to the focus peaking. The build quality is almost perfect, while the image quality is definitely perfect. A used one in MINT condition can be found for about US$ 1000, which is a bargain for the quality this lens offers. rnrnSample photo can be found here - https://instagram.com/p/3ZI_4GHttw/

2015-06-03

kausthub

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Bokeh Magic!!! Dream Lens is definitely not a cliché!!!
Some may find it a bit heavy.

I have recently had the honour to acquire this lens from a photographer who had used it. I now use it on the Sony A7 series (both A7r and A7II). I absolutely love this lens. The focusing is a bit tough as it has a razor thin DOF...but if you can manage it, the images are outstanding in its dreamy appearance. rnrnThe build quality is superb and its an all metal body. So its definitely a tad heavier than most 50mm lenses available in the market. Those searching for a sharp lens from edge-to-edge may find it disappointing. But those who consider Photography as an art form, and consider a picture as a painting of light will find delight with this masterpiece. rnrnThe lens comes in two versions a TV version and a non-TV version. I own the TV version, and have heard from other fellow photographers that this is the better version to own. rnrnVisit here for a sample image- https://instagram.com/p/2afb5rHtoK/

2015-05-25

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Excellent sharpness, nice rendering, nice bokeh for an ultrawide
Not much

I'm using this on a Sony A7. rnrnI haven't done any formal tests and I'm not much of a pixel peeper but in real world shooting this lens performs admirably on the A7. Excellent sharpness into the corners when stopped down a bit. I like the way it renders, colors and rendering have a bit of a vintage feel. Haven't noticed any bothersome amounts of fringing. Bokeh is quite nice for an ultra wide. Especially if the background is not too busy bokeh can be quite pleasing. Handling is nice too, not too heavy and well built.rnrnIn short an excellent wide angle lens, even on full frame digital.rnrn

2015-04-17

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Ottima ottica
costruzione

ho questa ottica da qualche mese e la uso per video. Qualità immagine ottima, bel boke, sono molto soddisfatto nella qualità di quest'ottica in grado di rivaleggiare col mio Canon FD 28mm f2.8 fisso. Ottima la funzione MACRO. Unica nota dolente la costruzione, che è solida ma l'ottica in mio possesso ha qualche difficoltà nella ghiera. Scomoda la regolazione dello zoom "a pompa" avrei preferito per i video una ghiera come quella del mio Canon FD 35-105mm f3.5

2015-03-22

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharp? Sharpsharp! Excellent!
?no front filter attachable

A superb lens! Sharp, great bokeh, great to focus, excellent built quality. Compared it on my Fuji XE 1 to the Nikon 70 200, 2.8VR (new version, 2013)...was gobsmacked! Just marvelous. And not heavy, easy to handle!rnCareful with the front glass as this lens takes no front protection filter.

2015-03-22

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
F1.2, fast, veryvery sharp from f4 to f16
have to know how to use it...

After the first 20 shots or so I thought I put it back on eBay. But now, after a few months? Favorite lens, with the Fuji XE1 I am able to produce crisp shots from f1.2 on. Not easy wide open but it never was. Overall a very good lens, very happy with it, also great for black and white... rnGreat deal for a 1.2! See as well: www.flickr.com/photos:jensaddis

2015-03-11

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Razor sharp,one canon professional L lens,could handhold it for a while
No af,mf only

Love it so much,only it has no af. I used it on sony a7 olympus ep5 and eos 5d iii. IS is very good with micro 4/3 camera body.

2015-03-01

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
OK Bokeh, Fast
Hood, Distortions

Lightweight and compact. Image distortion is noticeable in some cases in the border of the image. Hood falls down incredibly easy.

2015-03-01

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Solid Construction, Great Image quality
Heavy, filter ring rotates

Consistent and versatile. Good for day or night since it's so fast, and it's a fraction of the price of its EOS counterparts. Manual focus becomes challenging once you have gotten so accustomed to AF. I would say great for landscapes, but not so much for street photography.

2015-02-26

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
Bokeh and color rendering, size and weight
Build (isn't up to Nikkor AIs standards, although it's what makes it nice and light)

I've started using this lens again on my full frame Sony A7 and I'm loving it. I end up using it more than I expected (more than my 50mm Nikkor lenses, for example, which were my primary gear).

2015-02-23

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Fast, lightweight, very sharp, good for close-ups and nice bokeh
None, although it may be a bit hard to find or expensive nowadays

So I got the FDn 35mm f/2 with my Canon A-1, as my first FD lens ever... And have been falling in love with it, over and over again. It's a good lens to carry around, as it is pretty compact and does not weigh much. That's one of the good things about the new FD lenses. Nowadays I also use it on a Sony NEX-6 (with adapter) and even on this small body, it is well balanced and does not feel lumpy, even when carrying it around the entire day. The picture quality is brilliantly sharp, which really shows if you shoot in black&white. When shooting in colour it really pops and this works especially well for nature photography. If you are into taking close-ups, you'll love the 35mm f/2, as it can get 30cm close to the subject. It's not macro, but when a lens is this sharp, this is a great feature! Overall this is my favourite FD lens and I will be using it for a long time to come. If you can find it cheap, I highly recommend getting it! Here's a simple sample of a close up, fully opened at f/2: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/16484398391_6a9dce5f7d_k.jpg

2015-01-22

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
low price high quality
nothing

I took this lens (1966) for my Panasonic G6 for making videos. I took it for one reason only: the price (30 Euros). Not being equipped with anti reflective coating, and being very old I did not expect a quality as is this lens is able to give. Really do not understand why Canon has stopped making lenses so beautiful. Well-made construction.

2015-01-22

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Optical cheap, light and excellent accompany as silent
too heavy

I got this for my Panasonic zoom G6 (MFT) for use with SpeedBooster. In my case it's like having a 50-150mm f2.8 about to, both as optical fantastic build quality, both as image quality. In the video is fantastic. A bit too heavy. I noticed that the lens hood is insufficient for this lens, suffers a lot of flares. Many say that quality is lower as compared to his brother "minor" F3.5-4.5, but the beauty of having a video in f3.5 (f2.8 with SpeedBooster) constant, in my opinion is better. Very useful the macro function.

2015-01-22

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
light, small
little light

I got this lens for my Panasonic G6 (MFT). With Speedbooster I become like a 40mm f2.0 lens, the image quality good, nice lens, perhaps not very bright.

2015-01-22

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
good lens at a very low price
few blades for excellent bokeh

I took this lens for about 30 euro for my Panasonic MFT G6. In my case it becomes a 100mm f1.8 about to and I must say that the quality is excellent. The only use for video but it really is a fantastic lens. With SpeedBooster is like having a 72mm f1.2 to about !!!!

2015-01-20

Guest

Features
6.0
Build
10.0
7.3
very good handling
you have to live with this Rings overall in the picture.1:8 is dark

The sharpness is ok...The handling is very good!Use not in full sunlight than you have good results...rni think a good lens for a digital sensor which master very high iso

2015-01-20

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
very sharp and good handling
-

exellent Fisheye, with verygood sharpness overall.

2015-01-20

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
very sharp and good handling
the Boookeh could be better

Best microlens from Canon!Uncredible sharp!

2015-01-20

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
very sharp and good handling
the Boookeh could be better

very good microlens, almost good as the photars or the luminars.Best handling of all microlenses!

2015-01-20

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
sharp and contrasty at all focal lengths and all apertures
some slack in the focus mechanism. Maybe just my copy. Big and heavy.

This lens has stunning optical performance. I use it on a Sony A7 and it is sharp and contrasty across the frame at all apertures and all focal lengths. Colours are great. It is better than my EF 17-40 f4 L and 24-105 f4 L. It is an old push/pull zoom with the zoom ring also doing the focussing. I don't mind it but some may.

2014-12-30

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Sharp, Color Rendition, Bokeh
Rare, can not use Hood

This lens is the latest member in my FD collection alongside with canon 35 f2 SSC and 85 1.2 FDL.rnIt is not razor sharp wide open compared to the FDL version, however, richer in details. The color is slightly muted and leaned to the warm side. rnBokeh is very smooth even for close background. It can easily turn fuzzy distractions, even at 30 cm range into a creamy wall. rnSkin tone is nice, a lil bit yellower compared to the FDL. rnI take back 0.5 for the lack of hood. Canon designed it this way, I guess they were confident that this lens is Flare Free LoLrn

2014-12-25

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
7.0
8.3
fortunately, it's not a slide-zoom; image quality; versatileness
too bad, it's not a slide-zoom; f/4 is quite dark; lens cap just won't hold

This lens is a must-have on vacation and other situations, where you just don't like to carry (or can not carry) two or more lenses with you. Therefore, this lens is always on my A-1, and any other lenses I leave at home unless I know for sure that I need them. rnrnAs a previous reviewer already wrote: this lens is life time limited, and mine has exceeded it's time, unfortunately. While the outer focus-ring is still accurate, I can vary focussing by moving the focus ring in an axial movement, but once I got used to that, the lens is still useable, though unrepairable. Nonetheless, this issue means only 7/10 regarding build quality. rnrnBefore the zoom-group went loose, I was able to maintain focus while zooming and vice versa. With a slide-zoom, any shot needs to be refocused and rezoomed, since lowering the camera hat influence on the lens due to its weight. The unbeatable advantage of a slider is swiftness, so look at the glass half full or empty, as you wish. rnrnThis lens comes with a protective cap that is down right useless. It will come off, as soon as you look at it. Fortunately, the "barrel" is deep enough to protect the outmost lense, even when that cap is off.rnrnImage quality is equivalent to prime lenses, though f/4 is quite dark and can be anoying at dawn or in the night. Then I rather take a 50/1.4 with me. But, as wise Mick Jagger said: "You can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes, you get what you need", and that's the thing with this lense: Not everything one may want, but everything one may need.

2014-12-21

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
SHARP SHARP SHARP even at Infinity
Needs the canon FD50 extender for 1:1 reproduction. Size.

This lens is SHARP!....Sharpest ever in the FD line-up I have used wide open at f4.The Good Thing is it is also Sharp at infinity even after being a macro lens.The sharpness Falls down after f11.f16 is good enough but anything higher is not good due to defraction.This lens also requires the FD50 extension tube for 1:1 macro.The aperture ring is SPRINGY....I don't know how to define it but maybe it's just my copy.This lens can also be used for portraits if you want which may require you to soften things up in post as the lens is Sharp and will show you the Skin pores if kept in focus well.... :D ...rnrnThe Extension tube can be very hard to find.Plus the length of the lens with extension and at 1:1 focus distance is more than 10 inches.....something to keep in mind....This lens does not have a tripod mount which it requires badly due to that length as it makes the camera unbalanced when on tripod.

2014-12-09

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharpness, colors, built quality. Weight is acceptable
Good infinity focus requests closing the diaphragm.

Excellent manual wide angle lens. Gives very detailed images. rnFlare can be a problem. Distortion and CA can be corrected in software. rnParticularly useful for landscape shooters.

2014-11-27

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Sharp.
Nope

This is an excellent lens. I used with Sony A7. My lens is a SSC old version. I used in a Nex 7 and AE1 P. I like it a lot and I am using since the 80s. Distortion, lens flare, CA are common for this focal lengh. I have samples in my Flickr/fjordan I will create an album for you for this lens.

2014-11-07

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Stunning image quality, robust build
Big and heavy (but beautiful)

This is a phenomenally good lens! Arguably, it's the sharpest lens in the FD series. If "10" is as good as it gets, this lens deserves 11. It should be used on a tripod, though press photographers have pretty good luck with a monopod. Image quality is just sumptuous, even with 1.4x and 2x teleconverters (for 420mm f/4 and 600mm f/5.6 conversions). FD lenses are not easily adapted to EF series cameras, but it will work with the Canon EOS "M" mirrorless digital rig, which has an APS-C size 18 MP sensor. With the M body, you get a lens equivalent to 480mm f/2.8 and razor sharp images.

2014-11-07

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Love it!

I use this to shoot film, but find it works very well with the EOS-M, a mirrorless digital rig that has an APS-C size sensor. This is quite a lens optically speaking, better than it's big brother the 100-300mm f/5.6L, though the longer zoom is a nice sports lens. This is a very light lens, enabling artists to work fast and the f/4 aperture is bright enough for most situations. rnrnAt eBay prices, it might be the best deal in photography!

2014-11-07

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Good, sharp lens with calcite & low dispersion glass.

This is an excellent lens. Some copies may have lens creep. I have several 16 x 20 Cibachrome prints made with this lens, hanging in my living room. Light construction and simple design make it easy to use--a steady hand or tripod helps at the 300mm end. Optics are superb for this lens and also the 80-200 f/4 little brother.

2014-10-07

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Impressive IQ for the zoom size, nice bokeh even, great build quality
slow, big and heavy

I was very surprised with this Zoom. I was able even to do several Rodeo photos that turned out great. The speed is slow but for this type of zoom is normal and with a Speed Booster it makes it more manageable. It can be shot handheld unless you need some GYM work.

Recommended!

2014-10-05

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Impressive sharpness and bokeh! Sharp wide open. Great build quality!
not contrasty under brightlights

As it does not have the same coatings as FD lenses, it gets a bit duller under bright sunlight but wow, I got this lens as a test on a local shop and was shocked on how sharp it is wide open. Payed $25 for it, including case and metal hood so it was a no brainer. Totally love it!

2014-07-08

datagov

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
sharpest lens I own, outstanding color and contrast
build quality a little behind canon

Super and useful lens. Best macro I have used. Got mine on ebay for $20 as part of a broken pentax camera and will never part with it. It is my favorite lens and it produces stunning photos. Too sharp for portraits. Some flare in sunlight. Love this lens.

2014-06-08

GozH

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Sharp, IQ, solid build, good color, price
Heavy...
2014-06-08

GozH

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Fast, sharp, constant 2.8-3.5
Filter ring rotates
2014-06-08

datagov

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
useful range. excellent images. no chroma. super sharp. macro too.
none

I have tried a lot of legacy primes and some modern zooms. This lens tops them all except the Canon fd 100th f2. But is so useful. I use it for macro and even at 1:3 it is excellent. The colors are gorgeous and it is sharp at every focus and every aperture. I never believed a zoom could be this good and the lack of auto focus is more than made up in the image quality. A top canon lens for all time.

2014-06-08

datagov

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Sharp at f2, wonderful bokeh, small and light
Only for portraits

I have had this wonderful lens for a year and it is my favorite portrait lens. I use it on an Olympus OMD EM1 and it provides beautiful sharp portraits at f2 with wonderful bokeh and image separation. The colors are natural and micro contrast is excellent. No need to stop down for sharpness. Build quality is fantastic. A real gem.

2014-04-02

rihards

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
Sharp wide open, good contrast, good bokeh
Heavy, huge

This one makes very good n sharp pictures. Love the output. Sold it for 135mm 3.5 fd mark 2 because it was so not comfortable with my camera. Loved the pictures though. Recommend to anyone who wants to flex their muscles.

2014-04-02

rihards

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Size, weight, creaminess, sharpness from 2.8, fast
A bit of barrell distortion

Awesome lens for nex5n! Has a unique signature being very creamy wide open! Awesome for artistic photography! I love this lens!

2014-04-02

rihards

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharpness, light weight, size, focusing ring, price
none

An amazing and cheap lens. Supersharp! Light! Works beautifully with nex5n. Perfect for travelling. Tried the 2.5 version but its sooooooo huge n heavy. I find that the more comfy the lens is the more ull use it and this lens gives a really high quality images! Recommended!

2014-02-25

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
Fast lens for a zoom, great focal length range.
Image quality.

This is a good

2014-02-08

zanxion72

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Professional unobtrusive quality, absolute freedom
-

This one is my favourite. The match needle operation never gets in the way. No shutter locks, smooth and quiet shutter, bright viewfinder, well sized, durable and well weighted body, makes it an ideal companion that will serve you faithfully for many years.

Highly recommendes.

2014-02-08

zanxion72

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Compact, lightweight, sharp, short focus through.
Distortions are prominent.

I love this one. When going out for some landscape photos this is the one to carry with you. For street candids it is even better. Focus at infinity and everything beyond 3-4 meters will be tack sharp.

The polycarbonate make is durable. Not quite as the older FD lenses, but providing you will not hammer any nails with it, it will serve you more than enough.

2014-02-08

zanxion72

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Very good resolution, well build, smooth operation
A bit on the heavy, some flare issues, long focus through

A great normal lens. You can find it dirty cheap. It is a great normal lens that nobody gets disappointed with. It adds quite a bit to your old heavy Canon camera, but the results are quite pleasing.

2014-01-09

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
One of the sharpest lenses of all time!
none!

I owned this one back in the film days used extensively. Finest IQ of any lens I ever owned. Wish EdMika was around in 2000 would still have her today! oh,well. Best of the best!

2014-01-09

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Superb optics
none

The best supper wide L zoom made. A1 IQ and handling. never a problem!

2014-01-09

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
one of the best zooms they built!
sharp across the range!

great lens great operation great IQ! buy it its great

2014-01-09

Guest

Features
3.0
Build
5.0
3.7
none
awkward stupid zoom that IQ is fair at best

had this 30 yrs. ago 1st zoom YUK! horrible IQ what a dog!

2013-08-22

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Excellent image quality and build

I bought this lens new and used it for many years as my main lens for film photography. I recently tried this on a NEX APC camera and the results were still very good for a legacy lens.

By modern standards, the lens shows more than average reflections when shooting against light, but this is nicely controlled and can be used for artistic effect.

2013-08-14

zanxion72

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, contrasty and well saturated photos.
Just a tad less sharp than the 1.4 SSC when wide open.

It is a great lens. I have it on my New Canon F-1, and it had replaced my 1.4 SSC for just two reasons, it is more compact and lighter than the SSC and I can see the aperture value in my viewfinder.

Many people state that it is of a lesser build quality than the SSC, but that is far from true. Polycarbonates are quite durable. It will take a lot of abuse without any complaints, but hit it hard and it is mostly possible that you will damage your camera along with it.

Two secrets for using that lens:

1. Use speeds of 1/250 or faster when handheld to really show off the sharpness of it.

2. In B&W photography, use an orange filter on it. It will make your photos ultra sharp. It must have to do somewhat with the chromatic aberrations of that lens that their color is being reflected by the orange filter and thus provide a sharper result.

Currently I have my SSC on my old F-1 and this on my New F-1.

2013-08-13

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Nice soft bokeh, Sharp, closest focusing distance of .58 m

Sample pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99033028@N04/sets/72157635015221034/ />
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.605091119531876.1073741873.352915654749425&type=3 />

2013-07-17

Isaac

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Very nice feel and excellent image quality.
Very heavy to carry around.

Overall, I love this lens and it hardly ever parts from my AE-1P :)

It has lovely image quality and nice bokeh. However, if you want to use this lens in low light conditions I would recommend looking around for something different because the viewfinder can get pretty dark when shooting indoors.

2013-05-06

canon72ftb

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Good, sharp, and sturdy medium telephoto. A brass and glass classic.
It's a brass and glass classic, which means it's no light weight.

The Vietnam War, whatever the nature of that conflict, proved to be one of the last great events covered by the still camera photojournalist. Given that our involvement in it lasted from JFK to Gerald Ford, there was plenty of opportunity for print coverage and pictures. However, the men who took those pictures were a new generation, inspired by such past greats as W. Eugene Smith, Alfred Eisenstadt, David Douglas Duncan and Henri Cartier-Bresson, men who even if they were living, were no longer as active as they were in WW II and Korea. Still, even the new generation, in many cases, used the same tools as their predecessors. Thus many a photojournalist would enter a combat zone armed with black and white film, the Leica rangefinder camera (several, in fact) and assorted lenses. The Leica M was used for its quick responses and rugged construction, while black and white (usually an ASA 400 type such as Tri-X) was a media standard. However, it was quite common for many a photojournalist to supplement their Leicas with an SLR with a longer than 135mm telephoto lens. Usually this was a Nikon F with a 180mm Nikkor. This changed in 1971 when some combat ready photographers used a Canon F-1 with a 200mm f4. Now this may seem like trivia, but for Canon it was the breakthrough they needed. After all why spend 5 years developing a professional system that no professional would ever use? No, that did not happen to Canon for several reasons. The Canon F-1 body, with its good ergonomics, its built in meter, and sheer ruggedness was one. But why the 200mm f4. Well, it did offer another 20mm of reach, though that was not a compelling reason. As for the "slow" aperture, that was common for many a 200mm lens of that time. Yet there was one other reason as to why the Leica users would choose Canon as a companion, and that is that Canon FD lenses focus in the Leica direction. This alone would have mattered to a hard pressed photographer who was trying to get a good in focus shot that might be printed in Time, Newsweek or Life. In short, the camera man didn't have to change directions to get the picture. As for optical quality, well, they wouldn't have used it if it was a clunker. Also, the 200mm f4 was hand-holdable, at least in daylight. So, it did the job, and helped Canon establish a reputation with the "pros." As for finding one today - well mine showed up under a Christmas tree, much to my surprise. However, like any lense parts will wear out, though the brass double helical which focuses the lens is more durable than some others because brass is a better bearing surface. Still, it's worth holding one just to make sure it's not too loose. Finally, it comes with it's own lens hood, so make sure yours will have one also. Now, I well realize Canon made other, more valuable ( and pricey) 200mm lenses; first the 200 f2.8 and eventually the 200mm f1.8. Yet if you have an F-1, you should have this lens as part of your collection. For without an F-1 with a 200mm f4 slung over a photographer's shoulder, all the other Canon lenses might never have existed. End of story.

2013-05-01

canon72ftb

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Excellent image quality. A great
Big, but not inordinately so.

It's hard for us to realize these days that there was a time when a wide angle lens was an optical marvel. The first were short focal length lenses that naturally gave a wide angle view. Of course the real trick is to produce such a lens with a minimum of aberrations, distortion, and still have color fidelity and flatness of field. No easy trick, thus for quit a long time 35mm was the practical limit for a wide angle lens. After WW II, and the coming of coated lenses, Zeiss astounded the optical world with the 21mm f4.5 Biogon, the first "ultra" wide angle lens. Made for the Contax IIa - IIIa rangefinder camera, this lens remained a bench mark for many years, and was available until recently for the Contax G series cameras. However, making true, short focal length wide angles was not a problem for the rangefinder camera because there was no mirror between the rear element of the lens and shutter. Things were different for the emerging single lens reflex camera. While the mirror was great for normal, telephoto, and close up photography, it was a barrier for the wide angle lenses of the time. So, what to do?

One solution was to get the mirror out of the way so you could mount a true wide angle on the camera and a finder on the accessory shoe. This was the real reason for mirror lockup. Canon did this with the 19mm f4.5. So did Nikon, especially with their extreme fisheye lenses. However, mounting a lens in such fashion negated the superior viewing offered by the SLR. So, there had to be a better way. Ultimately it was the Angenieux Company of Paris who developing the first retro-focus, or reverse telephoto wide angle lens. This solved the problem of the mirror, and while more complex to make than a true wide angle, virtually all SLR wide angle lenses use the retrofocus concept. This fact alone helped the SLR supersede the rangefinder camera as THE 35mm camera. However, most camera companies would offer 35mm and 28mm wide angles, and then leap frog to an extra wide lens such as Canon's 19mm. However, wide angle photography was becoming more common, and ultimately a solution was found for the gap. Thus, Canon introduced the 24mm f2.8 wide angle, the first 24mm wide angle in the industry. Now a photographer could work in a tight space, take a wide angle picture, yet not have to worry about the extremes of perspective and "distortion" presented by say, a 20 or 17mm lens. It quickly became a part of many a Canon professional's camera bag. Eventually this lens became a S.S.C. model, and was ultimately joined by a high speed version. Also, some advocated it as part of a 24-50-100-200mm group of lenses, with each lens of the series doubling in focal length. While that arrangement never quite worked for me, the 24 mm focal lengt is still a part of the Canon system either as as a zoom lens, or as a single focal length. It's a good, solid, useful lens both then and now. Enjoy.

2013-04-30

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
The perfect extension to my FDn 85/1.2L and 135/2.0
tripod plate does not allow a balanced mount with a F1n plus motor

perfect stuff

2013-04-29

canon72ftb

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Solid, well built, but compact in comparison to other FD lenses.
Slow, limited aperture range

Back when the Canon FL lenses were top of the line, Canon advertized that in the family there were both "professional" lenses, and less expensive, slower, "amateur" lenses. They dropped this when the FD lens line came out, I suspect because whether you were a pro or an amateur you didn't want to admit that a given lens was somehow inferior to others.

Still, Canon did include an "economy" group of lenses along with professional optics because they wanted to sell something to every one. Thus our compact, f3.5 aperture 28mm wide angle. Now, f3.5 really isn't that slow, and it helps the designers make a quality optic since they don't have to worry about making something from large lens blanks. Also, 28mm was a popular focal length because it was a true wide angle, but not so wide angle that you would have to worry about distortions or aberations like you would with a wider wide angle lens. In short it was regarded as a general purpose wide angle. This was especially true back when John Hedgecoe and others were advising people to equip there SLR camera's with a 28mm wide angle, the 50mm normal, a 100 mm short telephoto and a telephoto zoom lens with a range between 70-210mm. Consequently, a lot of 28mm lenses were sold. I have one of these myself, which like the picture, has a chrome ring on the front. That makes it a certifiable original FD lens. Also, though there is no S.C. or S.S.C on the filter ring, this lens does have Canon's standard single layer coating. Still, perhaps because of manufacturing developments, Canon eventually replaced this lens with an f2.8 model. And when the New FD lenses were introduced, all standard model lenses were f2.8 models, zoom lenses excepting. As it is, a surviving FD 28mm f3.5 is a good lens for a collector, especially if it is a chrome ring model. Just keep it clean, and use it when you can and you will still get good pictures. ENjoy

2

2013-04-27

canon72ftb

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, good color rendition, constant f3.5 aperture. A good
Heavy, heavy. Takes a large filter size. Lens hood difficult to find.

Up to 1995 I had not owned a zoom lens of any kind, of any make, of any set of focal lengths. It wasn't because I was some single focal length purist. Rather it was, well, other things such as home, family, children, the mortgage - those kind of obligations which used my available funds. So, I used the collection of single focal length lenses had, which did a good job for me both then and now. Then in 1995 a friend gave me a Canon zoom lens he bought at a photo swap. It mounted on the camera, the aperture worked just fine, and it zoomed from 35-105 smoothly. However, it had a fungus on about a third of the front element, and the filter/lens hood ring was banged up. I got it fixed, and while they couldn't do anything for the filter ring, they did clean off the fungus, which resulted in much improved pictures. Though a "a new" style FD lens, I used it primarily on my Canon EF - where it balanced nicely. The high point with this lens was my son's cub scout trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield. The first day was a 3 mile route that took us to Culp's Hill and it's observation tower. I my all my equipment with me, which turned the walk up the tower into a veritable cardiac stress test. The next day which was a 9 mile route that took us to Eisenhower's home, Little Round top and across to Seminary Ridge where we followed the route of Pickett's charge to the clump of trees; well I didn't take all my stuff. Instead it was just my Canon EF with the repaired 35-105 f.3.5. The two of them together did every thing I needed. 35mm was fine for the scenery, while any focal length between 45 to 105mm was fine for portraits, small group shots and demonstrations. The pictures themselves were some of the best I had taken. Sadly, the lens along with my Canon AE-1 were stolen about the same time time I was going through a divorce. Insurance did pay for it, and eventually I collected new gear to replace the old outfit, and, the first new lens I got was, you guessed it a Canon FDn 35-105 f.3.5, which I still have to this day. This one was like new, and is still like new. And, one of these days I'm going to get out my A-1, with motor drive MA, put this lens on it,and take some more "walk around pictures." I bet they will come out just as well as the ones I took at Gettysburg those many years ago. End of story.

2013-04-25

Jim_Miller

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Great lens even for video
no auto focus and no rolling iris

I've been in the network tv business for over 10 years and to be able to use these 30 year old lenses on my Sony FS100 or any of the DSLR cameras is amazing. The depth of field you can achieve will blow you away. You have to give up auto focus but that is a small price to pay. For an example you can check out this video.... the only lens used was the Canon FD 50mm lens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXE3WF1Ff9I

More examples on our website: http://www.AtlantaVideo360.com
Thanks for letting me contribute,
Jim

2013-04-24

canon72ftb

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Excellent portrait lens.
Part of the brass 'n glass era. Really fits best on Canon F series cameras.

I started out with a Canon FTb with a 50mm f1.8, an FD 35mm f3.5 and a Canon FD 135 f2.5. Of the three I like the normal the best (I still have it, in part because it's a chrome ring model). Second was the mild wide angle, which I liked, though I did with it was an f2.8 instead of a 3.5. The one I liked the least was the 135 f2.5, and this lens was supposed to have the best reputation of them all. I found it big, heavy and awkward to use, largely because I wanted to take portraits. A carry over in FD form from the previous FL model, it was a good solid sharp lens, that well I didn't like it much. So one day I asked a professor of mine who was also an amateur photography what I could do to get rid of it. "Give it to me," he said, when I explained what lens I really wanted. So, I did and soon there after he gave me a nearly new Canon FD 100mm f2.8. I gave him twenty-five dollars and I've had that lens until I gave it and several other lenses from my collection to my son. However, I still have another 100 f2.8 which I use with the EF I have, so I've never really done without one for over 40 years. Why have I kept it. Well, for one thing it isn't that much bigger than my 50mm. Secondly the f2.8 aperture is big enough to produce a good out of focus background to isolate the subject. Finally, it is sharp. Add it's sturdy build and good looks and that is more than enough for me. Over the years, I've used it for countless head to shoulders portraits. It was also my macro lens when I would use an extension tube to help it focus closer. What more can I say, small, but not too small, versatile and sharp, it's no wonder I've had an affection for this lens all these years. Good shooting to all.

2013-04-24

canon72ftb

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Heavy, with a darker than usual focusing screen. Difficult to repair.

The line I wrote for positive characteristics is from a description of the EF written by someone at KEH camera brokers. By and large that is true. However, the EF also has some interesting characteristics not found on other Canon models. The Copal Square shutter with its dual mechanical/electronic control has been noted. This was a first for Canon, since the Copal Square shutter had been around for a while, but not with dual controls. Another innovation was the "silicon blue" cell, center weighted meter. Most cameras used a cadmium disulphide cell, which was essentially a photo resistor. While sensitive, it could be very slow at low light levels. However, CDs meters were easy to engineer and the few components fit easily inside the confines of a camera body. Because a silicon cell generated its own electricity, a silicon meter required different and more complex circuitry. Also silicon cells are sensitive to the red end of the spectrum. This was corrected by a blue coating. Still, Canon went ahead with a silicon cell meter because there was and is no meter lag regardless of the light level. As for room for these innovations, well, that problem was solved by using the F-1 body, making the EF the only other Canon F series camera to use the pro body. However, despite these innovations, the Canon EF uses an already old technology, one found on many a shutter priority cameras of the time. In short, the Canon EF is a highly refined "trap needle" camera. The trap needle mechanism was used by most auto exposure cameras since it uses the position of the camera meter needle to set the aperture of the lens by pressing the needle against a multi step "anvil." This limited the opening of the aperture of the lens. So, if you ever wondered why the A on the aperture ring of an FD lens is beyond the minimum aperture, that's why. Now if you have wondered where the camera would get to he mechanical energy to do this, look no farther than the finger that fires the shutter. Auto exposure cameras back then typically had a shutter button with a lot of travel. Thus it was your finger which provided the power to set the exposure, stop down the aperture and fire the shutter. This is not true of the Canon EF. Its shutter release button requires no more energy than required on an F-1. So where does get the mechanical energy do all these things? The answer is your thumb. When you wind the film with the non ratcheted film advance lever, you are charging up a spring loaded mechanism inside the camera which does all the trap needling -aperture setting work for you. This refined trap needle system was likely the reason the Canon EF was not offered with a winder or motor drive. The back of an EF is removable, but nothing was ever offered for it. Most likely this was intended for a data back. which would provide a day, date and time function for the photographer. If there was a down side to all of this, it has to be with repair and maintanance. Every camera technician who has worked on it will tell you that internally, the EF was a complicated device. Given that it was designed before the IC or EPROM and featured dual controls, it could be a real problem to fix. Stil, I get the feeling that while the EF was not a commercial success, being a top seller was never its purpose. Indeed, one can regard it as a "test bed" of new concepts and technologies which would appear in later cameras. Though Canon went back to a cloth focal plane shutter in the A series, it adopted metal vertical focal plane shutters with the T series and onward. Silicon cell in-camera meters became the norm for everyone after the EF. The one thing that many people regarded as odd was shutter priority. Starting with the EF, Canon stuck with shutter priority even though it's competitor's were producing a sea of aperture priority cameras (Minolta XE-7, Nikkormat EF and others). However, Canon had their reasons. One was that shutter priority often gave the amatuer photographer a greater number of usable prints. The other reason was realized with the Canon A-1, the first camera offered with program exposure. No SLR camera today is found without it. That is when we realized that it was a lot easier to engineer a program exposure camera using shutter priority than the other way around. Granted, the EF didn't have program exposure, but it did provide a technological basis for it which was applied to succeeding cameras. As for the trap needle system, it was replaced by "computer" chip control, a method which also allowed for motorized cameras such as the A series, T series, and every Canon SLR ever since.

2013-04-19

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Shares the same basic virtues as all other Canon F series cameras.
No meter switch. Lacks self timer.

I have owned and operated several Canon F series cameras over the years. My first "good" camera was and is my Canon FTb. I owned an F-1 which I gave to my son. My current heavy duty Canon is my EF, which I retained for my own use. I still have my FTb, which could definitely use a CLA. However, of all the Canon F series camera I own, my favorite is the TX.

Why? You ask. The TX, as we know, is a stripped down economy model FTb, with a shutter that goes to 1/500 of a second, no self timer, though it does have a depth of field preview lever, no meter switch, and for flash, a PC socket and a standard hot shoe, both for X sync only. Oh yes, no mirror lockup either. One important difference is that the TX uses center weighted TTL metering, not the semi-spot metering of the F-1 and FTb. So why do I like this camera so much?

Well, for starters, it has that same sturdy F series body that was introduced with the Canon FX/FP cameras of 1964. This means it feels the same as the Canon FTb's I've used over the years. Secondly, with a few exceptions it takes all Canon FL and FD lenses, from fisheye to super telephoto. Thus it makes a good companion camera to a FTb or even an F-1. As for the deficiencies, well, they are not as deficient as one might think. for example the 1/1000 shutter speed. Popular Photography tested an FTb when they were introduced and found that the 1/1000 sec. shutter speed tested out at about 1/750, about 1/2 stop slower than specified. So the 1/500th speed of the TX looks good in comparison. Also in very truth, accurate higher shutter speeds such as we have now are the result of motorized cameras, vertical traveling shutters and electronic control, none of which existed when the TX was made. As for the lack of a mirror lockup,nearly all wide angle lenses were retrofocus designs, which meant all Canon wide angles would fit on the TX. As for reducing vibrations with mirror lock up, research has shown that a camera mirror causes the most vibration as it comes back down, after the shutter has fired and exposed the film. As X sync only, by 1975 flash bulbs were on their way out as they were being replaced by variable exposure electronic flash units. All one had to do was set the shutter speed to 1/60th, set the lens aperture according to the scale on the flash unit, and fire away. Regular daylight and available light exposure was the same ring and needle match up as the FTb or F-1. However, the TX used center weighted metering, which gave priority to the center of the frame. This was compromise between

semi-spot metering, and full averaging metering with his problems with back lighting. It also means that the TX could use a standard linear polarizer, which was much cheaper in 1975. As for being a disadvantage, center weighted metering is now the standard, used even by cameras that have several metering patterns. So, then is the TX perfect.

Well, I do wish it had a meter switch. The intention was that you could shut off your meter with a lens cap on your lens. After all, CDS cells are essentially photoresistors, and the lower the light level the more resistance they give. Also, the TX used 1.35v mercury cells, which had a long life, even under load. Still, a switch is a switch, and assuming no defects, when the switch is off there is no current flowing from the battery. This would be helpful in these mercury less battery times.

Still, a discussion of the features of the TX doesn't quite explain why I'm so enchanted with mine. After all, this was a camera which, like the Pentax K-1000, was used for beginning photography classes in high school or college. However, mine is a good clean example, though it does have a few shallow dings on the base plate as well as the usual residue around the wind lever and shutter speed dial, which can be removed with lens cleaner. Still, it's due for a CLA, which I hope will happen soon. But, is this enough merit a special place among all my cameras?

My guess is that it's the sheer simplicity of the camera. In short, the TX is nothing more or nothing less than what it is. However, it's still a pleasure to use and I have taken many a family picture with it over the years. Finally, for some unexplained reason, this camera triggers a fantasy factor. In this case , it's the summer of 1976, and I'm hitch hiking through Europe with nothing more than what's in my back pack. Occasionally I get a ride, and for sleep I usually stay a youth hostel. And around my neck is my Canon TX with a Canon FD 50mm 1.8. In my backpack are several rolls of Kodachrome 64, a small electronic flash, and a Canon FD 28 2.8, a Canon FD 100mm f2.8 a. That's it, because what I wanted was scenics, portraits, and with 100mm and the extension tube, some close focusing details. Rather than lug the Kodachrome back home in my backpack, I bought prepaid mailers so I could send each roll back to the US and then to PO Box near my home. Finally, since all the lenses have the same filter size, I would also take a 55mm polarizer. I never took that trip, but given the amount of fantasy factor involved in photograph, I'm sure lots of people may have, or wish they had taken the same trip. End of story.

For the collector, Canon TX's are common, but not too common. The king of all Canon F series cameras is the F-1, followed by the EF, and the FTb. The two bargain basement Canons were the TX and the TLb. The TLb differs from the TX only in that it lacks a hot shoe, and for my money, I would prefer the TX to round out a collection. One detail, the TX was never offered with a black body. Which means it would match your chrome FTb. As per usual, conditon is everything, so make sure you're getting one from a reputable dealer or private individual. Here again, oftentimes a CLA would help whatever problems it may have. Of course the best thing to do is get froms someone who can put it in your hands, that way, you'll have a much better idea of what you are getting. Enjoy.

2013-04-19

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Same virtues as all other Canon F series SLR of that time.
Heavy, but no built in meter.

The Canon FP was introduced in the same year as the FX, but though they shared many things, there was one clear difference between it and all other succeeding Canon cameras. Simply said, the Canon FP had no built in meter. Everything else the Canon FX had, it had, except that one singular feature. The Canon FP had a shutter from 1 second to 1/1000, interchangeable, variable aperture lenses, and other standard features such as a mirror lock up, and PC flash sockets for FP and X sync flashes. That made it a high quality, near professional camera in 1964. So what was the reasoning behind the left out exposure meter.

Simply said, in 1964 experienced professionals and amateurs would look down their noses at a camera with a built in meter. A built in meter was a sign of a neophyte, an inexperienced bumbler who did not know an f-stop from a g-string. Canon knew this, and since it too wanted to offer a "professional" camera, deleting a built in meter was an inexpensive way of doing making one. Did it help? No, for Canon eventually realized that it took a lot more than a meterless camera to attract the professional market. Consequently, you find very few Canon FP's on the market, even on eBay. That makes the Canon FP highly desireable collectors camera - if you can find one. Like any nearly 50 year old camera, it could use a good CLA. The one thing the camera repair man won't have to adjust is the meter.

Permit me to say something in general about Canon FL lenses, which were introduced with Canon FX/FP. Canon FL lenses start at 19mm and ended with a whopping 1200mm super telephoto. However, the majority of Canon FL lenses are within the 28 to 200mm range. I once saw a Canon add which said that Canon made two groups of lenses, Canon professional lenses which were fast and sharp, and Canon amateur lenses, which weren't quite as fast, but just as sharp. Thus you could by a Canon 200mm f2.5 or a 200mm f3.5. With exception of 85 f1.8 and the two 50mm normals, a pro lens was an f2.5 while the amateur model was an f3.5: approximately 1 stop difference between the two lenses. One other item is that the FL lens line stops at 28mm and leaps to a monster 19mm 4.5 wide angle. This lens existed in two forms, a pure wide angle, and a retrofocus model. The pure wide angle came first. While all Canon lenses used the chrome breech lock ring, the "pure" wide angle 19mm projected so far into the mirror chamber that you had to raise the mirror with the mirror lock up lever, then mount the lens. To see what the lens was seeing Canon provided a 19mm finder that was mounted on the accessory shoe. Focusing was done by scale, though the depth of field of the 19mm made guess focusing accurate enough. Eventually, however, Canon brought out a retrofocus version of the 19mm which didn't need the mirror lockup, and could be viewed and metered through the lens. Either lens is difficult to find, and a good on commands a good price. As for the super telephotos Canon made a rear focusing element, which also governed the aperture as well. This started at 300 mm. If you wanted something longer, you changed the front element, starting at 400mm and went all the way up to a 1200mm f.11! Finally, the FL series offered three zoom lenses, a rare thing in those days, when many a zoom lens was an after market item. As we know, Canon replaced the Canon FL lenses with Canon FD lenses in 1971. However, some of the FL optical formulas survived in the new lenses, such as the Canon 50mm f1.4 and 85 f1.8. Also the FL super telephotos remained for a while, since the original Canon FD lenses didn't go beyond 300mm. Also, the FL series includes the famed FL-F telephotos, which used crystal flourite lenses, the first in the industry.

If you a Canon FL lens, rest assured that you can mount it on most every Canon breech mount camera from the Canon FX all the way down to the T 90. However you will only be able to use it at shooting aperture. That is you have to stop down the lens with the self timer lever to measure the light coming though the lens. Assuming it is in good condition, you should get good sharp images. FL lenses have a more "machined" look, largely because the don't use rubberized focusing rings. Also, one of the two distinguishing features is that FL lenses have a chrome aperture ring in the front of the lens, while FD lenses have an aperture ring at the back of the lens, just before the breech lock ring. Finally, the single pin at the back of the lens is the aperture lever. FD lenses, as many know have more pins and bumps to connect to the meter and the camera. Basically, Canon FL lenses were meant for the original Canon F cameras, specifically the FX, FP, FT and Pellix, They can also be used as intended on the F-1, FTb, FX and TLB, and with care, the EF. A series cameras are another problem, with the possible exception of the AT-1. IMHO the loose their usefulness with the later breech lock Canons. Also FL lenses are single coated, which is fine with B&W but less so with color films, or digital. Still there are photographers who like the older lenses, and use them to achieve the image they want. If you're one of those, or a collector who wants to enlarge your collections, the Canon FP/FX cameras and the FL lenses would make a fine addition.

2013-04-19

Guest

Features
7.5
Build
8.5
7.8
Solid, well designed, well made camera body with a built in meter.
Heavy, (by todays standards). Has a built in meter.

The Canon FX, along with it's companion, the Canon FP was introduced in 1964; an interesting time in the photographic world. First however, let's have a look at the photographic world in 1964. First, the Nikon F was well into its long reign as the "professionals" choice. However, few people used a Nikon F, that was reserved for pro photographers and well off people. Most people used Kodak film, and most people use Kodak cameras, especially the Kodak Instamatic, with its drop in square negative cartridge. Finally, most people were shooting color print film, specifically Kodacolor X. 35mm cameras and film were in a distinct minoriity, confined to professionals and the well off. If somebody did use a 35mm camera, it usually had a European pedigree. However, by 1964 Japan Inc. had stolen the lead from the Germans. Granted there were German cameras, notably Leica and Zeiss, but the Leica rangefinder was gradually becoming a niche product, while Zeiss was slowing going out of business in cameras.

So where does that leave the Canon FX? Well, the FX/FP twins introduced a sturdy, well made camera body that would serve Canon well for the next ten years. Secondly, the FX/FP line corrected the design flaws that sank the Canonflex models. Finally, the were accompanied by a new line of lenses, the Canon Lens FL series, which was last until 1971. Sharp and study, they would produce many good images in the hand of as skilled photographer. However, of the two, the FX was clearly designed for an amateur market. Why, because of the built in meter, which read the amount of light from an outside sensor on the rewind knob side of the camera (left being from the camera operators point of view). Even though it was built into the camera body, I remember that the operator had to read the meter scale, located in front of the rewind knob, thsuen transfer the setting to the camera lens. This was cumbersome, but about as good as any other metered camera you could by in 1964. After all, the idea was to market a camera that would help the struggling amateur to get more precise exposure, and more good prints or slides per roll. Finally, the Canon FX was sold not only in camera stores, but in select department stores as well. If you have one in reasonably good condition, given that the Canon FX was introduced almost 50 years ago, it will probably still take pictures, but it may also have the dreaded Canon shutter "gritch." Assuming no other problems a good CLA would likely restore it to working condition. However, be careful with the meter, which was designed for a 1.35 volt mercury cell. It may be possible to make adjustments so it use the A-625 1.5 volt alkaline cell. However, a good clean Canon FX, with a 50mm f1.8 lens, (which uses a hard to find 48mm filter) would be a good collector's camera. Still, if you have one in your drawer, closet or wherever, it would be a good idea to get a roll of 35mm and give your FX some exercise. Finally, though all film cameras except for Leicas and Rollei TLRs have lost a lot of value in the digital years, Canon F series cameras, especially the older models have increased in value largely because of the collector's market. Still, let the buyer beware especially if you get one from eBay. Better to pay more and get one from a reputable online camera seller. However, a Canon FX is not likely to bring as good a price as its partner. I'll explain the reason for that in a review for that camera Good shooting to all.

2013-04-18

chilehead

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Dirt cheap, easily adapted to NEX, solid lens

I'm new to DSLR shooting, but love the look of good bokeh. As I've found more about what good bokeh looks like, the less I liked this lens. Its still a solid lens with good IQ for cheap, but the bokeh is not increadibly smooth. For example if you are trying to isolate a flower on a tree or bush from all the branches in the background, the result can be somewhat busy and distracting. Will probably trade it in for the 1.4 version.

2013-04-12

zanxion72

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Feature rich, durable, intuitive in use.
It just isn't an F-1

Packed with features and quality built, it offers all an amateur and an advanced amateur would ever need.

It has features encountered in pro cameras, all put in an easy to use camera with a durable body.

It may develop the famous "cough", but that would just mean it needs lubricating. It is not a fault.

2013-04-06

ccdupras

Features
7.0
Build
7.0
7.0
Cheap , Light
No coating

Thousands of these were made so you can get one for almost nothing.

Very light due to use of plastic in construction of the lens.

Good buy if you are on a very tight budget.

Needs a filter to improve contrast and color.

2013-04-06

ccdupras

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Amazingly Sharp, Durable, Built-in rotating mechanism, Complete accessories
Heavy , Long , Shallow depth of field

The sharpest Canon FD lens i ever owned; perfect for birding photography. Best around f/8 due to shallow DOF. Useful built-in locking/rotating mechanism for horizontal/portrait photo. Built like a tank; very durable.Complete original kit: shade,case,filter holder,caps.

Best when used with tripod and remote shutter control.

Amazing results when used with digital EOS body via a no-glass adapter(no infinity).

2013-04-05

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
zoom range, versatility and quality
weight

had this lans for years and still use it in the digital age. I have it mounted on a Canon AT-1 and use it when on vacation. It offers good wide angle and short telephoto coverage in a single lens and Canon quality says it all.

2013-03-23

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, fast, capable of low-dof, wide enough for indoors, fast enough for night
Heavy, moderately prone to flare, usually needs UV treatment

Note this review is for the thorium-coated chrome-nose version that stops down to f/16.

Extremely sharp, fast, heavy lens. Good contrast. Moderately prone to flare. Usually needs to be treated under UV light to remove the yellow cast (and loss in light transmission) caused by a radioactive coating. Versatile lens in that it's wide enough for some indoor use, fast enough for handheld night use, low-DOF enough for portraits, and sharp enough for landscape. Wide but not too wide - and fast.

If you know you are only going to use a 35mm for high-DOF, then consider the 35mm f/3.5. It is much cheaper and lighter. If handheld indoor photography or portraits are something you do, then you'll find this f/2.0 lens much more versatile.

Optical Test (using tripod, infinity focus):

Note: the following test was done on an APS-C sensor so corners are not considered.

At f/2.0: A little chromatic abberation. Good sharpness.

At f/2.8: Very good sharpness, at f/2.8 it's matching the 35mm f/3.5 at f/5.6. CA is completely gone.

At f/4.0: Extreme sharpness. No need to stop it down further unless more DOF is required. Equally sharp as the 50mm f/1.4 when both are at f/4.0. A bit sharper than the 35mm f/3.5 ever gets, and better contrast, too.

2013-03-23

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Light, sharp at f/5.6 and above, tiny
Poor performance wide open, slow, hard to focus in low light

This is an extremely light weight lens, definitely one of the lightest I've come across. Optical quality is good at f/5.6 and above. It actually holds its own against the thorium coated 35mm f/2.0, which I also tested. It is just slightly less sharp - just barely perceptible. The downside vs. that lens is that it is slower and harder to focus in low light. The upside is that it's tiny and almost too light to feel on your camera. It also flares less than the f/2.0.

Overall, this lens performs great if you stop it down slightly. Definitely worth looking at as an alternative to the 35mm f/2.0 if weight is an issue and big aperture is not.

Optical Test (using tripod, infinity focus):

Note: the following test was done on an APS-C sensor so corners are not considered.

At f/3.5: Chromatic abberation and less sharp.

At f/5.6 and above: Quite good sharpness, CA almost completely gone. Does not further sharpen past f/5.6 (at least in center).

2013-03-19

xfaktorphoto

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Build quality, silky smooth focusing, built in hood
Normal CA wide open

I bought this great lens for just under $200 on eBay, which I found to be a great deal.

Granted, at first, I had only a cheap FD adapter with (image-destroying) glass for my 7D; I now have a temporary remedy (for IQ-sake), a cheap adapter without glass. Until, of course, Ed Mika finishes development on the mount conversion.

Having said that, the lens performs well in all areas, just stop it down to kill the CA.

2013-03-14

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
very sharp, no vignetting, no distortion, no chromatic aberration
hard to foccus with Canon 5D MK II, contrast

Perfect with edmika on the Canon 5D MK II, colours and contrast can be correctet in Lightroom, very recomanded (sorry for my bad english) but also hard to focus on DSLR!

2013-03-13

Trachvan

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Awsome IQ, contrast, colours, amazing sharpness
None

Sample pictures using Sony NEX 5N:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.538594369514885.1073741828.352915654749425&type=1

2013-02-14

zanxion72

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Fast lens.
Not any

You will love this one! It is fast and the fastest that many can afford next to 1.2. It looks cool with that red lettering on its face and it produces results of high resolution, high contrast and great sharpness.

My only complain (not really) is that I cannot have readout of the aperture value being used on my F-1N (not that I cannot live without it).

2013-02-14

zanxion72

Features
8.5
Build
10.0
9.0
Sharp and contrasty
Heavy as a tank

A great lens. Great optics, great results, but in a heavy weight body. No matter, I still consider its heavy build of a great quality.

Note that:

1. It has a 55mm filter diam as stated.

2. In cameras like Canon F-1N you will not be able to see the aperture value in your viewfinder (you need the FDn for that).

2013-02-14

zanxion72

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
Great lens for the price.
A bit soft when wide open.

Plastic look, but solidly build this lens offers quite a bit for its price. It may be a bit soft when used wide open, and you may get a bit of flares, but it produces sharp and contrasty results.

Just because it has plastic parts it does not mean that it lacks quality.

2013-01-27

alexk

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
sharp, very good bokeh
heavy

I recently purchased this lens on ebay to use it with my Fuji X-Pro1. So far I'm very much surprised how good this old lens is. If you are looking vor an 35mm equivalent for a Fuji X camera, go for the f/2 canon. It is great!

Some test shots on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexanderkurz/

2013-01-04

FlatAlbert

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Solid built, nice ergonomics, ability to use both; FD and FL lenses

First i want to tell you the easiest way to distinguishe this model from the newer version:

The film rewind crank on the new version has a plastic tip for better ergonomics , the metering lever on the new version is made of plastic instead of metal an canon added a shutterspead window to the viewfinder. With those details given, it's easy to tell which one is which.

The FTb QL offers a very precise exposure metering system which works with open aperture metering (FD and FDn). The exposure-needle has to match the ring on top of the aperture needle.

To get the right exposure for FL lenses, you have to use stop down metering (Push the metering lever towards the lens and lock it by ringing the little lever beneath it to "L". the aperture needle in the viewfinder disappears and the metering needle has to match the nozzle).

A problem you might have with the camera is to find a batery for the TTL. The original batteries contain lead (PB) so they are banned. instead you can use 1,4v zinc-air hearing aid bateries (ZA675PR44) with a mecanical adapter (some sort of rubber around them-they have a smaller diameter).

The best feature of the camera is the quickload system: you just lay the film in, pull it over the film rewind wheel and close the door. the flap attached tho the door will press he film on to the teeth. it takes about 2 seconds from the empty camera fo be ready to shoot.

if the shutter doesn work, there are two easy ways to find out what it is and ow to fix it:

-the window with the picture-counter dislocated---unscrew the top and place it where it belongs

-the mecanism is blocked---unscrew the bottom, hen wathch this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PAV40hCl6A) then push evry thing you can see moving in the video :D

Im sorry for my lousy english :/

2012-12-27

Cadillacmike

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Compact, rugged, flexible, goor for sports / action use
Weight, speed when compared to later competition

If there ever was any doubt that Canon was engineering a true camera SYSTEM when they designed the F-1 and its accessories, one need only look at their motorized and automated, unmanned photography layout to be completely convinced otherwise. The center of this system is a Canon F-1 with the Motor Drive MF. To the F-1 yo can attach the Booster T or Servo EE finder and you can power the latter via a special cord. You can also attach the Film chamber 250 (although you have to separate the Grip MF and use a connecting cord MF). To the Motor Drive MF, you can attach the Interval timer L (and later the Interval Timer TM-1 Quartz) for timed photography. For shooting at a distance, you can use the Remote Switch 60MD, and the extension cords, or you can use the Wireless Controller LC-1. You can also attach just about any D, A, or G series flash, including the 533G & 577G , and you can fit almost all of these together! There is a limit of one item plugged into the Motor Drive' remote control socket, but the possibilities are breathtaking, and the fact that many of these items were manufactured and introduced over a more then 12 year span makes it truly amazing. The MF does have its faults. It's heavy, though not for its time. It's also slower than most at 3.5FPS, but it's comparable to other MDs of its time, and considerably more flexible. And there is no vertical hold shutter release, as in on other later motor drives and winders, but this is one very flexible motor drive system. I have several including a couple new in the box (both the original blue & white and the later red & gold boxes), and i use them.

2012-12-27

Cadillacmike

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
Built in ontervalometer, very rugged, flexible
External corded battery case, bulk, speed

Ratings are based on what was out there during its time (1971-74). This was the original Motor Drive for the F-1, it is often referred to incorrectly as the Motor Drive MD, probably because everything that went with it had MD at the end of its name, i.e. Battery Checker MD, Remote Switch MD, etc. I have 2 of these, one is used - lightly, and the other is essentially new in the box with everything including the hard to find Battery Case D!. This was Canon's first attempt at a motor drive and it while it appealed to the scientific user, with its built in intervalometer, it was not compact even for its time, and in its original rendition, the battery case was a separate corded affair, not all that useful for action / sports photography. The speed at 3FPS was not that great either. The Battery Case D came out shortly after and allowed the power source to be directly attached, but it didn't help the overall bulkiness of the whole affair. On the plus side, it was very rugged, and flexible. Further, it could mount to ANY F-1, you didn't have to send the body for custom modifications like nikon F users had to if they wanted to use the almost equally bulky original motor drive for that camera. The external battery case could also supply power to the Booster T or Servo EE Finder this saving a small amount of bulk, however, the arrival of the Motor Drive MF relegated the Motor Drive Unit to the scientific community and those who really liked to load themselves up with gear!

2012-12-04

XDUR

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Sharp, superb color rendition, macro mode, cheap, perfectly built
a bit on the heavy side

some additions/corrections to the information of this lens:

Filter size: 62mm

No. of Diaphragm Blades: 9

Weight: 860g

Closest Focusing Distance: 0.8m at 210mm, 1.6m at 70mm

14 elements in 10 groups

Minimum Aperture: f/2.8 at 70mm - f/4.0 at 210mm

2012-11-02

LucasAdamson

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Sharp, lovely bokeh, Canon colours, no CA, no distortions to speak of, a cracker!
Nothing to speak of.

Really excellent portrait lens, often overlooked because of the 85mm f1.2, which is very fast, but not really actually better in any other way in my view. Maybe the f1.2 L is sharper at f2 - that would be my expectation. This offers significantly better bang for buck though and at this focal length, anything faster than f2.8 is plenty fast enough with plenty sufficient short dof possibilities for even the most demanding environments.

2012-10-27

XDUR

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Nice IQ for a zoom, good sharpness and colors, constant f/3.5
Heavy, large, difficult to use with small camera (NEX, M43)

Image quality is very good for a zoom. I like the colors it renders.

Build quality is nice, but the lettering is prone to fading away (this is not a problem with the smaller FDn lenses as their lettering is etched/engraved).

It's hard to handle with a small camera like my NEX 5n. Because of it's weight/size I have to balance by holding the lens and when rotating the zoom or focus ring I accidentally rotate the other ring.

Superb all round lens for 35mm camera's, but not so practical for small (system) camera's.

2012-10-04

db73961

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Cannot find a better lens in this range.
None

Used it on NEX7, As good as any Leica lens (I have one R and three M-mount in this range) but none of them have f1.2. I use the Leica 90mm f2.8 for travelling because it is super small. But this Canon is much more powerful especially when it's cloudy. Otherwise, use a polorizer to keep it wide open.

2012-10-04

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Very smooth outfocus, good 3D feel
none

Extremly reasonable price and available anywhere.

2012-10-03

XDUR

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Sharp, Contrast, IQ, nice warm colors
a little heavy compared to standard NEX lenses

A while ago I bought a Tokina 24mm f2.8 FD mount, but I was not happy with it: bad contrast, bright spots smeared out, lack of sharpness, cold colors.

I recently bought the FDn 24mm and the difference is huge compared to the Tokina, in a positive way.

I use it with my NEX 5N so it's actually a 36mm lens. The color, warmth and contrast is comparable with my Canon FDn 28mm and 35mm lenses, rather nice.

It's a little heavy compared to the standard NEX lenses, but not too heavy.

Build quality is very good as most older lenses.

2012-09-03

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
convenient FL range, close focusing
image quality

I'm using this lens on NEX 5N with an OM adapter. This lens is very well built, though heavy and big. It's a one touch varifocal zoom, meaning the focusing changes when you zoom. Some people hate it, I love it. One of the advantages of varifocal lens, it can focus from a distance of couple inches. I like smooth and precise focus/zoom ring.

Unfortunately, this lens is noticeably softer and has less contrast wide open than my other manual zooms in this range (I'm comparing to Minolta 35-70/3.5 and Canon 35-105/3.5). It also has softer corners. It gets better at F/5.6-8, but never catches up with the other. The bottom line - a very convenient lens, but the image quality is just average.

2012-09-03

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
excellent resolution and contrast
could have been better @ F2.0

Used this lens on NEX 5N camera. It's a very sharp lens with low distortions, very useable at F2.0, though the difference between 2.8 and 2.0 is quite noticeable -- it loses contrast and resolution and more prone to flare with some CA when fully open. At 2.8 this lens is already perfect. Good and even resolution the corners. This lens is noticeably better than FD 24/2.8 or FD 28/2.8 at every F stop.

2012-09-03

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
a perfect 100mm lens
-

Used this lens on NEX 5N camera, this is a one perfect 100mm. It has very good resolution and contrast right from the start @2.8, no noticeable distortions or abberations, no color casts. Very good for portrait work. The lens is also light and small. Highly recommended.

2012-09-03

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Light, smooth operation
poor @ 300mm

I used this lens on Sony NEX 5N via an adapter. The lens is very good in 100-200mm range, good resolution and contrast, very low CA, very smooth focus/zoom ring. Unfortunately, at 300mm this lens loses sharpness significantly, you may as well take picture at 200mm and crop it 1.5x and get similar results.

2012-09-03

tetakpatak

Features
8.5
Build
10.0
9.0
superb IQ, great sharpness, negligible distortions and CA
none, this is a great lens

This is possibly the best wide angle FD lens I own (among 17/4, 20/2.8, 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 35/2.8). It has beautiful IQ, colours, barely any CA. This is the only FD wide angle lens besides my 24/2.8 which performs awsome even when wide open.

This lens is made for film cameras, but it performs great also on the m4/3 bodies. I didn't try it on the NEX. This was state-of-art optics in its time, compared to such lenses of 2012 its overall performance still reachs nearly 90%, what is quite impressive.

2012-09-03

tetakpatak

Features
7.5
Build
9.5
8.2
very solid lens, good IQ and sharpness, negligible distortions
flare and ghosting, contrasts

I really like this lens, though it was more impressive to use it on the Canon AE-1 than on the modern digital bodies with smaller sensors.

Its old coating renders on digital cameras of our time (m4/3, NEX) just a bit weaker colours than many modern lenses- although for my eyes it feels quite natural.

Its biggest problem issues are flare and ghosts which get easily produced even under quite common light conditions. The image contrast suffers then as well. Using of the proper lens hood (considering camera's crop factor) can improve the IQ very much.

All else I can say about this lens that I otherwise just love it and I can recommend its use.

2012-09-03

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Very sharp zoom
Large/heavy, min. focusing distance

I'm using this zoom on Sony NEX 5N camera, it works very well. In my measurements this zoom surpassed 60 l/mm already fully open, and it has a very good contrast, it's as good as the best FD primes in this range. Mechanically the lens is very well built, with smooth rings, and due to good contrast, it's easy to focus. Be careful using protective filters on this lens, they may noticeably reduce its resolution and contrast.

The worst thing about this length is the minimal focusing distance of just 1.5m. The macro mode allows to shoot from ~0.3 m and there is nothing in between.

2012-09-02

tetakpatak

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Awsome IQ, contrast, colours, amazing sharpness. Free of distortions, CA or ghosting.
none I could find

This lens belongs in my opinion to the very best Canon lenses ever made. Even wide open this lens beats the performance of many fast, expensive lenses when stopped down. At f/8 there is no more IQ one could wish. My example has no weaknesses at all, it is just joy using it. Tack sharp, crispy shots combined with high contrasts and vivid colours (its green is stunning). If I was constructing it, I would just give its diaphragm 9 blades instead of 6. One buys today this lens for almost nothing and it beats the performance of most "L" Canon lenses. Its barell is done by solid plastics, but it lasts perfectly for over 30 years and compared with cheaply done EF lenses of today, it just looks solid like tank.

2012-09-02

tetakpatak

Features
7.0
Build
9.5
7.8
Excellent IQ, good sharpness, old film colours, good contrasts (stopped down)
ghosting and flare wide open, radioactive thorium glass, heavy CA

Wonderful old piece of glass, all-metal barell so very solid. This lens is well-known for its IQ and sharpness on the film cameras like AE-1 (24 x 36 mm) but its coating is in my opinion not so superior for modern digital cameras. There are also meanwhile many other 35mm lenses which are significantly sharper than this one and also with better contrasts. Yet, this lens works still very well on NEX or micro four thirds system cameras. Slightly radioactive thorium glass tends to get yellow layer within the years, but it is easy to bleach it exposing it to UV-rays for at least several days. No big deal, let your lens to catch some sun in the beautifull winter days, exposing it straight as possible. Protect all black parts of the barell by aluminium foil so it doesn't get warm! (diaphragm oil) Longer one does it, yellow layer disappears better.

2012-08-29

Guest

Features
6.0
Build
8.5
6.8
Well constructed, almost 1000mm on aps sensor
Very poor contrast

A well constructed lens and possibly reasonable in it's day. Image quality is let down by very poor contrast which requires significant work in photo editing software to get any where near usable. Not the sharpest either. After stripping mine down to investigate further I've found one of the inner reflectors to be misty, which could explain the poor contrast. Not sure if this a common issue. I'll see if it is possible to clear this misting and if so post a further review.

2012-08-29

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Excellent Construction, built like a brick
Some sensor reflection with very some high contrast images

Possible the sharpest lens I own at both macro and telephoto end. Built like a brick with smooth focusing. The only negative is with very contrasty macro images some sensor reflection can be seen in the high's. Review based with the Sony Nex5n.

2012-08-24

ProfHankD

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
Nice all-around fast 35mm; good bokeh; lightweight
FDn plastic build

Really a very nice 35mm. Perfectly usable at f/2 with good bokeh that can be a little nervous (similar to my SMC Takumar 35mm f/2), but are usually quite smooth. Sharpness is very good to the edges on APS-C. Colors seem pleasant too. Like many FD/FDn lenses, contrast is fairly high, and that really helps IQ of this lens.

Physically, it's the usual FDn story. The lens body is obviously plastic, but that makes it lightweight and it's also pretty small. Balances well on a NEX-7, where the adapter makes this lens behave like a preset.

2012-08-22

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Tack sharp with superb build quality
none

This is one of the sharpest FD lenses I've encountered in the FD range. I'm finding image quality to be on par with my FDn50mm f1.4, and at least good as the latest EF version of this lens which I owned previously.

Using it currently with the Sony Nex 5n as a short throw portrait lens.

2012-08-16

ProfHankD

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Good sharpness, color, modest CA
PF and glow around 300mm, long

As is common with such lenses, IQ drops visibly approaching 300mm, but is quite good overall. Sharpness is very good, with pixel-level detail on my 24MP APS-C NEX-7 even wide open, although contrast isn't great and PF and glow show around 300mm. Color is both very good and consistent across focal lengths and apertures. The relative lack of CA is impressive, but the harder-to-correct PF largely removes that advantage. In summary, what this lens gains in sharpness and color are largely lost by the PF around 300mm, but if you can avoid NIR-heavy bright lighting....

This lens is 8" long and still perfectly smooth and free of play, which is very impressive, but lack of a tripod collar brings it down to 8.5 build. Length doesn't change during zoom, but does during focus.

2012-07-25

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Very small, looks like a normal lens, sharp, excellent bokeh, relatively fast.
A little bit closer focus would be great.

Excellent lens. Mine has a big scratch on the rear element and it's still very sharp wide open. Beautiful bokeh too.

What I love about this lens is that it's the size of a normal lens, but gives you twice the reach. It doesn't make your camera look intimidating, and you can do street photography without having to get super close, and without being noticed.

It's probably not the lens you'd reach for for artificial lighting. You would probably want a 50mm f/1.4 for that, for the extra speed. And it's not something you'd use indoors, unless the room is very large. But most of my shooting does not fall into those categories, and this is one of my favorites.

My ideal cheap/compact 3 lens FD kit is a 24mm f/2.8, a 50mm f/1.4 and this lens.

2012-06-25

botw

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Sharp, inexpensive
slight CA

This is the Komine made version of the Series 1 70-210 and many think it is the best of the bunch. I can attest that mine is truly excellent. Sharpness is on par with some of my EF L lenses. Only optical drawbacks are some fringing wide open and it is not as contrary wide open as it could be.

2012-06-18

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Tiny!
No major problems.

This is a good lens for when you want a bit of reach but don't want to put something long on your camera. It looks like a large normal lens, it's quite short. I find this focal length a bit awkward compared to 135mm, which I'm more comfortable with. Maybe it's just me though.

2012-06-18

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
Compact and light.
Images just good, not great.

This lens is decent. Image quality seems to be not quite as good as my other 200mm zoom lens, and this is a prime. Still pretty good though. What it has going for it is extreme compactness, and light weight, while still letting in a relatively large amount of light. It's just not quite up to the image quality standards of some of the other FD lenses.

In addition, my model seems to lose infinity focus slightly if I tilt the camera down then back up, even without touching the lens. This is a bit annoying. Not sure if they all do this, it might just be a mechanical problem with mine.

2012-06-18

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Beautiful rendering, great control over shallow depth of field, excellent bokeh.
On the heavier side.

Excellent lens with beautiful rendering and incredibly useful control over shallow depth of field. Reasonably sharp wide open, and completely usable (just a touch of softness, less softness than most 50mms wide open), sharpens further at f/4, no reason to stop it down further unless you want more depth of field. Useful built in lens hood.

I find this focal length to be very close to what my eye sees, so framing up shots is very natural-feeling with this lens. Has a long reach but not too long, and can be used in lower light.

One of my favorite lenses, out of about 20 I've tried. Probably the best inexpensive FD lens.

2012-06-08

Guest

Features
7.5
Build
8.0
7.7
Average

It does have 55mm filter, or at least mine does

2012-05-14

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Sharp, minimal distortion, great color and contrast
Prone to flare

A great wide angle lens that is sharp across its aperture range, with excellent color quality and contrast. The lens is sturdy with very smooth focus. The only downside really is that the front element is rather bulbous and protruding, making it vulnerable to lens flare. So a lens hood is a must for shooting into the sun.

2012-05-12

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Sharp, cheap, great bokeh
Focusing can be a pain

This is an exceptional lens, and beats out the nFD 1.4 and the 1.4 USM due to its use of oversize optics. The lens is sharp even wide open, and stays decently sharp into the corners (something usually only seen in much more expensive lenses). Vignetting is minimal and it practically free of chromatic aberration. An 8 blade aperture delivers excellent bokeh up to around f/5.6. Almost nothing bad I can say about this lens, other than the focusing it at wider apertures can take a bit to learn, especially when coming from an autofocus system.

2012-05-08

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Hacked it and have The best Video out there for under 20K, and it's WAY UNDER.
NOTHING.

This is the camera to get if you want to make extremely high quality videos. Digital film is really what we're talking about. This camera has been hacked by the geniuses at personal-view.com and the quality when hacked is beyond amazing. Very well tuned settings have taken the stock bit rates (17 mega bits per second) as high as 170 mega bits per second, depending on the hack. There are conservative hacks, and extreme hacks. The bottom like is that this camera is no being used by pros around the world. If you'd like to see some of my personal videos taken with the hacked GH2 here is my vimeo https://vimeo.com/user5236865/videos />
For under 1K there is no better option for video.

2012-04-10

Jan_Rosenberg

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Out of this world metering, gorgeous
Like an ageing movie star - she'll need care to keep her shining

Like Sigourney Weaver in 1986's "Aliens" - the T90 is tall, sexy, super tough and can empty a whole mag in 9 seconds - not to mention being intelligent AND caring. Yes, the T90 is still an enormously enjoyable "bitch" of a camera - but you have to love her to keep her fighting - she's no spring chicken now...

THE GOOD:

+ Spot metering so accurate and pleasurable to use you can "paint" the exposure of your scene as if it were a histogram. Get those shadowy areas or highlights exactly as you want them.

+A body that looks and feels like it was forged in the fires of Mount Doom - smooth and muscular (only 1D Canons compare - even a 5D feels like a toy compared to a T90).

+ Not just spot but MULTI-spot metering.

Body handles well with all lenses - old and new - long and short.

+ Viewfinder and LCD can be lit in darkness.

4000th/sec shutter.

+ Safety Shift - awesome feature - your aperture or shutter priority preference will be automatically shifted to within the camera's range for a given lighting situation. 4000th/sec will go to 1000th/sec if your aperture can't open enough.

+ Kick ass flash options.

+ Variable Program AE - Program mode but you can favour shutter or aperture to different degrees.

+ Takes old FD lenses whose optical quality is often way better than later FDn or EF lenses.

THE BAD:

- Practically too many paths to take a picture - you can often stop to think "now how shall I....?"

- Potentially sticky shutter (washer can melt or magnets closed for too long)

- Needs regular exercise to keep it going (not necessarily a bad thing)

- Base can warp if don't loosen it from a tripod before changing batteries.

- Control dial can get dusty and unresponsive - just blow into it regularly.

- No exposure lock on centre-weighted metering mode (why?).

- No correct exposure information when using manual non-stopped down mode (yet there is on stopped down mode - why?)

- Heavy complex internals - even without the 4 batteries - how often do you need 4.5fps?

- Yes, a loud gun-like shutter, those sleeping beasts are always startled.

- Some UI confusions, live and pre-set spot metering indicators becoming confused (as they are the same colour).

FINAL WORD:

Think long and hard if you want to go into the FD world - the later 1D series and the EOS 3 are T90s but take all today's EF lenses as well as manual Zeiss's etc. But goddamn I love my T90!

2012-04-10

Jan_Rosenberg

Features
8.0
Build
9.5
8.5
Sexy focusing movement & flares, your friends will
Somewhat

Perhaps its just my copy - but at certain apertures it doesn't seem to do that great (tiny patches of CA). My girlfriend's old FD 50mm 1.4 has a richer bokeh, richer colours, richer contrast. My 50mm f1.2 L gives an incredibly even image across the frame at all distances - perfect for copying schematics(!) or something like that. But while a joy to use - the results just never seem exciting like you might expect if you've used an 85mm 1.2...

Good build, smooth focusing, looks fab on the outside, sharp results --- but not strikingly sharp. At 1.2 it is a tad soft of course - if say an eye is in focus then its eyelashes aren't - so I don't use it wide open much.

Could be a good lens for astronomy or similar but otherwise I'm not sure its worth the money.

Might be just my copy though...

2012-04-05

ProfHankD

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Sharp fast 50 even wide open, vibrant colors, high contrast
Bright edge on PSF, flares easily with serious loss of contrast, bokeh CA

This is surprisingly different from the FDn version of this lens.

The build is slightly coarse and plastic compared to the FL lenses, but still quite solid and less plastic than the FDn. Sharpness is at least on par with the FDn version, and maybe a tad better. Colors are very snappy and contrast is high. SA was less obvious than on the FDn. Overall, way better than the f/1.8 versions and a touch better than the FDn f/1.4. It does flare fairly easily, and can completely lose contrast when that happens.

Although bokeh are generally quite smooth, there is a thin bright line on the PSF that makes out-of-focus points of light look like circles as opposed to discs. It is more like the bokeh on my FL 55mm f/1.2 than the FDn 50mm f/1.4. It also suffers from red/cyan bokeh CA.

Overall, it's a pleasant lens to use on a NEX.

2012-03-22

graphlander

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Sharp and very easy to focus. Useful focal length. Aspherical.

This lens is a work of art. Sharper than my 35mm F2.o S.S.C. and my FDn 28mm F2.8. And easier to attain perfect focus on this lens than my others. Excellent build quality and image quality. I use the BW-72 hood.

2012-03-18

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
sharp !
. . .

DAS zweitbeste Objektiv, dass ich je hatte . . .

SCHARF !

HOCHAUFLÖSEND !

. . . eigentlich ein "L" . . . !!!!

2012-03-18

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
. . . sharp
. . . big and . . .

Hallo.

Das 1,2/85 L ist scharf, ja . . .

Aber die Unschärfekreise sind schon ganz leicht abgeblendet dahin . . .

Ich halte es für überbewertet . . . !

2012-03-18

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
. . . best lens ever !
big

DAS ist das BESTE Objektiv, das ich je besessen habe . . .

Das 1,2/85 ist scharf, aber die Unschärfekreise sind bereits leicht abgeblendet dahin . . .

Das 2/135 kann man bis Blende 4 suuuper nutzen und die Unschärfekreise sind auch da noch rund . . . !!!

Suuuper Schärfe bei Blende 2, Referenz ab Blemde 2,8 . . . . !!!!!

Ich hatte bisher kein hochauflösenderes Objektiv . . . . auch nicht das EF 70-200 IS 2,8 II . . .

2012-03-17

rossbeckernz

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Best equal lens I own.

I bought this lens 2 years ago & replaced the newFD mount with a chipped EF mount that I made & now use it on my 1d4 for portraiture. Just fabulous results.

You can see the conversion here. Also mount converted a newFD 50 f1.2L.

nFD 85L pics here: http://goo.gl/Qah7Y

nFD 50L pics here: http://goo.gl/KE7oy

Ross Becker

New Zealand

2012-03-11

ProfHankD

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
Very sharp stopped down, good contrast, ok bokeh
Overvalued, build, not great wide open, fungus likes them

This lens is widely described as though it is the standard by which all other lenses should be judged, so I got one to test. The one I got was advertised as "clean," but has fungus on every internal element... which seems to be much more common for this lens than most -- about 1/4 of those I've seen advertised admitted to having fungus. In any case, the fungus has very little impact on image quality, so taking appropriate precautions against infecting my other equipment, I did some quick tests.

First off, this lens is reasonably small and balances exceptionally well on a NEX. The build is not really good, but nothing is loose and plastics make it lighter than most f/1.4 lenses -- which is a real benefit. I can see why people want this to be a winner optically.

Around f/5.6, this lens is a winner: perfectly sharp with high contrast across the APS-C frame. At wider apertures, bokeh are better than average (MUCH better than its f/1.8 siblings), but that seems to come from undercorrected SA, which also gives glow and low contrast wide open. Overall, it's a bit below average in IQ wide open. Of course, a bit below average is still darn good when talking about fast 50s.

Colors are typical Canon FD, a touch warm. This lens also seems to have a slight color shift upon stopping down, probably due to the SA. I've only seen such shifts in longer telephotos before, but arguably this brings color closer to neutral for this lens.

In summary, this is a very smart f/1.4 design for a film SLR. Under normal circumstances, this would give a very bright viewfinder with great IQ at the most common taking apertures. In low light, the soft rendering helps minimize the evils of typically high-contrast lighting; portraits also might benefit from the softness. For digital, the IQ around f/5.6 is competing with kit zooms that also do quite well around 50mm f/5.6 and viewfinder brightness isn't an issue for an EVF or rear live view. Wide open is where kit lenses can't compete, and this lens does fine, but many competitors do a little better despite usually selling for a much lower price: e.g., Minolta Rokkor and Pentax Takumar (after UV cleaning).

2012-02-28

Jan_Rosenberg

Features
7.5
Build
9.0
8.0
Solid build, good coatings, appealing alternative bokeh to Canon FDN 35mm
Somewhat diffused highlights at f2.0

Solid all metal build with an unusually wide filter thread (58mm) the Panagor 35mm f2.0 has a meaty feel to it with smooth creamy focusing.

While not an earth shattering lens by any means it seems perfectly sharp stopped down beyond f4 where it gives well saturated colours.

At f2 very bright highlight areas take on a fluffy diffused appearance typical of lenses of this age. It's a more appealing look in black and white.

Other than the build quality the main appeal for me is the bokeh which has deep liquidy look to it, markedly different from Canon's new FD 35mm semi-wides (this is more "romantic" perhaps with lower distortion). Without an aperture locking pin/button, the lens can be switched to manual mode without taking your eye from the viewfinder.

Nothing at all spectacular in terms of IQ, just a reasonably smooth and solid 35mm f2. It may be that the Panagor 35mm f2 was originally or later made by Kiron and/or Vivitar, I'm not sure.

It's well above a budget lens but also well below Canon's amazing old FD 35mm f2 versions.

2012-02-26

Paulhasacanon

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Excellent build,
Needs an adapter to get to 1:1, lens not recessed at all.

This lens is excellent on my AE1-P and OM40. The build quality is flawless,as good as my FL19 R. The colours are amazing - seriously, I could not believe just how great those corny pictures of bright flowers on a sunny day are! The focal length makes for a nice portrait/shortish telephoto, and the fast aperture makes it ideal for low light situations. The focus seems to snap into place - it's so obvious when it is. My one big reservation is the requirement of an adapter to make it 1:1 macro. This recalculates the aperture for you, and obviously, you lose light. Also, the front element is almost exposed. A hood is a very good idea if you want to use this lens - I've only used it without the once, and experienced some flare. I'm looking forward to using this lens a lot more.

2012-02-26

bbetancourt

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Black Beauty, the name is tha game

After a few years of using digital cameras I dug out my old analog gear (AE-1 and Oly XA) and shot a few rolls of Film just for fun. Then I stumbeled across an EF and was instantly hooked again.The EF feels just right. All the controls (except the exposure-lock on top) just fall under my fingers. The body ist a wonderful piece of engineering. The winder feels like a swiss clockwork and the shutter sounds like ... like... dunno but wonderful. Everything I missed with digital cameras that feel like electronic toys (expensive toys). That brougt me back to analog photography, even for my (part-time) commercial photography . Instead of buying a new DSLR I now own three EF-bodies (plus one slightly damaged one as organdonor, just in case) and a filmscanner.

Since I don't miss features like a motor or spot metering, the EF is all I ever wanted a camera to be.

2012-02-07

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
2011-12-24

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Great for NEX5n , I like the Bokeh so far.
Not very sharp at f1.4 but 2.0 + is better

AWD8.ZENFOLIO.COM

Here are some sample pictures from this lens with SONY NEX5N. I think the bokeh is decent for the price compare to $300+ new digital lenses....

2011-12-04

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Sharpness, Turns your SLR almost into a view-camera.
The gear for the tilt could be slower.

If you need a T/S-Lens theres no real alternative, but its a wonderful lens anyway. Tack sharp, and very well built.

A nice and heavy piece of optical hardware which will add two more degrees of freedom to your photography.

Shifting is piece of cake, just align your camera and dial in the rise (or drop) you need.

Tilting (as always) requires some skill and experience. Outdoor use would be easier with a slower gear for the tilt along with a vernier-scale for the angle. At 35mm focal length even small changes in angle have a big influence.

Using a T/S-lens is so much fun, even (or because) it slows down your workflow. Forget about handheld shooting when you're using tilt. A tripod and some patience is mandatory to get the focus right.

2011-10-23

ishootfilm

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Joy to hold and operate , soild construction . metering is 100% 1st rate ...
vintage cameras ..are hard to find acc. such as eye cups .. lens hoods ect.

about 3 months ago I spoted this F! in a used case at the local camera store I had loaned my Canon QIII "shooter" to a co-worker for his daugter's photography class. This F1 was in primo condition it previous owner had a great deal of respect for it. I need another camera like a whole in the head , but it was love at first touch. The bulk of my "gear " is Nikon but this gem had to be mine. I have been using the "shiped with " 50mm f/1.4 lens -- picked up a 50mm f/3.5 macro and the mellow-yellow 35mm f/2.0 .... I am rediscovering the world of film once more .. more to follow.. !!!

2011-10-03

beaconschris

Features
10.0
Build
8.0
9.3
Sharp beyond believe and soooo smoth !
none !

Great lens ! Its small,light,super sharp,wonderful bokeh ....... not cheap though ! Given 8 for build as I prefer B/L build quality,but its still sturdy.

One of my top 5 lenses EVER (out of about 50-70).

2011-10-03

beaconschris

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
incredibly wide AND sharp with beautiful colours,can`t ask for more !
none what so ever !

I realise that 10 out of 10 will anger some people,as nothing in this world is perfect ! Never-the-less : this lens is amazingly wide,amazingly sharp,has lively colours and very little distotion for such a lens ! I can`t fault it.And to top it all its cheap !

2011-09-27

karl8

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
I.Q., focusing, construction
no I.S.

Excellent sharpness and micro-contrast; wonderful colour. Its image quality is on par with my EF 70-200 f/4 IS, but the latter does not focus any closer than 1.2 m (i.e. no real macro capabilities). By the way I'm planning a mini comparison between the two.

I found focusing ring to be really well designed: you can swiftly focus between 1.5 m and infinity with 1/4 turn, when you use this lens as a standard 200 mm tele and with a 1 1/4 turn between 1.5 and .6 m for accurate focusing when in macro mode.

The construction is all metal and very well built, including the "embedded" hood.

The only thing I really miss, in comarison to the EF 70-200, is the image stabilization, but of course, this is not something I can complain about. I just need to purchase a monopod.

2011-07-26

ProfHankD

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Well built, built-in shade, good IQ, cheap, f/2.8
Heavy, lenscap fits over shade

Mine is a 28 serial number, built by Komine. Actually, I own several.

Common and really cheap on eBay, under $20 including shipping. Slightly soft (low contrast) wide open, but IQ typical of a good 135mm f/2.8 -- and most 135mm lenses are pretty good. My favorite lens to use on tubes/bellows, IQ that way is better than some macro lenses. Built-in shade is nice. Not light, but compact and very well-built solid metal body.

Only annoyance is that lens cap fits over built-in shade, which makes it bump into any filter when the shade is pushed back.

2011-07-17

Guest

Features
7.5
Build
6.5
7.2
Lightweight, compact, good colours
Feels a little cheap...

This is really just a nice flexible light snapshot lens. Take it on holidays and catch some snaps. Keep around the middle of the aperture range for best results, and enjoy it. I find that this lens can be a little soft, but gives excellent colour.

2011-07-09

Leo

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Very sharp, IQ great, zoom
big

I really love this zoom and althought it's big, an 100 mm, 135mm and 200 mm are bigger to carry around. And the IQ of the zoom is better.

2011-07-09

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
10.0
8.0
Simplicity itself...
...you'll soon yearn for more features

Great, rugged, simple. Takes the miriad of FD lenses available, and a few nice add on's like remote shutter & a good speedlight flash. Put it in program, focus & shoot. There is no manual mode, and changing the aperture causes the shutter to default to 1/60, so you can't tweak exposures this way. That said it does exactly what it was designed for, and with good consistency. Its nice to use and handles really well.

2011-07-09

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Features, can be fully manual or idiot proof auto!
Noisy winder...

Just the right amount of tech for an old-schooler... You can leave it in one of three program modes which give pretty good & consistent results, or have it totally manual (as long as you click the aperture ring away from 'a'). The simple LCD screen allows easy selection of shutter speeds & modes, and the camera itself is very straightforward. Film loading etc a breeze.

An inexperienced photographer can use one of these and get some pretty good shots, and someone who knows their way about can 'free it up' and use it in manual - which I think is really good for the era. It also handles really nicely, is pretty light but doesnt feel fragile.

2011-07-09

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Build quality, simplicity, viewfinder information, layout
heavy?

Proper metal construction as fits the era, slightly heavy but you'll get used to it, and a wonderful shutter sound. The shutter speed wheel is perfectly positioned to adjust when looking in the viewfinder, as is the advance lever. Very consistent & good results on Shutter priority, full control in manual. Nice range of shutter speeds & ASA settings, although a 1/2000 shutter speed would make it perfect... I love it.

2011-07-07

Leo

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Sharp, small, good iq., speed, nice color, bokeh oké
Barrel distortion, but easily correteble

A very nice little lens with good bokeh, much better then the FDn 50 mm F1.4. There is nothing that spoils the fun. I use the 24, 28, 35 mm with a adaptor on a digital Sony nex (* 1.5) . I can use the same suncap on these lenses. F2.8 is fast if you compare it with zooms and for these lenses fast enough.

2011-07-05

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
9.0
7.7
Small, fast, nice colors, sharp, better then the EF 50 mmF1.4 under F2.8
bokeh, at F1.4 still a bit soft, purple fringing

I use this lens now on a Sony Nex and with its smaller angle it is not that overall 50 mm on film or FF. Nicely build, the fringing is correcteble, the bad bokeh is my main complaint. But a joy to use.

2011-06-25

CatKetch

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Fast, compact, sharp, versatile, easy to focus, fast
Pricey even no, used

This lens is my personal FD favorite. I've owned and used it for 25+ years. It has seen thousands of miles of travel all over the world and thousands of images.

I began using the Nikkor 24mm 2.8 in the late 60s, and got this lens when I shifted from Nikon to Canon in the late 70s and early 80s. Together with the 35-70 and 85-200 zooms and an AE-1, it has been part of my standard travel kit for film, and I have probably taken more images with this lens than any other.

After all this time, it still works great, although the rubber focus ring slips - came unglued from the barrel. Despite all the miles and bumps, it's never needed service.

2011-06-25

CatKetch

Features
8.0
Build
7.0
7.7
Light; compact; excellent handling; good image quality
Internal zoom and focus guides wear and shrink, causing loose zoom and loss of focus

I have owned this lens for 25+ years, traveled all over the world with it, thousands of images. It is the perfect travel lens.

Mine wore out -- a first for me -- and found out from the repairman that the zoom and focus followers or guides use a sort of semi-elastic ring to maintain friction in the zoom and focus helicals. New followers are no longer available from Canon, so the lens can't be repaired. Too bad -- it's a winner otherwise.

2011-06-25

CatKetch

Features
7.5
Build
3.0
6.0
Good all-purpose zoom range; good handling; adequate image quality
Heavy; exposed front element; notorious for weak lens mount

I had only limited experience with this lens. Owned it (used) for about three weeks until a short drop (18") while sailing broke the internal mount attachments inside the barrel. The AE-1 attached was unharmed.

After taking apart the mount to see if it could be repaired, it was obvious the mount to main lens barrel attachment (four screws into small polycarbonate tabs) was under-engineered given the weight of the front lens barrel and lever arm.

This failure makes me nervous about the 35-105mm zoom I acquired around the same time.

2011-06-14

savvypavvy

Features
7.5
Build
8.0
7.7
Fast and cheep
Soft in corners at the wide end

This was the kit lens for the AE-1 Program. Originally it came with a 52mm rubber hood, but also has a bayonet mount for other lens hoods. It is a great lens to hone your skills. Unfortunately, I started to notice its flairs as I improved my skills.

As a prime, this lens is one you will use a f/1.8 often. Unfortunately, the corners of the frame are extremely soft on f/1.8 to f/3.5, even if you focus on a subject in the corner area. Even if the corners are in the same DOF, they will be soft. Separating the back/fore-ground exasperates the problem. This is its weakest flaw. This lens is also not ideal for sun bursts or flare, as it has 5 blade aperture, and the berst at f/16 - f/22 soften due to diffraction more so then Canon's midrange prime lenses like 28mm or the Macro 50mm.

To its benefit, there it little chromatic aberration, and the focusing from 0.6m to infinity is very short and fast. Its 52mm filter is small enough to fit filters and the small size and weight allow an easy lens to bring around. This is little distortion, lens then 1% off axis of lines.

2011-06-04

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
High speed, superior image quality, high build quality
heavy lens, zoom ring slips easily from self

I am a proud owner of this lens for almost 6 weeks and I have given this lens the nickname "my little monster", because it weighs almost 1.5 kg, it is large, heavy and looks very professional. The only reason such a lens to lug is high speed and the play with focus and blur, and I use this in full, because I never take pictures with smaller apertures than F 2.8 or 4. In situations of spontaneous portraits of people at events and festivals images are not only incredibly sharp, contrasty, but also with an incomparable style and fantastic bokeh. The high speed of 2.8 makes it easy to focus and gives the pictures a great depth. Compared with the Canon FD 80-200 zoom L, which I had before, this zoom weighs twice, but this lens does not need a comparison, it is pure magic, what it is performing on the film. It's an old scool lens, for people with old style to use such a lens!

2011-05-28

ProfHankD

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Fast, Close focus, good IQ
Soft and glowy wide open

I wasn't intending to get this lens... it was bundled with some others that I was surprised to win on eBay. This copy is in excellent condition and effectively cost me well under $10 including shipping.

Wide open, this lens is still sharp enough, but it has low contrast and some classic fast-old-lens glow. It is a very appealing softness that works well for portraits and generally is more character than defect. Bokeh are generally nice, although there is a thin bright ring visible in the PSF.

Stopped down, it gets perfectly sharp. Contrast is still relatively low.

On film, the low contrast would be the issue, and 8/10 would be about as good as the IQ gets. That's assuming that the full-frame edges hold up, which I haven't tested. However, on my 14MP APS-C digital, the contrast is not low enough to be harmful and image quality is about 9/10. Low contrast is one of the least harmful issues for digital, easily fixed in PP.

Mechanically, aside from being a little large, it is competitive with Takumars of the same period. Build is easily at least 9/10.

Which brings me to the obvious comparison: this vs. my 35mm f/2.0 S-M-C Takumar. First, let me say that the Tak is better. In fact, it is technically much better wide open and contrast is consistently better in just about any circumstances. However, the images from this Vivitar are just as pleasant to look at, perhaps more romantic as opposed to the documentary look of the Tak. The Vivitar bokeh are better. Did I mention that the Tak cost over 12X as much!

This vs. my 35mm f/3.5 Super Takumar: these lenses are opposites. The Tak has great contrast, making appealing images by overly intense colors. These two lenses almost define the boundaries for how different IQ can be and yet both be quite good. This Tak is tiny.

This vs. my Canon FDn 35mm f/2.8: the Canon has better contrast (but not even close to the f/3.5 Tak) and thus would be better on film. Typical FDn build doesn't compete with this Vivitar.

In summary, despite the price, this Vivitar is really viable as a "fast normal" for APS-C. It is nothing short of stunning for the price I paid....

2011-05-22

Skysaxon

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
sharp even at open aparature - creamy bokeh
limeted aparature

got this lens a few week before and I´m fascinated from the carakter - very interessing lens with a creamy bokeh.

2011-05-22

Skysaxon

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Clear and sharp with a very nice bokeh - build as a tank
found nothing in 25 years ownership

loved this lens on my A-bodies for portrait and now love it for nature pictures on my Nikon D70.

Couldn´t find anything wrong at this lens.

2011-05-15

ProfHankD

Features
10.0
Build
8.0
9.3
Outstanding IQ, crisp even wide open, smooth trans to out-of-focus
Build not impressive

Wow! This is the first Canon FD lens that has really impressed me with its IQ. This might be the best IQ of any <=28mm old lens I've used. On my Sony NEX APS-C, there is absolutely nothing to complain about for this lens: it's a 10/10. It easily outperforms modern zooms covering this focal range and even has a good close focus.

The lens is a breech mount, but feels a bit plastic -- not as much as either of the two 50mm f/1.8 S.C. lenses I own, so I'll guess that it has a little better tolerance (or I have a good copy) and hence give it 8/10 for build. I also wish it were better sealed, and this copy seems to have a tiny bit of crystaline marks at the inside edge of the rear element. I don't think it's fungus, but cleaning fluid that seeped in and dried. Anyway, that doesn't seem to hurt anything.

As for the 50mm FD lenses (which this looks a lot like), this lens feels very good on my Sony NEX-5. I just wish it were a little faster. For the speed, I'll still use my Vivitar/Kiron 24mm f/2.0, but it is definitely not as good IQ at f/2.8 as this lens.

2011-05-15

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
8.0
9.3
Outstanding IQ, crisp even wide open, smooth trans to out-of-focus
Build not impressive

Wow! This is the first Canon FD lens that has really impressed me with its IQ. This might be the best IQ of any <=28mm old lens I've used. On my Sony NEX APS-C, there is absolutely nothing to complain about for this lens: it's a 10/10. It easily outperforms modern zooms covering this focal range and even has a good close focus.

The lens is a breech mount, but feels a bit plastic -- not as much as either of the two 50mm f/1.8 S.C. lenses I own, so I'll guess that it has a little better tolerance (or I have a good copy) and hence give it 8/10 for build. I also wish it were better sealed, and this copy seems to have a tiny bit of crystaline marks at the inside edge of the rear element. I don't think it's fungus, but cleaning fluid that seeped in and dried. Anyway, that doesn't seem to hurt anything.

As for the 50mm FD lenses (which this looks a lot like), this lens feels very good on my Sony NEX-5. I just wish it were a little faster. For the speed, I'll still use my Vivitar/Kiron 24mm f/2.0, but it is definitely not as good IQ at f/2.8 as this lens.

2011-05-14

ProfHankD

Features
7.0
Build
7.5
7.2
Cheap and light
Soft, mild edge artifacts in bokeh

I recently got two of these in a batch of Canon equipment off eBay. I've got lots of normals, so I didn't need these, and I figured they'd be a lot like the 50mm f/1.8 new FD I have, but I tried them and they're not.

The one thing that is similar is build quality. The breech lock is more solid than the bayonet, but otherwise this feels as plastic as the new FD. I'm really starting to appreciate how well-built my 55mm f/1.2 FL is (it is a 10/10 on both build and image quality).

This lens doesn't seem quite as sharp as the new FD, but it doesn't seem to be as glowy either. Contrast is fairly low, but the IQ is pretty consistent across the APS-C frame. Most normal lenses are slightly undercorrected, but these seem to be overcorrected; the result is a PSF with a slightly bright edge for things past the focus point, and the bokeh show a lot of this type of artifact. Overall, IQ is not bad, but this is definitely near the bottom among all the normals I own.

However, as for the new FD version but slightly less so, this is a lens that feels right on a Sony NEX body....

2011-05-13

franLero

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very sharp lens (and inexpensive).
None.
2011-04-04

Ontarian

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Very portable and hand holdable
hard to focus accurately when hand holding, monopod advisable

Great (relatively) small lens and very fast, almost a stop faster than the modern EF 100-400 5.6L. Sharper than the EF zoom as well. I use it on my New F1 and SONY NEX-5 and can focus to about 250 meters using my self developed EdMika EF-FD 0.75mm thick glassless adapter on an EF body.

2011-04-04

Ontarian

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Focuses twice as close as the 800 and notably brighter
Much worse chromatic aberration (purple fringing) than the 800

I sold a 600 and 800 copy to a film production company. A year later they are selling one of them and they chose to keep the 600. I personally kept an 800 copy myself for the absolute best in far detail resolving power. That said I find when shooting little critters in my backyard they often venture closer to me than I can focus and I miss the 600. More info on these two lenses can be found in this set on my flickr photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ontarian/sets/72157623884845990/

2011-04-04

Ontarian

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Can focus to infinity without an optical adapter and no purple fringing
Big, heavy and expensive

This amazing lens along with its little sister the 600 f/4.5 are the reasons I developed the EdMika EF-FD 0.75mm thickness glassless adapter for my own personal use and then later for others who wanted to do the same as me. There is a lot of info on this and the 600 lens on my flickr photostream in this set for anyone interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ontarian/sets/72157623884845990/

2011-03-24

covetedpixel

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Fit, finish, handles well, good drive speed
Heavy when loaded with batteries (lots of batteries)

If you find a both the MA and an A1 in great condition, you will discover that the MA has a nice fit with the A1, with a secure and comfortable grip. The drive speed is respectable, actually quite good back in 1980. Not as comfortable or easy to hold vertically as the newer drives are for the newer digital cameras. I really wish they had the nice rechargeable eneloops back when I had to use one of these for wedding and event work. I am not sure how practical these drives are now, being that film (at least for me) is more of a deliberate picture taking form, and there is digital for when I need to cover an event and shoot lots and lots of frames. But if you have a nice A1 that you would like to keep and enjoy using, then I think it is worth the experience to find a good condition MA for it.

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Every inch a classic, and after more than 20 years, this camera is still hard beat
Internal Battery must be replaced every 5 years.

The Canon T-90 was the last model that uses FD-mount prior to the shift to the autofocus EF EOS system. It hardly lasted a year since its inception but what an impact it has created on the design of future SLR. Every inch a classic, despite after more than 15 years, this camera is still hard to replicate even by today's standard. It was also widely acclaimed as one of the true Classic camera of modern times. The T-90 influenced Canon's future designs of cameras as a whole more than any other camera within their line-up. It was a great camera by any standard, featuring some revolutionary innovations as well as practical and very functional human engineering factors in its design. Thus, five years after the Canon flagship model, the Canon New F-1 was launched (1981), the T90 became the bridging model between the first full AF model, the Canon 650, that was brought out by Canon barely a year later in March, 1987 and the older manual focus Canons. The life span of the Canon T-90 was the shortest and can also be considered the last of the true professional FD-based manual focus SLR camera from Canon** but it is also the most sophisticated automatic exposure 35mm SLR that Canon has ever produced. It was first marketed in 1978 before being discontinued in 1982 while the T90 has barely a year to survive due to the market changes to the AF arena where the Minolta Maxxam 7000 was rocking the whole photographic world by storm and Canon has to make the most drastic decision in its camera history by dropping the famed FD breech-lock mount and replaced it with the new EF mount for the new EOS series AF cameras).

** (An FD Canon, the T60 was subcontracted 1990 - but had little relationship to the T series)

The Canon T90's birth was a little untimely and its full potential was never truly realized - one tends to remember the A1 more clearly than the T90 when associating Canon with the multimode automatic cameras, even though the former fares poorly in comparison with the latter in all aspects. This is primarily due to the fact the T90 has never had the longer life cycle that A1 enjoyed.

The Canon T90's appearance is designed by German industrial designer Luigi Colani, and was the third model from the T series, after the T50 in 1983 and the T70 in 1984 (In total, there were five T-series models including the T80, which was an autofocus camera that was launched in 1985. But the T90 has cast more influences to Canon's future designs of cameras as a whole than any other camera within their line-up. It was a great camera by any standard, featuring some revolutionary innovations as well as practical and very functional human engineering factors in its design. Thus, five years after the Canon flagship model, the Canon New F-1 was launched (1981), the T90 became the bridging model between the first full AF model, the Canon 650, that was brought out by Canon barely a year later in March, 1987 and the older manual focus Canons. The life span of the Canon T90 was the shortest and can also be considered the last of 's e r i o u s' FD-based manual focus SLR camera from Canon (The Canon T60 was launched in 1990) - but it is also the most sophisticated automatic exposure 35mm SLR that Canon has ever produced prior to the new EF mounted EOS AF SLR cameras, and was also affectionately nicknamed as the 'Tank" in Japan.

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Canon's first auto focus 35mm SLR camera
Short Market Life - Very Rare

The FD-mount Canon T80 can be considered as as Canon's first auto focus 35mm SLR camera. The AF system in the T80 uses a linear CCD array for TTL image contrast detection (Compared with earlier Canon AL-1 with electronic rangefinder). The picture-taking mode can be selected with the pictographs on the external LCD panel. You can select to shot either in One Shot AF, Servo or reverting back to use manual focus (on each of the AC lens, there is a setting for you to alter any of this shooting preference.

Marketed: April 1985

Discontinued: June 1986

For metering and exposure control, TTL multi-program AE and preset aperture AE with centerweighted averaging metering are provided. Lenses for autofocusing with the T80 were called AC lenses. These lenses had the FD mount and signal transmission capability. Three such "L" lenses were available: AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5 (these original FD-mount AF lenses are scarce in numbers).

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
A sleek profile, superb balance and handling - a revolutionary new Canon camera
None for it's time.

The new computer age into SLR camera design

In 1984, a revolutionary new Canon camera was launched, changing the way we look at camera and photography. This camera is the Canon T70 model. A sleek profile, superb balance and handling. Power-saving design. Reliability-enhancing features. System accessories including multipurpose Command Back 70 and programmed Speedlite 277T.

Programmed Versatility The T70 is programmed for every conceivable photographic situation. A great improvement over the earlier versions used in the multimode Canon A-1 or the simpler AE-1 Program, as it has more options to fine tune exposures.

Data input into the T70's microprocessor brain give not one but three daylight programmed exposure modes. These select the most appropriate aperture/shutter speed combination for the lighting and the lens in use: wide-angle, standard or telephoto. Flash photography is also fully programmed. For fast-paced action, there's Shutter-Priority AE and when the situation demands, Manual override.

The second T-series camera.

The camera kit included an FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 lens or an FD 28-55mm f/3.5-4.5.

The large LCD panel and key-touch buttons had a major impact on 35mm SLR cameras that followed. The T70 features shutter speed-priority TTL AE, TTL multi-program AE, and preset aperture AE. The dual metering system gives a choice of center-weighted averaging metering and partial metering at the center. In 1984, the camera won the Good Design Award (from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and once again, the European Camera of the Year Award.

Type

35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera with built-in winder and multi-mode AE

Normal Lens

FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5

Lens Mount FD mount

Shutter

Vertical-travel, focal-plane electronic shutter. With multi-program AE: 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. With shutter speed-priority AE or preset aperture AE: 2 sec. to 1/1000 sec. For manual: B. X-sync at 1/90 sec. (hot shoe). Built-in electronic self-timer (with beeper).

Viewfinder

Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.85x magnification and 92% coverage. Laser Matte with microprism/new split combination rangefinder.

Viewfinder

Information Four LEDs and 7-segment LED for double-digit readout. Correct exposure, camera-shake warning, flash ready, aperture, shutter speed, safety shift, and manual.

Metering &

Exposure Control

Composite SPC for TTL full-aperture metering with multi-program AE, shutter speed-priority AE, program flash AE, manual, and TTL preset aperture AE. Centerweighted averaging or partial metering at center. AE lock provided. Metering range at ISO 100 and f/1.4: EV 1 - 19. Film speed range from ISO 12 to 1600.

External LCD Film speed (ISO), shutter speed, picture-taking mode, program mode, frame counter, battery check, film-loaded indicator.

Power Source

Two 1.5 V size-AA batteries

Film Loading &

Advance

After aligning film leader at mark, close camera back for auto loading. Auto film advance with built-in motor. Continuous shooting at 0.7 fps.

Film Rewind Power rewind with built-in motor.

Dimensions &

Weight

151 x 89 x 48 mm, 580 g (with batteries)

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Pure Simplicity at last!
First of the T Series... Better to come...

The Canon T series models were a new breed of SLR cameras introduced by Canon to replaced the A Series model. The Canon T-50 was the first model within the T Series. It was built with the concept of everything convenient and easy to use, packed in a light weight body with a built-in integral winder to handle loading, remote control capability ready, offering automatic film advancing except for automatic rewinding and DX coding features from the high-end T-90 model - all sound too luxurious for a bare-bone A series model which may require the attachment of accessories like motor drive or power winder to perform similar tasks. And on its own, the T-50 stands between simplicity and sophistication. It is a simple to operate, inviting and user friendly SLR camera. It shares with most of the system accessories in the huge Canon FD lenses photographic system. It also patches some of the key weaknesses found in the A series model. The silk fabric shutter curtain was replaced with a newly developed vertically travelled metal curtain, which result in a higher achievable sync speed (varies with individual models) as compared with the standard 1/60 sec among all the A series models. The T50 featured here, was almost designed to handle like a P&S camera - other than the film rewind knob, other confusing knobs and switches

Additional information on Canon T-Series Camera

The T-50

Have you noticed how most cameras can be placed in one of two categories? First, there's the "snapshot" division, with cameras which are easy to use, but limited in terms of what they can "see". Then there are the single-lens reflex models. These are more sophisticated, with their ability to change lenses, but they are also generally more complicated and more expensive. Bridging this gap between simplicity and sophistication is the Canon T50. This remarkable camera is as easy to use as the simplest pocket model and is the least expensive of the Canon SLRs, but will give you professional results -- provided you know a thing or two about basic photography, that is. If none, don't worry, the T50 will still give you good results.

Mode selector Normally, the mode selector remains on PROGRAM, giving fully automatic exposure (AE) control. However, if you want to put yourself in the picture, just set the dial to SELF, press the shutter release, and take your place in front of the camera. The shutter will fire after a 10-second delay.

Viewfinder display P indicates that all is ready for an exposure. The symbol blinks slowly if the use of a tripod or flash would help and blinks rapidly when flash is essential. The flash symbol lights up when the Canon Speedlite 244T is ready to fire. If the subject is too far away for correct flash exposure, the "P" symbol will blink rapidly

M blinks when the lens aperture ring is not locked on "A". Manual exposure control and Aperture-priority AE are not possible with the T50.

Auto film loading Just line up the film with an orange mark inside the camera and close the back. Pressing the shutter release will automatically advance the film to the first frame And after each exposure, the built-in micromotor will automatically advance the film to the next frame

Shutter release The soft-release shutter button switches on the viewfinder display when pressed lightly Further pressure fires the shutter. Once the correct film speed is set and the mode selector positioned for PROGRAM, no other adjustments are needed for perfect exposure.*

*The T50 uses centre-weighted average as its exposure metering control and there are no exposure compensation options or AE Lock available to alter the camera's settings.

Battery check Unlike many simple cameras, the T50 lets you check the condition of the two AA-size alkaline battenes which power all the camera functions. Turning the mode selector to "BC" provides an audible indication of the energy level

Flash facility The T50 has its own special flashgun, the Canon Speedlite 244T. Fit this to the camera accessory shoe, switch it on, and start shooting The Speedlite automatically sets all the camera controls for you It's foolproof flash photography. The Speedlites 277T and 299T can also be used.

Remote control A socket on the side of the camera accepts a remote release accessory or, via an adaptor cable, a quartz timer or infrared remote control unit. And the automatic film advance means that you can shoot a sequence of pictures without having to go near the camera. Remote photography has never been simpler.

Interchangeable lenses Like all SLR cameras, the T50 accepts interchangeable lenses. There is a wide range of Canon FD lenses to choose from, including many zoom lenses The FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 zoom is an ideal "standard" lens for this camera, giving freedom and flexibility at low cost and was specially made for the T50 when it was launched in 1983.

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
8.0
Build
6.5
7.5
An SLR with an electronic rangefinder to provide focus assistance. Easy to Use.
A bit late on the market. Not an Auto-Focus! Has battery Door Issues! Amature design

The AL-1 is not an autofocus camera, but rather an SLR with an electronic rangefinder to provide focus assistance. The first AF camera from Canon was the short-lived FD mount Canon T-80 introduced in April, 1985 ('Short-lived' because it was discontinued slightly over a year later in June, 1986 - because for AF it needed special lenses - only 3 were made)

The AL-1's in-focus indicator was quite appealing to the consumers who have eyesight problems or need further assurances regarding in-focus confirmation.

The QF feature provides an electronic rangefinder system which has easy-to-see arrows that points the direction of the focusing ring of the mounted FD lens. A green spot lights up when the subject is in sharpest focus. And because the Quick Focus employed a TTL (through-the-lens) system using three CCD line sensors, virtually all of Canon's interchangeable FD lenses can take advantage of the focus assist feature found in this model.

Main features of Canon AL-1 Quick Focus SLR camera is a quite accurate Quick Focus System for focus assist

-QF indicators inside the viewfinder eliminate guesswork

-A fairly bright viewfinder - using clear laser matte focusing screen

-It functions with any of the FD Lenses - wide-angle, telephoto, zooms, or macro lenses

- Aperture-priority AE + manual mode

-Simple to use, easy to command - light weight and compact in size.

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
10.0
Build
7.0
9.0
Like the A-1 but still has the AE-1 Feel
Not like the A-1 - finicky to fix in 1980's, and somewhat fragile .

The Canon AE-1 Program was a 135 film single-lens reflex camera that used Canon's FD mount lenses. It was introduced in 1981 as the successor to the Canon AE-1, five years after that camera's introduction. The major difference was the addition of the Program AE mode first seen in the A-1. This mode sets both the shutter speed and aperture automatically—albeit with a slight bias towards the shutter speed setting. The user simply had to focus the camera and then press the shutter button. For those desiring more control, the AE-1's shutter priority auto-exposure and full manual modes were still available.

Like the A-1, the AE-1 Program sported a right-hand "Action Grip" on the front of the camera. It also supported the A-1's Motor Drive MA; this required another electrical contact on the base plate. The AE-1's Power Winder A, and a new, faster Power Winder A2, were also supported. The viewfinder used LEDs to show information to the user.

Also like the A-1, the AE-1 Program supported interchangeable focusing screens. Unlike the A-1, though, which specified that screens only be changed by the factory or experienced service technicians, those on the AE-1 Program could be user changed. The camera came standard with the new split/microprism, but seven others were available. Unfortunately, the AE-1 Program retained the dated A-series electromagnet-controlled cloth-curtain shutter, with its slow top shutter speed and flash sync. This shutter design has also proven to be more maintenance-intensive than modern vertical-travel metal blade designs. The electronics and electromagnets were powered by one 4LR44 or PX-28 6V battery.

The focusing screen on the AE-1 Program is brighter than any previous focusing screen on any Canon manual focus camera, allowing the user to focus with greater ease with "slow" lenses (up to f/5.6). It is the same focusing screen that was used in the newest model of the top-of-the-line Canon F-1 (known as the F-1New).

The additional electronics used for the program features of the AE-1P have resulted in more electronic gremlins over the years, and the model is considered by some more difficult to repair than earlier and simpler A-series cameras.

Specifications:

Type: 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with electronically-controlled automatic exposure (AE) and focal-plane shutter.

Exposure Modes: Programmed AE, shutterspeed priority AE, AE flash photography with specified Canon electronic flash units, and manual override.

Format: 24 x 36mm.

Usable Lenses: Canon FD (for full-aperture metering) and Canon FL and non-FD (for stopped-down metering) series lenses.

Standard Lenses: FD 50mm f/1.2, FD 50mm f/1.4, FD 50mm f/1.8

Lens Mount: Canon breech-lock mount.

Viewfinder Information: Fixed eye-level pentaprism. Gives 94% vertical and 94% horizontal coverage of the actual picture area with 0.83x magnification at infinity with a standard lens. Information is displayed in form of LED digital display to the right of viewing area. Includes "P" mark (programmed AE and camera shake warning indicator), "M" mark (manual aperture control indicator), aperture display (f/1 - f/32, in full f/stops), flashing warning for overexposure and underexposure, stopped-down metering index, "" mark (flash charge-completion display with specified Canon flash units and auto-exposure flash confirmation signal with Speedlite 188A and 166A).

Dioptric Adjustment: Built-in eyepiece is adjusted to standard -1 diopter.

Focusing Screen: Standard split-image/microprism rangefinder. Seven other types of interchangeable screens are available optionally.

AE Mechanism: Electronically-controlled programmed AE and shutter-speed priority AE metering system using one IC and three LSl's .

Light Metering System: Through-the-lens (TTL), Center-Weighted Averaging by silicon photocell (SPC).

Meter Coupling Range: EV 1 (1sec. at f/1.4) to EV 18 (1/1000 sec. at f/16) with ISO/ASA 100 film and f/1.4 speed lens.

Exposure Memory: EV locked in when shutter button is pressed halfway and the AE lock switch is pressed once. Exposure is memorized as long as shutter button is pressed halfway.

Exposure Preview: By pressing shutter button or exposure preview switch.

Shutter: Cloth, focal-plane, 4-spindle, electronically-controlled. With shock and noise absorbers.

Mirror: Instant-return, with shock-absorber.

Film Speed Scale: ISO/ASA 12 - 3200.

Shutter Speed Selector Dial: 2 sec.- 1/ 1000 sec.. plus "PROGRAM" and "B" With guard.

Shutter Release Button: Two-step, electromagnetic shutter release button. Also serves as exposure preview switch. With lock, cable release socket, and finger rest.

Main Switch: Three positions: "A" "L," and "S." At "L" all active circuits are cut off as a safety feature. "S" position is for self-timer photography.

Self-timer: Electronically-controlled. Main switch set to "S." Activated by pressing shutter button. Ten-second delay with electronic "beep-beep" sound. Number of beeps emitted per second increases two seconds before shutter release. Cancellation possible.

Stop-down Lever: For depth-of-field preview (FD lens) or metering (non-FD lens or close-up accessories).

Power Source: One 6v alkaline-manganese (Eveready [UCAR] No. A544,IEC 4LR44) silver oxide (Eveready [UCAR] No. 544, IEC 4SR44, Duracell PX 28), or lithium (Duracell PX 28L) battery. Battery lasts about one year under normal use.

Battery Check: "Beep-beep" sound when pressing battery check button. Six or more beeps per second indicate sufficient power; three or fewer beeps per second indicate insufficient power.

Flash Synchronization: X synchronization at 1/60 sec.; M synchronization at 1/30 sec. or slower. Direct contact at accessory shoe for hot-shoe flash. PC socket (JIS-B type) with shock-preventive rim for cord-type flash. Accessory shoe has contact for normal automatic flash plus special contact for AE flash with dedicated Canon Speedlites.

Automatic Flash: Full AE flash photography with specified Canon Speedlites. Shutter speed set automatically. Aperture controlled automatically according to setting of flash when pilot lamp glows.

Back Cover: Opened with rewind knob. Removable, interchange with Databack A. With memo holder.

Film Loading: Via multi-slot take-up spool.

Film Advance Lever: Single-stroke 120° throw with 30° stand-off. Ratchet winding possible.

Frame Counter: Additive type. Automatically resets to "S" upon opening back cover. Counts backwards as film is rewound.

Film Rewind: With rewind button and crank

Other Safety Devices: Camera will not function when power level insufficient. Film winding impossible while shutter is in operation

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
an enhanced AE-1
fabric shutter curtain outdated by this time

The AV-1 was one of the few Canon bodies that offered Aperture Priority AE mode instead of the more familiar Shutter Priority AE, an autoexposure feature that the camera manufacturer is very popular with. For those who enjoy such simplicity of operation, the AV-1 camera is good enough to be used for most of the common photographic applications. I believe the Canon AV-1 is an extremely well made SLR camera, and it offered a good performance for its price..

There was some strength and weaknesses in the camera design as well, the most noticeable was still the use of the outdated horizontal travelled fabric shutter curtain design since its usage can affect other specifications such as the maximum sync speed that could be offered.

Although Canon has highlighted the point where it is important to have the appropriate shutter speed to achieve a sharp picture and prevents blurred pictures that will be created due to unsteady camera movements, the Aperture priority AE mode still has its place in Canon's stable. In fact, other than Canon and Minolta which offered both Shutter-priority and Aperture-priority AE in one of their respective models, the other major camera manufacturers only have aperture priority AE as the prime automation for exposure control for their models until the mid-80s. Any AV-1 user can guess what the initials stands for - Aperture Value, which were also used by Canon to signify the Aperture-priority AE mode in all its cameras having this mode, including the models in the EOS System.

Even though there were more technicalities involved, the other way around should be more logical - because with electronically-controlled shutter, stepless shutter speeds like 1/189 sec or 1/25 sec can be made possible while mechanical aperture value control can never be made stepless or to such refined values as the shutter speed (However, the later Canon EOS System made it possible to do so). Well, that was a fussy remark because most of the time, other than the usage of less tolerance slide film, the printer in any of the numerous one-hour color lab can create more damage to your final print than the little exposure variation we are talking about.

All you need to do is turn the aperture ring on the lens to set an aperture, focus and press the shutter button. The camera does all the rest - provided the main control dial has been set to the "A" mark.. When shooting your subject under backlighting condition, you only need to push an extra switch to compensation for the exposure (Add more light to a backlit scene to make sure the eventual photograph won't turn out too dark).

The AV-1 uses Centre-weighted Average as its metering option. For excessive backlit situations, using the backlit compensation button may not be enough to provide the adjustment needed to ensure a correct exposure. In this case, move in closer to the subject until it fills up the frame (or when the brightly-lit area is hidden), press the backlit button, lock in the setting by maintaining finger pressure on the shutter button halfway, move back, recompose and shoot. Alternatively, if you are shooting with a zoom lens, just zoom in and get a close-up meter reading, lock it and zoom back to the focal length where you want to shoot the subject at.

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
10.0
Build
8.5
9.5
A sophisticated electronic camera with all-digital control
Complicated (for the 80's) circuitry. Difficult or impossible to repair at the time.

The A-1 was the top-of-the-line A-series camera. (The AE-1 was the first in this series.)

It was a sophisticated electronic camera with all-digital control. Besides the shutter speed-priority AE and aperture-priority AE modes, it featured the first fully automatic program AE mode, preset aperture-priority AE, and Speedlite AE mode.

The viewfinder information was also easy to read with a 7-segment red LED readout. The control settings were displayed at the same time which made it very useful.

Besides the Power Winder A, developed at the same time as the AE-1, accessories for the A-1 included the compact Motor Drive MA which attained a maximum shooting speed of 5 fps. This Motor Drive had a convenient vertical-grip shutter button. Also, there was the Speedlite 199A which had bounce flash capability.

CANON A-1 SPECIFICATIONS

Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera

Picture Size: 24x36 mm

Lens Mount: FD mount

Flash Sync: X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe

Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 30, 15, 8, 4, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with 2- and 10-sec. delay and blinking LED). Multiple exposures enabled with a lever. Electronic shutter release

Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.83x magnification, 93.4% vertical coverage, 95.3% horizontal coverage. Split-image rangefinder encircled by microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen. Eyepiece shutter provided. Six interchangeable focusing screens optional (installed by service personnel). The standard screen was later replaced by the brighter and sharper Laser Matte screen

Viewfinder Information: Digital readout with 7-segment red LED for shutter speed, aperture, dedicated Speedlite flash-ready, manual settings, and warning displays

Metering and Exposure Control: SPC for TTL full-aperture centerweighted averaging metering or TTL stopped-down metering. Exposure compensation range of 2 EV. AE lock provided. Five AE modes: Shutter speed-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, program AE, preset aperture-priority AE, and Speedlite AE (with dedicated Speedlite). The mode is set with a selector dial. Metering range at ISO 100 and f/1.4: EV -2 - 18. Film speed range from ISO 6 to 12800 in 1/3 steps

Power Source: One 4G-13 6 V mercury oxide battery or 4LR44 alkaline battery. Battery check with button and blinking LED

Film Loading & Advance: Slotted take-up spool. Advances with camera-top lever's 120° stroke (partial strokes enabled). Ready position at 30°

Frame Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. Counts down during rewind

Film Rewind: Camera-top crank

Dimensions & Weight: 141 x 92 x 48mm, 620g

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
It has the same body as the AE-1 - but less costly for Asian markets
None for it's time.

The AE-1 with shutter speed-priority AE and TTL metering became wildly popular in Japan and overseas. However in a few overseas markets, the AE-1 had a high price tag. There were also many users who still preferred manual metering.

In response to these people, the AT-1 was developed. It had the same body as the AE-1. It featured match-needle metering and TTL centerweighted averaging metering with CdS photocell. The camera could use the same accessories as the AE-1. So, the AT-1 is essentially an AE-1 without shutter speed-priority AE. It was produced to satisfied some overseas markets where price is a main factor for consideration for an SLR camera.

And for those who still preferred manual metering, the AT-1 was there to serve.

It shares almost the same dimension as the AE-1.

It has a match-needle metering and TTL centerweighted averaging metering (but with a less sensitive CdS photocell than comparative bodies around its time).

Accessories like Winders, Databack A and Speedlites designed for the AE-1 can be used and shared.

CANON AT-1 SPECIFICATIONS

Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera

Picture Size: 24x36 mm

Lens Mount: CANON breech-lock bayonet (FD coupling)

Viewfinder Type: Fixed Viewfinder information: Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.82x magnification, Split-image rangefinder encircled by microprism rangefinder at center of fresnel matte screen. Metering match needle, overexposure warning (also battery check indicator), and underexposure warning provided.

Focusing Screen: Fixed split-image/microprism screen Focusing Method's: Manual DPT: -1.0

Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. Shutter Speeds: X, B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with blinking LED).

Flash Sync: X , 1/60 sec .X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe.

Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.

Shutter: Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains.

Battery: One 4G-13 6 V mercury oxide battery or 4LR44 alkaline battery

Loading: Multi-slot spool, emulsion-out winding

Film Transport: Slotted take-up spool. Advances with camera-top lever's 120 stroke (partial strokes enabled). Ready position at 30.

Rewind: Manual crank rewind after setting automatic resetting rewind button

Metering System: TTL, CdS cell for TTL full-aperture, match-needle centerweighted averaging metering.

Metering Range: EV 3 to +18 ISO 100

Exposure Mode(s): Manual

Self Timer: Electronic., LED

Battery check: Lever (Black C on top deck), Meter needle indication inside finder

Accessories: Power Winders A, A2, Databack A, A and G series Speedlites, eyesight correction lenses (Diopters)

Misc Spec: Depth of Filed Preview, Bulb for time exposure

2011-02-27

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Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
The LARGEST SELLING SLR of the time - A BIG Commercial Success
Good for it's time. But cannot be compared to F-1's

The AE-1 camera was launched in 1976 by Canon Co., Ltd. and employed electronically controlled shutter with cloth curtain and shutter-speed-priority AE system. Since the camera was equipped with automatic winding mechanism and continuous shooting mode with the Winder-A (which was an option), it was a big hit, and it is said that it was sold more than four million five hundred thousand worldwide.

The original AE-1 was lacking a programmed AE mode. Users generally realized the convenience of the Program AUTO. In fact, the early eighties was the era where full automation in camera design really took off.

It revolutionized many of the concepts for future camera designs especially in the field of electronic applications and mass produced technique with a lower cost of production with the use of plastic injection molding, resulting in simpler assembly of parts. It also popularized and made devices like Power Winder and electronic Speedlites a household name in the consumer market.

The camera was controlled entirely by electronics precision rather than by mechanical functions - and depends solely on battery power for all of its functions. Despite defying the mainstream camera design concept in the '70s, the AE-1 came through well and attained a huge during its availability years. This was very much due to Canon's efforts in promoting the camera - it offers very precise and stable timing of shutter speeds, which was also extended to other areas like auto flash-synchronization speed when any dedicated Canon electronic Speedlite is used.

Although the technologies employed within the AE-1 looked very simple when compared with today's modern SLR cameras, it has to be remembered that during its era, the market was still dominated largely by those heavy, mechanically-controlled type of cameras. Canon used these points to enhance the advantages of electronic applications in camera designs - where in many areas, electronic cameras do offer much more precise timings and other features that can never be matched by mechanical technologies.

However, the AE-1 was not in anyway a professional-grade SLR as compared to the Canon F-1. It was generally regarded as a classic and top amateur SLR model due to the impact it has created with its then innovative concept that went on to influence other future camera designs, both Canon and other makes, of the industry as a whole. The camera was eventually replaced by a newer model with added features, the AE-1 Program in 1981, following on the success of Canon's semi-pro and top-of-the-line A-series camera, the multi-mode Canon A-1, which made its debut in 1978.

Type 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera

Picture Size 24 x 36 mm

Normal Lens Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC, FD 50mm f/1.8 SC

Lens Mount FD mount

Shutter Four-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains. X, B, 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. All speeds controlled electronically. Built-in self-timer (with blinking LED).

Flash Sync X-sync automatic-switching sync contacts with German socket and hot shoe.

Viewfinder Fixed eye-level pentaprism. 0.86x magnification (EX 50mm), 93.5% vertical coverage, 96% horizontal coverage. Split-image rangefinder encircled by microprism rangefinder at center with a fresnel matte screen.

Exposure meter needle, aperture scale, overexposure warning, stopped-down aperture metering needle and battery check indicator, and underexposure warning LED provided.

Exposure

Control SPC for TTL full-aperture metering with shutter speed-priority AE or TTL stopped-down match needle manual metering (centerweighted averaging). Exposure compensation range of +1.5 EV. Metering range at ISO 100 and f/1.4: EV 1 - 18. Film speed range from ISO 25 to 3200.

Power Source One 4G-13 6 V mercury oxide battery or 4LR44 alkaline battery

Film Loading &

Advance Slotted take-up spool. Advances with camera-top lever's 120° stroke (partial strokes enabled). Ready position at 30°. Winder A also optional for power winding.

Frame Counter Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.

Film Rewind Camera-top crank

Dimensions &

Weight 141 x 87 x 48 mm, 590 g

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
The greatest of the heavy-metal FD's
None for it's time.



The New F-1 was officially introduced in March and only started marketing in September, 1981.

Its introduction had long been awaited by the industry as the successor to the Canon's earlier successful entry into the professional arena with the original Canon F-1 - Canon's top of-the-line 35mm camera during the 70's and the model that gained a initial foothold for Canon into demanding professional users' market.

The decade long intense research and development along with careful image building planning, they also actively sought the opinions of professional photographers of all persuasions to accumulate useful input for consideration during the conceptual, designing stage. This legacy of experience and insight into the special requirements of the professional proved invaluable in developing a camera for upgrade: the New F-1.

Undoubtedly, the professional photographic world had a serious contender and a new option to look at other than the Nikon now - which had its clear supremacy before the arrival of the New F-1, despite the original F-1's courageous attempt earlier with the F-1. In many ways, the New F-1 was aimed to better off than its "virtual" rival, the Nikon F3. It is the only professional camera available during the eighties that had shutter priority automation capability. Canon had thus established and held a strong hold in the sports, wildlife and action packed market. The pool for serious users was also expanding in a very rapid pace, after realizing what the New F-1 system has to offer.

Thus, after a generation from the original F-1, Canon System finally gained its status and had the endorsement of users around the globe as a truly professional photographic system, of which, much has to thank for with this awesome camera and its system accessories.

First introduced in Sep. 1981.

Camera type : 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera

Picture size : 24 x 36mm

Standard lens : Canon FD f1.2/50mm

Lens mount : FD mount

Viewfinder : Interchangeable Eye-Level Pentaprism Finder

Finder magnification : 0.8x (Eye-Level Pentaprism Finder)

Finder coverage : 97%

Focusing screen : New split prism rangefinder in the center encircled by laser matte screen with microprism rangefinder

32 (13 types) interchangeable focusing screens for three metering patterns.

Metering indicator, exposure match needle, shutter speed display, aperture display, stopped-down metering needle, and various warnings provided.

Metering : TTL full aperture match needle manual metering (SPC employed)

AE Finder FN and AE Motor Drive FN provide shutter speed-priority AE.

Light reading : selectable out of Spot light reading at center (3%), partial light reading at center (12%), center-weighted light reading

Exposure compensation : from -2 to +2 EV

Metering range : EV 1 - 18 (ISO 100, f1.4)

Film speed range : ISO 6 - 6400

Shutter : four-axis horizontal-run focal-plane shutter with metal curtain

Shutter speeds : Hybrid shutter - Mechanical shutter : B, X (1/90 sec.), 1/125 - 1/2000 sec.

Electronic shutter : 8 - 1/90 sec.

Built-in self-timer with adjustable timer and beeper, Multiple-exposure enabled

Flash sync contact : X-sync with German socket with locking pin, hot shoe

Film loading : Camera back with safety latch, slotted take-up spool

Film advance : Film wind lever - 139 deg. stroke, play at 30 deg., ratcheted winding enabled.

Frame counter : automatic resetting forward counting type

Film rewind : collapsible rewind crank

Power source : 2CR-1/3N lithium 6V battery x 1 or 4LR44 alkaline battery x 1

Body dimensions : 146.7 x 96.6 x 48.3 mm

Body weight : approx. 795 g

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
Canon's first serious attempt to bring out a top-of-the-line SLR
None for it's time.



It was the F-1 that Canon inc. invested a large amount of money and labor in producing it and took five years of time to go into production of a highly durable and reliable camera with which the users could photograph wherever they were, even under difficult conditions.

As a result of using highly durable materials, the camera was built to endure 100,000 picture-taking cycles, temperatures ranging from -30 C to 60 C, and 90% humidity.

The various kinds of accessories were prepared for the camera including the newly designed FD lenses, and the FD lens mount which equips with the sequential and automatic correction mechanism, and also the remote picture-taking system were developed for the camera.

First introduced in March, 1971

Picture size : 24mm x 36mm

Lens mount : FD mount (both FD and FL lens available)

Viewfinder : Interchangeable eye-level pentaprism

Exposure meter : CdS cell for TTL full-aperture / stopped-down-aperture metering, center weighted light reading

Film speed range : ISO 25-2000

Shutter : two-axis, focal plane shutter with titanium curtain

Shutter speeds : B, 1-1/2000sec.

Self-timer : built-in

Flash sync contact : FP, X

Film wind : lever

Film rewind : crank

Power resources : 1.3V HD mercury cell

Body dimensions : 146.7x98.7x43mm

Body weight : appox. 820g.

2011-02-27

tocopixel

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
The EF was built as an electronic version of Canon's top-of-the line F-1 camera
None for it's time.

Similar to the T-90 (1986), it set the benchmark - but was a commercial failure, lasting only a year or so on the market. The Canon EF contained a silicon photocell light meter with a range of EV 18 to EV -2 which measured light in a "central emphasis metering" pattern (also called center weighted average metering) with a bias against the top of the frame, to minimize underexposure due to a bright skyline. The Canon EF could operate "Variable Aperture AE" mode (commonly called shutter priority) or full manual mode, where the operator would control both the shutter speed and the aperture.

Why so costly? The FD used a unique Platinum shutter among Canon's 35mm SLRs; a Copal Square vertical-travel metal blade focal plane shutter. Unusually, long exposures (from 1 second to 30 seconds) were electronically controlled, while shorter ones (1/1000 second to 1/2 second) were mechanically controlled. This was very useful in conserving battery power, and allowed one to use the camera even with dead batteries. The metering system could also be turned off, e.g. when using flash, or at night, to preserve battery life.

Powering the electro-mechanical shutter and light meter were two PX 625 1.35 volt mercury batteries. Because the EF contains a unique voltage control system, common 1.5 volt alkaline batteries can be used in lieu of the now-unavailable mercury ones. The EF is the only camera in the manual focus Canon line of the 1960s and 1970s (which includes the FTb, the F-1, and the FT) that can be used with common 1.5 volt batteries without modification to the internal electronics. Like all pre-1987 Canon SLR's, the EF accepted Canon FD mount lenses. The shutter speed range was 1/1000th of a second to 30 seconds (in a beautifully pedantic touch, the 15 & 30 second settings actually give 16 and 32 seconds, thus preserving the doubling sequence), plus bulb. The X-sync was 1/125th of a second. The camera included setting for film speeds of 12 ASA to 3200 ASA.

The EF also featured a mirror-locking self-timer and a stop-down metering mode which could also be used for depth-of-field preview. The mirror can also be locked up independently of the self-timer for long exposures when the self-timer is not desired.

2011-02-24

VforVincentC

Features
8.0
Build
9.5
8.5
Shoot great range of focal length, quite light in weight, cheap, acceptable macro.
Not the best image at f/3.5-4.5, but above 5.6 is good

I'm using AE-1P and certainly Tokina 28-85mm is a good lens since it's reasonable price to get a 28-85mm. Quite convenient and shoot from view that far away and fair portraits(since f/4.5 only at 85mm). Not perfect Macro function but what do you want from a 28-85mm lens? Unfortunately the image at f/3.5 is unacceptable for me and I only use above 5.6 and it's sharp and beautiful. So it's a good lens when you have beautiful sun light.

2011-02-20

zuiko21

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Sharp and contrasty. Smooth focus action. Relatively lightweight.
Some chromatic aberration of strange pattern, hard to correct in post-processing
2011-01-02

ProfHankD

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Good IQ for an old ultra-wide, CLOSE FOCUS, good build, impressive front element
It's huge, pricey, doesn't blow away kit lenses on an APS-C sensor

An update to my previous review.

I forgot that this lens focuses VERY CLOSE with excellent IQ even wide open. In fact, it actually does blow away kit lenses in this respect... so I've adjusted the scores appropriately.

2010-12-31

ProfHankD

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Good IQ for an old ultra-wide, good build, impressive front element
It's huge, pricey, doesn't blow away kit lenses on an APS-C sensor

Retrofocus ultra-wide lenses are difficult optical design problems. They tend to have a lot of elements, so contrast suffers unless the coatings are very good. Relatively speaking, this Vivitar is actually quite good -- it certainly has much more contrast than my Spiratone 18mm. Sharpness wide open is quite acceptable and distortion is fairly low. The transition to out-of-focus is even fairly good. Unfortunately, my copy has the aperture stuck wide open, so I can't comment on how much IQ improves upon stopping down.

Build quality is very good. It's a pretty hefty hunk of metal and glass, mounted using an FL-style breech-lock, and is absolutely smooth in operation. The huge front element will impress anyone who sees it.

There are just three problems:

1. It's f/3.8 -- not very fast by modern standards.

2. Pricing on all old ultra-wides, this included, is often way too high (e.g., over $200).

3. Most folks who can mount an FD lens are using APS-C or micro 4/3 -- not full frame.

In summary, on a crop like APS-C, this 20mm isn't much faster or better IQ than a kit zoom lens designed for the cropped sensor... and the kit lenses are cheaper and can autofocus.

2010-12-31

ProfHankD

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
Good IQ, useful built-in shade
Plastic build, f/3.5

It seems like it's hard to go far wrong on a 135mm lens. This one is about average IQ among the eight or so that I have, but it is easily the lightest and slightly smaller than average (although most of the others are f/2.8). Bokeh are ok, without a bright ring but with an abrupt edge to the disc that leaves obvious sharp line artifacts. However, contrast seems to drop considerably in out-of-focus regions, perhaps due to internal reflections?

The wide angle FDn lenses all seem to focus fairly close, so I was surprised to see this doesn't.

The build is FDn plastic, but quite functional. The 7.5 reflects a bonus of 0.5 for the built-in shade, which is really well done and rather like the one built-into the earlier Vivitar 135mm f/2.8. The bad news is I think that Vivitar is a better lens in nearly every way -- and it's cheaper.

In summary, this is yet another perfectly usable, yet unspectacular, FDn lens.

2010-12-31

ProfHankD

Features
8.5
Build
7.0
8.0
Small, sharp, close focus
Plastic build

Another typical FDn lens, built of plastic but in every other way a nice little lens.

Although not spectacular, this seems a bit better than most 35mm f/2.8 lenses, and it does well wide open. The close focus is certainly a nice feature.

My particular copy of this lens has a rather stiff aperture ring, but I don't know why and I suspect it is a problem unique to my copy. It looks like there is some dirt around the aperture ring; perhaps some got under it? Anyway, I'm not lowering the build rating for this issue.

2010-12-30

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
sharp, bokeh, small and light-weight, fast focus due IF!
fringing

Rear focusing group makes focusing more than comfortable. That is what I love on this lens but then here is CA which could be really annoying. If you shoot mostly bw film like me then you could live with that. There are situations when it not so visible and there are such situations which are not so torture for this in the end beautiful telephoto. Try to be carefull and this glass will makes it very well.

2010-12-30

ProfHankD

Features
8.0
Build
5.0
7.0
Good close focus, sharp at f/8
Soft and glowy APS-C frame edges wide open, lousy build

This lens reminds me a lot of Minolta's "baby beercan" -- a 35-70mm f/4 macro that has a bit of a cult following. Like the baby beercan, it's definitely a cheap kit lens, but it has the potential to make images that are better than the usual kit lens... or not.

This lens isn't really a macro, but a close focus that works at all focal lengths. The lens is pretty good close up, with nice smooth bokeh and decent sharpness even wide open.

At more normal distances, the center of the image is obviously way better than the edges wide open. I'm talking about edges of an APS-C crop; I expect it is terrible on full frame. However, by f/8 or so, the IQ is really quite good across the APS-C frame, and this plus close-ups is how the IQ gets an 8.

The build is lousy even for a plastic-body FDn lens. The focus is noticeably coarse. However, my copy is fully functional and it looks like new, so it can't be as badly built as it feels.

It's usable if you have it, and not a bad lens to take on a trip where it might not make it back intact, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy one of these.

2010-12-30

ProfHankD

Features
7.0
Build
7.0
7.0
Cheap and light
Plastic build, glowy wide open

I've got about a dozen normal lenses, and none of them is bad, but this is near the bottom in IQ. This is definitely not one of those slower normals that outperform the faster ones. I'd rank it slightly worse than the Minolta Rokkor 50mm f/1.7, although the two lenses have similar IQ issues. This might be slightly sharper at the edges, but it's got more glow. Build isn't bad, but it is quite plastic in feel.

That said, this is a surprisingly pleasant lens to use on a Sony NEX-5. Not sure why it feels better than other FDn lenses on it, but it does.... Perhaps it is because it has the field of view of a 75mm, f/1.8 DOF, and is tiny and light compared to my other normals? Anyway, it sits well on NEX.

2010-12-30

ProfHankD

Features
8.0
Build
7.0
7.7
Cheap and light
Plastic build

Overall, an unspectacular but perfectly usable 28mm lens. Contrast is better than many manual focus 28mm lenses, but this isn't a lens to go out of your way to get unless the low weight and small size matter a lot. Build is solid enough, but typical FDn plastic in feel.

2010-11-25

tomdutchman

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Great handling, great features, multi spot, robust, its a bargain, the TANK
Discontinued FD line, Short lived, no Canon support,



This is the best FD Canon camera I have ever handled. Its designed by the German industrial designer Luigi Colani and introduced in 1986.

This camera is packed with features like, Vertical travel metal focal plane shutter, Sync speed 1/250th, TTL flash compatible, Built in winder, 4,5 frames per second, Three selectable metering patterns: Center-weighted average metering, partial area metering, and spot area metering, Also very cool: multi-spot metering, shutter speeds from 1/4000 to 30 sec., Exposure compensation etc...

holding the T90 is like holding a camera that you have known for years. its feels comfortable due to the rounded design from mister Colani. It was THE camera setting the design standard for the following EOS series and actually all the modern SLRs.

Having played with the T80 and T70 its a joy to use and easy to switch. Lots of possibilities, lots of modes but a very easy interface. After reading the manual it didn’t take long to feel at home and find the settings one needs in a few secs.

the viewfinder is nice, big and clear showing the shutter speed, aperture, manual or flash indicator, exposure compensation, spott-metering settings, last 9 frames, overexposure warning without disturbing while taking a picture . The digital display on top of the righthand side is very simple to read, and states the different settings an info you need to know. the display even is backlit, like the viewfinder, if wanted to use at photo sessions in the dark.

the Multi-spot metering is an absolute great tool to use, an still not a standard on DSLR.

Also the flash TTL sinking makes this camera a good companion for backlit or bad lit environments. I normally avoid using flash, cause i like the warm “real�? light in photo. combining the T90 with the 300TL, I was able to use the flash to support the available light (flashing against the ceiling) and make nice warm pictures.

I really enjoy using this camera. It feels great, it works great and still is a camera that can keep up with most new modern DSLR’s.

This combined with al the great FD lenses out there for okay money, this is a great camera to buy and shoot film with.

do I mis the autofocus?........ no....... its something that I want to manage myself.

Do I feel sad that maybe one day i might have a Canon or Nikon DSLR and I won’t be able to use al my canon FD lenses? Yes a bit, but thats a choice I made a couple of years ago.

This is the FD weakness and also its strenght. because the FD lenses are not compatible with the newer EOS system, really great lenses are available for a couple of euro's. Well not the Canon FD L series, they still cost a few hundert euro's depending on the lens, but compared to a couple of thousand for the L series in EF, thats still a bargain!

Seeing the new Canon DSLR’s and EF lenses makes me want to have them. Looking at the prices of the comparable EF lenses for my FD lenses, makes me want to weep. ;o)

I will stick to my FD gear for now and enjoy shooting the good old film-roll. and rather buy a good film and Dia scanner to get the good shots in to digital.

Of course buying a camera this old (yes 1986 is a looong time ago) is a risk, especially with al the electronic in it. but I would do it again and hope that me and al the other T90 users will have years and years to come without any dreaded EEEE and HELPS ;o)

Getting one is not to hard, the prices do vary from 150 euro for a just a body to 300 Euro for a new old stock still in the box.

Check the site http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/canont90/index.htm for more input on FD cameras and equipment.

2010-11-25

tomdutchman

Features
6.0
Build
7.5
6.5
Autofocus, very easy to use
sort of a point and shoot FD SLR

This was (almost) the first Canon with Autofocus. to use the autofocus possibility you would have to use one of the dedicated three autofocus AC lenses that canon designed for this camera (AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5 ). the autofocus is slow, but still reliable. It needs contrast though. I took it out one day to take pictures of a snow covered winter landscape, and it had trouble finding its focus. but put in a small tree or bush and its back on track. Also bad lighting was not its cup of tea. I think you hvae to look at it respectively. for 1985 it probably was a revolution, for modern standards, my Canon s45 outruns it by a couple of miles :o)

Of course you can use normal FD lenses on this camera and focus manually.

It is a basic camera, with a few settings with Pictograms in the LCD display to make it “foolproof�? to make pictures.

I tried out the T80 for a while, but the autofocus was something I could miss. compared to the T70 it also lacks a bit more „Manual Influence“ I found. and I went back to using my T70.

The balance of the T80 is a bit better as the T70 though, because it is a bit higher and is easier to hold. also the battery port is a better solution whereas the T70 could have problems with broken of clips at the battery door.

The metering system provided in the T80 is Centerweighted average metering. The T70 has a dual meteringsystem: Centerweighted average or Selective Area metering.

Overall a interesting camera put on the marked by canon to counter the Minolta 7000 autofocus camera at that time. (1985, pre T90 and pre EOS). As a collector of Canon FD gear I like having one to join my T models.

For use as a quick, no setting, no thinking point and shoot camera even with a sometimes slow but okay autofocus a good choice. Finding the dedicated AC lenses could be hard, because there are not so many around. I only have the AC 50mm f/1.8, one because it was on the camera, but hardly used it due to having an FD 50mm f1.4 in the collection ;o)

It might be fun using the AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 and the AC 70-200mm f/4.5 but also having better FD counterparts there, it would only be interesting for the collection.

for people wanting to actively shoot film I can only say that for starting and not making it to complicated, buying a T80 could be fun, but my personal opinion is that the T70 would be a better choice. See my review at theT60, T70 and T90 to compare.

2010-11-24

savvypavvy

Features
8.0
Build
9.5
8.5
Construction, Program mode, ease of use
Shutter speed limit, button organization on the front

I had this lens refurbished after its bodies sealing was eroding into the film compartment. It works excellent now, like a new camera. The AE-1 Program uses a small 6V battery, such as Duracell 28L I find one battery to take hundreds of pictures. It is slightly heavy as it constructed with a metal body with some polymer doors.

I find the Program mode to be fantastic. I only use it when I do not have the time to properly expose my shot, or I do not care what shutter speed I use. This makes this camera ideal for action shots. Nearly all of my photographs from Program mode were properly exposed.

This camera has a limit of shutter speeds of 1/1000 of a second down to 2 seconds aside from bulb. Personally, I find the slower shutter limit to be annoying, as bulb does not allow you to see what exposure you should use. I end up bracketing several shots and hope that one of them was properly exposed.

On the viewfinder, the exposure meeter is measured only on full f-stops, so it can be frustrating if you are trying to estimate what shutter speed to use without looking at the shutter dial. Nor is it hard to fine toon an exposure under a full stop of light.

There are two ways of seeing the exposure settings, half-press the shutter button, or the Exposure Preview. This is handy while adjusting the aperture or shutter speed independently. The AF Lock switch button is right next to the Exposure Preview being rather hard to press the right one without looking directly at the switch.

There is a shutter release cable that is inserted on the shutter button for long exposures. It is about a foot long. If you do not have the release cable, there is a self timer mode.

One thing to keep in mind while using this camera is the Stop-down Lever. Don't try to mount or remove lenses while the lever is locked. I accidentally did this once, and now it is a delicate process to remount a lens so you can still control the exposure meetering or adjust different apertures.

The ASA dial supports 12 to 2500 ISO speeds. I am not sure if you try to use faster film speed if the camera will properly expose the roll.

I have never used the PC slot for off camera flash, nor have I used a motor drive for this camera, which it does support. The manual states that 1/60s is the fastest shutter speed that a flash can synchronize with the camera.

2010-11-24

savvypavvy

Features
7.5
Build
8.0
7.7
Some macro, sharp
Worthless hood, flair, CA

I received this lens second-hand, with the aperture ring broken. The lens was dropped, having it been locked at f/3.8-4. That aside, I have taken several thousands of pictures with this lens.

The Tamron 80-210 f/3.8-4 lens comes with the Adaptall 2 mount, allowing you to mount this lens on other camera bodies besides the Canon FD mount. Handy if you use other camera bodies. The lens originally came with a hard case with a small strap.

Below are some of its specifications.

Lens Construction (group): 10

Lens Construction (element): 13

No. of Diaphragm Blades: 6

Minimum Aperture: f/32

Maximum Aperture: f/3.8-4

Maximum Magnification: 0.9m at 1:2

Filter: 58mm

Angle of view: 30º-11.8º

Maximum Diameter x Length: 65mm x 142.2

Weight: 634g

Hood: cylinder on filter

It comes with a "Macro" feature, being able to focus from 1:10 to a 1:2 ratio. It is not as close as a dedicated macro lens, but can be useful when you cannot bring another lens. I am not sure if this was due to the damage, but the lens is also hard to focus towards the macro focus distances.

The bokah at f/3.8-4 is somewhat ellipse, not completely circular.

The hood has a short thread for fitting onto the lens, resulting in dropping or losing it entirely. I no longer use the hood as it is more of a pain than beneficial. Unfortunately, you need to use some hood, as this lens causes quite a bit of flair, even if the sun or light source is not directly in the frame.

Since my copy was broken, I really never had a chance to try different apertures aside f/3.8-4. However, the lens is pretty sharp at that aperture. Unfortunately, that means that the flair could be more pronounced at smaller apertures.

Under high contrast, this lens also exhibits some chromatic aberration. White is especially prone to blue-red fringing. I find this the largest flaw on this lens.

2010-11-24

savvypavvy

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
Sharp, compact
Slight distortion

I have had this lens about a year, and I am really satisfied with it for my wide angle needs. It is really sharp from the center to the corners from f/5.6 and up.

It has only a five blade aperture, so the bokah is a little polygon shaped. 28mm is the widest lens I have ever used, with this 28mm f/2.8 slightly distorting barrel at the edge. Unless you have a close to infinity frame, distortion is mostly minimal.

If you are using a hood or UV lens, there is some small vignetting, especially at the top left corner of the frame. I would avoid using any hood or filter unless necessary. If you do, try not to stack multiple filters or a hood on top.

Being a small prime, this 28mm f/2.8 is light, small and quick to focus on manual. Another benefit is that the filter thread is 52mm, being a common size, it is also cheep to buy filters for this lens.

2010-11-24

savvypavvy

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Construction, bokah
Soft at f/3.5, slow focus

I have had this lens for about a year, and I recently noticed limits of the FD 50mm f/3.5 Macro lens. When you shoot at f/3.5, the boarder of the frame is extremely soft, especially at foreground out of focus areas. This is significant with contrast such as tree branches background with the sky.

One thing to consider as well, is that it takes several terms to change the focus barrel from 2.32cm to infinity. Do not intend of using this lens with action subjects, as I have gotten many out of focused shots that way.

The construction of the lens is excellent, with all the parts are easy to oberate. I also enjoy the end element of the lens receded within the lens, this acts as both built in protection and a built-in hood. The aperture is constructed with six blades, with f/3.5 being a smooth circle.

Over all, I am fairly satisfied with this lens, now aware of its limitations. As long as you do not need fast action, and you have a tripod, this lens can create beautiful bokah close work photographs.

2010-10-06

stevemuskie

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Light weight for such a long lens, rotating tripod collar, built-in hood, high IQ
None

This is a fabulous lens. I use it on Panasonic Lumix GH1 and G1 cameras, on which it becomes a very light-weight 600mm equivalent. The image quality remains high with the Canon 1.4x-A extender and isn't bad with the 2x-A extender. There's no problem shooting it wide open. With my Lumix cameras I'm using the central (best) area of the lens, so I have no vignetting and little loss of sharpness toward the edges. I rarely use it hand-held. Most of the time it's mounted on a Kirk King Cobra gimbal head and a heavy-duty Gitzo tripod to photograph birds and other wildlife. I even use it to shoot photos of flowers and other close subjects.

My other birding setup is a Canon 7d with a 300mm f2.8 Canon IS lens. It's a great system as well, but it weighs much more and costs about five times as much. And the image quality isn't any better. It's primary advantages are image stabilization and a larger sensor.

2010-10-06

stevemuskie

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
Extremely well built, good zoom range, removeable rotating tripod collar
Heavy, not really usable below f6.3

This is a very useful lens for video work and still photography as long as you don't mind the size and weight and are willing to use it at apertures from f6.3 to f11. Wide open it's pretty bad.

The zoom and focus rings operate very smoothly, which works in favor of the lens for video useage. I use mine on a Panasonic Lumix GH1 camera, on which it becomes effectively a 170-600mm lens. It's great for wildlife and birds as long as you have enough light. When shooting video the shutter speed is best set to 1/30 to 1/60 second in most cases. At those settings, the small apertures become less of an issue. I mount the lens on a Kirk King Cobra gimbal head and use a heavy duty Gitzo tripod.

2010-10-01

kellymjones

Features
6.5
Build
6.0
6.3
Lightweight. Has a close focusing ability. Ok image quality.
Short zoom range. Not terribly fast. Loose feeling when focusing or zooming

This is not a bad lens, but I would look elsewhere for an all around zoom lens. Optically, the quality is decent, but the zoom range is so short that I would rather carry a 50mm prime and zoom with my feet. I believe the 35-105mm (either the 3.5 or the variable aperture) is a more versatile and higher quality lens.

2010-07-26

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
looks good, really good image quality, firmly built, holds in hand comfortably
f/4 is a bit dark for 35mm

An photography student just some time ago did a test comparing the Canon FD 35-70mm f/4 and Canon FD 85mm F1.2 and found out that although 85mm lens is a lot better, the sharpness of the 35-70mm is the same, if not even a bit better and for the sharpness, a lot of professional photographers can back it up.

I love the lens, my only problem is that it's f/4 all way around and it's a bit dark because I'm used to fixed lenses with f/1.4 to f/2.8. I am just so spoiled that I don't understand how is it possible to shoot with lenses which don't have around f/2 - how?! If ofcourse your not in a good lighting situation like with sun, flashes, etc.

But if you will be shooting outdoors or indoors with good light or flashes, OR you just find it comfortable to shoot with 1/30 or 1/15 of a second or on a tripod than this is the lens for you!

2010-07-26

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
ISO range, cheap, shutter lock, easy handling,professional feel, superb viewfinder
battery hard to get nowadays, no MLU

I actually got it for a very cheap price at ebay and am loving it since.

Although my work camera is a medium format Bronica SQ-Ai, I have more lenses for my Canon A-1 and most of the times like to take it with me to a photo shoot.

What I am sorry is that I don't have that kind of a feel for 35mm no more but shooting with Canon A-1 is fun and it looks good. It is almost that I am more comfortable with 6x6 format than with the 3:2 format with 35mm.

But coming to the A-1 itself, it is superb, it really is. At first I felt it a little small in my hands without the grip but got used to it because I didn't want the grip for just it to be there with no use. Also it is smaller and take less space in bags for that matter, so it is superb for travel use also.

If you take a Canon A-1 into your hands and go shooting, you will get the feeling of a classic manual camera and I love the Av or Tv mode.

It is said to be the last of the classic cameras age and is worthy of it's name.

2010-07-20

januaryman

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Solid build, very good IQ
Prices are edging up lately.

I had been using a fantastic Vivitar 19/3.8 that was fine but a bit mushy in the corners and if detail was needed there, it couldn't be attained. Saw one of these at KEH and picked it up, rated EX. Its build is solid, a heavy lens compared to the plastic marvels of today, but not anything you need worry about. It easily is a match for the Vivitar, with a more solid build, a bit better IQ than my 19. Edge resolution is superior, distortion is pretty minimal compared with other ultra wides. If you want a quality ultra wide, this is her. If you have less money to spend, consider the Vivitar. Should I have spent as much as I did for a "specialty" lens? Probably not. Am I satisfied? Yes.

2010-07-20

januaryman

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Great all-around outdoors lens. Great resolution!
Wishing for the impossible, I'd like a faster speed lens. There really are none.

I bought a Canon EF SLR with one of these attached. It worked a miracle but the focusing ring and distance scale never lined up correctly, so I bought another sample. For walking about, street shooting, there is no better lens you could own. A bit on the heavy side, it still is manageable enough to fit well on my Olympus E-P2 with adapter. IQ is consistently fine, just as good wide open as at f/8, which seems to me to be its sweet spot. If only it were a bit faster, I'd have found the only lens I'd ever need for a FD camera. As is, it's the only thing I'd ever bring with me shooting either city streets or overgrown park wetlands. Very reasonably priced.

2010-07-06

dogberryjr

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Sharp, Wonderful color rendition
Price

I chanced into this lens a couple years ago and in researching what I had learned what a rarity it is. This lens is touted by Canon as the first aspherical lens for an SLR. The aspherical glass in the lens is ground by hand as opposed to the later ASPH versions that had machine made elements. The lens is a beast- mount it on an F1 and you know you're carrying something, no nFD plastic fantastic here. It is also supposed to have thorium glass, which leads to yellowing over time. My sample has a bit of yellow, but nothing that interferes with performance, if fact on black and white film, it acts as a built in yellow filter and it renders color, especially color slides wonderfully. Wide open, it is sharp as can be in a narrow plane and the out of focus area is beautifully smooth. Stopped down, it remains sharp and colors seem to deepen.

Build quality is excellent; metal where it ought to be metal. The issue I have with build is that the paint had some sort of laquer on it which, when it wears off, doesn't look so great.

Most copies of this lens seem to have made their way to collections in Asia, so if you see one and think you want it, buy it, because chances are it won't be around for long.

2010-07-02

bbetancourt

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
cheap, compact, lightweight, builtin hood
limited aperture

very nice lens. I used it in the 80ies. Since FD-Lenses are cheap today I would recommend the newFD 135/2.8 (which I use now) or the FD135/2.5 S.S.C.

2010-07-02

bbetancourt

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
best bang for the buck.
nothing

Considering the price, this simple lightweight lens is unbeatable.

It's capable of making flawless images for almost zero money.

I used it a lot with my first AE-1 in the 80ies.

2010-07-02

bbetancourt

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
compact, lightweight, cheap, builtin hood
considering the price: none

it's true that its a bit soft wide open but thats exactly what I like about it for portrait.

Mine is bit rattly at the lock for the bayonet.

2010-07-02

bbetancourt

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
sharp, reasonable fast, almost no distortion
a little bit bulky

Sharp to the edges when stopped down a few steps and minimum distortion. Superwide-lenses are so much fun. And this one makes it double.

My favourite lens.

only 9,5 because the 10 is reserved for the 85mm. ;-)

2010-06-30

websterforrest

Features
8.5
Build
7.5
8.2
small, lightweight, inexpensive, excellent optics
I'm forced to admit that it's a little plasticky.

I had one of these lenses for many years and used it for a number of shots that went into a few exhibitions. The results when used in favourable conditions are really excellent. As with most wide-angle lenses you will naturally get your best results by using middlish aperture settings, and by avoiding direct sun - and by having some sort of subject of interest somewhere in the picture that is not a million miles from the camera (wide angle lenses really are not often ideal for wide-open subjects!) - hope that doesn't leave you thinking this is a limited lens.

Even if you are shooting into the sun, a lens hood makes all the difference, and I've seen some beautiful results with this lens bringing out fabulous colour from the sky when using a polarizer filter on bright sunny days at high noon (I've also seen my share of ghosts from this lens in the same conditions - maybe you want ghosts though).

Really excellent samples of this lens are so cheap on eBay that there just isn't a reason not to have one. Feel free to forget about the f/2 version which is at time of writing going for easily six to eight times the price of the f/2.8 - unless you are really obsessive or just have the cash burning a hole in your pocket and want the better lens regardless.

2010-06-27

websterforrest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
The high point in engineering and design for the 35mm SLR
needing a motor drive to use aperture priority

I've been holding off writing this review for a while. I mean, there's no pressure is there - this camera has been out of production for twenty years. So why the hesitation? Well, the simple answer is that I felt bound to capture something of my enthusiasm for this camera without going over the top on the one hand, or being too dry and clinical on the other. Anyone who's read my review of the A-1 will know that I'm a big fan of Canon FD cameras; what makes this one different?

For one, it is more of a system camera than the A-1. That has its pluses and its minuses. With the A-1 you have everything you need in the one body. Get the A-1 and a few lenses and possibly a flash if you are so inclined and you're set. With the F-1 it's a bit more complicated. Why? Well - a funny thing about the F-1 is that in order to shoot aperture priority you need to attach a special motor drive AND have the AE head on. That does not spell prosumer to me, it spells hard-core professional. So it all depends on where you are coming from. At time of writing (June 2010) there is no way that any really professional photographer in our given world would be using an F-1 as his or her 'system' camera, so to buy into this way of shooting is kind of an exercise in a romantic notion of film and the classy or rough or fine or natural or whatever you want to call it quality that it can offer. (It's simply another medium really, so take your pick.) So right away you're talking about something a bit romantic - like a classic Corvette. (But let's be honest, would you rather turn up for that hot date with that special someone in a '69 vette or a 2010 Camry?) So if you're a romantic like me, read on.

Photography is about a lot of things. For some it's about capturing the moment (get a Leica), for others it's about perfect composition and exposure (get a Hasselblad), and for others still it's about things like 'framing reality', about adding a visible layer of artifice to the world, and blah blah blah and so on (get a Holga). Whatever your motive, if you are set on film, and you like the idea of a solid-as-fuck (pardon my French) 35mm SLR, then it is hard to imagine any single physical object that will bring you closer to your dreams than a Canon F-1 (the Nikon F2 takes second place, but it's way less warm and fuzzy than the Canon - don't ask me exactly what that means, it's a completely subjective comment but I do feel it when using it, and I do have and use both).

The Canon F-1 sits in the hands like a newborn baby: all instinct takes over and you just get on with it. The screen is bright and clean and clear and very very very finely accurate for focussing (they spent ages on this particularly with a view to macro photography - the machining on this chassis is just beautiful), and there is a feeling of reliability that is (for me) rivaled only by my Leica M3 which cost ten times as much and does no more really (but just try prying it from my cold dead hands).

I wish I could have written this more concisely and less subjectively, but it's hard to put comparisons into black and white. Let me summarise by saying the following.

From Japan in the late 1970's and early 1980's there came two or three incredible instruments of the photographic art: the Canon 'F-1 New', the Nikon F2, and later the Nikon F3. If you like the look of photographs made with Canon FD lenses (blame yourself if you don't) there is nothing on earth to beat an F-1. It is an easel, a brush, a canvas, a palette of paints. Use it, learn it, know it, master it, and you will have no reason other than lack of inspiration to blame if you don't come up with beautiful pictures. Every art has its instrument, and in the world of the 35mm SLR, for my money at least, this is it.

(Footnote: special thanks to JimK for his excellent review.)

2010-06-12

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Great size,canon fd lenses compatibility,
, expensive viewfinder, no in body image stabilizer

Let me just say I love this camera. I use this camera along with a nikon d700 and a canon av-1 ( my dad's old camera) Because this is a fd lens site I will only talk about using this camera with fd lenses and i have three main fd lenses that I use with the GF1. I use the fd lenses with canon fd to micro 4 3rds adapter.

the canon fd 24mm f2 Awesome lens on my canon av-1 but doesnt get much use on my gf1 because I have the 20mm f1.7 and I find that its real use that as a wide angle prime loses its true identity with the crop factor of the gf1. Love the lens on my av-1 though.

the canon fd 50mm f1.4 new version I think great lens, I recently got one of my best photos with this setup here is the link http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekwin/4606616082/ color and dof are awesome on this lens.

the 135 f2 I have notice some purple fringing with this setup. I like taking street portraits with it. A really inexpensive 270mm f2 Here is a shot I took with it http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekwin/4616986956/ />
example of purple fringing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekwin/4342632587/ />
some things you should know when using the gf1 and fd lenses. Set it on manual and then set the shutterspeed to 1/focal lengthx2 so the 24mm should be set at 1/48 or the closest shutterspeed 1/50 of a sec the 50 should be set at 1/100 of sec at least and the 135 f2 should be set at 1/300 of a sec. and then look at the meter if it is over or under exposed change the iso until you get a correct exposure. You also have to set the camera to shut without lens attached in the menu.

Hope that helps

2010-05-23

steward

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Aberration correction is very good.
None

This lens covers the focal lengths of four fixed focal length lenses: 85mm, 100mm, 135mm and 200mm. Even though it has a zooming ratio of 3, it is still designed compact and lightweight. In spite of its short length, aberration correction is very good.

A high refraction lens prevents coma at the center focal length position and maintaining high resolution and contrast throughout zoom range. A single ring permits simultaneous zooming and focusing.

Macro focusing from infinity to 44cm is possible when the lens is set to 70mm. The 70-210mm zoom lens offers the brightness and high performance of an f/4 maximum aperture at an affordable price.

2010-05-23

steward

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
FDn 85mm f1.8 is a fine quality optic as is most of the FD line of prime glass.
no

The New FD 85mm f/1.8 is a telephoto lens with precise natural perspective. It is perfect for portraiture, when faithful reproduction of the subject is absolutely necessary. Canon's FDn 85mm f/1.8 completely eliminates astigmatism and comatic aberration.

Color balance is excellent, with all ghost and flare suppressed by the use of Super Spectra multi-layer coating. Basic spec is the same with the old FD version except for the mount change, filter size of 52 mm ; minimum aperture of f/22; focuses closer at 0.85m and weighs lighter at 350g.

2010-05-20

kippy

Features
8.0
Build
7.0
7.7
Bright viewfinder, lightweight
Bit flimsy,

The reviews prior to myself have pointed out there is no full Auto mode. This doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, Shutter Priority is quite nice; it gives a good level of control and is good practice more than anything. If you want full Auto, just get the A-1 instead. Really, this is no big deal.

This is a great little camera. I've had mine for over a year and run a fair old few rolls through it. One of the biggest advantages of the camera is the price. I picked up mine for £40 with a 28mm. Quite a steal, even if later on I had to replace the light seals. If you do buy one, check this first. It's not a difficult replacement job, you can DIY, but it's an inconvenience.

It has a very nice viewfinder, both big and bright. I find I tend to use the matte screen more than the split-prism, but it is a very useful addition just for the getting the focus spot on. It is always incredibly easy to focus with this camera, no matter what lens you use.

And that's another big plus. Canon's FD lineup is excellent, with all the lenses you could possibly ever need for a fantastic price. Some of the L series lenses hold their price very well, as well as some of the more desirable lenses (85mm springs to mind) and they may be a bit expensive, but most are very reasonably priced for the quality.

Metering, like I mentioned before is no biggy. It would have been nice if Canon could include a metering system for use in Manual mode, and the little blinking "M" is a bit annoying. Metering is most commonly confused by backlighting, even mild. This can be quite frustrating at times. Overall though I've found mine to be pretty accurate.

My only niggle is that it is very light, not great for low light and slow shutter speed situations (my big heavy Leica R3 is a champ in those conditions) and the body does feel a bit cheap. Otherwise, great camera for a beginner

2010-05-03

Guest

Features
6.5
Build
7.5
6.8
This lense does not have a 55mm filter size as this article says
2010-05-02

tomdutchman

Features
6.0
Build
5.5
5.8
Light.... eeeh, it fits the FD lenses........did I mention its light? :o)
Feels and looks pretty cheap.... its not a

Well for my T series collection I haved this one...

Its not a Real Canon. these were made by Cosina. It doesn't feel like a canon... The viewfinder is smaller as al the other T series cameras, and its darker to.

Its easy to use, just a basic camera. it might be something for people who try to get started with analog SLR photography, but I would go for the T70 instead.

Don't really like the look and the feel of the camera. although its newer (and looks like new)as my T70 and T90, it feels older and its not as thought thru as these high tech wonders of the eighties.

Its not as electronic, so less things that could break down on you.

2010-05-02

tomdutchman

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
Very easy to use, bright viewfinder, good picture quality,excellent value for money,
Noise and speed of the film winder, none else

Love this Camera.

Task one: buy the T70, task two: get two AA batteries, task three: insert film, and of you go.... thats it, its that easy...

After I first bought mine it was a bit picky on the first role of film I tried to put in.. It didn't forward it correctly, which can not be checked as with the Canon T90.

I downloaded the manual, and found out that with the program feature this camera gives you more time to think about the composition and the subject. Its easy to handle and the functions and buttons are more or less logical. It made me feel like with my first Ipod. Its self explanatory, and intuitive using is no problem at all.

Okay, its a bit noisy. So sneak pictures on the beach or in Church, might be a problem. I didn't find it a problem during normal use however...

the Partial AE (select area metering) is something I used a lot, and makes great photography even better! a great clear viewfinder with al the important information (Shutter, P or M, Flash) on the right side. I teamed it up with a Command back, and then noght photograpfy with bulb is even more funn.

I use a T90 now, and yes it has more possibilities and is a better camera.

But the Canon T70 is my back-up camera, and its still a joy to use. because of its simpleness, its harder to do something wrong, and for people that want to get back in to analog SLR photography which is a trend at the moment, i would say its a great camera to start with. You have access to all these great FD lenses, and a self-explanatory camera which will help you at doing the important task of "making the right photo" without being distracted.

for the prices you pay for the Canon T70 on the internet at the moment you can't do anything wrong. check the battery lid, One of mine needed some gluing, because the sidewall where the lid clicks in is a bit thin, and it broke of. The lens mount might get loose at the T series after haevy use of big zoom and Tele lenses. but this is no problem, because after removing the front part of the camera, its easy to tighten the screws yourself.

I would take on any micro four third or consumer digital SLR with this simple but functional camera anytime ;o)

2010-05-02

tomdutchman

Features
7.0
Build
7.0
7.0
Good lens, much better then I expected. Done a good job on our Bali Trip
Feels and looks a bit cheap.

This lens was my standard companion on my trips with my Canon T70, until I bought the Canon 35-105mm. Its small, light and...plastic... but for traveling an absolute good solution. Like the FDn's of Canon the design is primarily based on compactness and lightweight, which was the consumers wish at that time.

I had some small issues with the glue of the focusing ring letting loose in the tropical heat :o). Readjusted and fixed it myself.

The Pictures are good, I like the colors it brings with a UV filter. Nice Sharpness. Overall good price value,and an excellent lightweight Lens for beginning Photographers or frequent travelers.

2010-03-30

Johannes

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
sharp, ultra fast, beautiful bokeh
slow focusing

My work horse. Exceptional fast and sharp lens, which renders beautiful colours and bokehs. I never go shooting without it. The focus ring is a little tight which results in focusing happens to be a little slow when turning from closest to infinite position.

Superior everyday lens for difficult lightning situations. Since it only stops down to f16, I recommend to use it with a pol or nd filter when shooting in sunlight.

2010-03-30

Johannes

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
heavy quality, auto and manual options, flash sync
the unholy battery cap

This is my everyday camera and it never let me down. I used the AE-1 before and switched to this baby shorty after. It has all a film photography desires. Av and Tv modes, manual override, exposure correction, a wide ISO range, shutter speeds ranging from 30s to 1/1000 and most important a bright and intuitive view finder with LEDs showing all essential informations.

I'd loved to have a 1/2000 to shoot in sunlight with my 50mm 1.4 wide open, but that's what the F-1 with its higher price is for. Only thing that bothers me is the battery cap. It's MADE to be broken. Who came up with this mess?

2010-03-28

JMT

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Incredibly sharp; very solidly built.
It's heavy, but who cares?

I totally adore this lens. I finally put it to good use on safari in 2009 (having bought it nearly 2 years earlier). In combination with an F1N and a suitably bright, centre-weighted focussing screen, it was an absolute joy: focussing smooth and positive; lens well-balanced. Even in fairly low light (an hour after dawn, say), focussing is no problem, and it is capable of pin-sharp performance: I have so far enlarged up to 15x10, and the best shots are still very sharp indeed.

It is very well built.

You have to watch the weight, though: a monopod helped, but proper stability came only with a tripod or a rolled-up sweatshirt. Hand-holding not a realistic option except for strong arms taking motion shots (and even then a bit hit-and-miss).

2010-03-28

JMT

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Built like a tank; striking images.
Fiddly screw-on lens cap; pronounced chromatic aberration at edge of circle.

This is the full-circle (180° view) fish-eye lens, making it all-too-easy to shoot your feet (and even your hands) and producing chromatic aberration at the extreme limit of view.

It is very solidly built (and thus heavy for its size). IQ seems pretty good, but I have not subjected it to minute analysis. Incorporates sky/red/yellow filters.

My only complaint is the screw-on lens cap, which is fiddly and time-consuming to put on/remove - but then it does a great job of protecting the very exposed front element.

Not a lens to use every day - but enjoyable and capable of striking results when you do.

2010-03-10

kippy

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Very solid feel, smooth focusing, massive aperture and great DoF
A little on the heavy side

I bought this lens to fill the gap in my FD lens collection; I had a 28mm and a 35mm, but no 50mm standard. Then the 50mm f/1.4 SSC came into the equation, for a staggeringly cheap £35. Naturally I snapped it up immediately; there's no way you can turn down a lens like this for that price. And I do not regret my purchase one iota.

It's a big lens for a camera like the AE-1, and the weight is very reassuring. The body feels well built and very sturdy. I don't really mind the extra bulk to lug around, but I'd imagine some people might. From what I can tell, the 2nd and 3rd incarnations are smaller and lighter, with little change in optical quality.

What really shines from the f/1.4 is the quality of the optics. The closest comparison I own is my Summicron f/2 (which is also excellent), and the f/1.4 really gives it a run for its money. The sharpness and saturation, for me, is absolutely perfect. The focusing is smooth, if a little slow, and the advantage of that huge aperture means the ability to work in a huge number of lighting situations (sadly, the maximum aperture of f/16 is a slightly limiting factor). f/1.4 gives a very shallow DoF, really wonderful for portraits in poorly lit environments.

I would definitely recommend hunting around for this lens, I love mine.

2010-03-08

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Classic styling, durability, six exposure modes, professional feature set
Can develop

The A-1 was Canon's top-of-the-line camera in 1978, and for good reason. It was built to last and was packed full of pro-level features, like full manual control, five additional exposure modes, exposure lock, a very intelligent and intuitive LCD display, and more.

2010-02-17

JimK

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Cheap, sharp, light, holds up to decades of use despite plastic body, cheap.
It's not f/1.4 :).

As others have noted, this lens really performs well. It is capable of razor sharp images, and it has no "bad habits", as many cheap lenses are known to have. It is far lighter than the old style metal bodied lenses of the same specification due to it's plastic construction, and that is certainly a plus.

Despite the bad rap that many plastic lenses earn, this little gem has a reputation for being consistently good from one example to the other, and it has held up very well over the decades since it was produced. Even the plastic and stamped steel hybrid lens mount holds up with heavy use, as the lens is so stubby and light, that it never sees real stress unless you beat someone with it, or drop your camera on it's face.

Add to that the fact that it is dirt cheap, and it's a good buy. I still have one for use with my FD mount cameras, and I even use it once in a while. The only argument I'll make against this lens is the same argument I make against any f/1.8 FD prime today.... It isn't an f/1.4 lens.

That little numerical difference represents a world of functional difference in daily use. You can buy a fine FD f/1.4 prime for a fraction of it's new price (which is to say they are also cheap), and for a little more weight, and a little larger size, you get a lens that will at least equal the performance of the f/1.8 version in all respects, and then up the ante a good deal by virtue of being able to do some additional things that are just out of the reach of the very fine FDn f/1.8 lens.

So yes, I absolutely love this little lens, and back in the day when I bought mine, it's price advantage over even a used old style FD f/1.4 lens made it my only budget choice, but that is not the case today. It is still the cheapest of the pair (almost free), but used f/1.4 lenses have dropped so far in price (thank you EOS mount), that they have become irresistibly affordable. If you already own an f/1.8 lens, keep it. It won't dry up and blow away. If you are in the market for a 50 mm FD lens, skip this one, and go directly to an f/1.4 version.

You will end up with one of these lenses for free someday as an attached bonus on another Canon FD mount body that catches your eye, so don't spend money on it now. Just add to the $20 or so this lens would cost you today, and when you get about $50 in the pot, you can find an f/1.4 lens that still looks pretty, and has clean optics.

2010-02-17

JimK

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Pretty fast, constant aperture throught the zoom range. Solid build.
For the price? Nothing. If I must reach for something, the front element rotates.

I bought this lens for it's reputation, and I have no regrets. It is built very well, has a fixed wide open aperture of a pretty fast f/3.5, and a well designed optical system. It produces crisp, sharp images with nice color fidelity and saturation. It really is a joy to use. Flare can be an issue, as is the nature of zooms in general, but it isn't a major issue. I tend to use a hood with all of my lenses (it's just a personal quirk), and until the sun pokes into the frame, flare is pretty well controlled. I really enjoy this lens, and I would recommend it to anyone as a fine standard lens kit for any FD compatible Canon body.

I mostly use it as a "walk around" lens on my T90 body, but I included a link to a pic where it is mounted on my F1N body. The setup was shot to put a visual to a comment I made in a different review about how the F1N with motor drive attached weighs as much as my Mamiya RZ67 "photo brick" studio camera, so it includes the RZ in the shot, but the FD 35-105 f/3.5 zoom shows itself off pretty well in the mix.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4363414577_ff07f8da46_b.jpg

2010-02-17

JimK

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
The ultimate refinement of the F1concept
Minor issues. Motor drive add/remove with film out only. No mirror up for MLU fans.

Repairing cameras that I could not afford as an apprentice bench tech back in the early 70's started my love affair with the F1, and inspired me to buy a new FTb QL (F1 lite for the financially challenged), that allowed me to start enjoying Canon photography until I was able to buy a beaten to death ex-press corps F1 body, and raise it from the dead by raiding our use F1 parts bin (with the blessing of the boss). That was a first gen F1, and it served me well for years. I would not be surprised if it is still out there in operating condition.

The entire F1 line had fine, precision look about it, no matter where you peeked or poked. They all give the impression that they are crafted out of a single block of steel, and the controls operate and feel the same. Let's face it, Canon had the stones to make their initial entry into the Pro 35mm market at a time when Nikon all but owned it, and already had a well sorted out, established Pro camera line. They had to deliver something spectacular to the market, and they did.

The first F1 was pretty solid from a service standpoint, and most complaints were sorted out in the minor update of the F1n. Still, the march of time continued, and it wasn't until the New F1 that Canon was able to completely revise the few remaining service related problem areas that required more than a minor rework, and also address several core elements that had become technically obsolete, or simply couldn't support the addition of new features demanded by Pro clients to the existing F1 system core.

They delivered in spades, while keeping the New F1 an F1 in all respects. The most important updates over previous F1 models were the change from the ancient CdS metering sensor and circuitry to the modern SPD (silicon photo diodel) system that is still the leading edge technology today, nearly 30 years later. It is far more flexible, offers greater range, it is stable over time, which CdS systems tend not to be, and it's support circuitry incorporated updated components that didn't (unlike classic Cds circuits) rely on critical tuning to battery input voltage, and demand the use of a battery that delivered that exact voltage throughout it's useful life.

The new system regulated it's own voltage needs, and could be satisfied by most any battery selected by the designers, regardless if it's voltage changed over the life of the battery, so long as it met the minimum voltage needed at all times. That one feature alone allowed them to abandon the mercury battery that was used for many years because it's current capacity was sufficient to power a CdS sensor system, and it's voltage output remained flat until it was dead. The SPD system also made a greater metering range of EV 1-18, and a standard ASA/ISO range of 6-6400 possible, as compared to the previous range of EV 2.5-18, and ASA/ISO 25-3200 on the second gen F1n.

Good riddens to the little meter battery, and hello to a world of electronic opportunity. Canon chose the high capacity 6v silver oxide battery that is still very popular today, and also happens to fit dozens of other cameras (T90, F1 data back, RZ67, Bronica SQ, ETRSi, on and on it goes). It also gave Canon lots of power for other stuff. The old F1 shutter was rugged, and reliable, but it had a few service quirks, and it had it's limitations as well.

The New F1 shutter is even more reliable, as a result of analyzing a decade of old style shutter service data, and offers several important improvements as well. The new shutter offers x sync at 1/90 sec, as opposed to 1/60 on the old F1. That might not sound like much, but it makes a big difference in the real world, and higher speeds really didn't happen until vertical travel shutters were introduced (the T90 for example). The new shutter is fired electronically, and offers ultra accurate electronic control of speeds from 8 seconds up to the 1/90 sync speed, and mechanical timing for speeds up to 1/2000 at the top. The older F1 bodies went from only 1 second, to 1/2000 sec, and all speeds were triggered and timed mechanically. Also worth noting is that the circuitry in the F1 is well coated with a water proof electronic varnish of sorts. It was a pain for service techs, but it explains why a New F1 was able to be soaked in the rain, and have as great a chance of being OK after it dried out as an older model F1.

The New F1 offered fully mechanical operation if electronics failed, or if your last battery died. Just pull out the battery, and the New F1 triggers the shutter with a mechanical link as in the past, and offers mechanical control of all speeds from the 1/90 x sync speed to the top 1/2000 speed. How is that for a backup plan?

The new self timer is electronic, and beeps. Nice. The battery cover cover doubles as a nice "action grip". The difference with that little add-on touch on the traditional slab body is tremendous. The New F1 has a real hotshoe on top of the viewfinder, where it belongs, and not as an add on part that covers other controls off to one side as in the past. The new hotshoe even offered exposure integration with Canon potato masher strobes. The AE viewfinder is a work of art, and offers seamless aperture priority automation if you choose to use it. It was so popular that most used New F1 cameras come with it. The new viewfinder system introduced the new "wow" bright laser mat screen surface, and expanded the available screens for the New F1 to 13. By popping in different screens on a New F1, you can select from "average", "spot", or "center weighted" metering profiles.

With the Motor drive attached, you have the option to select EE shutter priority metering as well. In fact, with the AE finder, and the Motor drive attached, you can choose between full manual control, match needle control, aperture priority, and shutter priority shooting on the New F1. Even the viewfinder metering display completely changes between AE and EE control. You need light to see what the meter says? The New F1 has a real battery, and light if you need it. It can also HOLD metered EV while you re-compose a shot.

There are other reliability and feature tweaks that set the New F1 apart from the older series too, but just what I have outlined above should help people considering buying an F1 today to understand that the New F1 is far more than a minor update to the F1 line. It is everything the older models were, plus a whole lot more. If you are just collecting F1 bodies, buy them all. If you plan on using one, buy the New F1.

Some people complain about the lack of a mirror lock up on the New F1, but that is really a non issue. It was included in the old F1 bodies in order to allow one or two specialized old line FL series lenses that poked into the camera too far to clear the mirror on firing to work with the F1. Those lenses were history by the 80's, and you couldn't use a viewfinder with them anyway.

Some people still claim an advantage to having mirror lockup for other shooting, and maybe there are extreme situations where the sheer mass of the F1 beast won't dampen mirror vibration, but I think it's mostly just looking for something to complain about. I use MLU every now and then with other cameras in special situations, but I never missed it on the New F1. At current used prices, the New F1 is a steal.

Enjoy your F1, no matter which one you choose. They are all fantastic photo tools, and just holding one in your hand is thrill. They are all HEAVY though, so be ready for culture shock if you grew up with modern plastic cameras!

I have linked two pics here. One of my current New F1 in full body armor (motor drive with 12 AA batteries), and another of the same camera sitting next to my Mamiya RZ67 "photo brick" studio 6x7 cm camera. The F1 with the motor drive attached weighs about the same as the RZ67 "photo brick"!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/2529696321_d060d8eed5_b.jpg />
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4363414577_ff07f8da46_b.jpg

2010-02-15

JimK

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Outstanding construction. Constant aperture. Sharp, contrasty images. OEM performance
Front element rotates.

I have owned several versions of the Vivitar "Series 1" 70-210 zoom lenses over the years. Both the design, and the manufacturer that built the Series 1 70-210 mm zoom for Vivitar changed a number of times over the years the lens was offered. I think this "Mk II", second generation of the lens is the overall best of the bunch. It has a constant aperture from short to long, premium multicoated lens elements that keep images contrasty and saturated, and it has no quirky flare or distortion issues.

It's glass is very sharp across it's entire range of zoom reach and aperture, and it is silky smooth to operate. It's a real performer, even compared to current premium OEM lenses in it's 70-210 medium fast aperture zoom category. It is also built to last. Despite the senior status of my lens in real working years, and the seriously heavy use it has seen, it still feels as sinfully smooth in it's operation today as any lens I have ever owned.

It's sound design, high build quality, sweet overall optical peformance, and outstanding mechanical durability add up in a way that sets it apart from both earlier and more recent versions of the Series 1 family of lenses as I see it.

It is one of the few aftermarket zooms that has worked so well for me over time that I choose it over it's Canon counterpart more often than not, even though I also own the Canon version of this lens. It really is a high quality lens by any measure, and I feel that it is the best overall design of the entire family of 70-210 Series 1 lenses offered over the years. I think Tokina actually built this version for Vivitar, and I believe all the other designs were built by other lens makers.

It can be confusing to figure out which version of the lens you should be looking for, so here is a link to a pic that shows my current "Mk II" lens design mounted on a Canon T90.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2753/4358421187_e41178cc05_b.jpg />

2010-02-10

adogg06

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
One of the finest camera systems ever built.
none

This was my first camera; actually I bought an AE1-Programable with a 50mm macro lens and traded camera bodies with my best friend's father, who did not like it being a manual camera. (Best trade I ever did). That was the start of a lifelong collection that continues today. I have lugged this camera all over the world with me, it fell off the roof of my car going down the highway, I forgot it was up there while loading my skiis after shooting pictures in Colorado, and the only damage was dents in the base plate, which I have replaced. I have run hundreds of rolls of film through it and it has never let me down. I bought a used FTb as a backup as well as a F-1n but neither have gotten much use. I have 27 FD lenses and almost all of the accessories that were available for the camera and have tried them all out on more than one occasion. The photographic possibilities are endless and only limited by one's immagination. I currently have a digital that I carry around with me (Canon G9) but reach for the F-1 when the picture is important. Truely one of the finest cameras built.

2010-01-26

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
it has a good weight to it, rock solid build quality
none i can possibly think of

i havent had much experience with canon fd slrs until recently. it started when i traded in my nikon fg-20 body because it was beyond repair for a canon al-1. it came with a standard 50mm lens. i then saw this wonderful lens. i knew this was the wide-angle lens for me. i bought mine for around $40, albeit with some mold buildup inside, probably from poor storage. but the the effect on picture quality is negligible, and i dont need to have the lens cleaned until a good 2 years or so under my care. it has razor sharp focusing and a 2.8 opening is suffice for day-hazy shots. it can work even for night shots but id appreciate another f-stop for that. bottomline: i just love this lens.

2010-01-20

JimK

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
The ultimate manual focus 35mm film camera. Bar none...
Mirror lockup, pc sync socket, and leader out film rewind must be hacked. Loud motor

My first Canon was a new FTb QL I bought about 1971. Since that time, I have owned several F1 models (still own my last F1 N), and I purchased a number of FD lenses over the years. When the T90 was introduced, I saved my coins, and bought one. It was a masterpiece of engineering that was light years ahead of anything I worked with before.

I loved that camera, and it was a constant companion until it was stolen (along with a full set of diving gear) from my vehicle while on vacation two years later.

I still owned an extensive F1 kit, and EOS hit the market, so I opted to sunset new FD mount purchases, and buy EOS gear. I'm happy with that choice, as decades later, I still owned my F1 N anvil and several key FD lenses, and also own a fairly extensive set of EOS film and digital gear for earning an income.

A couple of years ago though, I saw the T90 offered at KEH for a nice price, and I bought one, as well as a 300TL flash unit. When that camera arrived, and I unpacked it, and held it in my hand.... it felt like the world was alright again. No kidding. I use that camera more often than any other film camera, including my EOS film bodies.

Between it's feature set, and the way you make your choices, there is something about it that makes it a photographers ultimate tool kit above all, and a modern marvel of point and shoot second.

I added the various mods to fill in the few blanks as shipped, and I have been fortunate to not have been visited by any of the electrical errors common to the net forums. As a backup, I bought a second T90 body cheap, but I have been using my primary T90 to shoot at least one roll of film every two weeks for a couple of years now without issue.

Compared to the F1 N, there is no comparison. The F1 IS an anvil, and you really can't destroy it (in a pinch, you can drive tent pegs into permafrost with an F1 without hurting it), but even with the AE finder installed, there is no comparison to the feature set of the T90. The bare F1 without motor drive weighs more than the T90, and the F1 with the AE Motor drive FN and it's 12 AA batteries (that is correct, 12AA batteries), the T90 is less than half the weight, is faster, and even though the T90 is rather loud, it is quiet compared to an F1 with a drive.

The F1 is an icon in the 35mm world that can stop bullets, and will likely last until the end of time, and every FD fan should own one at some point. The T90, however, offers the build quality mindset of the F1 at the dawn of the polycarbonate age, while sporting so many advanced features that aside from AF, it can team up with any number of bargain priced FD uber optics today, 25 years after its production ended, and play in the same sandbox that all of the latest wonder cameras play in, and never have to offer an excuse for not being able to keep up.

I love it.

Jim K.

2010-01-06

BarryReid

Features
7.5
Build
9.0
8.0
Light, compact and easy to use.
No wiewfinder info apart from needle. Battery dependant.

For me this is an unsung hero of the FD range and one of my go to FD bodies along with my T90, new F-1 and AE-1P. I love the basic simple operation and cloth shutter and find it a joy to use. I usually pair it with a 50mm f/1.8 S.C and enjoy the vignetting that lens gives me wide open.

2010-01-06

BarryReid

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Just a great lens
Big, Heavy

It's a big heavy lens with a huge front element, but optically very good. One of the few FD lenses I have that can live with my modern EF 'L' glass. I took some of my all time favourite FD shots with this lump of glass.

It also works beautifully as part of my core travel set with the 20-35 f/3.5L, 28-85 f/4 and 2x converter 'B' which gives a handy 270mm f/4 for thos occasional telephoto shots.

2010-01-06

BarryReid

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Built like a tank, Built-in hood, not too bad optically
Uncommon size IX filters, Heavy.

I bought this lens only because it was too cheap not to. £26 for a lens that I'd coveted years earlier priced in the hundreds of pounds! It came to me needing a major clean but under all the muck it was in very decent optical condition. I still had to find a tripod mount, but was lucky enough to find it on eBay so it is now complete.

I've carried this lens around a couple of times and while it's a brute it's not that much different to the modern EF70-200L f/2.8 which many carry without batting an eyelid in these days of equipment bloat. It is a touch soft and low contrast but given the age of design and the range and fast max. aperture it's not as bad as I had feared.

2010-01-04

TonyL

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very sharp, very compact for this speed.
None that I can see

Another top prime from Canon. This lens is a bit of a surprise, so small for a fast 100. The image quality is as good as the 105mm 1.8 Nikkor, and it's half the size. Build quality is up there too, super smooth focus with nice bokeh. If your muscles aren't up to the 135mm f2 or 85mm 1.2, then this is a great walkabout portrait lens.

2010-01-04

TonyL

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Superb images, looks great on your camera.
Pretty hefty for a 135

I echo the other comments on this lens, lovely at full aperture, sharp as a tack closed down...but why would you want to!

If you can't afford the 85mm 1.2L, go for this lens, it will give similar bokeh effect for less money.

2010-01-04

TonyL

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Great styling, superb metering and finder.
Poly body a bit of a turn off, drive noisy by todays' standards

I must admit to buying the T90 on a whim, lots of people rave about it. Obviously a pre cursor to the EOS styling (no bad thing) the 90 looks great even today. I still prefer the F1 for most uses, but the T90 is very useful for action shots, I recently used the camera for historic motor racing, where it excelled. The metering handled the crazy lighting as well as my Nikon F5, which is high praise. You wouldn't want to use the drive in a church though.

2010-01-04

TonyL

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
Very compact and light.
A little dark in the finder of my FTb.

While I mostly use my 200mm 2.8, this lens comes with me when I'm on long walks, due to it's very light weight and compact dimensions.

Image quality is spot on, even at max aperture, very sharp with pleasing colour and contrast. Internal focussing and built in hood are the icing on the cake.

So if the shallow DOF is not your main criteria, then the F4 version of the FD 200 is a bargain basement must have.

2010-01-04

TonyL

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Well built, great image quality.
Fairly large, if that's a problem.

It's true what has been said about this optic, wonderful quality, with a bit of radioactivity thrown in for good measure! Can be used at all apertures, and is my favourite walkabout lens. True, the later ones are more compact, but the concave breech mount version is great to look at.

My lens is just slightly yellowed, not enough to cause a problem on colour, but I mostly shoot B&W anyway.

2010-01-04

TonyL

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very nice build quality, good in between wide.
Can't think of any.

This size wide angle is often overlooked in favour of the 20mm or 28, I know I do! However, when I think to use it, this lens really impresses with the image quality.

I have the breech mount version and I find these to be just a little better built than the later versions. Really sharp and contrasty, with negligible fall off on the edges, this is a top performing prime, and at the prices they sell for now, a great alternative to the 28's.

2009-12-29

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Rugged under all conditions, Intuitive well placed controls, Pro system accessories
uses old mercury batteries for the meter only

As a pro with 30 years experience with dozens of cameras I can state with confidence this is my favorite 35mm film camera of all time. It feel good in the hand, solid! bright accurate finders and durable shutter. Did I say durable? I have used them in the rain, snow, mud and studio every day for 20 years and NEVER a camera failure. I did have the motor drive go out on one, though. I love the 12% metering pattern and the available different focusing screens. Mirror lock up is a feature I use alot. No battery needed to operate this true "Brass and Glass" classic. The battery just runs the meter and there are replacements to the mercury battery that was originally designed for it. I knocked off 0.5 in the rating because of the battery otherwise this camera is a ten all the way. Although I shoot digital cameras now for my work, I still have and use my F-1n. I will continue to shoot with it as long as film is available.

2009-12-29

kellymjones

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Great wide open. Superb sharpness. Easy handling.
f4 maximum aperture

I've owned the FDn 80-200L for about two years. You can shoot this lens at maximum aperture at any focal length without hesitation. It's sharp, out of focus areas are smooth, and the zoom barrel does not creep. There are no real drawbacks to this lens other than the normal trade-offs that you get with any zoom. If you need a faster or smaller lens then you will likely need to use prime, otherwise this lens perfectly covers the 80-200mm range.

2009-12-28

kellymjones

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Fast, sharp, fairly light weight, and inexpensive.
Nothing significant.

I acquired the FDn 50mm f/1.4 with the purchase of an A-1. Out of focus rendition is very smooth. The sharpness of the lens is outstanding. It's difficult to find anything to complain about. Some folks might criticize the plastic construction, but I find the build quality to be excellent despite the plastic. Here's a sample shot which illustrates the great bokeh and sharpness of the lens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellymjones/2584929649/

2009-12-28

RWB

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
(Relatively) small and lightweight, fast, good portrait lens
Nothing specific

When the 85 1.2L or 135 2.0 don't fill the bill because of size and weight, and I have some flexibility with regard to focal length, this is the lens I'll use. Works extremely well on the Panasonic Lumix G1 (and probably GH1 and GF1).

2009-12-28

RWB

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Best lens I have ever owned, never fails to amaze.
Lens hood

I have owned two of these over the years, and both have been superb performers. I like to shoot short telephoto, and this is the first lens I put in my bag for a shoot.

2009-12-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Sharp, fast, nice bokeh, still compact
nothing really

I recently bought this lens because I felt I needed a 28 mm again. This is an excellent performer, in sharpness it easily beats my 24/2.8, and I would almost think it has a slight lead on my 35/2 as well... For me, this is *the* low-light wide-angle from now on...

2009-12-23

websterforrest

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
extremely robust construction, lightweight, excellent optics
limited maximum aperture

This is a really excellent lens for many practical reasons, especially when used at middle apertures. Yes, there is a wider-aperture version, but it is huge and heavy. The f/3.5 version can yield very pleasing high-contrast images with excellent resolution if used from about f/4 and up - though the smallest apertures should, as with most lenses, be used as an exception rather than a rule. It is a surprisingly lightweight lens but is of a beautifully-crafted all-metal high-quality construction. It's also quite small.

I really like this lens and find that it doesn't add any real extra weight to my camera bag but brings with it a very handy focal length. 135mm is excellent for a wide range of applications - I think it's a bit of a neglected focal length to be honest. With this being an f/3.5 lens it is not so well suited for low-light photography; however under average daylight conditions it is excellent for travel, portraiture, landscape, and - especially - for architecture for which its high contrast and very pleasing flatness of perspective are very useful for capturing a sense of space, surface texture of building materials, and interesting shapes. This assertion may seem like it comes from pretty far left-field, and it's just a personal observation, but if I were going out specifically to shoot buildings, this is the lens I would have with me. The built-in lens hood is also very useful when you're constantly pointing your camera upwards at rooftops, and I find that it works very well with the lens.

These are very easy to come by on eBay for extremely reasonable prices. If you have an AE-1, one of these 135's, a 50mm f/1.8, and a 28mm f/2.8 you have a really nicely-rounded three-lens kit that will cover you for almost all your photographic needs, that won't break the bank, or your back, and will fit into a quite small camera bag!

2009-12-20

websterforrest

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
very light, very fast to use due to simplicity of functions, reliable
can be hard to read the meter needle in low light

I consider this a pocket camera. It is a very well-built simple reliable shutter-priority or manual exposure control manual-focus SLR. The batteries last ages and are easy to find, the repair or replacement costs are still very low, and it is an excellent lightweight alternative to the bulkier F-1 and a good backup body in case you need the assurance of an extra body for an important shoot.

I used one of these cameras for 90% of the photographs that were in my first public exhibit in Prague in the early '90's. It was a perfect camera to carry with me everywhere because it was very light and I was never afraid of it being squashed or damaged by casual knocking about. If you think you might be trampled by a stampeed of bulls while shooting in Pamplona, maybe get yourself an F-1 (or, to be really honest, a Nikon F3 - sorry about that), but if you are going to be trekking and hiking and taking public transport and eating here and there and taking boats and planes and trains and backpacking and climbing and going out at night and shooting sunsets and sunrises and walks and forests and campfires, there really is no reason to get anything more high-tech, more sturdy - or more expensive - than this little camera. Short of taking it on a lunar mission in other words it is a camera that will serve you well in all situations.

The controls are very well placed, it is very lightweight and yet has a very reassuring solid feel - which is not just a matter of casing; it really is very solidly built with lots of substantial mechanics inside - and it has an excellent metering system and is easy to use. In short, if you want just one camera for the Canon FD system and want to watch your budget, get an AE-1. It will cost you less than an A-1 or F-1, and will be easier to repair or replace than any of the other models because they made five MILLION of them which leaves an ocean of spares circulating out there in repair shops.

Great camera. Smart choice.

2009-12-20

websterforrest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
probably the best thought-out SLR camera ever
the little plastic thing that covers the shutter speed dial?

Everything is relative. So when I give ten out of ten for features and a 9.5 for built quality, it is not in comparison to the features of today's Nikon F6 or the build quality of a Leica M3. It is in comparison to contemporary 35mm SLR cameras aimed at the high-end consumer market.

This is the best designed manual-focus SLR I've ever used from the point of view of ease of use. It is possible to control the exposure of this camera in the most eminently sensible ways using just one control dial on the camera. It was the norm at the time that in order to take a photograph of any kind you had to have at least a vague idea of what shutter speeds and apertures were. At the time it was introduced this was certainly a camera aimed at the very serious photography enthusiast, so an assumption on the part of the designers of the end user having some technical knowledge of photographic science was very realistic. The fact that the aperture or shutter speed can be set to a manual figure or automatic using the same dial is a stroke of genius in my oppinion. I mean, you're never going to be able to have shutter priority and aperture priority at the same time, so why not have them on one dial? And the fact that you can set the whole camera onto automatic the same way is just great when you are in a situation where you either have fast-changing light values and /or where your aperture or shutter speed are just not that important. I can think of many general situations when this is the best setting to have.

The A-1 is very solidly built. It does not have the all-metal rock-hard feel of the F-1 (what does?), but it has a heavy tight mechanical feel and is a truly dependable workhorse capable of full-scale professional use. These cameras are all decades old now, so do yourself a favour and drop it off at a camera repair shop for a CLA if you're really going to use it full-out.

Apart from the amazingly intelligent design of how to control the camera's functions, the other best thing about this gem is the way it sits in the hand. It falls into the hands with a natural balance and a perfect placement of all the controls and within seconds will for most people feel like a camera they've been using for years. It doesn't take very long for the A-1 to feel like an extension of your mind - a perfectly integrated tool that is as responsive to handy control as the eye is to the notice of the mind. The only other camera I know of that has the same feeling of mind-equipment integration is the Leica M3 - but then you're using full manual control.

From an ergonomic point of view, the A-1 is the equivalent of a Hasselblad: you never have to take it away from your eye.

2009-12-19

websterforrest

Features
6.0
Build
3.5
5.2
very lightweight, sensible zoom range for given optics, very cheap
lackluster image quality

This is the only Canon FD lens I ever owned that I was glad to get rid of. It wasn't horrible or anything, but in comparison to the rest I've owned it was sub-par in most respects. The construction is very very very cheap. It felt a bit like a Fisher-Price toy. In fact, I think if Fisher-Price had made camera lenses (thinking back they probably did make a toy camera) they would have been more solid than this. It's just disappointingly cheap. I think this lens was bundled with something like the T50 (another sad poor cousin) as a means for people to get a foot on the ladder of the Canon FD system. That's fine if it's 1985 and you are a high school student buying his first camera, but today when we are all buying these things secondhand, there is no real reason to go for this lens. The one positive thing that I can say about it is that the macro focusing range was very good, easy to use, and was - I think almost uniquely to this lens - available throughout the entire zoom range. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on this lens, but I really think that the quality of physical construction of this lens was very poor - at least in the present-day situation where any film-based photographic equipment can be bought for historically relatively very low cost. In other words, value for money is relative, and this lens is relatively far less a 'value purchase' now than it was when it was brought out.

2009-12-19

websterforrest

Features
7.5
Build
6.5
7.2
lightweight, versatile, very sharp at reasonable apertures, and cheap as chips
outperformable, and its cheapness makes it seem unworthy

There would be no shame in having this as an only lens. I used this lens for 90% of the photographs in my first public exhibition in Prague in the early '90's and got lots of nice feedback on the quality and sharpness of the images. People forget that it is better to know one lens very very well: to learn by taking hundreds and hundreds of pictures with it how to get the best out of it by the right aperture choice in a given situation and even by the right distance from subject as well. This is such a very inexpensive lens (especially when bought with a camera as a set) and one of such relatively high quality that if it were possible to score the practical value of using just one lens as an only lens against say a collection of better lenses whose individual characteristics are less known by their owner simply by virtue of their number in his kit bag, the present lens would be of higher value to the photographer than the rest. Of course the same could be said of any given lens - so why mention it? Simply because this is the cheapest most readily available lens for the Canon FD mount and is of a sufficiently high quality to make truly world-class images. It compares, for instance, extremely favourably with the one individual 50mm lens that Henri Cartier-Bresson used throughout his whole career. Of course he had the sense to shoot practically every single image at f/8 - the lens's best aperture.

2009-12-19

websterforrest

Features
6.0
Build
8.5
6.8
A surprisingly rugged consumer-grade camera with just the right amount of gadgetry
Has a slow and quite loud winder

This was my first Canon FD camera - my first SLR of any kind. My father bought it for me new after I worked a summer in his research lab. I still have it in my camera bag and it has never missed a beat. I've taken it on loads and loads of hikes and trips all over the place. It's since been superseded by the F-1 that I now own, but I'd never sell it.

The camera itself is very well-designed and surprisingly well built. It's a really tough little number and has so far (25 years this year) never let me down in any circumstances. It runs on AA batteries (which you can buy in any corner of the surface of the earth where there are human beings) and the batteries last for ever anyway. The focusing screen is very clear and bright, and the display and controls are extremely easy to use and self-explanatory.

OK so it's a bit of a plain Jane - but when you're standing on the top of Machu Pichu that's kind of who you want to make sure that those shots of the view come back with you.

I do find the winder rather noisy and these days it seems alarmingly slow - something like 1 frame every second or so - no idea what the actual speed is, but I bet I could click and wind faster on my F-1 than the motor does on this one. Still. That's not important for everyone or for every situation. But if you are thinking this will be the perfect camera to take illegal photographs in a museum or to go unnoticed photographing women in Burkhas in Egypt, think again. This one may get you stoned to death for that because everyone will hear it.

A great tool for the right setting.

2009-12-11

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Sturdy built, good
Battery door latch fails

I have been the proud owner of an AL-1 for 25 years now. It is the best camera I have ever owned and being somewhat of a collector I own several including latest digital SLR. The build quality is just phenomenal. Even now, when I am really pressed to make good photographs, I will reach for the Al-1 which I know will never let me down. It was there when both my children were born, when my friend got married, when I went on a several world tours, hikes in the mountains and with many other opportunities. Maybe if I had more money back in 1984, I would have bought an A-1 or a AE-1 program. But I never regretted buying the AL-1. It is much easier to focus than any split screen, and I'm convinced focusing is more accurate than any auto focus can be. Yes I know there were better cameras then with more features but for what I could afford and what I needed those days, it was the best.

I did have a problem or two, when the camera was brand new, the film counter didn't work, and the body was replaced with a new one by the dealer. Then at some stage in about 1996 or so, the battery door latch broke. This was quite a setback because it was impossible to find parts. I found a website which described a neat solution, and I spent a Saturday fixing my old pal.It is a common problem on these Canons and various solutions to the problem are offered on the internet.

As for battery drainage, no problem, a set of fresh AAA's lasts me three to four years with average use.

Back in 84 I was eager to experiment and for this the AL-1 was perfect though it has some limitations (shutter speed only down to 1/15 second on manual). But, no problem, alter the ASA up to the point where you can judge exposure on B setting (about one second if you're quick). I did some real fancy photowork in those days.

All in all a worthy friend for life.

2009-12-05

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Probably the nicest 135mm lens I ever owned.
None
2009-11-20

AndyGame

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
bright viewfinder, 8 focussing screens, action grip, AE lock, DOF preview, good value
no speed info in finder, no 1/2 stop info in finder,

With it´s shutter priority and Program modes, and very bright viewfinder, the AE-1P is a good street and action camera. It has a useful AE lock button which only has to be pressed once while the shutter button is pressed halfway to lock in the meter reading. For me this button is too close to the more prominent Exposure Preview button, and so is a bit fiddly to activate. And unfortunately this AE lock is the only exposure compensation the camera has, apart from altering the ASA dial. At least this ASA dial has a separate locking button - more reliable than the pull up and turn ASA dial on my AT-1, which after 30 years is difficult to adjust. Mind you, I did have to clean inside the ASA window of the AE-1P before I could read the numbers! (interesting how my AT-1, AV-1 and AE-1P all have very different ASA dial layouts).

I like the variable brightness viewfinder LED´s which show the actual aperture number, but the display only shows full stops, a minus in my book, especially when I want to add some exposure compensation. In manual mode only the suggested aperture is displayed, not the actual one set on the lens, but at least the AE-1P does have a manual indicator light in the finder to remind you (unlike the EF!). I really like the very bright viewfinder, thanks to the same interchangeable focussing screen design as used on the New F-1. One of the benefits of being almost the last camera in the A series, I guess (only the AL-1 was later).

I don´t use the AE-1P´s Program mode myself, partly because the camera doesn´t tell me what speed it´s going to use, unless it´s 1/30 or slower (the Program mode indicator light blinks). That´s not much use to me if I´ve got a 200mm lens attached. But it´s good to know Program mode is available if needed.

My AE-1P is a battered version that I bought a couple of years ago. Still works well though, and feels a solid enough camera. I like the A-1 type action grip that sits in front of the battery compartment, and all in all I can recommend the AE-1P. Especially at today´s bargain prices. The squeaks and squeals that come out of the battery check button give it´s age away though!

2009-11-10

AndyGame

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
solid, simple to use, reliable, MLU, Quick Loading film system, 12% metering, cheap
1.3v mercury battery (or equiv) for meter, microprism focus only

a solid, well made, simple to use, reliable, mechanical camera, that can these days be bought very cheaply. Very similar to the earlier FTb, an amateur version of the F1. Can use 675 hearing aid batteries to power the meter. It´s easy to forget to turn the meter off, I have stuck a fluro spot on the top camera plate, which is visible when the meter switch is at the "on" position. I like the 12% partial metering that shows exactly which area is being metered, although it does darken the central picture area. I use the MLU a lot, the only other FD cameras with this are the F1 and EF. The shutter speeds are visible bottom left in the finder, but are difficult to see against dark areas. My camera has a typical FTb shutter curtain problem that at certain slower speeds leaves a darker strip on the RH side of the print. The film Quick Loading system works easily and well, and I like the match needle metering for fine exposure compensation control (although the CdS meter only reads down to EV 2.5). My FTb-N has no split screen focussing, although I have heard rumours that some late production models did have this feature. I like the look of the black version too!

2009-11-08

AndyGame

Features
7.5
Build
7.5
7.5
cheap, fairly compact, small built-in lens hood
softer wide open

a bargain at today´s cheap prices. My copy needs to be stopped down to f5.6 for optimum sharpness, wide open it´s quite a bit softer (unlike my FDn 200mm f4). The built in lens hood is too short, but at least it´s always there, and is certainly better than nothing. I add a longer hood over the top of it when necessary. Reasonably lightweight and compact, typical FDn build.

2009-11-01

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Great lens built in filters and very high build quality. Optically very good
Prone to flair and heavy

Great built quality and very good image quality for this type of lens. As a full frame fiseye the lens requires care in use but will produce great images. Not an everyday lens but it has a place in the camera bag. The only downside (beyond the fact that it suffers from flair - not surprising given the front objective) is it's weight which means you don't just throw it in the bag on the off chance.

2009-11-01

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Pretty Good Image Quality
The FD 55mm Aspherical is Better

A good, but not great, Canon aspheric high-speed lens. Over the years I've had the good fortune to own this lens and the FD 55mm Aspheric. A side-by-side comparison, with shots taken at F1.2, show that the 55mm Aspheric delivers better image quality. Build quality of the 50mm L is typical FDn, meaning that it is not built to the high standards of the earlier breech-lock models. The best thing about this lens is that it's much smaller and lighter than the 55mm Aspheric.

Don't misconstrue my comments. The 50mm L is good lens, one that most people will probably love, just don't expect the best image quality at f1.2, you'll need the 55mm Aspheric for that.

2009-11-01

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Optically superb
Large, heavy

This is the lens to own if you're looking for a 50mm lens (or 55mm in this case) that delivers excellent image quality wide-open. Compared to traditional spherical element lenses, aspherical elements, as used in this lens, result in markedly reduced spherical aberration and coma especially wide-open. The difference is not theoretical either, an image taken at F1.2 with this lens is much sharper and with more contrast than other 50mm lenses. Only downside with this lens is that it's big and heavy (though build quality is superb). For color shooters, note that that this lens is on the warm side.

2009-10-30

thinkfat

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
well built, rich functionality, nowadays cheap to have

I bought this camera on Ebay about 6 months ago to have a "real" SLR for use with my growing collection of FD lenses (which I initially bought just for the Panasonic G1). It has been a joy to use. I had to cure its "asthma", a common Canon illness according to sources and replace a few foam strips and it has been working without a hitch ever since. Occasionally it irritates me with blinking "EEEE" and the metering is quite peculiar on back-lit subjects, I guess it will just take its time until I remember to be careful about such issues. Apart from that the mechanical operation is just great to observe in action. I would buy this camera right again just for the satisfying "clunk" it sounds off when I press the shutter button.

2009-10-30

thinkfat

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
sharp, contrasty, flare resistant even open, builtin hood
lens hood a bit edgy to extend

I bought this lens to complement the Panasonic Lumix 45-200 for situations where I need a faster lens. It does an admirable job at concerts and the size is just bearable for hand-holding on a small camera. On my Canon A-1 it's quite good as well for portraits. The coating and the built-in lens hood make it resistant to flare. The sharpness is excellent for such an inexpensive item.

2009-10-30

thinkfat

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
superb sharpness, speed, bokeh
expensive, heavy

I bought a copy on ebay, a bit battered and with a slight mark on the front lens but it has never let me down. I use it with a Canon A-1 and adapted on the Panasonic G1. The results on the G1 are very good. It's not extremely sharp at f/1.2 but stopped down a little it's excellent. It's my favorite lens for indoor work and portraits on the G1.

2009-10-29

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
razor sharp Lens, great colour saturation, very nice Bokeh, very well build
---

Another great professional Canon FD Lens!
The 200mm is an awesome Lens. It will show you finest details. Great for shooting Insects.
I use the Lens with the Canon Macrolite ML-1 in combination with other Flashes. Results are
fantastic. Very nice Bokeh !
You should use a good Tripod. But the lens is build with a rotating, solid Tripod Collar.
And the Lens focuses down to life-size without extension tube, so only one stop of light loss between Infinity--1/1 . Really a great FD Lens!

Horst Franke



2009-10-29

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
sharp, fairly light, solid build
nothing really

A special purpose lens for most, but a very useful one for broad landscapes, close quarters or just a unique perspective. I like the lens very much, and use it frequently. As mentioned their can be some flare, because of the large front element, but it is not a problem that crops up with any frequency. Build quality is typical Canon, which is very fine. I'd give it a 9.8 for build, if that were available.

2009-10-28

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
great images, fine build quality
heavy, may have lube issues

The Kiron lenses, made by Kino Optical, have been "cult" favorites in Japan for many years. They made several of the Vivitar Series 1 lenses, in addition to those badged under the Kiron name. This lens is of excellent quality, with a build and image quality equal to comparable Canon optics. The lens is heavy, smooth in operation, and very good looking, if that counts for anything. The only caveat concerns lubrication issues. The diaphragm may be frozen, due to old lubricants going gummy/solid. A good cleaning will result in a great performing lens that will last for many years with modern lubricants. I'd advise anyone to buy and try this lens. I don't think you'll regret it. I'll post a pic when my batteries recharge on the p&s.

2009-10-28

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
fast, sharp, great color
larger and heavier than the newFD version

This is a lens that should be at least tried by anyone owning an FD camera. It's fast and very sharp, with excellent contrast and color rendition. It's a common lens, and the price is very reasonable, especially considering its fine qualities. It's made a believer out of many new owners.

2009-10-28

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
8.5
7.5
Canon nameplate
heavy, slow, just adequate optical performance

This was an early lens in the FD stable. Canon improved a great deal, and this should not be used as a measure of their ability. The lens is large, awkward and very slow. That added to the barley adequate performance of the lens, makes it a poor investment in picture taking pleasure. The lens usually is offered at a low price, and may not even be a bargain then. One of the few dogs in a great kennel of lenses.

2009-10-28

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
solid build quality, impressive performance, great travel lens
slow for low light work

This lens has been in my travel kit for years. The optical performance is stunning, and it's made to a high standard, even for Canon. Aside from the slow f4, the lens has no significant flaws, and will give many years of service to the lucky owner. If you dislike zooms, or never tried a good one, this is a lens that will make you a believer.

2009-10-27

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
build quality, optical performance
seperate adapter for full 1:1, very heavy

The example I own is made by Tokina. It's heavy, and should come with a seperate adapter that gives full 1:1 coverage. The build quality is extremely high, as is the optical performance. Combined with the fast 2.5 speed, and the probable low price, this is a steal of a lens.

2009-10-27

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
most versatile manual camera made, fantastic metering and flash capabilities
needs to be used or have a manual handy, right strap lug

The T90 was obviously the test bed Canon used to design the EOS1. It has the best system of metering available on a manual camera, and the flash options are absolutely top shelf. The camera is also much more durable than it looks, although the right strap lug is a major design fault. I enjoy using the camera, but my heart still yearns for the F-1N. If you are using flash, or in a tricky light situation, it can produce better simpler results than just about anything else made. I'm glad to have one available for those times it will be the best tool for the job.

2009-10-27

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
+ superb build quality, versatile
- no faults except no mirror lock, and tripod fixes that

The ultimate system camera from Canon. They took the experience from the previous mechanical versions and enhanced it in this last manual focusing masterpiece. The camera will adapt to almost any shooting situation, and the availability of screens and metering options makes transitions painless. Setting up for a shoot is important, but properly done, you'll have everything you need at hand to make a shoot a success. Canon produced the "L" lenses, and a number of others as well, and they are among the finest made for their time, or since. They are also remarkably consistent in qualities, so their is no jarring changes in quality of the images taken in a shoot. I find myself reaching for my F-1N most often when I get ready for some serious photo work. I also use RF's, the Leica M3 and the Canon 7s, but they are not as good with wides and especially longer tele lenses. One of the finest System SLR's ever designed, and a full helpmate to the working pro.

2009-10-27

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
+ built to last, modern batteries, quick to use
- no motor drive/winder

Aptly nicknamed the "Black Beauty", the EF was quite high priced, and was aimed at the affluent advanced amateur. From the number of heavily brassed specimens I've seen, I'd guess it also was extensively used by pros. at least as a back up camera. The controls fall under my fingers, and the camera sets up very well. The range of shutter speeds is exceptional, and they retain their accuracy well, if my 3 bodies are good examples. The build quality is a match for the F-1 series, and that matches the best of its time. The camera is limited by the lack of either motor drive or winder, but it wasn't designed for that type of use. It has battery compensation built in, so the lack of Mercury batteries is not an issue. The camera is simple and beautiful in appearance, IMHO one of the best looking cameras ever made.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
great color, contrast, good build, sharp 85mm to 250mm
soft at 50 and 300mm, too heavy to hand hold except at fast shutter speeds

This is a monster of a zoom lens. I really liked the colors it gave, the contrast and sharpness. But it was only sharp from 85mm to 250mm. Somewhat soft at 50 and 300mm but still gave usable images. Really needs to be used on a tripod unless you hoot at speeds above 1/2000. Did not like the screw on front cap and used an extra 400mm F4.5 front bag cap instead.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharp, IQ, color,zoom range
Macro setting

This lens amazes me, try as I might to dislike it all tests I have done with it has shown it to be very sharp, produces nice colors. I find this is a better performer than the 20-35L. I bought this lens to replace the 35-70AF. Te macro setting I find of very little use, just can't get an image I like too far away the 80-200L or 79=0-210 F4 are better zooms for that.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
7.0
Build
7.0
7.0
Auto focus, sharp
Difficult to manual focus, slow autofocus, colors subdued

I got this lens to try it out, and when it worked it was terrific, sharp images, dead on focus accuracy, but this didn't happen all the time. It was difficult to manual focus, changing the focus length by turning the lever was not as precise as lens that your turned the barrel on a regular lens. When the AF was dead on the images were sharp even at F4, but the AF on plants and trees were often off it just didn't seen to focus that well on the twigs, flower stems, but on larger items it was dead on. The colors were much like the 70-219mm zoom. It was a major innovation for its time, and that was part of the desire to own it, but I sold it off a year later. Went through batteries very often. AF system was big and bulky. I eventually replaced this with a 35-105 F3.5.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Great color,
Infinity Focus need to be stopped down, CA

This lens was part of my travel kit, great for wide angle and ultra wide angle shooting. The colors produced by this lens were great, but found CA at the wider focal lengths, infinity focus was off and images were not sharp until F8, but not a problem as I normally used this lens for landscape at shot at F11.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
8.5
Build
9.5
8.8
Nice zoom range, well built
Color more subdued and less saturated

This lens withstood a drop of 5 feet onto pavement with no issues. Lens kept on working. I found that the colors were more subdued and less saturated than the 80-200mm F4L.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
nice bokeh, sharp images great color

Theis lens was for years part of my film travel kit. It performed so well I never bothered with any primes for the 80mm to 200mm focal length range other than macros(100 and 200). The macro setting, provides nice macro shots, I often use this lens on a Canon digital for closeup macro shots. It was far superior to the 70-210mm that I also had.

2009-10-27

rjc

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Excellent focal range, sharp images, terrific IQ
37mm drop in filter

This lens is one of my favorite lens to use. Works terrfic on both film and digital. The images are sharp, great colour, little to no CA, sharp at all focal lengths. The sliding mechanism to set focall length is smooth and focusing is smooth. It would have been nice if they used the more standard 48mm drop in filter holder instead of the 37.

This lens never lets you down,.

2009-10-26

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
A solid piece of engineering but light in weight this lens handles beautifully
Built in lens hood doesn't

I'm using this lens on the front of a Lumix G1 and its an excellent tool. Despite its age (maybe because of?) it handles very well and is a joy to use. I can only use it in manual mode on the micro 4/3rds body but that just adds to the pleasure.

Images are sharp and detailed even wide open and it shows good contrast and colour.

I'd forgotten just how good these FD lenses could be and at the current market price they are an absolute bargain

2009-10-25

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharpness wide open, colour, contrast, saturation, bokeh, construction
---

What a Lens!
I bought it for 230 € in Germany in very good used condition.
If I´m on Tour, this lens is in my bag.
In my opinion, this lens gives you the highest picture quality when you need a 135mm lens attached on a 35mm SLR camera.
Thank you Canon for making this outstanding optical jewel.

Best regards,
Horst Franke

2009-10-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.0
8.7
Superb fast portrait lens; a relative bargain
Rough aperture-ring feel

I'm primarily an Olympus OM shooter; but the cost of a 100/2.0 lens in OM mount (and in most others) can get excessive. I actually got into the Canon FD system because lenses like this were so affordable by comparison. Buying this lens AND an AE-1 body was still significantly cheaper than a Zuiko 100/2.0.

I'm completely happy with the sharpness and the look from this lens. And as the other reviewers mention, the bokeh is a delight.

There is no breech-lock version of this lens. I actually have a preference for the look and massive solidity of the earlier style. In comparison, the aperture ring of this lens feels a bit more rough and plasticky. I do admit the New FD twist-on mounting is more convenient.

2009-10-24

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Fine image quality for the price; close focus
Physically large

According to Cameraquest's Vivitar serial-number decoder, the 35/1.9 was made by Komine. They also manufactured several of the well-respected Vivitar Series 1 lenses, and the build quality seems very solid--including half-stop detents on the aperture ring.

I got my 35/1.9 from eBay, priced under $45 including shipping. The image quality is quite satisfactory, particularly considering the cost. It makes a nice alternative to the Canon FD 35/2.0 which can go for much more.

The main downside is that this lens is freaking huge--when you first see it, you'd imagine it was a 135mm telephoto. It does take 55mm threaded filters, like most Canon FD primes.

The lens focuses down to 1 foot/o.3m, allowing you to fill the frame with a subject ~5x7 inches. That's useful.

There's no lock for the AE setting, so be careful not to bump the aperture ring.

2009-10-16

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
Light, Small, Good Cost Performance Ratio, Sharp at mid-apetures.
Too Soft at f2.8, 4 & 16. Apparent barrel distortion even though 35mm focal length.

nFD 35/2.8 is lighter than any other FD Lenses (Only 165g!). Also, it has general purpose focal length & satisfactory image quality.
If you want to bring FD-mount camera everyday, nFD 35/2.8 is the best choice.

2009-10-13

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Super bright focus, beautiful depth of field, good 'feel' when focusing.
Only shuts down to F16, sticks out from camera body a long way.

Well, the obvious lens to compare it to is the standard F1.8 50mm! And I have both on my lap right now, on an A1 and an AE1.
The F1.4 is really quite beautiful - the outer glass element is bulbous and almost fills the 55mm filter window. You can see about 12 reflections in the glass, some a beautiful green and blue from the anti-reflective coatings.
The focus ring is 50% thicker on the F1.4 than the F1.8, and the actual action focusing is smoother, but also much heavier. Having large hands, I far prefer using the F1.4. There's also a little knob of plastic to which sticks out to the right of the lens when at infinite focus, so you can feel where you're focusing by touch.

At F1.4 the focusing view is super bright - you can focus in a pub / indoors with no problem.

Of course - the main thing is the photos. I've taken some really very nice ones at F1.4, where that extra 65% light really helps. With Superia 1600, hand holding indoor shots at night is possible with a little motion blur. And it's brilliant for dreary London in the winter with a more sensible speed film.

As to whether the expensive F1.4 is any sharper than the bog standard F1.8, I can't really tell - both seem to be a match for any colour negative film.
Now my standard lens.

2009-10-10

Guest

Features
7.5
Build
6.5
7.2
Great viewfinder, reasonable size, widely available
Control quirks, AE is shutter priority

Canon promoted this camera well, and there are literally millions of them still floating around; so an AE-1 might be the most accessible entry point into the FD lens world. (Many excellent FD-mount lenses are going for bargain prices today, because they can't be easily adapted to DSLRs).

In terms of size & weight, the A series slimmed down quite a bit from the earlier F's.

A real strong point of this body is a viewfinder, which is exceptionally large and bright. It seems like I see a lot of AE-1's with the viewfinder eyepiece cracked, so its design might be unusually vulnerable to damage. The eyepiece diopter is a perfect match for my mild nearsightedness, unlike a majority of camera viewfinders.

Considering how popular this model was, it's surprising that the handling has some weird rough patches. When you meter in manual mode, a red "M" blinks at you annoyingly the whole time. The shutter speed dial is a little too easy to bump off your desired setting, just from picking up the camera.

But the weirdest one is the depth-of-field preview, which does NOT show you the aperture indicated on the f/stop ring—it shows you the aperture USED FOR THE PREVIOUS SHOT. Why? Why?

While I personally prefer aperture priority, the autoexposure of the AE-1 is shutter priority. Action photographers might argue it the other way of course. Beginners who don't have a handle on the aperture-DOF connection might find shutter-priority auto easier to understand.

2009-10-02

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Light weight; sharp; low distortion; inexpensive
No significant disadvantages

This is a nicely made, solid, light weight lens. Nothing extraordinary here - no exotic glass or aspheric elements or a super-wide aperture. With wide angle lenses, I'm more often than not interested in obtaining lots of depth of field so, as I'm usually stopping down quite a bit, a maximum aperture of f2.8 is not a problem. With that sort of specification, no fancy optics are required to get good image quality. This lens delivers. It is largely free of distortion, and images are sharp. What more can one ask for? (Well, OK, a brighter image in the viewfinder would be nice, but I'm not quite sure that's worth paying for in size, weight and cash, at least not for my needs.)

2009-10-02

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Ergonomics; construction; style; feel; can be configured to work the way you want 
Heavy (you might want another, lighter camera for use where weight is an issue) 

With the way I've set it up, this camera does exactly what I want and not a single thing more. Indeed, its configurability (via its modular design) is the very reason I bought one back in the early 80's. I prefer it, even now, over anything else made by Canon, Nikon, et al (my Nikon DSLR is a toy in comparison, with more useless frills than you can poke a stick at). I use the F1 in manual mode with a spot metering focusing screen, and it works extremely well this way, giving me complete control without terrible sacrifices in speed of operation. Photographing people? Just meter on the face, add a touch of exposure (depending on the skin colour), compose and shoot. Easy. Shooting things that stand still? Then you have plenty of time (just a few seconds is all you need, really) to take several spot meter readings and decide on an exposure. Also easy. The F1 is an absolute joy to use.

An utterly gorgeous camera, the F1 is extremely well made, in an industrial machinery sort of way - a product of a bygone era (all that lovely metal). It's great to look at and to hold, with excellent ergonomics. And it's rock solid - on the end of a monopod, with an 85 mm f1.2 L lens attached, it is potentially a fearsome weapon! Yes, I do use a monopod - it significantly improves image sharpness in low light, and it helps hold up all that weight. The F1 is definitely heavy and, although I have taken it on wilderness backpacking expeditions, it is not ideal for travel. When playing tourist, for example, I'd rather take an Olympus OM1 with a 50 mm lens, but for everything else, the F1 is my absolute favourite. Especially with that 85 f1.2 L!

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
A very good lens.
nothing. But, if you don't have it modified, the 1.4 x extender won't fit in.

This lens i bought for € 450 at a local photo shop , together with some drop in filters and a 1.4 x extender, and the piece to put it on a tripod.

It's a superb lens. I also have the NewFD 300mm F4 (non - L) and I don't use that lens any more since I have the 400mm.

I nearly always use this lens wide open, handheld, with 400 ASA film. Bokeh is great. I do a lot of close ups with it. It does a sublime job of detaching my subject from the background.

My lens has been modified to accept the 1.4 x extender. (The rectangular opening in the back is turned out) With this extender, I see no degradation in image quality.

As with all FD lenses I have, build quality is superb, very smooth focusing and flawless diaphragm clicks.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Now THAT 's a lens!! Fantastic performer
Should focus more closely.

This lens was expensive when I bought it seven years ago. € 1300 in a local photo shop.

I took it out to get a look through it, and the viewfinder image was so rich in colour and contrasty that I bought the lens without a second thought.

This is one of my absolute favourite lenses and I always take it with me when I travel. The 20 - 35 mm range may not seem much, but in fact it's nice.

On a zoom you don't get hyperfocal setting marks. I looked them up on a DOF calculator and memorized them.

The closest setting of this lens is 60 cm, and on a 20mm prime it is about 30cm. This is a drawback, as I like to do wide angle close ups. However, at F22 the DOF set at 60 cm is 30cm from the back of the camera to infinity.

Before this lens I had an FD 20mm F2.8. At night, I had a lot of ghost images (flare). This zoom seems to have no flare at all.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Great lens!
Wish I had a 14mm.

This lens, Which I bought off Ebay in Germany for € 175, is a very good performer.

It's great power lies in hyperfocal settings. When set at F22, hyperfocally, it's sharp from 22 cm from the back of your camera to infinity.

Then you can shoot the wildest kinds of extreme close ups with infinity still sharp.

The lens is nicely sharp.

The shade may be hard to get, but if you have a chance of obtaining one, buy it.

I have a Sigma 14mm, with even more extreme DOF, but this lens outperforms it, so I don't use the Sigma any more.

This lens makes you long for the Canon FD 14mm F2.8L. Very rare and very expensive.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Very sharp, very contrasty lens.
You get addicted to it.

This fish - eye has high colour saturation, contrast, and is very sharp.

The DOF is enormous. It focuses down almost up to the front glass.

If used hyperfocally, you can make incredible close - ups with infinity still sharp.

When used in nature, with flowing contours, you often don't notice the fish - eye effect.

One of my favorite lenses.

dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
superb lens.
Nothing.

This is the lens with the highest glass / metal ratio I have.

The build is superb, the diaphragm ring makes an expensive clicking sound.

This lens is very, very sharp. I used it with extension tubes for macro work and it seriously outperformed my Canon 100 mm macro, and I thought that was a sharp lens!

Beware of portraits: every little wrinkle will show up and you may be unpleasantly surprised.

Great bokeh.

Very compact.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
great lens, in the range of the 85mm F 1.2.

I bought this lens for € 200 in Germany off Ebay.

When it came, is was in absolute mint condition.

It's a big lens, with 72 mm filter. Not lightweight. If you look down into it, you see the greenish reflections of a good multilayer coating.

This is an awesome lens. In fact, I think it deserves the 'L' predicate.

Very sharp, very good bokeh. The build is superb.

It comes really complete with a built - in sun shade.

If you don't have the money to buy the 85mm F1.2, go for this lens.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Absolutely great lens.

Fantastic light gathering power.

Great bokeh

Extremely impressive looks.

This is my absolute number one FD lens.

I bought this lens in New Zealand on Ebay for $ 450.

One drawback is that the shade is loose and comes off easily.

I use this lens also for macro photography with 100mm of extension tubes, at F 1.2. Then you get a magnification of a bit more than 1:1, with razor thin DOF, which makes for unique results you cannot possibly get with any other lens. The bokeh is just perfect, then.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-24

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
An extremely good lens.

I bought this lens in a local 2nd hand shop about six years ago.

This lens is incredible: At F 1.4 you get lots of DOF, and in the city, at night, I shoot with Fuji Superia 800, handheld. I shot snowscapes under the full moon, handheld. I also use it a lot at party's and art openings, together with my 85mm F 1.2, there I shoot handheld, without flash.

I also use it on a T90 body with dedicated TL300 flash, again on art openings and parties, then you get TTL and the tiniest flash.

This lens is rather big, and expensive. I paid € 1200 for it at the time. Price has gone down since.

I also have the 24mm F 2.8, a very lightweight, good, small lens, which is two stops less. They say the F1.4 is not very sharp compared to the FD 24mm F2.0, but I don't agree.

If you 're planning to go for the F 1.4, this lens is absolutely great. If your photography doesn't need F1.4, you mustn't buy this lens.

Mechanical build is flawless.

Together with my 85mm F1.2, this is my most favourite lens.

Dirk Dom.

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
tack-sharp, compact, nice rendering
none

I bought this together with an Ftb-QL on ebay and decided to give it a spin before throwing it back into the bay. But now, I'm keeping it. I shot a series of interiors wide open with 1/15 shutter speed on a monopod, and this lens really surpised me. Plus, it almost needs no shade with the deeply recessed front element...

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
sharp, moderately fast, compact, built-in hood
none at this price

I bought this to complement my 85 on the long side, since I'm not using the 200 mm that much. Great value, and a solid performer. Also, it's really comact for those street scenes were you want to be discreet...

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
sharp, great value
slow

A good lens. I bought this together with the 100/2.8 on a budget (this was during my student days) and it has served me well ever since. The only reason it's not seeing much use is that I don't need this focal length as often as I thought.

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Tack sharp, ultra-compact, light, low distortion
none

My first fixed-focal tele and here to stay. It's what I take when I don't need the extra speed of the 85/1.8 or want to travel extra-light. It's so short few people believe the focal length when I tell them... makes it ideally suited for discreet street shooting.

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Fast, sharp, great bokeh
none

I love this lens. I find it to be plenty sharp (it matches my 100/2.8 aperture for aperture) and I laways take it when I need that extra stop or want to do shallow DOF stuff. Also, I haven't really noticed any distortion issues, and I am somewhat picky when it comes to that. In the viewfinder, puncushion looks bad, but that's the finder, not the lens...

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
sharp, very compact, great value
5-blade aperture

My first ever 50 mm lens and actually my first lens ever. The only reason I sold this was because I don't need it any more what with the 50/1.4 in my bag.

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
fast, sharp, compact
none

This is my 90% use lens. It's great for dimly lit interiors, but it also shines at f/8 for landscape or street shooting. I really, really love this lens!

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
fast, sharp, compact, very nice color rendition
bokeh

I bought this for 33€ on eBay, incredible. You can tell that it's the reference lens for the line-up, as it is really well-balanced in sharpness, distortion, color etc. I am not giving this one away ever. The only thing is that I find some bad bokeh in oof backgrounds at medium apertures (f/4 to f/8)...

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
very compact, sharp, outstanding value
5-blade aperture

This was my first ever FD wide, and the only one I could afford when I was 15. It gave me years of oustanding service and produced some stunning pictures. I still don't know what made me sell it.

2009-09-19

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
8.0
8.0
compact, sharp, low distortion, 52 mm filter thread
speed

My widest FD to date. A solid performer with good color rendition and very good sharpness. This lens is always with me when I take the old FD stuff around the block.

2009-09-18

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Doesn't get much sharper than this.
It's hard to find.

This is the latest version with the Thoriated (radioactive) front lens element. Which can be recognized by it's hollow (concave) shaped front lens. It has a minimum aperture of F/16 (which was later upped to F/22), and S.S.C written on the front. The later versions of the 35 F2 are said to have slightly dropped in quality. I've used this one for a while now with the Canon A-1 and the results are just so damn sharp, even at F/2. I also love the yellow tone of the thoriated coating that gives the photos a subtle warm filter effect, and appears to improve the contrast. Less blown-out highlights in general it appears, more clarity, and better black/white contrast. It's said you can remove the yellow tone by putting it in the sun for a period of time. But what would be the fun of that. If you would buy a warm or yellow filter it would reduce the photo quality slightly depending on the quality of the filter glass. So this is better. Also the extra F stops are really worth it. The depth is beautiful at F/2 and it's very fast. I wasn't expecting that speed, but F/2 is actually very close to f/1.8 if you think about it. That number '2' is misleading. Have a look at the sample photos i've posted. My rating is not 10/10 because well, it's not a zeiss/leica. But considering the budget, it really is a 10/10 score.

2009-09-16

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
My favorite 35mm camera

Only one thing to add to the above camera description: the battery check /on/off switch was changed such that it was spring loaded in the "check" position to avoid inadvertent battery drain.

The Canon F-1 is the ultimate workhorse. I put hundreds of rolls of film through mine and they never once let me down. The meter is extremely accurate, and the 12% selective area metering pattern is great for shooting narrow latitude slide film.

For me, the fact that the original F-1 had mirror lock-up was a big deal -- enough of one that I bought used Original F-1s instead of new New F-1s back in the 1980s. I used mirror lock-up quite a bit when doing high magnification and long-telephoto photography.

2009-09-13

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
the best of its time: top-quality build, 1/200oth shutter speed, fabulous viewfinder
mirror lock would have been nice...but is it truly necessary?

I continue to be amazed by the Canon F-1n. I have owned many bodies--from all the major manufacturers--and the F1n is easily my favorite. In 1981, it was ahead of its time, and today it remains a superior product. Its ergonomics are excellent, and are improved with the AE Winder FN or AE Motor FN (I have both). I like having a dial for shutter speed selection, a top speed of 1/2000th, a readily available battery, tank-like feel, plenty of accessories, and a viewfinder that is second to none. I often see people complain about the lack of a mirror lock feature on this camera (and others, too). I wonder how much difference it would make, as the F-1n is such an advanced piece of photographic equipment. For example, the Nikon F100 (another non-mirror lock offender) has been tested in this regard. Its mirror was shown to have virtually no effect upon its performance (cf. http://www.olegnovikov.com/technical/f100/f100notes.shtml).

I wish Canon had offered screw-in lens hoods (as opposed to those goofy bayonet hoods). This would be the only thing I would add to an F-1n system. Nonetheless, I have no reservations in asserting: the F-1n is king.

2009-08-17

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Well built, sharp, nice lens coating, macro focusing
Heavy, must refocus when changing zoom length

Purchased this lens second hand after reading a review on line. There are two versions of this lens. The first version that is considered the better one has a 67mm filter thread. The second one has a 72mm filter thread. This lens is the first one and is quite sharp. Renders colors nicely. Front coating is good but could still benefit from a lens hood. Overall, I am very pleased with this lens.

2009-08-05

pdeley

Features
7.5
Build
8.5
7.8
good build quality, sharp at 250mm
prone to color fringing, 6-blade diaphragm, symbolic hood, no real closeup options

The somewhat unusual zoom range of this lens (right in between the traditional 70-200ish standard and Tamron's own 60-300) begs the question of why it exists at all, so I had to get one and find out. Positives are that it is quite sharp at the long end for a zoom, slightly more so than the 60-300 Adaptall-2 SP, and that it has a better minimum focus distance (1.2m) than the 1.9m minimum of the 60-300 out of macro mode, producing a little bit better magnification than the latter can do without using its remarkable macro mode. Compared to the various offerings in the 70-200ish zoom range its main obvious advantage is the slightly longer reach at the tele end, without noticeably sacrificing on sharpness.



On the other hand, the 75-250 has no macro mode at all, it seems prone to color fringing (more than the 60-300) and the 6-blade diaphragm produces fairly unsophisticated hexagonal out-of-focus highlights & flare patterns.

Build quality is good but the tiny built-in hood is a bit pointless in practice.

2009-08-04

richterjw

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
size, weight, price and availability, built-in lens hood
none considering...

I have not owned this lens as long as some of my other FD lenses, but I think this is a really nice lens. It can be had rather inexpensively, since it is f/4. The f/2.8 and f/1.8 models of the 200mm lens come at a great deal more cost and weight. They do provide shallower depth of field than is available with the f/4 version, which is one of the sacrifices this lens makes. Also it won't be as good in low-light situations.

With slower lenses like this, you must also be disciplined in your eye placement in the viewfinder, or you will find half of the split-prism to be blacked-out.

All things considered, this is a nice lens for getting into the 200mm focal length without breaking the bank. JR

2009-08-04

richterjw

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
size, weight, image quality, price
thread size (55mm), focusing distance

I bought this lens for a great price from a used online retailer (www.cameta.com). It was smaller in length than I had anticipated and has the feel of solid construction.

I wish it focused more closely, but I guess that's why they make macro lenses. Also I find the 55mm filter thread to be an odd size. So many of Canon's lenses are either 52mm or 58mm that I find 55mm to be inconvenient, requiring either a step-down ring or new filters.

Since this is a newer lens to me, it hasn't taken the abuse that my 20mm and 50mm have, but it appears up to the task. I hope to find many future uses for it.

2009-08-04

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
8.0
8.3
Sharp, Good value for the cost, Light weight
Needs a hood, can be a victim of flare.

Purchased this lens second hand for a song. Because of the price I paid for it I did not pay it much mind. Once I used the lens, I discovered how sharp it is. Very pleased.

2009-07-31

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
The best body for commercial pros that use flash
Looked plastic and

Since I was an Advertising photographer that shot in an editorial style, and didn't have to look like a pro (which helped me capture/not intimidate), this was the perfect body to have, I eventually had three of them. The previous comments make the points, but the 1/250 flash syncro was the best! I "borrowed" the new EOS (Canon Pro Services Member) for some shoots (Summerlin/Vegas) but it was clear that this for cost/benefit, was not where I wanted to go (and the lenses were not good, compared to FD). Canon made a mistake with the EOS line, and lost me as a Pro Camera Buyer (I bought a Rebel xti for my wife). I do use that Rebel, but use Sigma Lenses with it. I'll wait for the 5D to drop in price....I have the time.

2009-07-31

pdeley

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Flawless image quality
No internal focusing, hood is a bit short

This lens is wonderfully sharp at all apertures and free from chromatic aberration. Minimum focus distance is not quite as good as in the subsequent L version, and the SSC fluorite lacks internal focusing, so it requires more work to track moving subjects. On the other hand, it's a tad less heavy than the L version and the long turning action of the focus ring allows you to set focus extremely precisely, I especially love to use this lens on tripod for prefocused closeups of small wildlife with some macro extension.

2009-07-31

pdeley

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
very compact, max magnification of 1:2.8
strangely shaped zoom ring is too narrow and too tight between focus and aperture

I took this lens on a trip to Asia and was pleasantly surprised by its performance. Almost as compact as the average 50mm or 35mm prime, it's pretty good in terms of sharpness and it can give you meaningful close-up options in a pinch, at a maximum magnification of 1:2.8. The disadvantage of its compactness is that the 2-touch zoom design leaves hardly any space for the zoom ring in between focus and the equally narrow aperture ring. To make up for this lack of width, Tamron has added two ribbed knobs sticking out on either side of the zoom ring, but they are not as effective a solution as the more prominent ribbed edges provided on the subsequent version with f3.5 constant aperture.

2009-07-31

pdeley

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
Very good build, good sharpness (though not like a prime)
Big and heavy, fairly prone to chromatic aberration

At 6 lbs this is definitely no lens for handholding, unlike Tamron's later autofocus 200-500. Sharpness is good for a long zoom though not quite up there with the long primes, and options for closing down the diaphragm to f11 or f16 are usually limited when shooting film with this lens, so it is often difficult to really use it to the absolute best of its abilities. High-contrast subjects will bring up some chromatic aberration of the purple/olive kind, as seems typical for Tamron's coatings. Build quality is very good, in both specimens I've owned and used the only slight wobble I've noticed in any of the moving parts was in the fit of the built-in hood around the front of the lens barrel.

2009-07-31

pdeley

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
compact, light weight, approximates genuine f8, very sharp for this type of optics
razor thin DOF, donut bokeh, no diaphragm, rear screw-in filters

There are those who love mirror lenses and there are those who hate them. I'm in the former group and this lens is one of the reasons why. It's easily handholdable in terms of size and weight but nevertheless superbly built and equally sharp as the best mirror lenses produced by the major camera manufacturers of the day. By comparing it with various dioptric lenses (metering through one and the same body) my estimate is that the Adaptall-2 500 f8 really has an effective aperture close to f8, unlike many other catadioptric lenses where the f rating ignores light loss caused by the central plug in the front lens. There is no noticeable chromatic aberration even with extreme contrast.



On the other hand, being a mirror lens means that it has practically no depth of field so it requires extremely accurate focusing, and in practice you always need to give it as much support as possible (by tripod, bracing yourself against a tree or a wall etc) while focusing. Color, UV or neutral density filters have to be screwed in the back, so adding or switching filters means you have to dismount the lens first. Also, if you don't position your eye exactly at the center of the viewfinder then at f8 the split prism focus screen of your camera will often black out in half the central circle, thus becoming even harder to focus with. Because of the center plug, highlights in the background will show up as rings instead of evenly diffuse spots, so to avoid these donuts you need to carefully reposition yourself to minimize any reflections from background objects. And because light is bounced off mirrors instead of passing through multiple coated lenses, colors are flatter than they would be with a dioptric lens.



For me the benefits of small size and light weight are often much greater than the drawbacks, because a lens like this can travel with you much more easily and will attract much less attention than a big expensive dioptric 500mm lens with apo-quality glass. If light is plentiful and the need to move around precludes you from working with a big heavy lens and a suitably robust tripod, then a well-built mirror lens is the solution. Within those constraints, in my experience the SP 500 f8 is one of the best choices around.

2009-07-31

pdeley

Features
6.5
Build
8.5
7.2
1:2 max magnification, M/A switch, build
not super sharp, colors a bit flat

From the specs alone you might think this lens could be a direct ancestor of the excellent SP Adaptall-2 35-80 f/2.8-3.5, but in reality its design and performance are quite different: this one is a 1-touch zoom with a separate macro switch and only mediocre optical quality.


Probably in its day this Adaptall lens was a fairly ambitious design, combining relatively wide aperture with a maximum magnification of 1:2 (even better than the subsequent SP Adaptall-2 version). There is a separate and large switch to alternate between manual stop down and automatic exposure, which facilitates depth of field preview on camera bodies without their own DOF preview button. Build is good, movements are tight and smooth, the aperture ring is fairly wide and easily controlled without having to take your eye off the viewfinder.


Unfortunately, optically this lens is relatively underwhelming. Sharpness drops off noticeably away from the center, while colors are slightly flat and tend to have a greenish hue. This lens would be a good choice if you specifically want to reproduce the look of 60s or 70s color prints, but for almost any other purposes the SP Adaptall-2 will serve much better. Other drawbacks are that the macro range needs to be accessed via a locking button, and at maximum magnification you are left with only 2 inches working distance.

2009-07-30

Guest

Features
6.0
Build
7.0
6.3
Solid shooter
No full program/Aperture Priority, Camera Squeek, metering not great, 1/60 flash sync

There's no getting around that it's a late 70s camera. Shutter priority isn't difficult, but I do miss having a fully automatic or an aperture priority mode - along with the difficult-to-see Aperture display, and the kind-of-annoying ISO dial, that's probably enough reason to opt for the very similar AE1P over the AE1.

Camera will start squeeking and then not working if left unused more than a decade, so if you have an old one or buy one off EBay (I've done both) expect to do a $50-$100 refurb job. Aside from that I've found the camera solid, I've given it more than its fair share of knocks and drops and it hasn't had problems.

The metering isn't bad, but it's kind of a learned skill to use center-weighted metering properly. The metering is blown away by any camera, film or digital, that's been released in the last twenty years.

I'm not much of one for using flashes, however with its fixed 1/60 shutter speed with flash, and other issues, I just pull out another camera if I want to use flash.

But really there's just a list of small annoyances. This is basically a very good camera that just gets out of the way and let you take photographs.

2009-07-30

AndyGame

Features
6.5
Build
7.0
6.7
basic, solid manual exposure camera, depth of field preview
less sensitive Cds meter, no speed or aperture info in finder

The AT-1 got me back into Canon FD after 20 years away. I enjoy it´s basic manual simplicity, and solid feel. It´s match needle metering allows fine adjustments in exposure compensation (the edge of the shutter speed needle diameter equates to 1/2 stop difference from the "correct" exposure), but unfortunately no exposure info is shown in the viewfinder. The Cds meter only reads down to EV3, but the AT-1 does retain the electronic shutter and magnetic shutter release button (less vibration) of other A series cameras.

On my AT-1 the ASA dial sticks and is difficult to alter, and the numbers are not easy to read with older eyes. The meter has a separate on/off switch, both it and the shutter release lock must be turned on for the shutter to fire. There is no auto cut-off on the meter, and the meter is still active when the shutter release is locked. So to remind myself to turn off the meter I stuck a bright fluro spot under the meter switch which is only visible when the meter switch is on. Works well!

2009-07-29

pdeley

Features
9.5
Build
8.5
9.2
very compact, fast, very sharp across much of the image, good closeup power
aperture ring squeezed in between zoom and adapter, exposed front lens

One of the first Adaptall-2 lenses I ever owned, and a true gem it is - all the more because it often sells for a bargain price. Its sharpness approximates that of good primes across the zoom range and across most of the image circle, colors are less inclined towards the greenish hue of most other adaptalls I've tried. Continuous focus to a maximum magnification of 1:2.5 at 4 inches working distance makes it a good substitute when you're caught without a true macro lens. Variable aperture of f2.8-3.8 is quite fast for such a compact lens and makes this a very viable package for evening or early morning light.



Because of its sharpness I've even used it with good results on a bellows, where the ability to zoom is very welcome to make up for the constrained movements of tripod & focusing rails and makes for a very different experience from more usual bellows work with a prime lens.



Build is very good, although the zoom and focus rings interact towards the macro end in intriguing ways that would suggest a complex and potentially fragile arrangement. The aperture ring is rather narrow and positioned at the back right behind the zoom ring, when mounted on an adaptall-2 adapter this doesn't leave quite enough room for adjusting aperture without sometimes indavertently shifting the zoom or (in FD mount) the locking ring. One last thing to watch out for: the front element is strongly curved and its center protrudes almost to the level of the filter ring, so it's wise to keep it protected at all times with a filter and/or shade.

2009-07-29

pdeley

Features
8.0
Build
8.5
8.2
Good sharpness towards the edges
Not super sharp in the center

This lens is a good performer from center to edge, although not quite as sharp in the center as some newer 24mm lenses I've tried, and it does need to be closed down by a stop or so (I should note my specimen has a soft spot in its left quarter, presumably this is an individual problem with my less-than-pristine sample). Build is very good, slight chromatic aberration can show up towards the edges but not to any great excess.

2009-07-29

pdeley

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
feels and looks retro in the best sense of the word, external M/A switch
optically less solid performer than the Ad-2 version

I happen to really like the particular mid-70s look and feel of Adaptall lenses (more than the very tight and geometric design of most of their later Adaptall-2 counterparts) so I enjoy operating this lens more than the later Adaptall-2 version, but there's no denying that the optics clearly represent an earlier stage in design and engineering skills. Sharpness falls off noticeably towards the edges and chromatic aberration is also more evident.



My specimen has a large crescentic external slider for switching between manual and automatic aperture control, which I prefer for its more distinct operation over the more embedded implementations in later Tamron and Canon FD counterparts, as the latter designs usually require me to take my eye from the viewfinder and/or allow me to get locked in A when I didn't intend to.

2009-07-28

AndyGame

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
great value, sharp at wide apertures, easy internal focus, compact, 52mm filters
no minus points at this price

I picked up one of these very cheaply, and was pleasantly surprised at how sharp it is, even at f4.8 and f5.6. I got it mainly for candid street photography, so with 200 ASA film and 1/500 shutter speed wide apertures are often the norm, but I´ve got some great shots with this lens. It´s inconspicuous, and it´s compact size, quick and effortless internal focussing and light weight also make it a good street shooter. The built in lens hood isn´t long enough, but at least it´s always on the lens, and is certainly better than nothing. I have a handful of FDn lenses, that all use the same 52mm dia filters that fit this lens too. Very handy! Although the close focussing distance is a useful 1.5m, the lens length doesn´t change during focussing, so at this distance the lens is the approx equivalent of a 175mm non-IF lens. Build quality is typical FDn.

2009-07-28

AndyGame

Features
7.5
Build
7.5
7.5
sharp, lightweight, good value, petal-shaped hood
hood can be expensive

A good, reliable, basic 28mm lens that I have got some very sharp results from (30x45cm enlargements). Difficult to say how the image quality compares with other FD 28mm lenses ´cos this is the only one I´ve got, but I´m happy with it. I had to buy the petal shaped lens hood separately and it wasn´t so much cheaper to buy secondhand than the lens itself! Nice hood though.

2009-07-27

richterjw

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
size, durability, image quality, price
nothing
2009-07-27

pdeley

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
Super sharp, no chromatic aberration, excellent build
focuses

A top notch performer in every way, optically on par with the various 300 f2.8 offerings by the major camera manufacturers and well worth its high price on the used market. Excellent build quality, my only relatively minor gripes to withhold full marks are: the focus helicoid runs the other way from Canon FD lenses (kept me starting off in the wrong direction whenever I needed to focus fast); the lens comes with a neck/shoulder strap that IMHO doesn't really work well for carrying a 4 lbs weight and mostly got in my way when using a tripod; and although the tripod mount has two thread holes (good to help really lock down the lens and to prevent sideways wobble) in practice both holes are just a little too close together to work well with QR plates that can accommodate two mounting screws.

2009-07-27

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
Solid build, ergonomics, current batteries OK, works w/o batteries
No winder, fiddly battery covers

The EF is a delightful, solid, brass-bodied beast. Shutter-priority auto, but with speeds & aperture visible in viewfinder, it's easy to keep track of what exposure values will be. It's a mechanical camera that extends its capabilities with an electronically-controlled shutter for speeds 1 to 30 sec (the longest 2 are actually 16 and 32 sec...); flash sync at 1/125, and a silicon cell meter for extended sensitivity.

The EF has many small design details that make the camera a pleasure to use, and indicate how much care went into its concept and production:
* the concentric location of the shutter speed wheel, film advance and shutter release (just like the Leica M5), is near perfection: shutter speed can be changed easily while camera is at the eye, using just your forefinger (the only system that comes near it for usability is that on the OM & Nikkormat);
* PC flash terminal has spring-loaded cover;
* double exposure button;
* rapid wind-on to 1st frame, without having to release the shutter;
* voltage regulator allows use of modern 1.5V batteries;
* DoF preview & MLU;
* battery check light doubles as long exposure indicator, which flashes more rapidly during last second of exposure;
* meter & shutter lock switch located for easy use, right below wind-on lever;
* second switch available to turn off metering system, when using flash or long exposures, to prevent battery drain.

If Canon had designed it to accept an F1 winder, it would have been even better.

2009-07-27

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
6.5
7.8
Good Macro, Sharp, Smooth Movements
Poor Coating, AT-X in general prone to mechanical issues

This lens is great internally, though lacking a little on the exterior. I've had three of this lens, as the focal range covered and the macro abilities are hard to beat. The only problem I've had is the rubber of the zoom/focus grip actually came off of my first 35-105, and then my second one jammed internally from sand. The glass is good for most applications, but ghosting is a rather frequent occurance.

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Probably the best Canon body in terms of functionality.
Not really a manual camera - the F1N is better

Probably the best handling Canon camera ever made. It is a great compromise between the complex handling of the EOS film and digital bodies and the more limited or slower handling of the F and A series bodies. The multi-spot metering system, TTL flash and 4.5 fps motor are highlights of the body. I have two of them and they are still performing well but the body does not like being stored without being used and the LCD has been known to leak. Build quality- despite a plastic feel is very high. Overall probably the FD series body I use the most.

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Solid build quality and versitility if equipped
Feels like a kit of parts

I have shot New F1s for many years and currently have 2 bodies, 2 winders, motor 4 viewfinders and a lot of screens. This camera is built to last - one of mine once bounced 500 feet down a mountainside in a backpack and despite a few cosmetic dents is still working. this is probably the best Manual Canon body - it's main weakness is the lack of mirror lock up. It will work fine in -40 and will function without the battery. The handling is rather unusual for those used to modern cameras but with practice is easy to use. Unlike the earlier F1s this one has a much better motor and winder system. All of the viewfinders are useful but the speedfinder and the AE prism are probably the most use. If you want shutter priority you need a motor or winder - the winder is probably the best option for most uses as the motor is large and heavy. This is a camera that was built to last - mine are 1985 and 1986 and look like they will last another 25 years

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
The first true multimode camera and well built
Not really suited to manual shooting

I have had mine since 1983 and it let me down only once - the LED needed replacing, It is more rugged that first appears - mine has travelled extensively and has been up hundreds of mountains. It is probably the best A series body and is very flexible in use. It is not really designed for manual exposure use - match needle systems are better for this. The program mode is also best avoided. The camera really shines when used in aperture or shutter priority mode. It is a lower spec than the F series and has a cloth shutter 1/1000 top speed and needs the battery for operation. It's small compact sixe makes it very portable when compared to a new SLR / DSLR

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
Very compact and quite sharp
Limited range

I bough this zoom as a smaller alternative to the Canon 25-105 F3.5. While it's quality is not as good as the Canon's it is pretty close. It is a very compact lens and has a very impressive macro capability - much better than most zooms of this era. Since i bought it in 1984 and it still works fine today the build must be solid. Even the lens hood is a quality item although it is inconvenient to fit.

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Best FD lens ever made buy it
Expensive poor lens hood design

This is the best FD lens there is, I have owned two over the years since I dropped one from a great height. This lens is a joy to use and is easily my favourite FD lens. The DOF is amazing and the build quality much higher than the EF replacement. THe only flaw with this lens is the lens hood - it cannot be reversed for transport and the plastic is fairly soft so the guide slot eventually become worn. Unfortunatly you really need to use the hood to see what this lens is capable of. I have also used this lens on the micro 4/3 Panasonic G1 body and the result were also outstanding

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Very sharp and rich contrast even at close range.
When shooting B&W: none.

I have the chrome nose version with concave front element. Sharp! Great contrast! Build-in light yellow filter! (Which of course gives better results than a screwed-on filter.) A great lens for b&w.
Build quality slightly weaker than FDn "L" lenses and weaker than any Leitz or Zeiss. (In my opinion FD lenses can`t be rated any better than 9.5 for build quality - and that is only the top notch lenses).

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
wonderfully sharp, still can't see any barrel disotortion
none

Although I shoot a lot of digital (Pentax) these days, I use this 24 on an F-1New or AV-1 when I have to have the best resolution and freedom from barrel distortion in my wide-angle image. This lens alone is a reason enough for keeping an FD body, no matter what else you shoot.

2009-07-26

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Good fast steady aperture, almost like shooting primes. Consistent.
Filter ring rotates, fussy about hoods, a bit flare-prone.

Big and heavy for its day, but for your efforts carrying it, you get a zoom with few of the vices of a zoom: I like to think of this one as a 'Small Stack of Primes.' The size isn't as remarkable in these days of stew-can-sized zoom lenses, but once upon a time, it could be considered a real beast. While never astoundingly-sharp, it performs quite consistently throughout its ranges and never suffers offensive distortion or embarrassing softness. A great people lens, and makes an especially-wieldy combination with an A-1 or AE-1P and winder A2. (it makes a pretty heavy package on an F-1+winder, likely depending how strong you are)

A great zoom for those who don't like zooms: it can be prone to flare, especially since the OEM hood is a bit hard to find and expensive: this is a good candidate for a three-step rubber hood, lacking one of those.


From a time when they'd call near anything 'macro,' in particular this lens' version is more like an occasionally-useful 'special close focusing mode' than anything likely to appeal to macro fans.

All in all, it's a lens that does the basics well. My IQ rating takes 'for a zoom' into consideration.

2009-07-24

pdeley

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
magnifies to 1:1.55 in macro mode, excellent build, pretty sharp at 300mm for a zoom
zoom creep, pull-push macro, very short macro focus, gap in focus distances non/macro

One of my favorite Adaptall-2 zooms and a compromise design in the more interesting sense of the words. Good zoom range from short to long tele for larger & more distant subjects, plus the bonus of a fairly stupendous macro magnification all the way up to as high as 1:1.55. The drawbacks are that (1) macro access requires a pull-twist-push action, (2) focus distance at maximum macro magnification is so short that you can easily cast a shade across your subject and (3) the maximum focus distance at minimal magnification in macro mode leaves a noticeable gap in magnification with the 1.9m minimum focus distance in non-macro mode. In other words: at around 1-1.5 m distance there is no real option for getting reasonable close-up effects, you either need to step back or get a lot closer. Sharpness at the long end of the zoom range is good though not competitive with the better 300mm primes. Chromatic aberration is noticeable at 300mm in high-contrast situation, opposing fringes are olive and purple in color as seems typical for Tamron's BBAR coatings of its longer SP series lenses. The build is excellent and movements are smooth without wiggle, mine survived a 3 foot drop onto crushed rock with no more damage than a dent in the filter ring. The one-touch zoom ring covers the length of the lens when retracted and is quite heavy, as a result it will creep when tilted and this can be especially troublesome to keep proper focus/zoom set in macro mode. Despite these limitations, it's a very useful all-in-one lens for nature photography that can give you both long range needed for wildlife and high magnification needed for macro.

2009-07-24

pdeley

Features
7.0
Build
8.5
7.5
Compact & well built with all the versatility of the adaptall mount
Not very sharp compared to Canon FD counterparts or Tamron 24mm

A nice small lens that can easily be carried along and mounted on many different types of cameras. Build quality is very good but sharpness and aberration control are not on par with Tamron's own 24mm or with first-line 28mm lenses from other manufacturers, including those in the Canon FD line.

2009-07-24

pdeley

Features
10.0
Build
9.0
9.7
Excellent optical performance and build quality
Very long travel of the focus ring: takes work to change from macro to long distance

A very well-built macro lens with excellent sharpness and contrast, it has the advantage over the Canon FD 100mm f4 macro both in its wider maximum aperture and in its ability to reach 1:1 magnification all by itself without requiring any extension tube. The price for this greater optical versatility comes in the form of a much longer travel of the focus ring. Refocusing from infinity to closeup (or vice versa) takes a lot more work than with the FD 100mm macro & when fully extended for 1:1 macro this lens is almost three times as long than at infinity focus (and over an inch longer than the fully extended FD 100mm macro). Build quality is excellent, construction appears to be all-metal except for the plastic diaphragm ring.

2009-07-24

pdeley

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Very sharp, goes out to 1:1 magnification
smallest aperture is only f16

An excellent macro lens that has a wider maximum aperture than the Canon FD counterparts and reaches 1:1 without needing any extension tubes. Sharpness and contrast are superb, but the focus ring has a very long travel so it takes a lot of work to refocus from infinity to 1:1 macro (and vice versa). The diaphragm only closes down to f16 which limits your ability somewhat to maximize depth of focus without sacrificing sharpness. Build quality is excellent and construction appears to be all metal including the diaphragm ring. The front element is very deeply recessed, which removes the need for a hood but on the other hand significantly reduces the effective working distance at maximum magnification.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Size, light sensitivity, both Av and Tv modes, ISO range, etc.
Non-interchangeable screen, no mechanical shutter, no mirror up.

This was my first SLR and I bought it on eBay for around $100. It absolutely fascinated me. The styling, the feel in my hands, nice LED matrix display, spot on meter readings, I could go on forever giving only praises about this camera. Despite the fact that this camera has been introduced 9 years before I was even born, it rivals its Canon DSLRs.

I never found anything to be "missing" from the camera. I am absolutely comfortable shooting with A-1 as I am with my 30D. I mainly (more like only) shot on Av mode. It is absolutely durable, light, and small. My only rant would be it lacking mirror locking mechanism, and a mechanical shutter (for star trails!).

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Cheap!
Nothing!

Canon nFD 50mm f/1.4 is considered one of the sharpest lenses in the FD line. This was my first lens and I still use it to date. This can be purchased on eBay for around $40. As is with all the FD lenses, the 50 is durable and light.

I honestly was disappointed with it's EF cousin, because of the poor construction and wobbly manual focus ring. Prints from the lens show vibrant color and smooth bokeh.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Great feel, super metering, tough as nails, feature rich
No mirror lock up, motor drive a bit too loud

This is the finest manual focus camera Canon, or any one else, ever made. Peroid. Despite lacking a few features like MLU and a PC connection, the operational smoothness, precision and sheer physcial toughness makes this camera THE one to get. It Japan, it was dubbed "the tank" for it's toughness. With it's modern, molded design, the camera is wonderful to hold and all the features are intuitive and well placed. It uses standard AA batteries. The camera is so good...I bought two!

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Smooth skin tones at wider apertures, tack sharp stopped down.
heavy, minimum focus distance could be better

This is a very unique lens. It show some residual spherical abberation wide open that makes beautiful smooth tones for portraits yet when stopped a couple of stops it's brutally sharp. Beautiful build quality. I wished it focused closer but I carry a thin extention tube and that solves that problem. I find the bokeh smooth and attractive. A must have lens for the portrait photographer.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Stunning resolution and contrast, high speed, great build quality
heavy, due to radioactive element may yellow

This is the sharpest Canon FD lens I own. Stunning really at ALL apertures. This is the pre-SSC version with the concave front elelment and uses radioactive Thorium rare earth glass. These tend to yellow over time but can be brought back by exposure to the sun for a few weeks. It's fast, it's heavy and if you can find one, you will cherish it forever.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
7.5
7.8
performance at mid apertures same as much more expensive f2, very light
barrel distortion slight but noticeble in architectural shots

A real sleeper in the new FD line, a joy on a light A-series body. These can be had for $25 these days. A very underestimated lens, one of my carry-arounds.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
minimal barrel distortion, excellent resolution, esp at wider f-stops
none

The sleeper of sleepers, an excellent 28. I got mine for $25 bucks. With the 28 f2, you may get less barrel distortion and certainly a brighter viewfinder picture, but you won't get better resolution. The new FD is reputed to have noticeable barrel distortion, throwing the choice to the 28 f 2.8 SC.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
6.5
Build
8.5
7.2
typical resolution behavior, great at mid apertures
pincushion distortion from hell if straight lines near edge of frame

Pentax and others have had better performance at this focal length. It is a good alternative to the weight and bulk of the 85mm f1.2, if you stick to mid apertures and don't need it for architectural shots. A very nice portrait lens.

2009-07-24

pdeley

Features
8.5
Build
5.0
7.3
Good sharpness, very affordable
Cheap build, colors are a bit flat

Optically a capable performer, has good sharpness, the short minimum focus distance (20cm or 8 inch) is slightly better than the Canon FD 20 f2.8 and allows for interesting semi-closeup effects. Colors usually come out flatter than with the Canon FD 20 f2.8, the smaller maximum aperture is also more limiting and the Vivitar lens cannot cover a truly hyperfocal depth of field. Build quality feels light and cheap, although not to the point that the control rings on my specimen have gone wobbly or look like in danger of falling apart.

2009-07-24

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
8.0
9.0
Excellent resolution after f2, no barrel distortion I can see, fairly compact, light
I wish it was a little more robust, but, after all, it's 30+ yrs old

I nominate the FDn 35 f2 for "shouldda been an L". When I need the best at larger apertures, it's on my F-1N. I use a Hama rectangular shade on it, as I strongly dislike Canon's round FD shades with the "drop and roll away" feature.

2009-07-23

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
In 30 years of shooting, the best wide angle zoom I've ever used
The wide end shows some light falloff wide open and some barrel distortion

This is a beautifully made optic. I'm a prime lens fan but I use this zoom. The optical quality is fantastic and only begins to show some weakness at the wide end when used wide open. The Varifocal design helps it achieve such good image quality. Great flare control for a zoom. For most focal length settings and most apertures, the IQ is difficult to tell from a prime lens. It's THAT good.

2009-07-23

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
9.0
8.3
High resolution for a 1980's vintage zoom. Decent macro. Great butterfly and bug lens
Slightly less IQ at the long end, big and heavy.

This lens has great build quality. One of the first computer designed consumer lenses. The loss of IQ at the long end is expected for zooms without High Dispersion glass. The trick for the best IQ is not to use the lens pegged to the extreme of the zoom range but come in 10-15 mm. Fantastic macro function.

2009-07-23

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
8.5
8.5
Great sharpness, Continuous focus to 1:1, deeply resessed front element
Infinity focus not as good as the Canon FDn 50mm macro

I like this better for real macro work since it goes 1:1 mag without tubes. No hood need with this one. A hair less contrast than the Canon macro but just as sharp except at infinity where the Canon was better. A lot less expensive than the Canon so good bang for the buck.

2009-07-23

Guest

Features
5.0
Build
4.0
4.7
light weight, accutae metering
moisture easily gets in battery compartment, transport mechanism jams

I thought I had the perfect backpacking SLR. It was not to be. In cool damp mornings on the Appalachian Trail, I had to open the battery compartment and dry off the batteries to get each shot. The film transport mechanism jammed. It could be freed up by opening the back and tweaking the gear, totally impractical. This was a dog of a camera made by Cosina, not worthy of the Canon name. I am still leery of Cosina camera bodies.

2009-07-23

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
7.0
7.0
very light, a great street shooter, especially in unobstrusive black.
would rather have had an exposure compensation dial, rather than idiot button

I use this with a 24mm f2, 28 f2.8 SC or the incredibly light 35mm f 2.8 in situations where I don't want to shout "Look what I got - a camera!" My hands wrap all around this little guy. It is coat pocketable with a tiny lens like the FL or FD 28mm f3.5.

2009-07-23

Guest

Features
6.0
Build
9.0
7.0
nice image quality, very sharp with little barrel distortion that I can see
None really, most lenses are soft stopped down and wide open.

A GREAT sleeper as a general purpose wide angle, a little smaller than the f 2.8. This was Canon's pro wide angle until the f 2.8 and f2. From1966 until the FD series came in, the FL 28 f 3.5 was Canon's only 28mm. The Malaysian FD site completely ignores this lens, even though I sent them photos.

2009-07-22

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
7.0
7.7
Bokeh, inbuilt hood, 8 aperture blades
easily jolted aperture, flare, focus throw, swirly bokeh, 1.5m minimum focus

Nice, solid build.

I can't comment on sharpness as I've not used it at smaller than f/4 and also this lens is supposedly designed as a portrait lens to be somewhat soft anyway.

It has neutralish bokeh when I was rather hoping for ultra-smooth; but it's nice enough anyway. Also at full aperture the bokeh swirls, so I am careful to choose my backgrounds carefully or make sure the out of focus (oof) background is total obliteration. The 8 aperture blades also keep the bokeh highlights nicely rounded rather than objectionably geometric.

The built-in hood isn't enough to avoid flare when doing back-lit sunlight portraits despite the SC coatings. I haven't experimented so far but on one occasion I did have to tape on some dark coloured paper to extend the shading: usually I would use my hand but it wasn't enough with this lens the flare being quite visible in the viewfinder. Considering my preference for these kinds of shots an SCC lens would perhaps be preferable.

Wonderfully a lever on the lens's mount could be switched to operate the lens in stop down mode. It hasn't damaged the camera, an AL-1, though the manual recommends against this without saying why (not so easy to mount: you must slightly turn and click the aluminium ring before). This allows me artistic control of the bokeh without the inconvenience of a dof preview button which my camera doesn't have anyway. Marvelous!

When in open-aperture metering mode the aperture was easy to jolt down without being noticed. Bad news when using a film camera but it may just be my particular lens. However in stop-down mode it's less easy and anyway irrelevant.

It has rather a long focus throw. It also has a 1.5 metre minimum focus; pretty stingy and a bit odd for a 135mm portrait lens. An 85mm already does head and shoulders but that's as much as you can do with this lens. Barmy! At least it's (marginally) cheaper.

Strangely one click down (f3.3?) shows a whole 1 stop metering change and the same from that to the next, f/4. Bizarre. In any case it's not really an issue for a portrait lens. Funnily enough it's portrait sibling the 55mm f/1.2 (both the FD and FL non-aspherical) is something like T/1.7 wide-open!!!!! The 55/1.2 is a big con really. The 135/2.5 seem to have the opposite going on which I thought impossible.

Not a flawless lens and considering the bokeh wasn't as good as I hoped - and swirly - I think I might have been better off with a 135/2.8 SCC with better flare control and a shorter minimum focus. But I can live with it.

2009-07-22

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
System camera with lots of configuration possibilities, superb build quality
Not flash TTL and no AE lock

One of the best system camera ever made.
Two major missing features: Flash TTL exposure and AE lock... mirror lock-up would have been nice too!
Very easy to use, handles well and very sturdy. Can be really tailored to any specific need; however, it is less versatile then a T90. Configuring the camera is in itself a pleasure, choosing the screen and the finder along with the lenses best suited for the job is a treat.

2009-07-21

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Lots of feature, great ergonomics, good build quality.
Prone to electronic failures.

Electronics failures (shutter magnets and mirror-release-magnets related problems) quite common. I personally really miss MLU and the leader-out-feature.
Apart from that a great camera. Lots of usefull features (that means you really have to read the manual thoroughly!) The multi-spot-metering especially is a great help. Its ergonomics are unsurpassed at least in 80`s and 90`s cameras. Needs 4 AA batteries - no hard to find exotic lithium crap.
In short: The only EOS you can attach FD lenses to ;-)

2009-07-21

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.5
9.5
Outstanding optical performance, very good build quality.
Flimsy build in shade.

Better than the Canon FD 100mm macro lens in every aspect. The focusing ring especially is a piece of work. Its optical quality is very good even after today standards. A 9.5 in comparison to 10s like the Macro-Planars.

2009-07-21

AndyGame

Features
9.0
Build
7.0
8.3
sharp lens, compact, f2.5 max aperture, good deep lens hood
1:2 magnification (maybe a negative for some)

I shoot a lot of closeup photography, and this lens has hardly been off my camera since I got it a couple of years ago. Very sharp, especially f5.6-11, the f2.5 max aperture gives a bright viewfinder image and shallow DOF if required. Because the lens only extends to 1:2 magnification it´s compact size makes it easier to keep the lens stable. A 1:1 matched extender was sold with it I believe, but I don´t have (or need) one. I bought a rather battered and well used lens, so I´m not sure about the original build quality. My 7.0 build rating may be conservative....

2009-07-21

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
9.5
9.8
This lens is THE reason why I`m keeping my FD gear.
Can`t find a single flaw in this lens.

Very sharp, great color rendition, incredible bokeh, mechanically so much better than most of the non-L FD(n) lenses. A lot of glass but very well balanced on a T-90.

2009-07-21

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
6.5
8.5
As sharp as a macro lens should be.
Build quality not so good.

Combines very good sharpness with a beautiful bokeh, which is rarely found in macro lenses. I´ve used it without the extender mostly. Lens hood click-on style and sufficiently long.
Build quality average at the most.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
aperture priority, available cheap
no manual mode

I have two silver AV-1's bought used. This is a well made camera with a small feature set. There are five exposure modes. In all of them the user sets the aperture. They are: aperture priority, 1/60 s for flash, then both of the above with self timer, and lastly bulb. Exposure compensation is an awkward button near the lens mount which adds 1.5 stops of exposure. No DOF preview. A needle in the viewfinder indicates the shutter speed selected by the camera (or the battery voltage if the battery test button is pressed). The battery cover/finger grip is a unitary design - not the horrible AE-1 arrangement which combines a door that breaks with a detachable grip that gets lost. For long lenses (say 200 mm or longer) shutter priority makes sense but for anything shorter this is a great, affordable body.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
6.0
Build
9.0
7.0
f/1.2 but ...
vignetting, edge sharpness @ f/1.2

I suppose this is the cheapest way to get an f/1.2 lens today. Vignetting is severe even on color negative film. Don't ask about edge sharpness. But it is f/1.2. Shot wide open you get that wonderful shallow DOF that makes normal scenes look like desktop models. And it takes 52 mm filters. And unlike Canon's fast EOS lenses it focuses reliably - because you focus it. Of course get the 50/1.2L if you can but expect to pay for the privilege.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
8.5
Build
9.0
8.7
sharp, high contrast, versatile
slow, pincushion @ infinity

This is an unusual looking lens compared to a normal 50. The front element is tiny and deeply recessed. The well damped focus ring turns about 315 degrees - you may have to stop half way for a rest. There are three sets of markings: distance in metric, distance in imperial and reproduction ratio down to1:2. Also DOF and IR marks. I bought this lens hoping to get low distortion at infinity like the EOS macro 50 but no luck - there is noticeable pincushion at infinity. (This MAY be due to the FD lens NOT being a floating design.) Sharp and contrasty at f/5.6 and very usable at f/3.5. Like other slow lenses, one half or other of the split image viewfinder may black out as you move your eye around. An interesting alternative to a normal 50 - particularly if you like bugs and flowers.

2009-07-20

AndyGame

Features
7.5
Build
10.0
8.3
MLU, silicon cell to EV-2, top quality build, can take 1.3-1.5v batteries,
no auto-off, no viewfinder info to show if lens is manually set

The EF is the only FD camera with mirror lock and silicon cell metering to EV-2, and with it´s slow speeds to 30secs is a good low light and closeup camera. The viewfinder shows both shutter speed and camera-selected aperture, both scales are outside the image area. A needle indicates aperture, so subtle variations can be seen. Unfortunately the scales are difficult to read in low light, and the aperture scale only goes to f22, although the needle does read a couple of stops higher. If the lens aperture is set manually, there is no viewfinder "manual" indicator to show this...and the meter continues to show the aperture the camera would use. So it´s possible to think the lens is being stopped down automatically when actually it isn´t. The EF uses a separate on/off button, if this is not turned off the batteries are drained in a couple of days. Actually I like this feature....The meter stays on until I decide to turn it off. Luckily the EF will take readily available 1.5v batteries. For me the EF´s quality make it a real pleasure to use. The film wind-on clicks with watch-like precision, rewind is also silky smooth, and it´s nickname "Black Beauty" is well deserved.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
8.0
Build
10.0
8.7
Beautifully built, Precision, Pro Caliber Camera
Meter not sensitive in low, low light

The Original F-1 and it's brother the F-1n are among the finest, manual focus, all mechanical 35mm cameras ever made. Superior build quality, mirror lock up, and interchangable finders are just a few of it's features. A true pro system, the F-1 offers interchangeable prisms, focusing screens and backs. This "brass and glass" classic is a delight to hold in the hand and it's durability is legend. The meter is very center-weighted to a 12% area and quite accurate. It uses the old, style Mercury 1.3v batteries but there are many work arounds to that issue. The film is held VERY flat in the gate. Of course, the fine FD lenses attach to the front. I've been a pro shooter for 30 years and although I use modern digital cameras I still shoot film just to use this camera.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Sharp, Lightweight, Flat field design, Good at infinity
F/3.5 is not the fastest normal lens

This super sharp lens is one of my favorites for both close-ups and distance shots. A great all-rounder. Stunning image quality, even wide open but amazing at f/8. Deeply recessed optical elements mean no lens hood needed. It uses 52mm filters and needs a 25mm extention tube to get 1:1 magnification. It also a good lens for use on a bellows.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Sharp, flat field design, great working distance
Doesn't say Canon on the barrel

OF all the Vivitars in my collection this is the best. Goes to 1/2 lifesize with just a twist of the barrel. Sweet spot is f/5/6. With it's close focusing abillity, not only a terrific bug and butterfly lens, but super for full face type portraits or portraits of kids. This is the 135mm you want for your Canon FD system

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
9.0
9.3
Best, short tele made. Period.
None

From my 30 years shooting experience, I have found this to be the finest short telephoto ever made. It's optically superb. It's light and compact and the perfect portrait focal length. It's sharp, even wide open with zero distortion. It has beautiful, creamy bokeh. It's my favorite Canon FD lens.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
The most amazing image quality
None

I prefer primes but this zoom is a miracle lens. I've never seen a zoom this good. I compared it directly head-to-head to my Canon FDn 200mm f/2.8 prime and it topped it in sharpness and contrast! Don't hesitate for a second in adding one to your kit.

2009-07-20

Guest

Features
6.5
Build
8.5
7.2
Highly underrated, solid build. inexpensive
Only goest to 1/500 sec, no MLU

This camera is solid and based on the original Canon F-1 designs. It has few features but is a very capable performer with a smooth shutter and accurate meter. It's a great, inexpensive way to get into the Canon FD lens system.

2009-07-19

richterjw

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Style, Build Quality, Just About Everything
No MLU, No Spot Metering

I have used and abused my Canon A-1 for the last seven years, and exclusively for six. It has traveled extensively with me in Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. It has been wet, dirty, knocked around, tossed into vehicles, and has continued to function without flaw. I have steadily added to my FD collection, largely because of my affinity for this camera.

2009-07-19

richterjw

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Build, Contrast, IQ, Durability
None Come to Mind

This is one of two lenses I used exclusively for several years, the other being the 50mm f/1.4. Of course this is considered by many to be a bit of a specialist lens and not necessarily right for everyone. Can exhibit flare in some conditions, but not especially prone; this is to be expected in lenses with large front elements.

2009-06-24

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.5
9.2
good build quality, faultless bokeh
bit on the heavy side

This was the first fd lens i had bought, absoloutely blown away by its performance. The lens i bought was in excellent nick, and whilst it took me a while to learn how to use it properly it was definitely worth the perserverance!
would recommend this lens to anyone.

2009-06-08

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
8.5
8.8
Super fast lens. Sharp. Light. Easy handling. Excellent bokeh.
2009-05-07

Guest

Features
7.0
Build
8.0
7.3
Sharper than expected, 49mm filter, nice manual focus action, close focus, bokeh@28mm
Extreme borders show heavy aberrations, especially wide open (but I actually like it)

Just to get this straight, I am reviewing the Komine-made Vivitar 28mm f2 Close-focusing lens. I have also owned the Kiron-made Vivitar 28/2 and the Kiron-branded 28/2, which are a different optical design than the Komine-made Vivitar. I like the Komine best. I have converted this lens from FD mount to EOS mount and I use it primarily on my 5D.

Wide open and close up, this lens provides very, very usable central resolution (about the central 2/3 of the frame) and the extremities of the frame are heavily affected by aberrations. This combination results in bokeh possibilities that I have not found in any other 28mm lens. For wide low-light work, wide close-ups and B&W photography, this is my lens of choice. It is not great for landscape work, but my little 28/3.5 Zuiko is all I need for that.

I'm giving it a 7 for IQ, because the corners never really get sharp and the contrast is fairly low, particularly in contra light. Build quality is not quite up to manual focus Zeiss, Leica, Canon FD L, etc., but still far better than the plastic crap they sell these days.

2009-05-07

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharp! Nearly APO-like! Gorgeous bokeh! Excellent build, focus action! Built-in hood!
Nothing

Sharpness, colours, contrast, bokeh, build, manual focus feel, lack of CA, hand-holdability, ... this lens just is just excellent, through and through. As close to perfect as I can imagine for a 300mm lens. I have converted this to EOS mount and use it on my 5D. I don't quite get infinity focus, but I get lots of range for my 300mm needs. I have no aperture control, either, but I find f4 to be a nice hand-holdable aperture, with sufficient DoF for me, and this lens is far sharp enough wide-open. In 1980 the MSRP was about $1900. I got this one for $182.

2009-05-06

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Everything
I subtracted .5 on IQ due to some LoCA wide open. Otherwise the lens is perfect.

I have converted this lens and use it on my EOS 5D. It is simply incredible. The grandpa of the 85L and predecessor of the newFD 85L. Only grandpa has 9 blades. The build quality and manual focus action is simply superb. Sharpness is incredible, even wide open. Bokeh is simply gorgeous. Colour is very slightly muted , but very true. Contrast is moderate. Both of these aspects are favourable to me over the more modern versions.

2009-05-05

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
10.0
9.3
Sharp, contrast, colors and Imagwe Quality PRICE!!!
there is no L series equivalent to improve on an already great lens

Excellent lens.
I had the FDn 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 , and this one is far superior in image quality.
Best zoom lens I've ever used. Great overall focal length if you don't have the time to switch from one lens to another( like shooting weddings, parties etc...).
You would have to spend at least $1,500 to get a 24-105mm 4L IS EF lens to get better quality. I only spent $85 for mine.

2009-04-29

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Sharp, great contrast, awesome bokeh, color, great portrait lens, and Image quality
None.

Unbelieveable reults. My favorite lens. I've had it for 23 years( I paid $600 in 1986; well worth the money). The best for portraits but can be used as an all around lens for sharp pictures & excellent IQ. Just have to be careful with focus(shallow depth of field).

2009-04-29

Guest

Features
9.0
Build
9.0
9.0
Sharp, good contrast, colors rendered, fast & Image Quality. Mostly price $50 per IQ
None for that price($50).

The lens is great. To get better quality you would need to spend almost $600 for the Canon 50mm 1.2L. I'm not so sure you get that much more lens to justify the expenditure. I would rather spend the money on the Canon 85mm 1.2L and buy one of this 50mm 1.4. The money would be much better spent on the 85mm 1.2L. Now that's a lens(well worth the $600).

2009-04-29

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
Everything about it. Flash system combined with Canon 300TL is Awesome!!!
None.

Outstanding camera. Best I've ever used. Packed with features. Easy to use, great feel, built in winder, multi-spot metering, Sync speed 1/250th and many more...
Too many to list. Check for yourself http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/canont90/index.htm

Outstanding camera for flash photgraphy when used with Canon 300TL flash.
Do your research. This is a GREAT camera. Give it a try. Buy one on eBay.com for $150 and if you don't like it you can resell it for what you paid for it on eBay.

You need to spend crazy money to get a Canon digital equivalent(Canon 5D) to get same level of features and functionality. Even the 5D doesn't have the multi-spot metering.

Canon did a great job with this camera.
I'm not ready to spend $2,800 for a digital body and another $9,000 to replace all my Canon FD lens and flash for the Canon EOS/EF system . That can buy alot of Kodak Professional film. So for now I'm just going to keep using film for my best work.

2009-04-29

Guest

Features
9.5
Build
10.0
9.7
Sharp, contrast, colors rendered, build quality and Image Quality.
Lens is not coated to help prevent Sun flare.

Outstanding lens. Image Quality is Excellent. Well built.
I would have given this one a 10.0 if the lens was coated to prevent flare.

2009-04-25

Guest

Features
10.0
Build
10.0
10
My favorite lens. Super fast. Nice fall off in DOF.

I use these Canon lenses on a 35mm lens adaptor on a video camera. The advantage is the thin DOF is very cinematic versus the ...

2009-04-16

itsastickup

Features
5.0
Build
7.0
5.7
full manual and Av, eye-relief, no split-image rangefinder, AAA batteries
no DOF preview, no EV adjustment, fiddly ISO adjustment, battery drainage

The AL-1's quasi-auto focus system is quite effective in practice, except in very low light, but the ground glass is good enough to focus on anyway even though there is no split-image rangefinder, so really it isn't so useful except perhaps for those with eye-sight troubles and lenses with small maximum apertures.

AAA batteries is a nice feature compared to the expensive batteries of other canons somewhat offset by fastish drainage. The camera has to be 'locked' else the batteries continue to drain: easy to forget. The manual says you can't use NI-Cad so one can perhaps assume that the 1.2V of NIMH is no good either. Thank goodness the batteries aren't also winding the film. Perhaps this just needs ISO compensation as with Canonets: the manual doesn't say.

Glasses wearers are better off with this camera than many others due to the unusually low viewfinder magnification and so better eye-relief. Canon a-1 giving you eye-strain? And lets not forget the migraines you get from the Pentax ME Super's famously large viewfinder.

Portrait photographers will be overjoyed by the clear viewfinder: no rangefinder to get in the way of your off-center composition. Unfortunately neither is there a DOF preview button for previewing the degree of oof background: but you can simulate that with FL lenses, if flare isn't a problem, which work seamlessly in stop-down mode (no fiddling with buttons and presets: just take the picture as if it were an FD lens).

There is a backlight compensation button: upping exposure by 1.5 stops. Any other adjustment has to be done through the ISO dial which is fiddly and not very practical and has a fairly limited range. However the backlight button covers snow and portraits, and after all you do have full manual. If you don't live in a country with rapidly changing light (ie. cloudy) and are not shooting slides then all should be well.