Best Canon FD lenses

What`s the best Canon FD Lens?

Canon FD Lenses

Since the advance of mirrorless cameras and especially since the launch of Sony's A7 line of full frame mirrorless cameras, Canon's good old FD lenses are getting more interesting.
Prior to the launch of micro four thirds, these have been really cheap, but still today they are bargains, considering the performance of these vintage lenses.

In this post I want you guide you through the Canon FD System, especially the newer nFD versions. I've had a lot of them and still have. All of my recommendations are based on full frame, they might not count that much for APS-C or even micro four thirds system cameras.

The three major versions of Canon FD lenses. Left is the oldest chrome nose version, in the middle is the nFD version and on the right the chrome ring S.C./S.S.C version.

Canon FD versions - chrome nose, chrome ring, SC, SSC, nFD

The Canon FD lenses were introduced in March 1971 and FD lenses came in different versions until Canon stopped production at around 1995. The older ones (often called chrome ring or SC / SSC) and the newer versions (also called nFD). There is no better or worse in general, that depends more of what you like or not.

Canon FD chrome nose lenses from 1972

 

 

Chrome nose Canon FD lenses

In the first version the front was not painted, so this series is now called chrome nose. These lenses were produced only for a short time, in March 1973 Canon changed the appeareance to the black paint front finish. The chrome (silver) front features a filter thread (55mm on all models, except 55/1.2 lenses) and a bayonet mount for the lens hoods. The chrome nose lenses were meant to be used with the early metal lens hoods. These metal lens hoods can cause scratches on the black paint front used by later FD lenses. It looks like the lens hoods were an optional accessory and not provided with the lens, as these are very hard to find nowadays.

Chrome nose Canon FD 135/3.5, 50/1.4, 50/1.8 and 35/3.5

Canon FD Chrome nose lens list

These lenses have a chrome nose version and were altogether introduced in March 1971.

• Canon FD 24 mm 1:2.8
• Canon FD 28 mm 1:3.5
• Canon FD 35 mm 1:2
• Canon FD 35 mm 1:3.5
• Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.4
• Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.8
• Canon FD 55 mm 1:1.2
• Canon FD 55 mm 1:1.2 AL
• Canon FD 100 mm 1:2.8
• Canon FD 135 mm 1:3.5

In general I won't recommend you to buy into the chrome nose lenses, as they have different coatings than the other FD lenses. I haven't found relaible informations about which coatings they used exactly, but it's either S.C. (spectra coatings) or even a predecessor of them. That makes these chrome nose FDs more prone to flare and changes to look and rendering of the images slightly. If you are looking for a consistent look in your set, avoid the chrome nose lenses or make a set that only consists of chrome nose Canon FD lenses. Building a complete set will take more time as these are the rarest variants of FD lenses.
On the other hand, this early version is made of the best materials of all FD lenses. The mechanical quality is very nice. They used more brass inside, hence the lens is also a bit heavier.

Notice the "o" and "A" marked automatic aperture position.

There are further mechanical details, that distinguish the chrome nose lenses from the later variants.
The breech lock can be rotated freely, even without being attached to a camera body. The aperture ring has a green "o" at the end of the scale (instead of the green "A" on later lenses). The "o" position indicates automatic aperture operation which was only possible with the F-1 and the attached Servo EE Finder back in the days. The aperture ring can be rotated freely, there is no button to push to access automatic aperture mode. Furthermore there are also slight changes to the typeface on the distance scale.

The mechanical differences of the chrome nose lenses can also be found on all other lenses that were introduced with the FD mount in 1971. Which acutally makes them chrome nose lenses without the chrome nose. This includes the following lenses:

• Canon FD 7.5 mm 1:5,6
• Canon FD 17 mm 1:4
• Canon FD 135 mm 1:2.5
• Canon FD 200 mm 1:4
• Canon FD 300 mm 1:5.6
• Canon FD 100 - 200 mm 1:5.6

On a side note, there is a Canon brochure from 1971 with several interesting anomanlies. The 17mm 1:4 actually has a chrome nose, so there might be some prototypes and very early versions around that differ from the most lenses. Some of them even have a chrome ring somewhere, but that one doesn't feature the smooth surface.



Differences between Canon FD chrome ring S.S.C. & S.C. and nFD (newFD)

The older versions feel more solid and are made from metal, thus they are also heavier an bigger, too. Mounting one of these older lenses is a bit more complicated, when you do it for the first time.
The nFD version are mostly build with plastic, but a very good one, not that cheap stuff they use today. Most of the older chromering primes used 55 mm filter threads while the newer ones use 52 mm. Some of the more interesting lenses like the 24mm f2 and 100mm f2 are only available as nFD version.

Coatings

The light spreads in waves - but each color moves with different wavelengths. For this reason, a coating consisting of several layers is necessary for an effective reduction of the reflection strength. Each layer reacts to a certain wavelength. Basically you can find two different types of coating on Canon FD lenses.

S.C. (Spectra Coating)

S.C. stands for Canons Spectra Coating. It looks like this is only single coating as opposed to multi-coating. Some early chrome ring lenses came with S.C. coating. It's yet unclear if the old chrome nose lenses feature S.C. coatings are even a predeccesor of them.

S.S.C. (Super Spectra Coating)

S.S.C. stands for Canons Super Spectra Coating and is Canons version of multicoating which is only highlighted on the chrome ring versions. At that time they also produced S.C. lenses, hence they marked the lenses with the more flare resistent and advanced Coating. Since the introduction of the nFD lenses in 1979 all of them are S.S.C. coated, so there is no need to write it on the lens anymore. Some say the nFD 50mm 1:1.8 lacks the Super Spectra Coating and is only S.C. coated. That may be true, but I haven't found any reliable information about that.
Many of the older Canon EF lenses are also S.S.C Coated.

Canon FD L lenses

Canon FD 24mm 1.1.4 L, Canon FD 50mm 1.1.2 L, Canon FD 85mm 1.1.2 L

Canon's ultra-high-performance L-series FD lenses have been developed as the ideal and ultimate achievements of Canon's longstanding expertise in optical engineering. At least that's what Canon said about their FD L lenses back in 1984. The first Canon L lens ever has been the Canon FD 300 mm 1:4 L and was introduced in December 1978. In May 1979 the Canon FD 500 mm 4.5 L followed and became the second FD L designated lens. These two are the only L lenses that came with the old breech lock. All others are strictly nFD type lenses, although lenses like the 24 mm 1:1.4 Aspherical or the 85 mm 1:1.2 Aspherical have been around before and remained optically unchanged when they were changed to nFD type, they were not labeled L before.

List of all Canon FD L lenses 

Canon FD 14 mm 1:2.8 L
Canon FD 24 mm 1:1.4 L
Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.2 L
Canon FD 85 mm 1:1.2 L
Canon FD 200 mm 1:1.8 L
Canon FD 300 mm 1:2.8 L
Canon FD 300 mm 1:4 L
Canon FD 400 mm 1:2.8 L
Canon FD 500 mm 1:4.5 L
Canon FD 800 mm 1:5.6 L

Canon FD 20 - 35 mm 1:3.5 L
Canon FD 24 - 35 mm 1:3.5 L
Canon FD 50 - 300 mm 1:4.5 L
Canon FD 80 - 200 mm 1:4 L
Canon FD 100 - 300 mm 1:5.6 L
Canon FD 150 - 600 mm 1:5.6 L

Canon FD budget prime lens set

I owned all of these primes and they are excellent performers considering their price. With a medium wide-angle, a standard and a tele lens you are well covered for most tasks. All share the 52 mm filter threads, are light and the 135mm has even an build in hood.
This is a great set to start and you can do a whole lot with it, landscape, street, portrait, low-light. In fact your Dad or grand father might have used mor or less the same focal lenghts for about 30 years.

Canon FD 28mm 1:2.8 (20 - 60€)

Canon Lens FD 28 mm 1:2.8 - this one, together with the FD 50mm 1.8 are the cheapest and most common FD primes. Nevertheless they work great!

 

Canon FD 50mm 1:1.8 (30 - 50€)

Canon FD 50 mm 1.8 S.C. - very good lens to start, commonly available and very cheap.

Canon FD 135mm 1:2.8 (60 - 100€)

The cheap and compact Prime set

This set is huge, what means you can pick the focal lenghts that suit your style the most. You definetely don't need all of them.
Pick 3 to 5 of these and you are set for the next years to come. Most of them appear quite regularly on the used market. All of them are good, with the 50 macro and 100 2.8 are even oustanding. They all share the 52 mm filter threads which is also nice.

Canon FD 24mm 1:2.8 (60 - 150€)

Canon FD 28mm 1:2.8 (20 - 60€)

Canon FD 35mm 1:2.8 (40 - 70€)

Canon FD 50mm 1:1.4 (35 - 90€)

Canon FD 50mm 1:3.5 Macro (60 - 120€)

 Canon FD 100mm 1:2.8 (60 - 120€)

 

Canon FD 135mm 1:2.8 (60 - 100€)

The fast, compact, 52 mm filter thread set

Now it get's fast, expensive and desireable. This is a perfect set for photography and video. Especially videographers will appreciate the shared filter thread and appereance of all those lenses. So here you go:

Canon FD 24mm 1:2.0 (150 - 350€) hard to find

Canon FD 28mm 1:2.0 (100 - 200€)

Canon FD 35mm 1:2.0 (100 - 200€)

Canon FD 50mm 1:1.2 (200 - 300€)

Canon FD 50mm 1:3.5 Macro (60 - 120€)

Canon FD 85mm 1:1.8 (100 - 200€)

Canon FD 100mm 1:2.0 (200 - 350€) hard to find

Canon FD 100/2.0 is desirable for size and weight. A very nice and quite rare lens.

Canon FD 135mm 1:2.8 (60 - 100€)

I have to admit, I haven't tested the 24 2.0. All have them are worth the asking price, but to get them all, you have to invest a serious amount of money. You also starting to hit collectors territory which explains why some of them are so expensive.

My suggestion of a perfect Canon FD Set wich is still affordable:

Canon FD 20mm 1:2.8 (150 - 280€) - better than the 17mm and still affordable
Canon FD 35mm 1:2.0 (100 - 200€) - my favourite walk around prime
Canon FD 50mm 1:1.4 (35 - 90€) - Fast, cheap and not much worse than the 1.2 without L!
Canon FD 50mm 1:3.5 Macro (60 - 120€) - Opically the best and cheapest of the set
Canon FD 100mm 1:2.8 (60 - 120€) wide open sharper than the 85 1.8 at 2.8
Canon FD 135mm 1:2.0 (250 - 350€) Fast, huge and a Bokeh machine

Canon Lens FD 20mm 2.8 -  a good choice for a wide lens on a budget.

For about 800€ this set provides everthing you might need. Pair that with a used A7 and you've spend maybe 1500€ for a really nice set. All of these items offer the best price performance ratio, while serving differnt photographic needs.

The Canon FD Super Deluxe Set

Canon FD 14mm 1:2.8 L - super hard to find, expect to pay more than 1000€

Canon FD 24mm 1:1.4 L (about 700€) 

Canon FD 24/1.4 L - hard to find, about 700€

 

Canon FD 35mm 1:2.0 (100 - 200€) - my favourite walk around prime

Canon FD 35mm 1:2.8 TS (400 - 600€)

Canon FD 35mm 1:2.8 TS - Tilt Shift (the first ever for 35mm film)

Canon FD 50mm 1:1.2 L (500 - 700€)

Canon FD 50mm 1:1.2 L - What a lens, compact, fast and sharp

Canon FD 50mm 1:3.5 Macro (60 - 120€) - Still in his set
Canon FD 85mm 1:1.2 L (600 - 1000€) - My fovourite FD lens ever
Canon FD 100mm 1:2.0 (200 - 350€) hard to find
Canon FD 135mm 1:2.0 (250 - 350€) Fast, huge and a Bokeh machine
Canon FD 200mm 1:4.0 Macro - Great and rare 1:1 macro lens
Canon FD 200mm 1:1.8 L - good luck finding this legend
Canon FD 300mm 1:2.8 L - from 1000€, quite affordable for a superspeed-telephoto
Canon FD 400mm 1:2.8 L - from 1400€, massive lens

A bunch of rare Canon FD lenses. 24/1.4L, 35/2.8TS, 50/3.5Macro, 50/1.2L, 85/1.2L, 100/2.0, 135/2.0, 200/4.0Macro, 400/4.5, 80-200/4.5L

So here you have it, that's the ultimate set and all together still very expensive. I hope you enjoyed my lists, let me hear what your favourite FD lens is.

Canon FD 400mm 1:4.5 (300 - 450€)