Canon Lens FD 50mm 1:1.2L - Tiny Superspeed

Canon Lens FD 50 mm 1:1.2 L Vintage Manual Focus Lens

The Canon Lens FD 50mm 1:1.2L is Canons top performing 50 mm FD mount lens meant for professional use. The red ring lenses from Canons L series were an attempt to gain market share under working professionals.

Introduction:
I lusted for the Canon Lens FD 50mm 1:1.2L, for so long. After I acquired my first Canon FD lenses (Canon FD 35/2 SSC) I searched the web for the complete FD system and I stumbled upon Canon FD L lenses. I didn’t even knew there where these famous red ring L lenses prior to EOS mount. I’ve been a Canon shooter before I switched to Sony’s A7R (actually had a short romance with Fuji first), so I knew that those had to be the most promising performers of the entire FD system.

Three Canon FD L Primes 24 / 50 / 85 mm and a Canon F-1 New with a 135 mm 1:2.0 Lens.

I already had a nFD 50mm 1.2 without L, which is absolutely underrated in my opinion. Many claim the nFD 50 1.4 the better lens, but I have to disagree. I had about five copies of the 1.4 and while these are the best bang for the buck in Canons fast 50 FDs, I liked my copy of the 50 1.2 non L much more. It was more or less the same optical quality, maybe a tad better, but it was faster and had a more charming bokeh, which is maybe the main reason to shoot a fast 50. It’s bokeh is even better than that of the 1.2 L due to it’s non aspherical design (no onion rings).

This Image shows my nFD 50mm 1.2 lens, which I've already sold.

The raving reviews and comments about the Canon Lens FD 50mm 1:1.2L was the main reason for ditching the non L for it. While there are more unique lenses in Canons FD lineup, like the 85mm 1.2 L, the 50 L has a major advantage. Size! For a 50mm lens itself this lens is far from being huge. Consider the extreme f 1.2 aperture and it becomes tiny. I can’t think of a high performance 50 1.2 lens similar in size. It has a 52mm filter thread!!!
I searched for about a year, to find one for a reasonable price and gladly I did. As always, patience pays off and I got a very nice deal for an almost mint copy including original caps and even the hood in mint working condition (often those FD hoods don’t stay in place nowadays).

History:
Before I get started with my findings about this lens, let’s talk about the history behind it. Because from a lens construction standpoint the Canon is fairly unique. Ken Rockwell said this in his introduction about that lens: „This Canon 50mm f/1.2 L Aspherical Floating-Element lens is the most optically advanced 50mm manual-focus lens ever sold anywhere. It's got more technology in it than anything from Nikon or LEICA, who have never put aspherics and floating elements in any of their 50mm f/1.2 lenses.“ Thanks Ken for that nice intro.

This was not Canons first highly regarded 50ish 1.2 lens. It’s predecessor the Canon Lens FD 55mm 1:1.2 ASPHERICAL is a legend itself. Maybe because the famous and well regarded Leica specialist Erwin Puts has claimed that the Canon 50mm f/1.2 L Aspherical is optically superior to Leicas first 1.2 Noctilux, especially in the corners.
There are several versions of that 55 1.2 Asperical and the even (much) rarer Canon 55mm 1.2 AL which also came in different version. If you’re able to understand german language you can also read in Olypedia a detailed article about Canons 55 Aspherical and AL lenses. They claim that the 55 1.2 AL was planned to be an FL (the predecessor mount of FD) lens and maybe there are some prototypes in the possession of some lucky guys out there. The FL mount also hab a 55mm 1.2 and a 58mm 1.2 lens. Which can be had quite cheap, if you can find one.

The Canon Lens FD 50mm 1:1.2L was released in october 1980 and was the most expensive 50mm lens in the FD lineup. I found an old price list from 1986 and for reference the 50/1.2 L was 857,00 USD, the non L version was 320,00 USD and the popular 50/1.4 was only 170,00 USD. In this list the 50 L is even more expensive than the 85 L and 35 tilt shift.


Sample Images

Bokeh mid distance Canon 50mm 1.2 L

In this image you can see that the Bokeh can get harsh and jittery when you focus at mid distances. This shot was taken wide open on a Sony A7r Body. Although there is PP applied, you can have a guess the contrast and colour behavoir of this lens. Images are never really punchy and full of micro contrast. Even in post, it can be hard to replicate the look of modern Zeiss lenses, like the Loxia line. But that's fully ok, it just depends on what look you are after. I think the FD's in general are well suited for lifestyle and moody images. They have great personality, something I don't like in landscape lenses, unless ist is really special like the Bokina for example.

Bokeh wide open - minimum focus distance

This shot was quite near at minimum focus distance. The depth of field becomes extremely shallow, with a bit of training it is possible to get acurate focus on slow moving subjetcs with the A7r. Bokeh balls turn to cateyes especially near the border. Even with plenty out of focus areas, I would not consider this a nice Bokeh. I can deal with it, but other lenses produce a more creamy Bokeh.

Shooting when there is close to no light at all. Canon FD 50 1.2 L wide open on Sony A7r at ISO3200

With it's 1.2 Aperture the light gathering capabilities of this lens are excellent. Paired with a good full frame sensor, this opens up entire new possibilities to shoot. When ever I take my camera with me and it's already dark outside, I choose the 50 L. You don't have to use high shutter speeds like on the 85L to achieve sharp images. This makes it more suiteable for nightlife photography. Together with the 24 1.4 L and the 85 1.2 L, this can be a serious low light event kit.

Another one at ISO3200 and pushed 1.85 Stops, hence the noise. Face is lit by a small candle.

If the field of view of that 50mm would not be that narrow, it would be the perfect pub lens. Although you can get excellent shots with it. I just bought the FD 24 mm 1.4 L, to see how that works under these difficult conditions. I already recognized that vignetting is really strong on that 24 mm.

A fast 50 is also well suited for portraiture work and I also like to use it that way.  It is really sharp if you nail the focus, which can be challenging especially wide open. Background seperation is excellent as you would expect. Vignetting is quite strong wide open, stopped down it is no problem.

You shouldn't point this lens in direct sunlight, it can produce heavy lens flares. This shot shows the worst case scenario. If you use this effect to your advantage it can yield to interesting results.

Conclusion:
The Canon FD 50 1.2L is a really versatile lens. It can serve you as a sharp and compact 50 mm lens. It works great for street photography and documentary stuff. The image quality stopped down is perfectly usable on my Sony A7r. How does it compare to the Zeiss Loxia 50 mm? It is far worse in almost every measurable category compared to the Zeiss. In personality and creative freedom on the other hand, the Canon wins.
A super wide aperture and crazy flares can be a great combo for shooting just for fun. There is just so much you can do with this lens.  You can also take great shots like this one at f8 on a Canon T90 film camera.

The point of this lens is, that you don't have to trade the 1.2 aperture for compactness. It is among the best performing 50 mm vintage primes and adds that nice and useable 1.2 aperture as a bonus.  For a 50 mm vintage prime there is only one real downside, which is price.

Specification:

Average price:    500 – 700 €
Focal length (35 mm):    50 mm
Brennweite (1,5 Crop):    75 mm
Aperture Max:    1,2
Aperture Min:    16
Filter size:    52
Aperture blades:    8
Groups:    6
Elements:    8
Minimum focus distance:    0,5 meter
Magnification :    0,13 x
Length x Diameter:    50,5 x 65,3 mm
Weight:    380 g
Lens Hood:    BS-52
Frontdeckel:    C-52
Release date:    October 1980


http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/50mm.htm
http://olypedia.de/Canon_FD_1:1,2/55_mm_S.S.C._Aspherical
http://kenrockwell.com/canon/fd/50mm-f12-L.htm