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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

FD Lenses

Tom Chase

Tom Chase

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Finally got most of the FD Lenses I wanted (Canon 24mm 2.8, Vivitar 28mm 2.8, Canon 35mm 2 SSC, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 135mm 3.5). So now I trying to figure how to round of the set an 85mm 1.4 or 1.8 or either a 17mm 4 or a 20mm 2.8? Any suggestions?



Tommy
 
I love these lenses. The 85's come up a lot on ebay. I would shoot for the 1.4 if you can, also keep an eye out for the 50 1.4 as it's not very expensive and has a nicer rendering than the 1.8. I've owned both and managed to find L 1.2's in the 50 & 85 a few years back. The 35-105 has come in very handy over the years and looks very nice. I currently have 2 that I use for 2 camera shoots on M43 cameras from time to time. And of course, the last holy grail of the line up is the 24 1.4.

Good luck!

H
 
Hal Long said:
The 35-105 has come in very handy over the years and looks very nice. I currently have 2 that I use for 2 camera shoots on M43 cameras from time to time.
Click to expand...

I have two 35-105s as well. I got them from Eddie the "Lens Doctor" in the UK. He services them, makes sure they are parfocal, and ships them in EOS mount. Love 'em.
 
@Nick - how do you a follow focus with the FD zooms? I noticed on the ones I have looked at the focus ring moves with the zoom. Also noticed on the 35mm SSC I got that the focus ring moves slightly (about 1/4") towards the front element as you go from near focus to infinity.
 
Tom Chase said:
@Nick - how do you a follow focus with the FD zooms? I noticed on the ones I have looked at the focus ring moves with the zoom. Also noticed on the 35mm SSC I got that the focus ring moves slightly (about 1/4") towards the front element as you go from near focus to infinity.
Click to expand...

You mean push/pull? Yes, my Contax Zooms are all "one-touch" push pulls, which is great for Run N Gun. Easier to focus/zoom at same time.

But the Canon FD 35-105 is a "two touch" zoom. You can focus and zoom independently. I'm due to send both mine to RP lens shortly to get properly dampened/declicked...and to have gears put on. Great little lens...

Does this help?

best
 
Tom Chase said:
Yeah it does. I've been looking at sending mine in to RP as well. For the cost all five lenses and sending them into RP it's still less than 1/4 of the cost of a Ziess CP2
Click to expand...

If you do get them modded, I'd considering getting some of the high end primes:

24 1.4
35 f2
50 1.2
85 1.2
135 f2
etc, etc

The cost of modding is enough of an investment it certainly helps to start with as good glass as can muster...
best
 
I have a 35-105, 100, 135 and 200 with Eddie right now. Looking forward to getting them back. :smiley:
 
what type of adapter is everyone using for the FD Lenses, EF to FD, or Red plate FD mount?
 
Its a good mount. FD is more solid than EF but we whose to convert our FD lenses to EF as we would use them on other cameras. Be carful on some cameras the rear element can strike the mirror on 5D3 for instance. Our conversions were done by Les Bosher in the UK they have a gear and EF mount and declicked.

FD glass is great glass and works very well.
 
Nick Morrison said:
If you do get them modded, I'd considering getting some of the high end primes:

24 1.4
35 f2
50 1.2
85 1.2
135 f2
etc, etc

The cost of modding is enough of an investment it certainly helps to start with as good glass as can muster...
best
Click to expand...

I agree on getting the best glass you can to mod. I went with:
24mm f1.4 L
35mm f2.0 (Concave)
55mm f1.2 Aspherical
85mm f1.2 Aspherical
135mm f2.0

Wish there was a good option for a fast (f2.0 or faster) wide angle tho.. (16 or 18mm)
 
Mathias Erichsen said:
I agree on getting the best glass you can to mod. I went with:
24mm f1.4 L
35mm f2.0 (Concave)
55mm f1.2 Aspherical
85mm f1.2 Aspherical
135mm f2.0

Wish there was a good option for a fast (f2.0 or faster) wide angle tho.. (16 or 18mm)
Click to expand...

The 20 f2.8 is good as is the 14mm f2.8 finding a good 14mm is hard.
 
For those interested in seeing a bit of footage with the FDs. Here's a small spot I shot a couple of years ago primarily with the 50 1.2 L and 85 1.2 L. There are two wide shots with the Voigtlander 25 .95 or 35 1.2. But all the closer shots and product was done on the FDs. Alas, shot on AF100, not on Epic.

http://vimeo.com/72361342
 
@Mathias I have a question; I agree with all of the lenses you mentioned but I am curious I have the 35mm f/2 S.S.C FD, whats the difference between that one and "Concave" version?

Has anyone used either the 20-35mm f3.5 L FD zoom or the 24-35mm f3.5 L FD?
 
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