Just Tested my FD Lenes

[Tom Chase]

I just picked up a Vivitar 28mm FD F2.5 & a Canon 135mm FD F3.5 - I think I love them. I got a Fotodiox FD to EF adaptor and here are a couple of the test shots - don't laugh at the stuffed monkey it was the only subject that would work we me (lol). Only light source was house lighting with a desk lamp which had a 35ish watt CFL in it - straight out of camera.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomchase/14736061147
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomchase/14735969310
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomchase/14922291332

On a side note - does anyone know how to embed an image ising the control panel - every time I try I get the little image icon but no image.

Thanks

Tom

 

[Nick Morrison]

Looks fun! There are a lot of GREAT FD lenses. You're going to have fun exploring these! Does your adapter have "glass" in it? If so, it could be interfering with performance, FYI.

Down the road...you may want to look into getting an FD mount for your Epic!! (I believe someone makes them, maybe ask Bjorn...I believe he has one). Or do what I do, and have "the lens doctor" in UK mod your glass to EF (for the ones you really love)!

I have several FD lenses that I adore....FYI...including the 7.5mm fisheye, the 35-105 zoom, and the 200 Macro, which I'm looking forward to getting to know better...

 

[Tom Chase]

Thanks! I was told by the camera store guys to make sure to get the FD adaptor with the glass in it otherwise I couldn't focus to infinity... hmmm I will look into the both idea's - I messaged www.CinrmaGlass.com and they said they wouldn't do one off's of the FD's but I will look up "the lens doctor" for sure.

Tommy

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thanks! I was told by the camera store guys to make sure to get the FD adaptor with the glass in it otherwise I couldn't focus to infinity... hmmm I will look into the both idea's - I messaged www.CinrmaGlass.com and they said they wouldn't do one off's of the FD's but I will look up "the lens doctor" for sure.

Tommy

Hey Tommy, try this mount too:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-FD-FL...457?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccc48a439

That ebay dealer has a pretty good rep for making surprisingly good mounts for Epic.

Yeah, the adapter with glass will most likely compromise performance noticeably.

 

[Tom Chase]

Thanks I'm going to take a look at it now - So what about the infinity focus issues if you don't have the glass?

 

[Nick Morrison]

Thanks I'm going to take a look at it now - So what about the infinity focus issues if you don't have the glass?

That FD epic mount should be able to give you infinity focus.

You only need "glass" to get infinity when adapting FD...to EOS.

But that FD "mount" is natively FD...and should work fine as is.

 

[Tom Chase]

Nevermind I just saw he guarantees infinity focus with his mounts. Do you know if swapping mounts changes back focus or any issues along those lines - I'd still like to use my 70-200 L (EF mount). Or are the mounts pretty much take on off and slap the new one on and go?

 

[Nick Morrison]

Nevermind I just saw he guarantees infinity focus with his mounts. Do you know if swapping mounts changes back focus or any issues along those lines - I'd still like to use my 70-200 L (EF mount). Or are the mounts pretty much take on off and slap the new one on and go?

As far a I know they are just slap on...and off. I've slapped on an AllStar PL mount...and put back the EF mount...and so far...been ok. Can't imagine this would be that much different...

best

 

[Mathias Erichsen]

Hi

There are some stunning FD lenses out there, but it's not super easy to convert them..
I started to convert mine to EF but in hinsight I think it would be much faster and easier to just get the FD-mount for the camera instead as the FD-mount are really good as it is and my FD collection keeps growing so I'll need more mounts all the time (at 100$ each)

I use EF mounts from EdMika ( http://www.ebay.com/sch/ed_mika/m.html ) but there are others too, like The Lensdoctor.
EdMika is really good and give you infinity focus. They are a bit less expensive than The Lensdoctor and you do the conversion yourself so you don't need to send in your lenses, but EdMika doesn't have adapters for absolutely all FD lenses yet as all lenses use different conversion adapters (but I'm told he's working on new ones) so you may have to wait for some of the adapters or send some lenses to The lensdoctor too...

Good luck with your new lenses

 

[Björn Benckert]

Nevermind I just saw he guarantees infinity focus with his mounts. Do you know if swapping mounts changes back focus or any issues along those lines - I'd still like to use my 70-200 L (EF mount). Or are the mounts pretty much take on off and slap the new one on and go?

You just swap mount, if you had good calibrated focus on your PL this FD mount will have good back focus as well. We bought that exact one and it's really nice, use it all the time See:

http://www.syndicate.se/syndicate-epic-fd-mount-and-lens-set/

Hi

There are some stunning FD lenses out there, but it's not super easy to convert them..
I started to convert mine to EF but in hinsight I think it would be much faster and easier to just get the FD-mount for the camera instead as the FD-mount are really good as it is and my FD collection keeps growing so I'll need more mounts all the time (at 100$ each)

I use EF mounts from EdMika ( http://www.ebay.com/sch/ed_mika/m.html ) but there are others too, like The Lensdoctor.
EdMika is really good and give you infinity focus. They are a bit less expensive than The Lensdoctor and you do the conversion yourself so you don't need to send in your lenses, but EdMika doesn't have adapters for absolutely all FD lenses yet as all lenses use different conversion adapters (but I'm told he's working on new ones) so you may have to wait for some of the adapters or send some lenses to The lensdoctor too...

Good luck with your new lenses

Yes I agree with you, why convert them? I guess if you have one or two and a lot of EF lenses then maybe it's a good idea. But the camera mount is rather low cost and the cost for converting the lenses are rather high and takes time etc. and it does not make your lens any better, I mean the Electronic stuff in EF is not kicking so with FD it's just a dumb mount any away. Overall FD lenses are about half the cost of EF and if you pull focus manually FD are far better. But then again if you collect EF glass you can use the THC and drive focus and such... so thats why I ended up collecting both. but I strongly recommend the FD camera mount before EF conversion of the lenses. Using the optical adapters I find to be no good at all if you are not looking for a optically deteriorated look, at least thats how I see it.

 

[Zak Brickett]

Tom,
I have that FD Mount for the RED from that ebay listing. Works great. I'm getting rid of my RED if you're interested in the mount PM me.

Thanks,
Zak

 

[Chris McKechnie]

Good stuff.

To answer your ? about embedding...from flickr...use the BBCode and select the size you want to embed, then copy/paste that link into the post.

 

[Tom Chase]

Ah thanks for the heads up on how to embed.

@Zak I'll send you a message

 

[Tehben Dean]

Hi

There are some stunning FD lenses out there, but it's not super easy to convert them..
I started to convert mine to EF but in hinsight I think it would be much faster and easier to just get the FD-mount for the camera instead as the FD-mount are really good as it is and my FD collection keeps growing so I'll need more mounts all the time (at 100$ each)

I use EF mounts from EdMika ( http://www.ebay.com/sch/ed_mika/m.html ) but there are others too, like The Lensdoctor.
EdMika is really good and give you infinity focus. They are a bit less expensive than The Lensdoctor and you do the conversion yourself so you don't need to send in your lenses, but EdMika doesn't have adapters for absolutely all FD lenses yet as all lenses use different conversion adapters (but I'm told he's working on new ones) so you may have to wait for some of the adapters or send some lenses to The lensdoctor too...

Good luck with your new lenses

Those EF mods look intriguing. I actually think the EF mount system is way nicer then the FD mount which is finicky and annoying. Considering you will pay $500 for a mount you may not spend any more converting them. Of course it does take time and skill to do.

Mathias what do you think of the Edmika mounts? good quality, tolerance etc.?

I just got mine modded/filled out the rest of my set of FD's here with 80mm fronts and focus gears. http://www.rplens.com which come next week.

 

[Joachim Hoge]

I got a 28-85mm I bought straight from the lens doctor, he de-clicks the aperture ring as well. I only used it on my C300, not our EPIC yet and it really is a nice lens. I bought it for a TV show, but we ended up with the Canon 24-70 F2.8 as we need that extra stop.
I will certainly use the 28-85mm instead of the 24-105mm, focusing is so much better.
I´m not sure if I will send in my FD lenses, or just get a new set from the lens doctor ready converted

 

[Tom Chase]

If anyone hears of a 35mm &/or 85mm FD either 1.4 or 2.5/8 for sale let me know. I want to build up a collection, is there any simple was to add a cine focus ring without sending to a company (I have a Tilta follow focus with the adaptors for my larger EF lens. But they to large for the FD's)

 

[Clint Lealos]

If anyone hears of a 35mm &/or 85mm FD either 1.4 or 2.5/8 for sale let me know. I want to build up a collection, is there any simple was to add a cine focus ring without sending to a company (I have a Tilta follow focus with the adaptors for my larger EF lens. But they to large for the FD's)

Canon didn't make a 35mm or 85mm f1.4 in FD mount. The fastest 35mm was an f2 and the fastest 85mm was a f1.2. There is also an 85mm f1.8 that is a decent lens and is way cheaper than the f1.2.

 

[Mathias Erichsen]

Mathias what do you think of the Edmika mounts? good quality, tolerance etc.?

I think they are great!
I use EdMika-mounts om my 24mm f1.4L, 55mm f1.2 Aspherical and 135mm f2.0 and think the adapters have really good quality and sturdy. The material they are made of may look and feel a bit flinchy, but are more than sturdy enough for regular primes.
I have tested it on my (~1.5kg) Canon FD 50-300mm and think I'd absolutely need support for this lens to not rip the mount appart if I move the camera a bit...
They are not verry hard to mount and EdMika himself is exelent(+) on customer service.
I'm waiting for his mounts for 85mm f1.2 aspherical and 35mm f2.0 concave (he told me that they are on their way..)

I'm going to see how well the FD's mix with EF 35mm f1.4L. That could be a good replacement for the FD 35mm f2.0, AND defend the choice on re-mounting all these FD lenses

 

[Mathias Erichsen]

...is there any simple was to add a cine focus ring without sending to a company (I have a Tilta follow focus with the adaptors for my larger EF lens. But they to large for the FD's)

I'm going to try these rings now: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/171381939902
Hope they are good, but really know nothing as of now..

 

[Uli Plank]

That Polish guy ( ciecio7 ) is making very good mounts, highly recommended. I have not tested his FD version, but his PL to MFT adapters are really good.