50/1.8 FD lens cannot mount to my F-1?

Hi all, a little while ago I was able to get on the cheap an older Canon F-1 in beaten up/as-is condition but it actually works just fine so I'm kind of trying to collect a lens or two to use with it. I got an old 135 Canon breech-mount that fits just fine already. Never shot Canon much before this but always wanted to try an F-1 and a few lenses. Recently though I picked up a 50–1.8 FD lens and it's in beautiful condition and all indications are it should mount on my F-1 but for some reason I can't get it to mount. Please see the photos of my F-1 and the lens I just bought. There seems to be a little metal tab inside the lens mount that is not allowing me to fully mount and twist the lens into the body. I do not mean the tab adjacent to the red dot at the 12 o'clock area on the lens, I know that one lines up with the notch on the body mount I mean the second one on there at about 2-3 o'clock next to the internal red dot on the lens. Suggestions or enlightened please?

On a New FD lens, the two red dots must be lined up before it can be mounted on the camera. The orientation of the dots on your lens is where they would be if the lens was actually mounted on the camera body. To reset your lens, take a look at this thread:

http://photo.net/canon-fd-camera-forum/00cWK9

I conclude I lead a charmed life. I've owned an A-1 and a modest assortment of FD lenses since the early 1980s. And I've added an inherited AE-1 and a purchased cheap F-1 body along the way. Yet I was never consciously aware of that two red dots alignment business. I guess I must have always followed the rules and never gotten things out of sync!

Anyway, good to know -- if it ever happens maybe I'll remember this thread!

Thanks much. I knew I should have brought the rig to work with me today. Now I have to wait until tonight to see if this solves my problem! Not a big deal but I want to do it NOW! Haha.

DWThomas said:

I conclude I lead a charmed life. I've owned an A-1 and a modest assortment of FD lenses since the early 1980s. And I've added an inherited AE-1 and a purchased cheap F-1 body along the way. Yet I was never consciously aware of that two red dots alignment business. I guess I must have always followed the rules and never gotten things out of sync!

Anyway, good to know -- if it ever happens maybe I'll remember this thread!

Click to expand...

The lens arrived this way and I've only used older FL lenses with the breech-lock ring before this, which all mounted obviously and easily.

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:

The lens arrived this way and I've only used older FL lenses with the breech-lock ring before this, which all mounted obviously and easily.

Click to expand...

Yes, one of the problems with used gear -- we just never know for sure what it's been through! I would think that condition would only happen if somebody was pushing and prodding "things" on an unmounted lens.

Anyway, have fun with your F-1, I put some film through mine a couple of years back, it works, although I find it a bit user hostile compared with my A-1. The friend I bought the F-1 body from was giving me a sales job about "if there's an EMP event, this will still work while the electronic ones will be shot." Of course, this was all in fun, and I bought it (he knew I had FD stuff.)

And if it fails, it can always be used to hammer nails into the wall for picture hooks as a photographic application.

I bought a 50/1.8 New FD in beautiful condition for nearly nothing because it had this problem. I was able to get the red dots lined up and it works perfectly now.

Thanks all. Knowing what to do to line up the red dots and it mounted perfectly!