Canon AE-1 Lens mounts

willd412 · Sep 12, 2020

I recently purchased my first film camera, a Canon AE-1. I'm having difficulty figuring out what lens mount I need for my camera.

I have read that I need an FD mount lens for it but I don't quite understand the difference between the FD mount, the FD breech lock mount and the FDn bayonet lock mount.

Which of these mounts can I use for my camera? Am I confusing these mounts, is the breech lock usually just referred to as the FD mount? I just need some clarification on exactly which mounts I should be looking for. Any and all help is appreciated!

Tony-S · Sep 12, 2020

They will all work just fine.
Welcome to Photrio.

MattKing · Sep 13, 2020

Tony is correct. They are all FD mounts. The difference is in the mechanism used to latch or release the lens. All the FD mount cameras work with all FD mount lenses.

AgX · Sep 13, 2020

Both have the same actual coupling mechanisn and same actuators.

The main difference is that the old-FD lenses have a bayonet breech-lock ring, that one has to twist for locking. (Actually with most lenses it twists itself a bit at mounting, thus keeps itself from falling off at least, but needs to be tightened.)

With the new-FD lenses one has to twist the whole barrel for locking. (The actual mounting face remains steady unseen meanwhile). Thus this is a "true" bayonet mount in the common sense.

Some photographers find the new-FD lenses more practical. As with the old-FD ones one first must be shure that the breech-lock ring is at the "open" position at first. (No issue if correctly taken off before). Secondly at not correctly aligning a prematurely self twisting breech-lock ring may irritate uninitiated users.

Anyone accustomed to the old-FD mount should be able to use it without hick-ups

The new-FD mount, due to its complexity at the mounting face, can cause real trouble, as the lens getting stuck for good at the body, if a tiny grain of sand gets onto the wrong place. Nothing to be solved at location.

The locking mechanisn itself of the R- and FL-mount lenses is the same as with the FD lenses, though both differ in actuators.

radiant · Sep 13, 2020

Welcome to the pandora's box .. erhm, photrio!

I see you're DSLR shooter, you have been marked! Just kidding

Tip: buy FD apater for you digital camera and you can use your FD lenses on digital.

AgX · Sep 13, 2020

Yes, Pandora's box... being recommended in a pure analog thread to use a digital camera...

By the way: Welcome!

LimeyKeith · Sep 13, 2020

A quick phone camera snap to illustrate the different mounts as described by AgX. Hope they help.

AgX · Sep 13, 2020

As you see in the photo, the bayonet flanges and the actuators on the right are the same and in same position.

Only that with new-FD the bayonet flange is not part of a ring to be twisted, but part of the barrel below the mount.

(The actuator/stud on the left had been introduced by Canon with the new-FD lenses, but they never released a camera that uses it. Forget about it.)

AgX · Sep 13, 2020

Some new-FD lenses are optically the same as the old-FD lenses, but just in a new barrel, some are optically re-designed (which not necessatily means better), some got characteristics as lens-speed, zoom-range etc. not offered before.

AgX · Sep 13, 2020

The advantage of the old-FD mount against other mounts is:

All parts necessary as well for alingning, as well as focus reference/infinty are static and will not wear off, nor are they spring loaded.

Whether this had effect in practical situations one may argue.

willd412 · Sep 13, 2020

Awesome! I really appreciate everyone who responded, hopefully you all will see this. Im not super familiar with this platform but finger crossed I guess. Can I get some recommendations for a lens? Im trying to keep the budget low and I am looking for a relatively fast 50mm.

AgX · Sep 13, 2020

The advantage with the FD mount is that:

-) there is already a really big assortment of Lenses from Canon
(a great source of information for about everything around Canon FD is "www.mir.com.my" from Malaysia)

-) there are even more FD-mount lenses from other lensmakers

-) lenses with a great lot of other mounts can be fitted by extra adapter as the FD camera bodies are more shallow than most other bodies thus yielding

-) FD-mount lenses (original or from other manufacturers) are amongst the most common on the used market

My recommendation is the Canon 50mm F1.8 (be it old or new mount). It got a great value/price ratio (used camera dealers got a surplus of these as nearly any camera came with it).

flavio81 · Sep 13, 2020

willd412 said:
I recently purchased my first film camera, a Canon AE-1. I'm having difficulty figuring out what lens mount I need for my camera.

I have read that I need an FD mount lens for it but I don't quite understand the difference between the FD mount, the FD breech lock mount and the FDn bayonet lock mount.

Which of these mounts can I use for my camera? Am I confusing these mounts, is the breech lock usually just referred to as the FD mount? I just need some clarification on exactly which mounts I should be looking for. Any and all help is appreciated!

Congratulations, an AE-1 was my first "good" film camera.

The mount is the FD mount. All FD lenses mount on this camera, even if they are "FD breech-lock" or "FDn bayonet" or "FD New" or "New FD".

Even the older (1964-1970) FL lenses will mount just fine, except for some lenses that you should never mount there:

FL 19/3.5 (not marked "3.5R")
FL 58/1.2
FL P 38mm

Welcome to the wonderful world of FD lenses! I have about 20 lenses right now, between FD and FL lenses.

Canon AE-1 Lens mounts

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