Canon body for FD 50mm f1.4

[Jon Shumpert]

I picked up a Canon AE-1 with 50mm f1.4 last week at a thrift store. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't work so I have a 50mm with nothing to use it on. I was wondering what body to buy. I thought about one of the all mechanical bodies, but saw a post about the T90 on another site. I have 50mm f1.4 lenses in other mounts but have always wanted to try the Canon. I like the idea of being independent of batteries for everything except the metering, but something about the T90 is appealing.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I picked up a Canon AE-1 with 50mm f1.4 last week at a thrift store. Unfortunately, the camera doesn't work so I have a 50mm with nothing to use it on. I was wondering what body to buy. I thought about one of the all mechanical bodies, but saw a post about the T90 on another site. I have 50mm f1.4 lenses in other mounts but have always wanted to try the Canon. I like the idea of being independent of batteries for everything except the metering, but something about the T90 is appealing.

I think the T-90 has an electronic shutter. If you want a purely mechanical camera, a Canon FT-B is a good choice. It has Quickload to boot!

 

[AgX]

What can I say about it... If you feel attracted, then buy it. I myself got it for the meter, which is a digital copy of the Gossen Profisix in the important features. Furthemore it fits my hand very well.
Concerning faults, there are electromechanical ones with the magnets, but this applies to Canon A-family cameras too. But there are also pure electronic issues.

Furthermore it is the only FD-mount camera that got TTL flash-metering.

 

[Paul Howell]

I had a T90 with a small set of lens, I liked the T90, at the time top of line, much of it was carried over the EOS line. Only reason I sold it was that I have too many system and did want to keep adding. Of course the downside is that all electronic, repairs are hard to come by. For all mechanical if you don't mind spending the money F-1.

 

[Jon Shumpert]

Thanks for the advice. I really shouldn't be buying another system, but I don't think one Canon body and lens could lead to buying too much gear. Just kidding, I mainly have (too much) Nikon auto and manual focus gear, but I can't resist quality photography equipment. My wife has a rule I usually follow in that if I want a new toy, I should sell something to offset the cost of the new equipment. Thankfully, I have several things I can sell that I won't miss, and they should cover the cost of a Canon body.

 

[MattKing]

I was fond of the FTb in its day.

 

[AgX]

Thanks for the advice. I really shouldn't be buying another system, but I don't think one Canon body and lens could lead to buying too much gear.

The advantage of the FD mount is that chances are good to find a mass of really cheap lenses of all kinds even locally, in contrast to Nikon-mount lenses. (Buying a Adaptall-2 Nikon adapter aside...)

 

[Auer]

I was fond of the FTb in its day.

FT or FTb, great cameras.

However at their age a CLA is very likely needed. My FT had a lot of issues all due to old lube dried up and dirt.
Not hard to work on yourself tho, Mine is perfect now. My FTb works ok, but will get treated when I find some time.

Also, original batteries no longer available of course, but it's a minor issue that can be solved with adapters.

 

[Jon Shumpert]

I think I will check out KEH and ebay to see what is available and how much I would need to spend. The AE-1 body that I got with the 50 f1.4 is beyond economical repair. I am fortunate to have a camera repair tech in my hometown and he checked it out for me. Apparently, someone else had tried to work on it and couldn't fix it. I guess that is why it was donated to a thrift store. In addition to the f1.4 lens, there were 2-50mm fd 1.8 lenses and an older 50 1.8. I am going to sell them and should get a good bit more than the $25 I spent on the whole collection.

 

[PFGS]

It's not mechanical and has a few quirks, but the T70 is a very competent camera with a fantastic big bright viewfinder and the not inconsiderable advantage of using AA batteries, and it's still fairly easy to find cheap.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I think I will check out KEH and ebay to see what is available and how much I would need to spend. The AE-1 body that I got with the 50 f1.4 is beyond economical repair. I am fortunate to have a camera repair tech in my hometown and he checked it out for me. Apparently, someone else had tried to work on it and couldn't fix it. I guess that is why it was donated to a thrift store. In addition to the f1.4 lens, there were 2-50mm fd 1.8 lenses and an older 50 1.8. I am going to sell them and should get a good bit more than the $25 I spent on the whole collection.

KEEP at least one of the 1.8 lenses, one in best overall shape of course. While all Quickload bodies (FT and the likes) are solid cameras, F1 beats them all, and you siad it "quality". Of course it will cost more than any other body.

 

[Auer]

The F1 is a great camera, but my FT has less mirror slap than my F1, and surprisingly I can't tell the difference in IQ between the F1. FT, FTb.....
Also I prefer the FT's square finder opening that can take a EOS eyecup over the round one on the F1.
And, fwiw, the FT is lighter than a F1.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

The F1 is a great camera, but my FT has less mirror slap than my F1, and surprisingly I can't tell the difference in IQ between the F1. FT, FTb.....
Also I prefer the FT's square finder opening that can take a EOS eyecup over the round one on the F1.
And, fwiw, the FT is lighter than a F1.

Something is off tracks with your F1, it does not slap any more than FT, and in my case F1 mirror foam strip needs replacement.

 

[Auer]

I was fond of the FTb in its day.

Something is off tracks with your F1, it does not slap any more than FT, and in my case F1 mirror foam strip needs replacement.

I replaced the foam on my F1 and FT, FTb. THe F1 had/has the most mirror slap

Nothing is off at all, theyre all in great shape mechanically..

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I replaced the foam on my F1 and FT, FTb. THe F1 had/has the most mirror slap

Nothing is off at all, theyre all in great shape mechanically..

OK, so I don't get that on my bodies, must be mine then.

 

[bernard_L]

Have you looked into the Canon EF (aka Black Beauty)? Despite its name it's an FD-mount body. And because of its name, a little difficult to find on the auction site. Try "Canon EF body". Usually a number of them are proposed by Japanese sellers at decent prices.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Canon_EF

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Have you looked into the Canon EF (aka Black Beauty)? Despite its name it's an FD-mount body. And because of its name, a little difficult to find on the auction site. Try "Canon EF body". Usually a number of them are proposed by Japanese sellers at decent prices.
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Canon_EF

One more vote in favour of "Black Beauty". It's a well-built camera, not too big or heavy and not flimsy either, very simple to use and highly reliable. It can go upto 1 sec without the battery and upto 30 sec with the battery. And it's quite cheap compared to F1.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Canon EF is indeed a great camera. For some reason not that many were made, not that many are offered, and many are in real bad shape. In the end price of an EF body in really good shape is not far off from an F1 in correspondingly same shape. And no matter how sympathetic we want to be towards EF, F1 is far away better in every dimension. But, if you can find an EF all working right and looking good at good price, for sure buy it.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Canon EF is indeed a great camera. For some reason not that many were made, not that many are offered, and many are in real bad shape. In the end price of an EF body in really good shape is not far off from an F1 in correspondingly same shape. And no matter how sympathetic we want to be towards EF, F1 is far away better in every dimension. But, if you can find an EF all working right and looking good at good price, for sure buy it.

I guess I'm very lucky if this is indeed the case. I acquired two Black Beauty bodies from Japanese eBay sellers in decent condition for bargain price.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I guess I'm very lucky if this is indeed the case. I acquired two Black Beauty bodies from Japanese eBay sellers in decent condition for bargain price.

Indeed you are. Problem is for some of us buying from Japanese sellers means a steep up tick on the price from customs, guaranteed. In the range of extra 30% +. All I've seen offered in Europe is crappy or untested or both when price dips under 100, and there are not too many. Japan is different for sure. Same applies to most film cameras made in Japan in OGD.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Indeed you are. Problem is for some of us buying from Japanese sellers means a steep up tick on the price from customs, guaranteed. In the range of extra 30% +. All I've seen offered in Europe is crappy or untested or both when price dips under 100, and there are not too many. Japan is different for sure. Same applies to most film cameras made in Japan in OGD.

That's sad. Being in India I share your concern as customs duty is quite high here as well.

OP is from USA (Charleston SC) and therefore customs shouldn't be a concern for him when buying from Japanese sellers. Lucky Americans.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

That's sad. Being in India I share your concern as customs duty is quite high here as well.

OP is from USA (Charleston SC) and therefore customs shouldn't be a concern for him when buying from Japanese sellers. Lucky Americans.

That is true, US customs do not charge for used photo gear, probably more than just that, but I never had anything delivered to the States outside of photo gear from Japan.

 

[AgX]

Problem is for some of us buying from Japanese sellers means a steep up tick on the price from customs, guaranteed. In the range of extra 30% +.

The customs for cameras from Japan is nihil, if there is any customs at all. You got something completely wrong.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

The customs for cameras from Japan is nihil, if there is any customs at all. You got something completely wrong.

Nothing wrong, but I failed to mention the BIG part of charges: VAT. So it is VAT + customs and customs are relatively small. Better yet, this applies to entire mony invested, including shipping. It's EU law by the way.

 

[AgX]

You have to pay tha VAT anyway. If would by a camera from a polish dealer or from a japanese one. And VAT+zero = VAT