Canon FD 35-105 f/3.5 any good?

miha · Sep 18, 2019

I have a chance to get a Canon A-1 along with the 35-105mm f/3.5. So far I've never had much interest in Canon FD cameras & lenses but I know there are many users here who appreciate and use them. Asking for a bit of advice on this combo. Thanks.

Dennis-B · Sep 18, 2019

Here's a link to a web site which provides reviews of the older Canon SLR's and lenses. I use it primarily for Nikon, but it has a lot of data.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/

dynachrome · Sep 18, 2019

I have one of the f/3.5 models and two of the later f/3.5-4.5 models. Conventional wisdom is that the f/3.5 model is better. Here's why I prefer the f/3.5-4.5 model: The f/3.5 lens is larger and heavier. It has a close focusing setting which is too close for a portrait and without the setting, the closest focusing distance at the 105mm setting is not close enough for a portrait. I would rather carry and use the f/3.5-4.5 lens and if I need to get closer, I'll also carry a 50/3.5 Macro. The f/3.5-4.5 lens ls very sharp and easier to carry around. Both lenses can have problems with flare but shielding with one hand will usually solve that problem. What about the combination with the A-1? When I know I will be using slower lenses I prefer to have a grid type focusing screen. This way the focusing aids in the center do not black out and I can focus on any part of the without having to recompose. In most cases I will be using a Canon F-1 or F-1n with an LD focusing screen. The A-1 has what are considered factory interchangeable focusing screens (not easily changed by the user) and these screens are not easy to find. My A-1 has the standard focusing screen which I don't really care for. It's fine with a 50/1.4 but not as nice with slower lenses. I was not interested in getting an AE-1, mostly for the same reason, but I do have an AE-1 Program. That model has user interchangeable focusing screens. I have the standard screen, a plain matte screen and a grid type screen for the AE-1 Program. It mostly has the plain matte screen installed. Changing screens is not that difficult but not as easy as with an F-1.

miha · Sep 18, 2019

Thanks so far, good info. As for A-1 focusing screen, I don't think f/3.5 is slow enough to black out the central aid. To my knowledge, this happens with f/4.5 and slower?

gordrob · Sep 18, 2019

It is an excellent lens and works great on the A1 and F1N. The lens maintains its wide aperture throughout its zoom range and also has a macro mode. The zoom lets you shoot from wide angle to moderate telephoto.

ronnies · Sep 19, 2019

I've had one for years for my A-1. Good lens but balances better with a winder or motor drive attached.

Ronnie

miha · Sep 19, 2019

Thanks all. I bit the bullet and ordered the combo. Should be fun using a zoom lens on a film camera after a decade again!

miha · Oct 3, 2019

I got the camera and the lens and printed some photos last night. And I can say this is some lens! Super smooth operation of both rings, sharp from f/3.5 on, very nice rendering of out-of-focus areas.

benjiboy · Oct 23, 2019

miha said:
I got the camera and the lens and printed some photos last night. And I can say this is some lens! Super smooth operation of both rings, sharp from f/3.5 on, very nice rendering of out-of-focus areas.

I find the 35-105 f3.5 zoom lens to be one of Canon's FD best zoom lenses.

flavio81 · Oct 23, 2019

miha said:
Thanks all. I bit the bullet and ordered the combo. Should be fun using a zoom lens on a film camera after a decade again!

See benjiboy's comment above, BUT...

if you shake the lens and it rattles, it means that the tiny bushings that make the zoom groups slide in the zoom cams are shot. (It seems they are rubber or nylon, and they degrade over time). This is what happened in the TWO 35-105/3.5 lenses i own. If this happens, the performance will be bad. A sign is the zoom focus point won't be maintained while zooming.

This lens is one of Canon's best achievements and an instance where Canon surpassed Nikon.

miha · Oct 24, 2019

benjiboy said:
I find the 35-105 f3.5 zoom lens to be one of Canon's FD best zoom lenses.

I find it to be one of the best (if not the best) zoom lens I have ever used.

miha · Oct 24, 2019

flavio81 said:
See benjiboy's comment above, BUT...

if you shake the lens and it rattles, it means that the tiny bushings that make the zoom groups slide in the zoom cams are shot. (It seems they are rubber or nylon, and they degrade over time). This is what happened in the TWO 35-105/3.5 lenses i own. If this happens, the performance will be bad. A sign is the zoom focus point won't be maintained while zooming.

This lens is one of Canon's best achievements and an instance where Canon surpassed Nikon.

Luckily my sample doesn't rattle a bit when shaken.The lens stays parfocal.

flavio81 · Oct 24, 2019

miha said:
Luckily my sample doesn't rattle a bit when shaken.The lens stays parfocal.

Congrats. On Gary Reese's lens tests this zoom was sharper at the center than many, many FD primes. Also, it seems that it doesn't have too much distortion, which IMO puts it ahead of many other zoom lenses.

BTW a sleeper is the old 35-70/4 FD.

benjiboy · Oct 24, 2019

miha said:
Luckily my sample doesn't rattle a bit when shaken.The lens stays parfocal.

Like any 30+ years old lens if you want a good one you need to test it before buying it. I have bought several zooms from my local camera store in remarkabley good condition recently at very reasonable prices.

miha · Oct 24, 2019

benjiboy said:
Like any 30+ years old lens if you want a good one you need to test it before buying it. I have bought several zooms from my local camera store in remarkabley good condition recently at very reasonable prices.

I might, in time, add the 70-210 L f/4.0 lens (non L seems to be below average), but the "L" should be on par with Nikon 80-200 f4.0 Ais of the same vintage - a lens I was very fond of before I left Nikon completely.

benjiboy · Oct 24, 2019

miha said:
I might, in time, add the 70-210 L f/4.0 lens (non L seems to be below average), but the "L" should be on par with Nikon 80-200 f4.0 Ais of the same vintage - a lens I was very fond of before I left Nikon completely.

The FD 70-200 f4 zoom, the two touch one, is a very good one,I'm very happy with mine.

gordrob · Oct 25, 2019

This was one of my favorite lens before I got the 35-105mm f3.5. I liked to use it with the T500 close up lens and the ML1 Macro Flash.

benjiboy said:
The FD 70-200 f4 zoom, the two touch one, is a very good one,I'm very happy with mine.

miha · Oct 25, 2019

benjiboy said:
The FD 70-200 f4 zoom, the two touch one, is a very good one,I'm very happy with mine.

You probably mean 80-200 f/4 ?

benjiboy · Oct 25, 2019

miha said:
You probably mean 80-200 f/4 ?

Yes I do, thanks..

benjiboy · Oct 25, 2019

I often carry with me the Canon FD 20-35mm L and the 35-105mm zooms and a New F1 AE body, it's about the maximum weight I can carry that offers the most versatility for most situations..

benjiboy · Oct 27, 2019

The Canon FD 28 -80 f 4 Zoom is also a stellar lens great for walking around with and street shooting.

AgX · Oct 27, 2019

miha said:
I might, in time, add the 70-210 L f/4.0 lens (non L seems to be below average), but the "L" should be on par with Nikon 80-200 f4.0 Ais of the same vintage - a lens I was very fond of before I left Nikon completely.

There is no such lens in the FD-range.
Only a non-"L " version. And that has a good reputation.

However there is a EF 70-200mm "L"

miha said:
You probably mean 80-200 f/4 ?

And of this 2 versions exist
-) non-"L" , 2-ring
-) "L" , 1-ring
.

miha · Oct 27, 2019

AgX said:
-) "L" , 1-ring
.

And this is the FD lens in that range that I'm interested in.

benjiboy · Nov 11, 2019

I much prefer 2 ring FD zoom lenses, I traded in my 70 -210 one ring zoom for an FD 80 -200 two touch one recently because I find two ring zooms tend to stay in focus better as you zoom, not particularly optically but because it's difficult to pull back the zoom ring without turning your wrist slightly as you do so.

tokam · Nov 11, 2019

Have to put a plug in for the FDn 35-70 f2.8-3.5 as an every day zoom. Lighter than the FDn 35-105 f3.5 which I also have. Performance of the 35-70 is superb.

After 37 years the zoom action on mine is not as smooth as it once was but focus is unaffected. As flavio81 noted the pegs, (or whatever they are), that operate the zoom helical are subject to wear. I'm sure that I read elsewhere that these can be replaced by similar items from EOS lenses which were teflon coated. From memory the lens was repaired by Steve's Camera Clinic. This memory is going back a few years but it has stuck as I was always wondering if I should have the work done.

Canon FD 35-105 f/3.5 any good?

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