Canon FD 35-105 f/3.5 any good?

[AgX]

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.

I see the benefit of 1-ring zooms when using such with not forseeable subject motion or taking-chances, as being within an agile group of persons.

I once even bought 1-ring 70-210mm lens with a scratch on the front element out of same samples, just because the ring was merely damped at that sample.

 

[benjiboy]

I have had a Canon FDn 35 -70 f2.8 -3.5 zoom lens for more than 25 years and have hardly ever used it I never thought it would be much good because it felt so light and plasticky and the general opinion amongst my friends also was that was it was. On your recommendation tokam I'll try it the next time I go out shooting.
P.S. It's not worth getting them repaired they are extremely cheap to buy in good condition.

 

[benjiboy]

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.

I actually have the Canon. hood for my 35 - 70 f2.8 - 3.5 zoom I understand they are quite rare these days.

 

[tokam]

I actually have the Canon. hood for my 35 - 70 f2.8 - 3.5 zoom I understand they are quite rare these days.

My 35-70 2.8-3.5 doesn't have a separate lens hood but the front element retracts about 1 inch into the lens at the 70mm position. There doesn't appear to be a bayonet or threaded means to attach a lens hood. Is it a slip on type?

 

[AgX]

My 35-70 2.8-3.5 doesn't have a separate lens hood but the front element retracts about 1 inch into the lens at the 70mm position. There doesn't appear to be a bayonet or threaded means to attach a lens hood. Is it a slip on type?

There are 2 versions, looking very similar:

-) breech-lock, it got 2 stub acting as shades

-) true-baoynet, it got 2 stubs acting as shades too, it is stated to take hood W-69 (slip on)


I once made an overview of the Canon FD hood designations:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/canon-fd-lens-hoods.130588/