Canon FD adapter for EOS camera or buy EF lenses?

Odot · Nov 11, 2016

I will most likely get me a Elan 7 or EOS 3 and i wonder, and since i already have FD lenses i do wonder: does it make sense to buy an adapter for the EOS cameras or should i simply get EF lenses alltogether? I am aware that FD lenses are manual but are there really any cons? THe way i see it, i could use them for Canon DSLR if i ever decided to build a digital system with Canon, or even other brands (sony..adapter required)

Thanks!

frank · Nov 11, 2016

That adaptor is expensive and requires an integral lens because of the registration difference being the wrong way. That's my understanding, as a Nikon guy.

Odot · Nov 11, 2016

frank said:
That adaptor is expensive and requires an integral lens because of the registration difference being the wrong way. That's my understanding, as a Nikon guy.

20$ seemed ok for me, i didnt get the rest however.

frank · Nov 11, 2016

Odot said:
20$ seemed ok for me, i didnt get the rest however.

Does it focus to infinity?

frank · Nov 11, 2016

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57023

Odot · Nov 11, 2016

frank said:
Does it focus to infinity?

yes sir, it has a "corrective lens" which allows infinity focus, thats why i thought it would be a decent option

flavio81 · Nov 11, 2016

Odot said:
I will most likely get me a Elan 7 or EOS 3 and i wonder, and since i already have FD lenses i do wonder: does it make sense to buy an adapter for the EOS cameras or should i simply get EF lenses alltogether? I am aware that FD lenses are manual but are there really any cons? THe way i see it, i could use them for Canon DSLR if i ever decided to build a digital system with Canon, or even other brands (sony..adapter required)

To put a FD lens on an EF-mount camera, and be able to use at 'practical' focusing distances, you need to use an adaptor that has a corrective lens element.
This element has the significant drawback of reducing image quality, even more if the lens is set wide open and has a fast aperture.

Your best choice is to get EF lenses, many of them are great lenses. FD lenses i like even more, and are more economical. But if you want to use FD lenses, get a FD-mount camera.
So my recommendation is: use FD lenses on FD-mount cameras, use EF lenses on EF-mount cameras. I own both systems.

Odot said:
THe way i see it, i could use them for Canon DSLR if i ever decided to build a digital system with Canon, or even other brands (sony..adapter required)

You can fit FD lenses on fullframe mirrorless cameras without loss of image quality.

frank · Nov 11, 2016

Odot said:
yes sir, it has a "corrective lens" which allows infinity focus, thats why i thought it would be a decent option

Okay then. I thought those corrective adaptors would be more expensive. The focal length is increased slightly by the lens. People talk about image degradation but I have no experience with that one way or the other, being a Nikon guy.

blockend · Nov 11, 2016

Ironically Canon FD lenses are one of the worst lenses to use on an EOS camera, for the reasons stated. I use Nikon, Yashica and others on EF mounts, but my FDs only go on manual Canon film bodies or mirrorless cameras.

When Canon swapped mounts in the 1980s they offered an expensive and reasonable quality adapter so as not to alienate professionals with a big investment in FD lenses, but it's still a compromise that isn't designed for a specific lens, rather like putting a magnifying lens in front of a 50mm instead of buying a macro lens for close ups. The Chinese copies aren't as good as the Canon adapter, and only begin to sharpen up 2 or 3 stops down, and never look like a sharp prime. I'd spend a little money on an EOS 40mm pancake, or perhaps pick up a zoom.

MattKing · Nov 11, 2016

I've experimented with using Olympus OM lenses and an adapter on my Canon EF mount bodies - both film and digital. The requirement to use stop-down metering is a pain! The only reason to use an EF mount body with the FD lenses would be to gain the benefit of focus confirmation, plus automatic film wind. Not worth giving up open aperture metering, in my opinion.

EDIT: In case you aren't familiar with stop-down metering, it requires you to meter at the aperture you intend to shoot at. So if you are using f/11, the viewing system is as dark as f/11 gives you.

Les Sarile · Nov 11, 2016

Odot said:
I am aware that FD lenses are manual but are there really any cons?

It's manual focus which seems to me negates the reason to get an AF Canon body.

I am very skeptical that such a cheap adapter will not completely destroy the image quality but given the bargain price and you already have FD lenses, I say why not give it a try.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 12, 2016

Canon made a rare FD-EOS converter that is of good quality, but only for long lenses (200mm f:2.8 internal focusing lens and longer). It acts as a 1.2x converter, and like the 1.4x-A converter, it has protruding front elements that won't work with lenses that have a rear element too close to the flange. I use it regularly with the 400mm f:4.5 and 600mm f:4.5 lenses. So if you can find one, it provides a way to access big glass that's a lot less expensive than a comparable EF lens. For focal lengths shorter than 200mm, you're better off with EF-mount lenses.

There are also FD-EOS macro converters which contain no internal optics, so they're like extension tubes, and are fine for macro work.

cooltouch · Nov 14, 2016

I have a couple of these adapters. They have pros and cons. My experiences with them is that, once you've stopped your FD lens down to f/4 or slower, they work ok and image degradation is very small. But trying to shoot at faster apertures just doesn't work. There's an increasing amount of flare as you go faster and faster, until, but f/1.4, the image is totally unusable. So you won't be able to use any of your FD glass that's f/2.8 or faster.

Here's my recommendation: if you have a sizable collection of FD glass and you want to use it on a quality digital camera, then you should seriously consider the E-mount Sony mirrorless cameras. I have a NEX-7. I bought an FD adapter, with tripod mount, for $15 on eBay. I now have infinity focus with all my FD lenses on a great digital camera. As a former EOS DSLR user and still a current FD film user, all I can say is, at last I can enjoy my FD lenses in the digital realm. And I'm loving it.

But since this is an analog forum, I recommend you pick up a nice FD camera, like an FTb or an old F-1, and just shoot with the manual-focus FDs. If you want to use EOS cameras, then buy EF lenses for them.

frank · Nov 14, 2016

If we are going to go there, I use an FD lens to Fuji X (mirrorless) adaptor.

Kirks518 · Nov 14, 2016

cooltouch said:
I have a couple of these adapters. They have pros and cons. My experiences with them is that, once you've stopped your FD lens down to f/4 or slower, they work ok and image degradation is very small. But trying to shoot at faster apertures just doesn't work. There's an increasing amount of flare as you go faster and faster, until, but f/1.4, the image is totally unusable. So you won't be able to use any of your FD glass that's f/2.8 or faster.

I have had the same experiences adapting FD-EOS. Not worth it IMO.

This is probably one of those rare instances where you'd be better off buying cheap Quantaray (or similar) lenses. Image quality will be about the same as the FD with adapter, and you'll retain autofocus and aperture control.

frank · Nov 15, 2016

Good excuse to get yourself a nice F1n or F1N.

wiltw · Nov 15, 2016

MattKing said:
I've experimented with using Olympus OM lenses and an adapter on my Canon EF mount bodies - both film and digital. The requirement to use stop-down metering is a pain! The only reason to use an EF mount body with the FD lenses would be to gain the benefit of focus confirmation, plus automatic film wind. Not worth giving up open aperture metering, in my opinion.

EDIT: In case you aren't familiar with stop-down metering, it requires you to meter at the aperture you intend to shoot at. So if you are using f/11, the viewing system is as dark as f/11 gives you.

Even worse, it is NOT necessarily ACCURATE! I and others have done considerable testing and have posted on POTN on this flaw.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=16785218

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=16105034

Larry the sailor · Nov 16, 2016

I've got one of the Photodiox FD-EOS adapters and I've used it to mount my old FD lenses on my silicone camera. IQ loss is pretty noticeable but for the price it isn't too bad and I figure it was worth it for the experimental fun value at least.
If I was going to try to be anything close to serious with an EOS film camera I'd stick with EOS EF lenses for the "serious" stuff.

cooltouch · Nov 17, 2016

I have the Fotodiox too and I bought it specifically because they claim to have eliminated the IQ problems. I'll admit it is better controlled than the other one I bought, a Bower. But it still had problems.

Actually, I've had good luck with a Nikon to EOS adapter I bought. I can mount Nikkors with no intervening corrective element and infinity is preserved. I've made especially wide use of my Nikon macro lenses with my EOS.

Canon FD adapter for EOS camera or buy EF lenses?

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