Canon FD Lens Recomendations, please!

[tony lockerbie]

I sold my 28mm 2.8 when I bought the 28mm F2 and can confirm that apart from the extra stop there is no gain in sharpness at all.

The 2.8 is a really top performer and at usually ridiculous prices( I sold mine for $80AUD )

I also have the 24mm 2.8 SSC in the breech lock and find these lenses to be heavier and more solid feeling that the later FD lenses.

 

[naturephoto1]

Tony,

No question that the old Canon Breech Lock lenses are heavier and more solid than the newer FD lenses. It is eerie how the Breech Lock turns on its own without even being turned. I used and was part of the era of photographers using the Canon Breech Lock lenses and the introduction of the new FD lenses. There was a massive exodus by many of the Canon users to the Nikon system at that time because many of the users did not like the new FD lenses and thought that they were not as solid or strong. I held on a little longer till I switched to the Leica R4SP in 1984. But those Breech Lock Canon lenses were excellent and very reliable.

Rich

 

[Mackinaw]

There was a massive exodus by many of the Canon users to the Nikon system at that time because many of the users did not like the new FD lenses and thought that they were not as solid or strong.

Agreed. While I stayed with the Canon FD system when they made the change to the "n" style FD lenses, I much preferred the older breech-lock style lenses. Today my old Canon SLR gear pretty much sits in the closet unused, my main 35mm camera now is a Leica M.

Jim Bielecki

 

[tony lockerbie]

i take it there's also no loss of sharpness?

Quite right, none at all.

 

[benjiboy]

I have been enjoying using Canon FD glass for more than twenty years and am very pleased at how cheaply these lenses can be picked up these days, the prices bare no relation to their quality as optics, and I am now able to have all the focal lengths I ever wanted for so little money, and if my cameras and lenses get lost/ stolen/ junked while I'm traveling, I don't need to worry too much about the cost of replacing them, I've recently started duplicating some of my lenses, as they have become available at the right price, I recently bought a FD 35mm 3.5 B/L lens for £10 ( $19 US) from a local photo store with a 12 month warranty ( I have the 35mm 2.8 version already) IMHO this backup must be cheaper than any future repair, which to someone like myself who is retired is a consideration.