Canon FD lenses

0llym · Jul 31, 2003

Can anyone tell me what the FD stands for in the description of some canon lenses? im looking for a 28mm lense for my canon eos 300v, and i have seem some with FD appended to the model, and some of those say NOT FOR EOS.

Are the two related ?

Olly

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 31, 2003

FD lenses are for earlier manual focus cameras. They do not work on EOS cameras, so you can't use them on your 300V.

(There is an FD-EOS adapter, but it doesn't work with a 28mm lens, and it's costly and hard to find).

0llym · Jul 31, 2003

so its only the EF range of lenses that I can use ? Bugger, thought they were a bit cheap

glbeas · Jul 31, 2003

Theres a wide spread to the quality of EOS lenses. Theres some that are made with special glasses, have metal mounts, have bigger aperture, etc. and are intended for professional level photography. They also cost a minor fortune which is why I don't have any. I don't remember of the top of my head what that class of lenses is called.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 31, 2003

Yes, you can only use EF lenses with an EOS system. The top-line Canon lenses, both EF and the later FD lenses also have the "L" designation, but many non-L lenses are still fine lenses. They just may not be as fast or may not have other advanced features.

benjiboy · Dec 6, 2021

I've been using Canon F.D. equipment for more than forty years, and have never found out what F.D means.

AgX · Dec 6, 2021

Wikipedia then is more knowledgable...

Though never officially explained by Canon, others have attempted to assign a meaning to the "FD" designation. One such attempt states that the "FD" notation stands for "Focal-plane shutter with Dual linkage for diaphragm control"; in actuality, there were two linkages and two signals: the automatic aperture lever, aperture signal lever, full aperture signal pin, and automatic exposure lock pin. This is twice the previous lens series, which used the "FL" designation, said to mean "Focal-plane shutter, Linked mount."

Bronson Dugnutt · Dec 6, 2021

If I know anything about keiretsu (I don't) it was probably a short-sighted attempt by Canon to derail Nikon's Df DSLR

@benjiboy ++ for necromancy

beemermark · Dec 6, 2021

FD stands for Fire Department. What it stands for in Japan no ones knows. But yes only works on those film bodies (which there are many excellent ones out there at a reasonable price) predate Canon AF. Some really excellent glass.

neilt3 · Dec 7, 2021

0llym said:
so its only the EF range of lenses that I can use ? Bugger, thought they were a bit cheap

As I don't think it's been mentioned , on a film camera like you have , you need EF lenses .
You might also have seen EF-S . Don't buy these , they are intended for crop sensor digital cameras and many have protruding rear lens elements that would hit the mirror on a full frame digital or 35mm camera .
They don't cover the format either in most cases .
No big deal as they won't fit on your camera anyway if made by Canon .
Some third party ones will fit but won't cover the whole film , but they have other names on them , ie Sigma call their crop sensor lenses DC , so check before you buy .
If need be ask on here with the discription , name an a few pictures of the lens your interested in before committing to buy .
Just something else for you to be aware of .

So EF lenses only , not EF-S or FD .

gone · Dec 7, 2021

I would just buy a manual focus Canon camera. They can be had for quite reasonable prices. The FD 50 1.4 and FD 85 1.8 are excellent lenses, as good as Leica in their own way, especially the 85 1.8. Even the cheap FD 50 1.8 is a fine lens.

miha · Dec 7, 2021

FD = Fine Damn system

flavio81 · Dec 7, 2021

0llym said:
Can anyone tell me what the FD stands for in the description of some canon lenses? im looking for a 28mm lense for my canon eos 300v, and i have seem some with FD appended to the model, and some of those say NOT FOR EOS.

Are the two related ?

"FD" stands for "Fairly Decent"

In truth, nobody knows.

FD are lenses for hte FD lens mount. The EOS cameras use EF lenses, for the EF mount, completely different. You want an EF-mount lens.

flavio81 · Dec 7, 2021

miha said:
FD = Fine Damn system

Fairly Decent
Fair Dinkum

MWL · Dec 7, 2021

Even more perplexing, is why people are responding to a question that was asked 18 years ago.

neilt3 · Dec 7, 2021

MWL said:
Even more perplexing, is why people are responding to a question that was asked 18 years ago.

That's the trouble with zombies , you dig one up with a random comment or question and everyone replies to the original question thinking it is relevent now !

I assumed the OP had just asked the question today .
Presumably they've worked it out now or given up !

neilt3 · Dec 7, 2021

benjiboy said:
I've been using Canon F.D. equipment for more than forty years, and have never found out what F.D means.

Thanks for sharing that with us .

MWL · Dec 7, 2021

neilt3 said:
That's the trouble with zombies , you dig one up with a random comment or question and everyone replies to the original question thinking it is relevent now !

I assumed the OP had just asked the question today .
Presumably they've worked it out now or given up !

Perhaps they were waiting for your input before committing, LOL.

benjiboy · Dec 7, 2021

MWL said:
Even more perplexing, is why people are responding to a question that was asked 18 years ago.

Even more perplexing still is why the post has reappeared again after eighteen years.

neilt3 · Dec 7, 2021

MWL said:
Perhaps they were waiting for your input before commiting, LOL.

Well , you can't rush these important decisions .
It's good to have a proper think before spending your money .
And the OP hasn't returned to say they've got fixed up .
The next post could be from them , assuming there still alive !

MWL · Dec 7, 2021

benjiboy said:
Even more perplexing still is why the post has reappeared again after eighteen years.

Well, as you're the one who resurrected it, perhaps you can tell us.

neilt3 · Dec 7, 2021

Slow day ?

MWL · Dec 7, 2021

neilt3 said:
Slow day ?

Good enough.

benjiboy · Dec 7, 2021

MWL said:
Well, as you're the one who resurrected it, perhaps you can tell us.

I didn't notice how old the post was, but the question remains why was it posted at all.

neilt3 · Dec 7, 2021

benjiboy said:
I didn't notice how old the post was, but the question remains why was it posted at all.

The OP bought an EOS 300v camera and wanted some lenses for it .
They'd seen FD and presumably EF lenses advertised and wanted to know if FD lenses fitted the camera as they were dirt cheap then .
That's why he asked what FD lenses were .

So have you found out what the "FD" stands for yet ?

Canon FD lenses

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Canon FD lenses

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