Canon FD lenses

[Jay Schrotenboer]

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

Are you saying that you did not go searching in the archives for an answer to the question of “what does FD stand for “ and that this thread resurrected itself and you simply respond as if it was new? That would be very amusing if not a little scary. Zombie threads resurrecting themselves

 

[benjiboy]

Are you saying that you did not go searching in the archives for an answer to the question of “what does FD stand for “ and that this thread resurrected itself and you simply respond as if it was new? That would be very amusing if not a little scary. Zombie threads resurrecting themselves

 

[Jay Schrotenboer]

At the least you brought me some amusement today

 

[MattKing]

On the FD question....
Probably chosen to differentiate the new lenses and mount from the previous line of lenses and mount - the FL line.
And the D could very well reference the fact that FD added the auto stop down Diaphragm.
As there is some ability to use both types of lenses on both mounts, it makes sense that the mount designations were similar.

 

[GRHazelton]

The whole discussion reminds me of how fortunate my choice of camera lens mounts was: I use primarily Pentax.
Pentax had, of course, the 39mm system of the AsahiFlex (I have an AsahiFlex IIa and a very few lenses. I have a 42mm Spotmatic F (full aperture metering!) and three lenses for full aperture metering. Spotmatics are elegant, user-friendly treasures. There are dozens of 42mm lenses out there to choose from. And I have good assortment of Pentax bayonet mount cameras, both film and digital. As most folks know ANY Pentax bayonet lens will mount on ANY Pentax bayonet body, with in some cases some restrictions in functions.
I also have a Nikon F, a Nikon F2, and a Nikon F4. AFAIK, as is the case with the Pentax bayonet, any Nikon bayonet lens will mount on any Nikon SLR or DSLR, with some restrictions in functions.

 

[AgX]

On the FD question....
Probably chosen to differentiate the new lenses and mount from the previous line of lenses and mount - the FL line.
And the D could very well reference the fact that FD added the auto stop down Diaphragm.

Not at all.

As already the FL line had an automatic diaphragm. And even before that the R line had it too.

 

[neilt3]

I also have a Nikon F, a Nikon F2, and a Nikon F4. AFAIK, as is the case with the Pentax bayonet, any Nikon bayonet lens will mount on any Nikon SLR or DSLR, with some restrictions in functions.

Pre- Ai lenses that haven't been converted to Ai cannot be mounted on all F mount bodies ( some , but not all ) as they will cause damage .
Some F mount lenses have protruding rear elements ( wide angle , fisheye lens , maybe others ) and cannot be mounted on bodies without mirror lock up . which rules out a lot of bodies .

 

[GRHazelton]

Pre- Ai lenses that haven't been converted to Ai cannot be mounted on all F mount bodies ( some , but not all ) as they will cause damage .
Some F mount lenses have protruding rear elements ( wide angle , fisheye lens , maybe others ) and cannot be mounted on bodies without mirror lock up . which rules out a lot of bodies .

Good to know! Thanks for the info.

 

[MattKing]

On the FD question....
Probably chosen to differentiate the new lenses and mount from the previous line of lenses and mount - the FL line.
And the D could very well reference the fact that FD added the auto stop down Diaphragm.
As there is some ability to use both types of lenses on both mounts, it makes sense that the mount designations were similar.

Not at all.
As already the FL line had an automatic diaphragm. And even before that the R line had it too.

A problem with my use of the terminology.
AgX is quite properly referring to the FL diaphragm as "automatic". What the FL diaphragm and mount didn't offer was open aperture metering - it required you to meter at the taking aperture - stop down metering.
The FD diaphragm and mount permitted open aperture metering.

 

[AgX]

The FD mount in addition offered shutter priority autoexposure, but this feature was not visible in the linkage, but was hidden in the way the linkage was operated

 

[dynachrome]

To me, FD might have meant fully open diaphragm for metering. Canon was very late to the open aperture metering game. The Minolta SRT 101 had it in 1966. The Konica Auto Reflex had it in 1965 but did so with an external meter cell. The Topcon RE Super had it in 1963. Pentax was also late to the game. The Spotmatic II of 1971 still had stop down metering. The later ES, ESII and Spotmatic had full aperture metering but came later. I use FD lenses on a regular basis on my many Canon cameras.

 

[AgX]

Pentacon had it in 1969. And electrically controlled. A first!


(so far I only came across one respective body and no lens)

 

[flavio81]

any Nikon bayonet lens will mount on any Nikon SLR or DSLR, with some restrictions in functions.

This is not true.

Pre-AI nikkors will simply not mount in many,. many Nikon bodies. They will only mount on pro Nikon cameras, or the FM/FE, or cameras prior to 1977.

G-series Nikkors are unusable on almost all manual film bodies: The diaphragm will stay at the narrowest value.

 

[eli griggs]

Good conversations never die, especially when no resolution or finding is reached.

I'm enjoying this thread, how 'bout ya'll?

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

 

[eli griggs]

"FD" equals 'Force Deluxe' and that's what that line of lenses and cameras were and still are!

 

[MWL]

Here's a thought, and it applies not just to this thread, but to a lot of similar threads and discussions.

Why doesn't someone just contact the manufacturer and ask, instead of endless discussions, that apparently go on for years, on what the answer might be?

Unless people actually just enjoy doing this.

 

[Paul Howell]

Here's a thought, and it applies not just to this thread, but to a lot of similar threads and discussions.

Why doesn't someone just contact the manufacturer and ask, instead of endless discussions, that apparently go on for years, on what the answer might be?

Unless people actually just enjoy doing this.

After 30 years, the employee who might know the answered are likely retired or worse.

 

[MWL]

After 30 years, the employee who might know the answered are likely retired or worse.

I'm pretty sure the Japanese are meticulous enough to have made a few notes as they went along.

 

[AgX]

Here's a thought, and it applies not just to this thread, but to a lot of similar threads and discussions.

Why doesn't someone just contact the manufacturer and ask, instead of endless discussions, that apparently go on for years, on what the answer might be?

Maybe the answer is not even in their papers. We then have to inquire at retirees...

 

[benjiboy]

Here's a thought, and it applies not just to this thread, but to a lot of similar threads and discussions.

Why doesn't someone just contact the manufacturer and ask, instead of endless discussions, that apparently go on for years, on what the answer might be?

Unless people actually just enjoy doing this.

Maybe the answer is not even in their papers. We then have to inquire at retirees...

I don't think it matters much what the designation FD means, if anything, I've been using FD equipment for more than thirty years without knowing.

 

[neilt3]

Here's a thought, and it applies not just to this thread, but to a lot of similar threads and discussions.

Why doesn't someone just contact the manufacturer and ask, instead of endless discussions, that apparently go on for years, on what the answer might be?

It would appear that you are also joining in on this thread without adding any facts .
Perhaps you'd like to contact Canon for a definitive answer ?

Unless people actually just enjoy doing this.

Presumably you are also enjoying doing precisely this ?
If not you wouldn't be posting here .

 

[Paul Howell]

Or it means nothing at all, just a marketing bit for western markets.

 

[Helge]

The F is of course a carryover from the FL lenses. "F" was an obvious response to Nikons hugely successful F. So that leaves the question what is L and D?
Considering the bodies went through a similar set of seemingly random letters, I think it's pretty certain that its either just something nice sounding and/or some internal "joke".

My favourite FD(n) lens is the 135mm 2.8. Possibly the lightest and smallest of its type, well build, build in hood, and absolutely impeccable rendering at all apertures.
The final "breech lock" system is possibly the nicest MF lens mount system I know of. Very mechanically sound and a joy to use.

 

[Mackinaw]

I suspect we'll never know the reason for the FD designation. FD lenses began production late in 1970, more than 50 years ago. I suspect anybody who knows the answer is long retired, and possibly deceased.

Jim B.

 

[gone]

Good conversations never die, especially when no resolution or finding is reached.

One would think that would be the case, but it seems much more complicated for some reason. Google says that "FD stands for Fully automatic Diaphragm". So that would seem to be that. Except......

below are the videos from the Canon Museum, and it covers the R, then the FL, and finally the FD mount

https://global.canon/en/c-museum/history/lens-mount.html