Canon FD zoom advice needed

xjken99 · Oct 27, 2010

I am thinking of picking up a Canon FD zoom (28-100mm or something similar) but, I am not sure what to look for. I would like Canon glass not aftermarket, any suggestions?

waynecrider · Oct 27, 2010

I usually search the archives for info such as this. But to shorten your work, the 35-105 Macro is a favorite.

Jeff Kubach · Oct 28, 2010

I will go for the 35 - 105 also.

Jeff

AgX · Oct 28, 2010

There are two versions of the FD 35-105mm.

DWThomas · Oct 28, 2010

yes -- 35-105 f/3.5 Macro -- usually on the camera (A-1).

cdholden · Oct 28, 2010

70-210 macro, by Kiron/Kino (also made under Vivitar name)... one of the few 3rd party lenses I would ever recommend.
My preference is for primes only. My feet do the zooming.

CanonShot · Oct 28, 2010

xjken99 said:
I am thinking of picking up a Canon FD zoom (28-100mm or something similar) but, I am not sure what to look for. I would like Canon glass not aftermarket, any suggestions?

One-Touch Canon FD 35 to 105mm Zoom:
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/nfd/data/zoom/nfd_35~105_35~45.html

Two-Touch Canon FD 35 to 105mm Zoom:
http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/nfd/data/zoom/nfd_35~105_35.html

benjiboy · Oct 28, 2010

I have the FD 35-105 3.5 lens and as other members have written it's a very fine optic, but I find the FD 28-85 f4 a more useful focal length as a walk around lens and tend to use it much more.

flatulent1 · Oct 31, 2010

I'm with Ben, my favorite FD midrange zoom is the 28-85 f/4.

benjiboy · Nov 8, 2011

As an after thought the 3.5-4.5 35-105 FD lens http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/nfd/data/zoom/nfd_35~105_35~45.html because of it's variable aperture at each end of the zoom range can be problematic if you want to use it with a hand held separate hand held light meter or with none TTL flash in giving the correct exposure because the one stop variation between 35mm and 105mm at each end of the zoom range.

Markster · Nov 9, 2011

The thing with those is that you go up to the 100+ range and it gets BIG....

The second thing is they get SLOW. F/3.4 wide open, F/4 otherwise? Forget any low light situations.

I found a good compact lense with decent "average" range and yet still produces a good photo (as far as I can tell! no complaints at all so far!) is the Sigma 35-70mm F/2.8. Canon also makes a similarly sized lense in the same zoom range, but I went with the faster Sigma.

Markster · Nov 9, 2011

hrm.. my sig didn't show.

Edit: now it does... I must have accidentally clicked not to include it. Oh well!

dynachrome · Nov 9, 2011

The slower 35-105 is actually a decently sharp lens but has trouble with flare situations. Non-Canon possibilities include: Vivitar 28-85/2.8-3.8, Kiron 28-85/2.8-3.8, Vivitar Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5, Vivitar Series 1 28-105/2.8-3.8.

Markster · Nov 10, 2011

That Vivitar Series 1 looks VERY nice, especially at f/2.8. Before getting my Sigma I was gunning for a couple of those used on E-bay, but they strayed well outside of my budget range at the time.

They are, however, big lenses. They add a noticable heft and protrusion from the face of the camera. While my Sigma doesn't quite have the reuputation of those Series 1 lenses, it is compact and lightweight. The only thing that could make it better is if it were FDn. Instead it's FD with twist-lock. I can live with that, though.

Markster · Nov 10, 2011

As a size comparison:

Canon FDn 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5
60mm max, 200g

Sigma 35-70mm f/2.8:
I'm having a hard time finding exact length from the Internet, mine at home isn't much longer; 368g

comapred to:

Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm f/2.8-3.8:
91mm (listed as 3.5"), and has a 72mm filter ring, 421g (listed as 14.88oz)

Canon FDn 35-105mm f/3.5
108.4mm, 600g

Canon FDn 35-70mm f/4
84mm, 315g

Canon FD 35-70mm f/2.8-3.5 S.S.C.
120mm, 575g

benjiboy · Nov 11, 2011

This is the one I'd recommend http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/fdzooms/2885.htm I have lots of Canon FD zoom and prime lenses, but this is the one I probably use most.

Canon FD zoom advice needed

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