Canon New FD Lens Will Not Stop Down

dynachrome · May 7, 2021

I fished out a lens I haven't used in a while. It's a 35/2 New FD with the US NAVY marking. I put it on a Canon New F-1 and took a meter reading. At 1/250 I got f/5.6. When I used the depth of preview button, the lens would not stop down. The same thing happened with another New F-1 body. Is gunked up lubricant the likely culprit?

BobD · May 8, 2021

What was the aperture setting on the lens when you pushed the preview button?

dynachrome · May 8, 2021

It was f/5.6 but the same thing happens at all of the other aperture settings.

Arvee · May 8, 2021

When I was searching for an FD lens on ebay I ran across several of the US Navy lenses. I seem to recall that some were fixed aperture at f5.6 or f8, depending on focal length.

Try mounting the lens on the camera, depress the depth of field preview button while varying the aperture ring to see if the aperture changes.

wiltw · May 8, 2021

FD has four linkages: the automatic aperture lever, aperture signal lever, full aperture signal pin, and automatic exposure lock pin
Any of the linkages can be actuated by hand. Try that.

This article will show pin location and function
https://flynngraphics.ca/the-collection/canon-lenses/fd-series/

The Auto Aperture Lever stops the lens down to the setting indicated by the Aperture Signal Lever when the shutter is pressed.

AgX · May 9, 2021

To be able to stop down a FD lens by DOF-button the camera has to be cocked.

Attaching the lens with the camera uncocked will not make it stop down by the DOF button. And here it does not matter if one attaches the lens with the aperture ring in "A" setting or already set at some aperture. However cocking the camera after attaching the lens, or mounting the lens on the camera already cocked will make the DOF button work.

But I experienced some other peculiarities in the aperture mechanism that made me attach a FD lens only when the camera is cocked.

This at least applies for A models, I did not try it on a newF-1 due to lacking such.

AgX · May 9, 2021

With a FDnew lens the aperture actuator action can be checked with the lens off too.

However here one first must disengage the lock and then twist the bayonet mount, similar to doing with the breech lock mount, though here it is more tricky, due to a triple locking. Best to use a rear cap with the bottom cut out.

dynachrome · May 9, 2021

I know that the 100mm f/2.8 New FD lens with the U.S. NAVY marking had its focus locked at infinity but all aperture settings were available. According to the date code, my 35/2 New FD with the U.S. Navy marking was made in December of 1980. Although the glass is good and focusing is smooth, the aperture blades are probably stuck with forty year old lubricant. I will pack the lens up today and mail it out for service tomorrow. I have several other 35/2 New FD lenses, a 35/2 FD SSC (concave front element) and a 35/2 FD SSC (convex front element). I know these are all old now but I prefer the build quality of the breech lock lenses.

gone · May 9, 2021

They're worth getting CLA'd if it's not too much money. FD glass is really good. The 85 1.8 is a truly classic portrait lens, as good as a Leica in some ways. I had one that gave 3D images and had beautiful bokeh wide open. The "beer can" 135 2.5 is also another great portrait lens, and sharp as a tack after 2.5.

dynachrome · May 9, 2021

I have two Canon 85/1.8 lenses. One is a New FD. The other is an FL. The FL is also very good but not as well coated. I think I have three examples of the 135/2.5 FD and five or six of the FL version. The FL is also very good.

benjiboy · May 11, 2021

I have the Canon New FD 135 f2.8 lens and which also tack sharp, and a great lens for tight headshots, I bought it because it's considerably lighter than the single coated 2.5 version and is multi-coated..

dynachrome · May 13, 2021

I also have the 135 2.8 and 3.5 New FD lenses. My non-working 35/2 reached the repairman yesterday. I also sent him two AE finders and another F-1N. I'm in a Canon FD mood.

MultiFormat Shooter · May 1, 2024

I know I'm about three years late, but is your lens stopping-down properly? Who did the work? I have a Canon FD lens, that I need to have overhauled.

dynachrome · May 2, 2024

My recollection is that the lens was repaired and is working properly. I will have to find it and check. Who repaired it? It was Ken Oikawa, who has since retired. He serviced enough Canon cameras for me that I am unlikely to run out of working ones as long as I am walking around on two legs.

loccdor · May 2, 2024

dynachrome said:
100mm f/2.8 New FD lens

Of the 10 or so FD lenses I have owned, this is the lens I really loved to use, but the aperture got stuck wide open after some years. I think a repair might be similar in cost to buying another one, though. I had a few cameras serviced by Ken as well, thanks for letting us know he's retired.

I still use the lens in wide-open mode.

MultiFormat Shooter · May 2, 2024

dynachrome said:
My recollection is that the lens was repaired and is working properly. I will have to find it and check. Who repaired it? It was Ken Oikawa, who has since retired. He serviced enough Canon cameras for me that I am unlikely to run out of working ones as long as I am walking around on two legs.

Thanks, for the reply! I'll look around, and see who I can find.

Rrrgcy · May 8, 2024

Try Steve at his body/lens repair service co. Cameraclinicusa in ND. Joy to speak to and a serious Canon fellow.

beemermark · May 9, 2024

Search the internet I had the same probLen awhile ago and the lens linkage is out of sequence. Don’t remember the details but it was a 30 second fix

Canon New FD Lens Will Not Stop Down

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