Trying to decide on FD Lenses

agphotography · Feb 5, 2011

Hey guys!

I recently acquired an A-1 kit which came with lots of stuff overall. I'm only keeping some of it and the rest will be sold. What I'm trying to decide though, is what to keep, what to sell, and what (if anything) to buy.

Here's what I have right now:

2x A-1 bodies (one is getting sold to a friend for sure)
Winder A2 (I actually like the way the Winder A looks better and I don't need the motor drive)
2x 50mm f/1.8 (one's going with the camera being sold)
28mm f/2.8
100mm f/2.8
35-105mm f/3.5
60-120mm f/2.8 (Tokina)

I was planning on selling both zooms and the 50mm and buying a 50mm f/1.4 and calling it a day with the 28/50/100 kit.

I've heard good things about the 35-105 and I do like it, it's built really well, but it's pretty large and I'm just not sure if it's worth keeping for me.

However, as a side note. I am also a Digital Micro 4/3 user and all of these lenses can be easily adapted onto my camera which would be fun as well.

I'd love to hear some opinions from you guys, I know the L lenses are the ones to get, but I spend my money on the EF L lenses for my DSLRs, I just want decent lenses for the times I still want to shoot film.

Thanks!

- Abram

DWThomas · Feb 5, 2011

Well we're all different, but for years all I had or felt the need for was the 50mm 1.4 and the 35-105 f/3.5 macro and I would lean strongly toward keeping the latter. I later added the 35-70 f/3.5-4.5 which is cheap, light and compact; while a great walk-around/snapshot lens, it has considerably more distortion than the 35-105. I have a third party 35mm and a Canon 50mm 1.8 but those were inherited, along with an AE-1, and I don't really use them.

My 2 cents

MattKing · Feb 5, 2011

I'd shoot with them all before deciding.

You may find that the ergonomics suit you, or the bokeh appeals to you, or the colour rendition is attractive to you, ....

darinwc · Feb 5, 2011

The 50mm f1.4 is a great lens and you should be able to find one on the cheap.

The 28mm and 100mm lenses are also excellent and will suit you well.

That will give you a great 3-lens kit.

agphotography · Feb 5, 2011

Does anyone else share my opinion that they like the look of the Winder A better than that of the "newer" Winder A2?

Thank you for the advice thus-far. I haven't had a chance to shoot any film in the cameras yet because I didn't want to use them until I could replace the light seals and mirror baffle. Didn't want to risk damaging anything.

I don't think I'd really use the 60-120mm much because it's kind of an odd range for me. I can definitely see myself using the 100mm prime far more often.

I guess my only debate is wether to keep the 35-105 or not. It's a pretty big lens on the A-1 w/o the Winder attached. Kind of awkward to hold that way. Almost like my 5DmkII w/ 24-70mm f/2.8L and no battery grip. Very front heavy.

2F/2F · Feb 5, 2011

agphotography said:
2x A-1 bodies (one is getting sold to a friend for sure)
Winder A2 (I actually like the way the Winder A looks better and I don't need the motor drive)
2x 50mm f/1.8 (one's going with the camera being sold)
28mm f/2.8
100mm f/2.8
35-105mm f/3.5
60-120mm f/2.8 (Tokina)

I was planning on selling both zooms and the 50mm and buying a 50mm f/1.4 and calling it a day with the 28/50/100 kit.

That is what I was going to suggest! I would sell both 50mm 1.8's, though, and get a 1.4.

I'd also suggest picking up an EOS film body. They are dirt cheap, and it would be a shame to let all that great EF glass be used only for digital. I got my EOS 3, which I consider to be one to the two best Canon AF bodies ever made, in near-new condition for under $200 shipped through these classifieds.

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 5, 2011

I got 50mm f1.4 from eBay for cheap

darinwc said:
The 50mm f1.4 is a great lens and you should be able to find one on the cheap.

The 28mm and 100mm lenses are also excellent and will suit you well.

That will give you a great 3-lens kit.

I love that lens. Nice Bokeh wide open. I wanted one 25 years ago, but can't afford it because it cost hundreds of dollars. But now it's a different story.

white.elephant · Feb 5, 2011

I'm also a fan of the 35-105, but as you say, it is a bit heavy.

2F/2F · Feb 5, 2011

I would keep a zoom only if you shoot with one camera and are stuck in one place often. Otherwise, why use a heavier, larger, slower, and less technically sound lens?

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 5, 2011

The 35-105/3.5 constant-aperture lens is a real classic, and it's a good zoom range for event photography, where you're likely to be switching between single portraits and photographs of people in groups quickly and won't have time to change lenses, and if you're also using non-TTL auto flash, you'll get fairly consistent exposures. If you don't do that kind of photography, then sell it, and you can buy another nice FD lens. A lot of the top of the line FD lenses like the 50/1.2L or the 85/1.2L are real bargains, considering what they can do. I'm personally a fan of the 35/2.

Andrew Horodysky · Feb 5, 2011

David A. Goldfarb said:
The 35-105/3.5 constant-aperture lens is a real classic, and it's a good zoom range for event photography, where you're likely to be switching between single portraits and photographs of people in groups quickly and won't have time to change lenses, and if you're also using non-TTL auto flash, you'll get fairly consistent exposures. If you don't do that kind of photography, then sell it, and you can buy another nice FD lens. A lot of the top of the line FD lenses like the 50/1.2L or the 85/1.2L are real bargains, considering what they can do. I'm personally a fan of the 35/2.

David's absolutely right. Although I've never used the 35-105/3.5, I'd trust anyone who's had experience with it, or comparable lenses. Personally, I don't use a zoom -- just don't have the need, for my purposes. I've been using the following FD lenses (they're the only ones I own) with great satisfaction with my F-1N: 35/2, 50/1.2L, and 100/2. They accommodate just about every situation encountered.

Good luck with your A-1 purchase, and have fun!

agphotography · Feb 5, 2011

Thanks so much everyone for chiming in!

I do have one EOS film body left at present, it's a 630 which works alright for my intent. I do all of my event and professional work digitally now (I know.. I know..) but I refuse to totally let go of film because it's my background!

I don't see myself shooting events or anything that would require a zoom, that's left to my digital gear. So I think I'll go ahead and sell the 35-105 as well. Does seem like a nice lens though.

I know the 28 f/2.8 isn't the most highly regarded lens, but is there another prime option that isn't that costly?

frobozz · Feb 5, 2011

The 24/2.8 is in my opinion the best affordable all around FD wide angle, and they can be had pretty cheaply if you're patient.

Avoid the ones with the green circle instead of the green A at the auto position (the oldest breechlock ones) unless you can inspect it personally first, as I've seen a lot if those with element glue separation in the rear element.

Duncan

Jeff Kubach · Feb 5, 2011

I never had a bad FD lens, all of them are good!

Jeff

Excalibur2 · Feb 5, 2011

****I know the 28 f/2.8 isn't the most highly regarded lens, but is there another prime option that isn't that costly? ****

The fdn 28mm f2.8 is a very good lens, ok maybe not the best 28mm in the world but my copy has produced an excellent 16"X20" print.

agphotography · Feb 5, 2011

Sounds good to me! Doesn't have to be the best, but just good enough

I listed all the extra stuff on eBay today so I'm going to be on the hunt for a FDn 50mm f/1.4, Unless anyone has a spare?

tony lockerbie · Feb 5, 2011

Sounds like you have a good kit, especialy if you combine it with the 50mm 1.4. I have used both (and still have) the 28mm 2.8 and 28mm 2, can't really see much, if any difference in image quality between the two. The 2.8 may seem a bit poverty pack, but all the examples I have used produce really sharp images.

Focus No. 9 · Feb 5, 2011

agphotography said:
Sounds good to me! Doesn't have to be the best, but just good enough

I listed all the extra stuff on eBay today so I'm going to be on the hunt for a FDn 50mm f/1.4, Unless anyone has a spare?

I just purchased this lens and I don't know if it works. The blades don't move when adjusting aperture. Either on or off the camera. I tried the lens on a T50.

Excalibur2 · Feb 6, 2011

agphotography said:
Sounds good to me! Doesn't have to be the best, but just good enough

I listed all the extra stuff on eBay today so I'm going to be on the hunt for a FDn 50mm f/1.4, Unless anyone has a spare?

Another VG lens is the FDn 35mm f2.8, everybody raves about the f2 ver which is supposed (I don't own one) to be superior and the f2.8 is ignored and can be bought quite cheap. The only FD Canons that don't impress me are the FDn 200mm f4, the FDn70-210 f4 and the cheapy FDn 35-70mm kit lens....maybe I have bad copies

hpulley · Feb 6, 2011

I wasn't that impressed with my 70-210 f/4 zoom either so I sold it.

I had a 28 f/2.8 but the 28 f/2 really is better for wide open work -- if you are always stopped down to f/8 or so then the f/2.8 version is fine.

Never owned the 35mm f/2.8 but the f/2 version really is that good, it deserves all the praise it gets.

24mm f/2 is another great one.

50 f/1.4 is still soft until you stop it down a fair bit. The f/1.8 is actually sharper in my experience though colder and without as much contrast or saturation.

200mm f/2.8 is very good. 300mm f/4L is good but really not that much better than the 300mm f/4 version.

agphotography · Feb 6, 2011

I actually have a 200 f/2.8 from the AE-1 kit I bought that turned out to be in pretty poor shape so I sold it on eBay.
I'm not much of a telephoto shooter, I think the 100 would be fine for my desires with this camera.
Wide angles however, that's my game for sure. I'll look into the 24/28/35 f/2 versions if I can find one of them for a decent price. 35mm is definitely one of my favorite focal lengths as well.

2F/2F · Feb 6, 2011

I love my 200 2.8's. All three of them! One is the older new FD model that I got in a pawn shop for $90. A bit beat up, but great images. Then came a like-new IF model as part of a kit on which I scored on E-Bay (F-1, FTb, 55mm f/1.2, 17mm f/4, 50mm f/1.4 nFD, 200mm f/2.8 IF, motor drive MF, low light Booster for FTb, Haliburton case, and more for $350). Unfortunately, I took that one out of commission by dropping it on a rock on the west bank of the Mississippi River on my way to the inauguration of the prez a few years ago. I dropped the camera, and the lens went flying while the mount stayed on the AE-1. Ouch! Once in Washington, I bought a used replacement from a local camera shop the night before the inauguration, since I did not have time to have my old version shipped to me. I cannot tell any difference in image quality between the two lenses. The IF is smoother and faster to focus, though it looks a little goofy with its straight and skinny body and wide front end.

I mostly got my broken one back together. Only the mount broke. The glass is fine, and the body just has a scratch or two. I think I must have lost a part in the mud, though, as I cannot get these two parts of the internals to link up the way they should.

Anyhow, good build quality, and good image quality. I'd highly recommend one of these. I find 200mm to be an extremely useful focal length sometimes. I knew I needed one at the inauguration for some of what I wanted to shoot, so I bit the bullet and dropped an unplanned-for $200. On the plus side, I had a nice Metro ride to get to the shop!

agphotography · Feb 6, 2011

Wait which version is which? How do I know which one I had? It was pretty worn and had some element separation or haze or something in the front element but it sold on eBay for only $56. I hope I didn't miss out haha

2F/2F · Feb 6, 2011

It is easy to tell the difference, because they are shaped differently; and one uses internal focusing. The IF version has a straight barrel and a notable step outward to the larger diameter front part of the lens. The earlier one's barrel is tapered outward as you move away from the camera, and transitions smoothly into the wide front portion of the lens. Both have built-in retractable hoods, but the IF screws into place in the extended position.

agphotography · Feb 6, 2011

Ah ok I must have had the previous version then.

Trying to decide on FD Lenses

agphotography

DWThomas

MattKing

Moderator

darinwc

agphotography

2F/2F

Mainecoonmaniac

white.elephant

2F/2F

David A. Goldfarb

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Andrew Horodysky

agphotography

frobozz

Jeff Kubach

Excalibur2

agphotography

tony lockerbie

Focus No. 9

Excalibur2

hpulley

agphotography

2F/2F

agphotography

2F/2F

agphotography

Trying to decide on FD Lenses

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