Big Hunk of Glass

[shadowfox]

I never had an FD lens before.
Not one that I'd care to use anyway

Last week's local camera show changed that:


* the vintage tin can is an estate sale pick, part of my growing collection of ... well, vintage tin cans



... and since I don't have a body to use it with, so I picked up that black FTb for $30 from the table near where I got the lens

Would love to hear your experiences (firsthand or otherwise) on both camera and lens.

[joho35mm]

That's a legendary lens! I had one in college, briefly, which I later sold for a profit on Ebay. I wish I kept it though! It's one of those lenses that Canon might well have stuck a red ring and an "L" on, given its sharpness, speed, and build. I think you'll really enjoy it.

[radiophoto]

Will, almost all of my SLRs are Canons with FD mount, so I am particularly happy with that arrangement -- I don't have that lens, however, and would appreciate a further description, if possible.

I like vintage tins, too.  I despise sellers who claim that a reprint tin is an antique, and I have to tell them that if there's a bar code on it, it ain't no damn antique.

[BillyBob]

Can't speak for the lens - I have the f2.5 version, which ain't bad.

The FTb was my first SLR, however, and I still love the way it handles.  I'm steadier with it than with my F90's.  You got the rarer black model; the silver ones were much more common.  The QL (Quick Load) feature is excellent; makes loading a breeze.

Bonus:  FD lenses are dirt cheap.  Usually available from Shopgoodwill.  I've seen lenses that I paid $300 or more for less than 10 years ago going for less than $50 on Kijiji.

Great buy!

[shadowfox]

Joseph,
Glad to hear similar impression from you.  My wife has the EF version of this lens and I loved the results from it.
This one is way shorter but it may be heavier.

Pete,
I have a roll in the camera, I too am anxious to see what this lens can do, but being at work for 12 hours a day really crimp my photo-style (sigh).  On the tin cans, another sign that it's a remake is the 'Made in China' stamp (hehehe)

Billy,
I am impressed with the build quality and smoothness of the advance lever. Doubly impressed with the quickload mechanism.  For a camera that looks that old (41 years old, just like me), the QL is ahead of its time.

Will there be other FD lenses for me in the future, I guess time will tell...

[radiophoto]

Will there be other FD lenses for me in the future, I guess time will tell...

More FD lenses could be in your future, if you want to send me your new address....

[BillyBob]

Will there be other FD lenses for me in the future, I guess time will tell...

I imagine so; they're just such a great deal.  My favorite is my 24/2.8.  Lovely lens.

[lesged]

Will,

I bought my first FT-b QL, when it was introduced on the market. It came with an FD 50/1.8 SCC
and shortly afterwards I added an FD 85/1.8 and FD135/3.5 all new. I had Canon exchange the original "pebbled" screen for a split-line rf screen. Sold all this off and updated my FD gear, in stages, to AE-1P and A-1. I accumulated lots of FD lenses, most of which I still have, however, I never had a Canon 135/2. : -(((  The one I have seller's regret about is the Canon 85/1.8 FD. It is a great portrait lens.

I had a basic FT-b kit again but traded it for something else. The last FT-b QL kit I got was given to me by my old friend , Harold Lewis, before he passed away. I gave it to a Polish PhD candidate at U of Michigan, who is in the same history program as our Joho35mm. She posted some pics here in NFF .

I loved the FT-b QL when I was young, but the equipment is way too heavy for me, now, as I approach 86. It is working out very nicely for this talented young woman..

Btw, I picked up a lighter Canon AE-1P with 50/1.8 FD lens for $5 yesterday in a thrift shop in St. Augustine. It’s in tip-top shape with a 6vdc lithium battery worth more than the $5 they asked for the camera. Will show it off in another thread.

Good luck with your FT-b QL, and that big hunk of glass!

[radiophoto]

Uncle Les, didn't you just give away a Canon AE-1P, to Larry?  *snrk*  You're as bad as the rest of us, with the GAS.

[Nick Merritt]

$5 for an AE-1P?  Even if I already had one, I'd have bought it for that price -- without a lens!

[Raid Amin]

Congrats on this beauty. I have many FD lenses, but I have never used the 135/2. It looks very impressive indeed.

Raid

[lesged]

Pete,

I ended up sending a second AE-1Ps body to Larry as part of Freebie raffle camera, because the first one had some battery problems. In the give away kit was also the standard 50/1.8 lens and a tele-extender. That left me with only two  FD bodies: AE-1P and A1. Oh yes, I had a chronic case of GAS, especially before I stopped working at age 63, when I became socially secure.That was way back in 1989. Haven't worked a day since; it's been one long, glorious, vacation ever since.

Nick,

It came with a Canon 50/1.8 FD, a haze filter and original Canon strap. The body has no dings, dents hardly a scratch anywhere outside and the inside looked spotlessly clean with no sign of wear on the pressure plate and no Canon SLR curtain squeak. Somehow none of my many, many, Canon bodies ever had a squeak. I'll put up a photo of my biggest bargain in years.  This one I'll keep as a back up.

[LarryD]

Les I took the first camera to a repairman... It was a lost cause... it had a fried shutter advance and cock all integrated.... Electronic.

[shadowfox]

Les,
That's a nice addition to this discussion. What's the advantage of the A series vs the FT series? other than probably way lighter in weight.

Raid,
What are your favorite FD lenses?

[Raid Amin]

Les,
That's a nice addition to this discussion. What's the advantage of the A series vs the FT series? other than probably way lighter in weight.

Raid,
What are your favorite FD lenses?

I love using the fast glass, like the 85/1.2L and 50/1.2L. These two lenses are amazing.
A well kept secret is the 28-50/3.5 macro zoom. This is not the 28-55 zoom, which is only so-so in quality. For years, the 28-50 plus the 80-200/3.5 (or 4?) were my work horses. I have beautiful slides from those years.
I have now added the razor sharp 50mm macro (or 55?) to my Canon FD set.
I must have taken hundreds of rolls with my FD lenses.