Some selected FD lenses

The 55mm f/1.2 lens

It is important to point out first of all that the EOS 50mm f/1.2 L lens sells for about $1600.

And a note about the EOS (EF mount) 50mm f/1.4 also. The 50mm f/1.4 with 660 steps is one of the lowest and therefore least accurate of the Canon lenses (it is an old stepper motor lens, not a USM). The 85 f/1.2, for contrast, has 4,200 steps.

A great tip for this lens is: Think of the Canon 50mm f1.4 as a 50mm f2 lens and you will love it. (In other words, don't use it wide open -- I know, that is why you bought it, but you have been told now). Yes, we are getting off topic, but hold on ...

The claim is that the 55mm f/1.2 FD lens is superior to the EOS 50mm f/1.2. It does not autofocus of course, but the image quality is superb and the cost is far less depending on what kind of a deal you get.

The EdMika conversion kit for a 55mm f/1.2 FD lens costs about $140 in 2013. I see many copies of this lens for sale for about $300, so with the kit you are looking at $440 (compare this to $1600 for the EOS lens).

Interestingly, the "new" type FDn 50mm f/1.2 and 1.4 lenses are indicated as unsafe ("live view only") on full frame cameras like the 5D by both EdMika and FDtoEF.

EdMika has a conversion kit for the 55mm f/1.2 FL lens. He notes that it works fine with full frame 1Ds bodies because the mirror on them has a thin metal frame. It will not work with the 5D bodies, which have a thicker plastic frame. Note that no damage occurs in these cases (or so they say). Contact is with the mirror frame not the mirror itself. To release the mirror it is necessary to focus the lens to a closer distance. Sounds like something to avoid.

Here are some other comments on this lens from a fellow (Alf Beharie) who did his own conversion:

In May of 2007 he said:
I have recently converted my Canon 55mm 1:1.2 FL to Sigma SA mount... Currently it cant quite focus to infinty but the point is that you dont buy an ultra fast lens like this to do sweeping landscapes with... I bought it for two reasons, its low light performance and its great Bokeh, oh and because it was very cheap! Its also very sharp and a worthy companion to my Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Planar T* IMO. Maybe one day I'll machine the mounting boss down a bit so the mounting plate sits a little lower and that should allow it to reach infinty focus. Until then I'm quite happy with it just as it is. BTW, I'd go for FL versions rather than FD if I were you as they are far simpler to convert.
Later in June of 2008, he said:
Not long after my last reply above (in 2007) I machined the mounting boss of my Canon FL 55mm f1.2 down in my lathe so the lens could focus to infinty on my SD14, which has the same registration distance as Canon EF mount (44mm). The lens is fantastic and such a bargain for the paltry $40 I paid for it.

EdMika also has a conversion kit for the "chrome nose" old series 55mm f/1.2. It also has mirror contact problems with 5D cameras. It is OK with 1.3 crop 1D bodies. Full frame 1D bodies are unknown.

The 85mm f/1.2 lens

A real classic if you find one for a good price.

The 35mm f/2.8 Tilt Shift lens

I would rather have the 24mm EOS tilt-shift lens, but it sells for over $2000 new. I have seen used copies sell for just under $900. The 35mm f/2.8 sells for about $600.

Another exciting option is the 35mm f/2.8 FD lens. This is a tilt-shift lens that seems to sell for around $600.

There is also a TS-E 17mm f/4 FD lens, but it sells for over $2000.

The 200mm f/2.8

This fellow started (as some many do) with a chipped M42 adapter. He says the chip in his adapter is known to be flakey. Definitely worth a visit to this link.

Notice also the forum "manualfocus.org".

The 200mm f/4 macro

This is an FDn lens I am eager to convert.

The 28mm

The same fellow did a conversion on a 28mm. He began with a Nikon to EF adapter. He used hand tools, a Dremel, and files. He says you could do this without a lathe, but then shows photos of work being done on a lathe.
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Tom's Digital Photography Info / tom@mmto.org