Which 55mm f1.2 to keep.

<p>I've ended up with two 55mm f1.2 FD lenses. As I really don't need both I'm thinking of selling one to help fund the purchase of the 300mm f4 I want.<br>

One lens is a S.S.C., and the other is a chrome nose breech mount with no coating reference on the front ring. Both are in fantastic condition. Is there any functional reason to keep one over the other?</p>

<p>Thanks and here's the picture of both,</p>

<p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7158/27416855441_0654bee4af_c.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="530" /></p>

<p>(i) If it were me, I'd do a side-by-side comparison: camera on tripod, and compare the images at the apertures you use most.</p>

<p>(ii) If you can't see a difference in the images, it doesn't matter much. If that's the case, I'd keep the SSC because it's five or ten years younger, and the coatings may be a bit better.</p>

<p>Probably better coatings on the SSC version (I think the chrome nose has SC only). Depending on serial number and date code, maybe more historical significance with the chrome nose. As Dave suggest try both and see which you prefer.</p>

<p>Thanks guys. I am currently shooting a comparison Dave, but was just curious about any technical differences between the two. I've shot with each of these in the past and haven't noticed any big differences. Maybe shooting both on a single roll, thus eliminating any development issues something will show up. That and time, I cant really think of any time I've used both in a short period of time. I've really never paid any attention to looking for any difference between these.<br>

Jim, thanks for your thoughts on the coatings, that's something I was wondering about, if the chrome nose was maybe just SC. I'm curious to see how each renders color (the test roll is Ektar 100, in my T-90)<br>

One thing I have noticed already. I cant pick a real reason, but I just seem to like the SSC more. Both lenses function flawlessly with wonderful focus action but for whatever reason I'm just liking the SSC version more than the chrome nose. Its not something I've noticed before but using the two back to back its a pretty strong feeling... I just cant decide why.</p>

 

Ed, if you hold these lenses under a light and look at reflections in their glass coatings do they have the same colorations

and sequencing? I recall reading that the Super Spectra Coating (S.S.C.) was used on at least one or two FD lenses from

the outset, without any special markings, and the FD 55/1.2 might be one of them.

<p>Rick is right. I just checked an old 1970 Canon booklet I have and the FD 55/1.2 and FD 55/1.2 AL were the only FD lenses that came with SSC coating right from the beginning of the FD lens line. Neither were marked SSC anywhere on the lens.</p>

<p>So your FD55/1.2 chrome-nose and your FD 55/1.2 SSC are pretty much identical, except for the obvious cosmetic differences.</p>

<p>Ed, I was in the exact same situation as you last year. I ended up selling the chrome nose and keeping the SSC for a couple of reasons: the SSC was newer and better looking to me, and I believed that the chrome nose had just the SC coatings. I know better now, thanks to Jim and Rick's posts. But still, even if I would have known then what I do now, I still would have sold the chrome nose, and this has to do merely with aesthetics. I like the looks of the SSC lenses better than the chrome nose models.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Ed, whichever lens you choose to keep, please PM me about buying the other. I stupidly sold my 55/1.2 SSC Aspherical several years ago, and have regretted it ever since.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>Rick and Jim, I can confirm that the internal reflections of both lenses are effectively identical.</p>

<p>Michael, I'm thinking I agree with you. I like how the SSC looks and for whatever reason how it feels so I'll probably keep it and sell the chrome nose.</p>

<p>Mark, once I do make up my mind for sure I'll drop you a PM.</p>

<p>Hi.<br>

Keep both,the crome nose is beautiful,i have one chrome nose,two ssc and one ssc aspherical,and when i find one AL i buy it to my fd collection.</p>