Need Info On FD 200/1.8 L

[mark_rossano]

I was fortunate enough to recently acquire one of the quite uncommon

200mm f/1.8 L lenses in FD mount. Unfortunately, there seems to be

little, if any information on the Net about this lens. I've tried

at least twenty different Google searches with little in the way of

results. Canon USA was completely useless as a source of

information.

 

My understanding is that this lens is optically similar to the EF

version, however, there seems to be a difference in the filter

holder. My lens came with a gel holder with no glass. It seems

close in configuration to the 48mm holder that works with the

300/2.8 and 500/4.5, but the internal clearance is much less. I was

unable to seat the filter mount that fits the other lenses for this

reason.

 

My concern comes from the fact that the other Canon teles that take

an internal filter have instructions that stress that you must have

a filter inserted or the optical performance will be degraded. My

past experience confirms this with several of the other Canon

lenses. Since my filter holder has no glass at all, never had any,

nor does the lens have the internal clearance to even allow the

typical Canon internal filters to fit (unlike the standard Canon gel

holder, which has a backing glass), I was wondering if this lens was

modified so that no internal glass filter is required or desired.

 

Any help based on real experience or available documentation for

this lens (not the EF version, which I can get on my own), rather

than conjecture or speculation, would be appreciated.

[miles_feigenbaum___dallas_]

Dude, I'll check mine in the morning...

 

Congrats! Where did you find that one? There are VERY few...

 

EXCELLENT portrait lens wide open! And of course indoor sports.

[ciro_carpanzano]

Man, did you luck out!

 

I'd like to see pictures of this lens if possible. I have never seen one.

 

And this has to be asked..how much did you pay for it?

[mark_rossano]

Miles,

 

Do you use any of the Canon extenders with your lens? If so, which one of the 2X works best, the A or the B? How is the performance when the 1.4X or 2X extender is used?

[miles_feigenbaum___dallas_]

The 'A' extender stands for 300mm and ABOVE. 'B' is for below 300mm.

 

I have not used them, just use the 300 f2.8 or the 400 2.8, etc...

Ate rice and beans for years to be able to do this...Didn't go out, etc...

 

 

check out the site below-

 

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/extenders.htm#2X-A/B

 

 

Canon FD Resources - Extenders

FD Extender 2X-A, FD 2X-B & FD 1.4X-A

 

 

 

 

Extenders are small auxiliary lenses that can quickly convert the focal lengths of your interchangeable lenses by mounting it between a primary lens attached and the camera body via the lens mount.

 

A 400mm lens will become an 830mm or converting a 830mm to a 1,600mm ! Adding an extender between the lens and the camera body increases the focal length of the lens by either 1.4 times or 2 times, depending on the power of the extender used.

 

Some useful resources/manual prepared by Christian Rollinger:

 

Canon FD 1,4X Extender (1982)

Canon FD 2A/2B Extender (1980)

Canon Macrophoto Adaptor Manual (1980)

Canon FD Extension Tube M Manual

 

 

One distinctive characteristic of Extenders is they do not change the closest focusing distance of the master lens and this increase the shooting flexibility. They can convert a super telephoto into an ultra-telephoto. Combining the FD 2X-A, FD 2X-B, and FD 1.4X-A extenders with various master lenses, unique applications become possible which enhance the distinctive characteristics of the master lenses.

 

The diagrams below showing the respective extenders' lens constructions and how these extenders convert focal lengths. The lens constructions are designed to form a concave lens. Most lenses are convex in order to bend the entering light rays towards the center and form an image on the film. When installed between the primary master lens and the camera, the concave extender bends the incoming light rays less sharply and thus extends the point at which the image is formed and thus extends the focal lengths of convex lenses.

 

These dedicated extenders also incorporate provisions for correcting aberrations and best is to use as advice. i.e. individual extender to only use it within certain group of lenses.

 

 

The FD 2X-A extender doubles the focal length of the prime lens and is designed for use with any lens with a 300mm focal length or longer, including zoom lenses with 300mm within their range. Using the FD 2X-A converts the 830mm lens to 1600mm, while retaining a minimum shooting distance of 14 meters. The FD 2X-B extender doubles the focal length of any lens with a focal length of less than 300mm, including zoom lenses with 200mm within their range. The FD 1.4X increases the focal lengths of all lenses with focal lengths of 300mm or greater by 1.4 times. Of course, these Extenders retain most of the AE function even when mounted to any of the Canon AE bodies or shooting in AE modes because signals coming out of the master lens can also be relay to the camera body.

 

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Claudio?. who is a collector for Canon photo gear, he also has an Ebay Section as well as maintaining a website on his own where occasionally trading some photo equipment.

A draw back for using an Extender is, as in the case of both the FD 2X-A and FD 2X-B which doubles the focal length of the prime lens, this ability also cause the loss of 2- f/stops throughout the aperture range. This is because the extender makes the lens longer and more light is lost as the light travels from the front of the lens to the film plane. Naturally but also require to note this: when an extender is attached, the depth of field is also be reduced by half. To lenses with smaller maximum aperture, this might pose some problem in focusing especially when used with focusing screens that has split image rangefinder as the split image may darken and cause focusing difficult. The FD 1.4X-A extender only causes a reduction of the given aperture by one f/stop, so the loss of brightness in the viewfinder is less significant.

 

But overall, these extenders still present an attractive and cheap alternatives as they can effectively doubles the number of lenses you have. Another key advantage is being, they are made extremely compact and easy to take along with telephoto lenses for shooting athletic games, landscapes, scenery, etc.

 

 

Extender FD 1.4X-A

 

The FD 1.4X-A is a rear converter designed to step up by 1.4 times the focal lengths of prime lenses with 300mm focal lengths or greater. It shows its maximum optical performance when combined with one of Canon's L-series lenses. While 2 f/stops are sacrificed for the use of the double power extenders, using the FD 1.4X-A makes it possible for you to enjoy telephoto effects at the price of only one f/stop.

 

 

This extender combines with multicoated lenses without generating ghost images and flare, and it transmits all AE information to the camera body. Warning: This particular Extender may not be working with older models of FD lenses (or FL-Modified lenses). Please refer to the spec sheet for complete compatibility issues.

 

Specifications:

 

Construction: 3 groups 4 elements

Coating: SSC (super spectra coating)

Magnification: 1.4x

 

 

Used with lenses: Telephoto lenses 300mm and longer

Function: Auto Aperture, Full aperture metering (AE operation when used with ALL Canon automatic SLR cameras.

Length x max. diameter: 34.6mm x 54mm

Weight: 210g

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Extenders FD 2X-A and FD 2X-B These all purpose rear converters double the focal lengths of master lenses while maintaining the master lenses' original minimum focusing distance. The FD 2X-A extender doubles the focal length of any lens with a 300mm focal length or longer, including zoom lenses with 300mm within their range. The FD 2X-B extender doubles the focal length of lenses with a focal length shorter than 300mm including zoom lenses with 200mm within their range.

 

All AE information signals derived from a master lens can be transmitted to the camera body. However, Canon recommends that the New FD 300mm f/2.8L to be used with the Extender FD 2X-B instead. The Extender FD 2X-B is supplied as a kit when you purchase the 300mm f/2.8L lens brand new but since it has been discontinued, some dealers may not bundle the Extender with the lens.

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Claudio?. who is a collector for Canon photo gear, he also has an Ebay Section as well as maintaining a website on his own where occasionally trading some photo equipment.

 

Specifications:

 

Extenders FD 2X-A

Construction: 4 groups 6 elements

Coating: SSC (super spectra coating)

 

 

Magnification: 2X

Used with lenses: Telephoto lenses 300mm and longer

Function: Auto Aperture, Full aperture metering (AE operation when used with ALL Canon automatic SLR cameras.

Length x max. diameter: 35.2mm x 64mm

Weight: 210g

 

 

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Claudio?. who is a collector for Canon photo gear, he also has an Ebay Section as well as maintaining a website on his own where occasionally trading some photo equipment.

 

Specifications: Extenders FD 2X-B

Construction: 5 groups 7 elements

Coating: SSC (super spectra coating)

 

Magnification: 2X

Used with lenses: Less than 300mm and zooms with 200mm in their range.

Function: Auto Aperture, Full aperture metering (AE operation when used with ALL Canon automatic SLR cameras.

Length x max. diameter: 43mm x 64mm

Weight: 240g

 

 

Credit: Image courtesy of Mr. Claudio?. who is a collector for Canon photo gear, he also has an Ebay Section as well as maintaining a website on his own where occasionally trading some photo equipment.

 

| Back | Main Index Page of Canon FD lenses

 

 

[miles_feigenbaum___dallas_]

scroll down just a little ways to the 1.8L

 

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fdlenses/200mm.htm

[miles_feigenbaum___dallas_]

Mark,

 

As your lens has, mine also has the FD gel holder without anything in the holder. As I remember, I purchased a GEL holder for one of my other lenses a few years ago and cut the photographic gels as needed for the situation. The gels are very inexpensive and come in a wide variety. Most of the 'white' lenses come with a clear filter that is marked 1x, a UV type of filter.

 

The lens also comes with the ET-123 lens hood which is also on one of the other white lenses , i think the 500mm.

The lens comes wrapped in a black cover with velcro and draw string and tucked away in its own Canon lens trunk.

 

I used to keep in touch with one or two other people around the globe that also had these, one in Canada that used to use photo.net also and another somewhere else... A small fraternity...

 

Talk about freakin BOKEH!!!!!!!!!

 

As the kids say, SWEET!