Got it! The FD 80-200/4 L

[Alex_Es]

<p>Upon the enthusiastic recommendations of my Canon FD cohorts I returned to Yaotomi Camera in Osaka, where I bought my FD 100-300/5.6 L, to buy the brilliant FD 80-200/4 L. It was ¥26,000. I took my time. I was sure no one would want it. When I arrived at Yaotomi it was gOOOOOOOOOOOOne ! I searched every camera shop I knew for this lens--I was really geared up--and only found a Tamron 90/2.5 macro with matching extender (a bit rare) to console myself. Well, time passed. I was on the slow train in Kobe from Sannomiya to Motomachi the next stop. Somehow I missed it and ended up at the Kobe station (I know this confusing, but there is a Kobe station in Kobe city). Anyway, I figured as long as I was there I might as well visit Matsumiya Camera, the world's funkiest camera shop. My mission was to find a yellow filter for my friend's Hasselblad SWC. I could not find it amid the general disorder. But in the show window, nestled in a corner, it was there! The FD 80-200/4 L was in mint or near mint condition. The price: ¥17,000. I'll be posting photos I took with it soon.</p><div></div>

[flatulent1]

<p>Ooh, yer gonna love that lens. It ranks among my top three or four favorite FD lenses and is one of my most used.</p>

[SCL]

<p>I had one until about 2 years ago...it was as good as anything I've ever seen in that focal range, I actually preferred it to my Leica 80-200/f4 Vario Elmar.</p>

[philip_wilson]

It is a really good lens - on digital it's gets bad CA at wider apertures but on an FD film body it is great. That said I have

always preferred the two touch zoom lenses (like the EF L series and the 35-105 F3.5) as a design. Not a big issue -

enjoy it

[Alex_Es]

<p>Thanks for the responses ! </p>

[Tony-S]

<p>Well, that's a very good price if it's in such good condition. It is a superb lens and the principal reason I bought the EF 70-200 f/4L IS a few years ago. I use mine with my Canons (F-1n, A-1, AL-1) and Fuji X-E1 digi. Here's one shot from last weekend with my A-1 on Pan F+ and processed in Pyrocat HD.<br>

<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8594342774_a382066fc1_z.jpg" alt="" /><br>

I'll be in Hiroshima near the Peace Park for a few days in June. Do you know of any good camera shops in the area?</p>

[thomas_goehler]

<p>The only "bad" thing about this lens is that it is a push-and-pull zoom which is hardly professional for an L-lens. The older version with its 2 rings for focus and zoom is much better to be handled in that respect.</p>

[pensacolaphoto]

<p>I resisted buying this lens for many years, and I used instead the Canon 80-200/4 with two rings. The basic zoom lens was a very good lens. I then bought the L lens, and the regular 80-200/4 lens has not seen any use since then. Some claim that this is Canon's only zoom lens that has better optical qualities than corresponding Canon prime lenses.</p>

[rick_janes]

The thing is like Superman- beneath its unremarkable Clark Kent-like exterior are real superhero optics!

[Alex_Es]

<p>Great to hear from you guys! Tony, I do not know Hiroshima at all, having been there but a couple times. The best place to go is Osaka and Tokyo. Kobe is not bad. Think you might be making in up to Kansai at all?</p>

[Tony-S]

<p>I'm only in Hiroshima for a few nights so I won't be able to move around, unfortunately. I'm actually heading to Beijing first for a week, then hitting Hiroshima on my way back to the States.</p>

[mark_pierlot]

<p>The only telephoto zoom I've used that's better is the EF 70-200/4 L IS.</p>