FD 17mm F4 Questions

[john_smithwick1]

<p>I've been a long-time FD user; ever since I bought my first SLR - a new Canon AE-1. I've also been using Sony Nex cameras since they came out (you see where I am going here). I currently have the A7 and am looking for an ultra wide angle prime lens. I currently have the Tamron 17mm SP and the Tokina RMC. The Tamron is not great and the Tokina is not too bad, but I definitely see room for improvement. Can anyone offer opinions on the performance of the FD 17 F4? I'm hoping it may offer a boost in performance from what I have, but am becoming somewhat convinced that a native solution may be required for wide angle lenses.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

[dennis_kushner2]

17/4 a rectilinear lens as long as you keep it level. However with digital crop factors, it's a roll of the dice.

[awahlster]

<p>Easiest way to say this is the 17mm f4.0 nFD is the best lens at that focal length for a Canon FD mount body that anyone has made.</p>

<p>How it works mounted on something else I have no idea.</p>

[dirk_dom1]

<p>Hi!<br /> I think the FD 17mm is a very good lens.<br /> Here's a shot I took with it, on a Canon F1:<br>

It should do ok on a Sony A7.</p><div></div>

[rick_janes]

Pretty shot there, Dirk! Great use of the superwide.

[Alex_Es]

<p>I think it is a very good lens. It works nicely on my Leica M.</p>

[chris_roberts10]

<p>Many consider the Tokina to be the best option at 17mm for classic lenses. I personally find the Tokina and the FD indistinguishable from each other. For sure, I don't think you'll notice a great upgrade moving to the FD.</p>

[mark_pierlot]

<blockquote>

<p>17/4 a rectilinear lens as long as you keep it level. However with digital crop factors, it's a roll of the dice.</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

The Alpha 7 is full frame, is it not?</p>

[dennis_kushner2]

It should work well on FF digital bodies. I sold my FD 17/4 years ago & soon had sellers remorse but

lucked out & found a converted FD 17/4 to both 42mm & EOS mount to use on 3 different make digital

crop bodies along with my F1N. Used it mostly for interior architectural (mostly for distortion free) shots &

creative outdoor. Haven't used it in over 2 years but still a keeper. Many new AF WA digital are rectilinear

or distortion free.

[philip_wilson]

<p>It works fine on digital bodies. It is not the best of the FD wide primes (I really like the 21F2) but works fine on digital. I have used mine on my full frame Leica M (240) and it works well. If you have strong light at an angle across the front of the lens then you can get coloured edges to the frame but this is a rare event and easy to avoid.</p>

[kerkko_kehravuo]

<p>FDn 17 mm f:4 has clear barrel distortion, not bad but visible for example in achitectual work. Max. aperature is also limited. Still I like the lens specially with the New F-1 when photographing interiors but also as a moderate wide angle with Olympus Pen digital.</p>

[john_smithwick1]

<p>Thanks everyone for the responses. I finally found a (sort of) reasonably priced FDn 17mm and it is definitely better on the edges than the Tamron or the Tokina. Thanks again!</p>

[gary_d1]

Dirk. That's a gorgeous shot. I just bought the

Canon FD 17mm lens..arriving Tuesday ish....Hope

my shots come out half as good as that one..