What is your favorite FD lens?

[richard_brown1]

<p>C.</p><div></div>

[richard_brown1]

<p>D.</p><div></div>

[richard_brown1]

<p>E.</p><div></div>

[johnny_scarecrow]

<p>My journey has taken me from an FD collection I built up as my first SLR system during the 70s and 80s (which was stolen in Barcelona in 1988), to a newly acquired FD system now. In the intervening period I worked professionally with Nikon AF gear which was also brilliant, but I guess I harboured a sentimental attachment to my old FDs. I use them now with an F1N whereas back then I had an A1 and an F1.<br /> <br />The 50mm f1.4 and the 35mm f2 have always been constants, as they are incredible lenses - so much so in the latter case that I have two, a chrome nose and an FDn. I have also replicated my ownership of the 24mm f2.8 (FDn this time, then it was the SSC), and the 135mm f2.5 which is another lens that makes re-entry to the FD world essential for me.<br>

<br /> New lenses I now have that I didn't have the first time round include the 28mm f2 SSC, the 50mm macro, the 100mm f2 (I had the chrome-nose f2.8 which was absolutely brilliant but I must admit I prefer the f2), and the 80-200mm f4L. Lenses I haven't replicated are the 35-105mm f3.5 and the 70-210mm f4. Along the way I've tried the 20mm f2.8, 85mm f1.2L, 85mm F1.8 and the 300mm f4.<br>

<br /> So my favourite? I'm going to have to say that the 35mm f2 FDn narrowly nudges out the 50mm f1.4 and the chrome nose 35mm. But my collection now has built up two or three times over during a period of about forty years, so anything in it now belongs there and, if I can help it, isn't going anywhere soon. The gear is just that good.</p>

[robbz_fotoz]

<p>FD favorites ? 50mm f 1.4, preferably the Breech Mount, FDn 35-105 f 3.5, a little heavy but not a big issue, and the FDn 100mm Macro, f 4.0. Now I do use the 70-210mm zoom a lot too and find it to be a very sharp lens.</p>

[barry_hatfield]

<p>I have summarized all the lenses everyone has mentioned. The most popular lens is the 50/1.4 followed by the 35/2. I can work on a shopping list from everyone's comments. Thank-you!</p>

<p>15/2 fisheye <strong>1</strong><br /> 17/4 <strong>1</strong><br /> 24/2 <strong>2</strong><br /> 24/2.8 <strong>1</strong><br /> 28/2 <strong>1</strong><br /> 35/2 <strong>5</strong><br /> 35/2 SSC concave <strong>1</strong><br /> 50/1.2 L <strong>1</strong><br /> 50/1.4 <strong>9</strong><br /> 50/f3.5 macro <strong>2</strong><br /> 55/1.2 SSC Aspherical <strong>2</strong><br /> FL55/1.2 <strong>1</strong><br /> 85/1.2 L <strong>2</strong><br /> 85/1.2 SSC Aspherical <strong>1</strong><br /> 85/1.8 SSC <strong>3</strong><br /> 100/2 <strong>2</strong><br /> 100/2.8 <strong>1</strong><br /> 100/4 <strong>1</strong><br /> 135/2 <strong>2</strong><br /> 135/2.5 <strong>1</strong><br /> 200/2.8 <strong>1</strong><br /> 300/ L <strong>1</strong><br /> 400/2.8 L <strong>1</strong><br /> 400/4.5 <strong>1</strong><br /> FL F 500/5.6 <strong>1</strong><br>

20-35/3.5 L <strong>1</strong><br /> 35-105/3.5 <strong>1</strong><br /> 24-35-L <strong>1</strong><br /> 70-210/4 <strong>1</strong><br /> 80-200/4 <strong>1</strong><br /> 80-200/4 L <strong>3</strong></p>

[rick_janes]

Being an impractical sort at heart my favorite FD lens is one I don't own: the 200 / 1.8 L.

[pensacolaphoto]

<p>I have used many FD lenses over the years.<br /> The 85/1.2L and the 50/1.2L are superb lenses overall. They are not cheap even with today's used lens prices.<br /> The sleeper lens is the rectilinear 17/4. I now use it with the Leica M8 for a 22mm perspective. It works very well with the M8 sensor, and there is no color shift or vignetting.<br /> The 500/4.5L is an awesome tele lens that Canon created.<br /> A really good short tele is the 28-50 SSC. Do not confuse it with the inferior 28-55 zoom.<br /> The cheapest excellent lens to get is the 50/1.4.</p>

<p>The 8-200/4L is an extremely sharp zoom lens, but its max aperture of 4.0 makes it a sunshine lens.</p>

[flavio_egoavil]

<p>My favorite was the FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C non aspherical, which has the same formula as the FL 55/1.2.</p>

<p>It was a lens of beautiful bokeh and results, with pretty good definition once stopped down to f2.8.</p>

<p>I sold it but i miss it every day...</p>

 

[ian_bell]

<p>My favourite is the 20-35mm L zoom. I have had it for 10 years and it basically lives on one of my F-1n's. Great for virtually anything but love it for cityscapes. Just had it cleaned and checked by the Lens Doctor in the UK, so now ready for the next 10 years</p>

<p> </p>