Canon FD 20mm/2.8 ??

[michaelchristensen]

Hi all,

Since I'm about to buy the Canon FD 20mm/2.8 lens for my D30 I was wondering how good is this lens. Anyone know?

[para5063]

The FD's are for the older Canon camera series, F-1, FTb, A-1, etc. It won't work on the D30 which takes the EF family of lenses.

[michaelchristensen]

Ok - thanks!

Then I have to buy the EF...


Regards

Michael

[soumya63]

In single word, superb! Go for it. I just got rid off my Sigma 17-35 and bought a Canon 20mm f2.8. Though it is very unfair to compare a zoom with a prime, but if you really want to know then, Canon 20mm is way way way more sharp and contrasty. Now I do not hesitate to shoot any wide angle composition anymore Here is a sample (http://gfoto.tripod.com/portfolio/sunrise/sun9.html)

This lens is equipped with USM and smaller in overall size than Sigma 20mm f1.8.

This lens does not cast shadows with the in-built flash of D30. My Sigma 17-35 used to cast ugly shadow at the bottom part of the picture all focal lengths below 28mm.

[Rudi]

Great, brilliant, prime lens! :)

I've bought one to replace my Tokina 19-35mm zoom (which I was happy with, but tended to use only at the wide end), and I couldn't be happier! I don't use is as much as I'd like, but it's a sharp, contrasty lens which provides lots of detail which often lacks in the lower-cost wide angle zooms.

[Tesselator]

Just to add for posterity's sake, the Canon nFD 20mm f/2.8 is pretty awesome. I haven't compared it with the EF myself but those who I've read who have say the nFD version is better. The nFD version can be used on the mirrorless cameras like Sony's NEX, Olympus's Pen and Panasonic's GH1 or 2 etc. with just a $25 adapter. It can also be used on full and crop frame DSLRs if you convert the mount. Here's some samples of it on the Panasonic GH1 micro four thirds camera:


The full scaled image from just across the street:

http://tesselator.gpmod.com/Images/_Image_By_Lens/Canon_FD_20mm_F2.8/_1050614.jpg
1/10s , f/2.8, ISO 100 - Direct RAW conversion.


And here's a 100% crop:
http://tesselator.gpmod.com/Images/_Image_By_Lens/Canon_FD_20mm_F2.8/_1050614_100c.jpg

[ZoneV]

.... It can also be used on full and crop frame DSLRs if you convert the mount...

I have the nFD 20/2.8 lens, and I have tried to convert it for my EOS 5D: It could be focussed up to ~3 meter, after that the mirror crashs. As far as I remember it crashes on the glas itself, not on mechanics that could be taken away.
Probably it works if one shaves the mirror of 24x36 camera, or with other FF cameras?

It should work for Canon crop cameras.

At the moment my Fd 20mm is unused.
Made only one better photo with it, with some added extension between lens and lens mount:

http://www.4photos.de/galerie/Sonstiges/slides/Marienkaefer.jpg