FD 50mm f1.4 vs. EF 50mm f1.8(nifty fifty)

Just received a Zykkor FD to EOS adaptor. Let me remind you, the Adaptor has a glass to ensure FD maintains infinity focus (adds 1.26 crop factor and loses 0.6 f stop). Windiest day in Dallas... the pictures are taken on 5D classic tripod mounted at iso 100.

FD vs. EF (FD pictures first)

1.4 vs. 1.8

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2.8 vs. 2.8

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5.6 vs. 5.6

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Why use an adpter that has glass in it and produces such poor results? There are so many wonderful MF 50/1.4 lenses out there.

11 vs. 11

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My conclusion? Around aperture 4, FD lens produces pretty good quality picture. At 1.4, it's useless unless you're going for that soft hazy look.

Yes, I know...I have a sensor dust top left..

gasrocks wrote in post #12229190
Why use an adpter that has glass in it and produces such poor results? There are so many wonderful MF 50/1.4 lenses out there.

I wanted to get an adaptor that has infinity focus.. though, I don't think the adaptor is the main reason for the soft image at f1.4 as you can see smaller aperture provides pretty shart pictures.

That being said, I've owned a FD 50mm f1.4. so it was my first test. But I do have Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 and Nikkor 50mm f1.4 coming next week..with adaptors without glass. I will test them also.

rxjohn wrote in post #12229217
I don't think the adaptor is the main reason for the soft image at f1.4 as you can see smaller aperture provides pretty shart pictures.

I dunno about that. Most reviews of FD lenses with adapters complain the image is really soft until stopped down pretty much just as you have. I've got an AE-1 with a couple of FD lenses and they're much stronger in the corners than what you're showing. I'd say it's the adapter glass.

jblaschke wrote in post #12229291
I dunno about that. Most reviews of FD lenses with adapters complain the image is really soft until stopped down pretty much just as you have. I've got an AE-1 with a couple of FD lenses and they're much stronger in the corners than what you're showing. I'd say it's the adapter glass.

hey..is your wife an Aggie?

Yep. She and I both.

jblaschke wrote in post #12229457
Yep. She and I both.

class of 89 here.. will be at the Maroon and White tomorrow!

Back to the original topic. In video mode, f2.8 is fine...

That being said, the adaptors for Takumar and Nikkor are glassless. Looking forward to testing them out.

Class of '92 here. She's '94.

The Wife is getting me an FD 500mm f/8 for our anniversary (at least, she's dropping big hints). It has no communication with the camera and can focus past infinity, so is supposed to be one of the few FD lenses that can easily be converted to EF mount. We'll see!

Although you lose infinity focus the 50mm 1.4 can be incredibly sharp.

...

The range of working distance is pretty small and the Takumar and Nikkor options are a lot better as they offer glassless infinity focus but the FD glass can be had cheap and for a pseudo macro lens it works quite well.