Old FD and FL Canon lens, and capability

I was walking around and found this small camera shop that resells older equipments for just about every major camera (and lens) producer, and noticed that they have around 100 Canon FD and FL lenses. Are these lenses compatible with the current line of EOS cameras (namely my 60D)? Does anyone have any lenses with these mounts, and is using them with their EOS camera(s)?

Thanks

No, the FD and FL mounts will not work with EOS cameras. You can buy an adapter, but its not an ideal option as ironically the older canon lenses dont adapt well at all.

You need to use an adapter to physically mount the FD lens on the EF body. The real problem is that the FD lens mount was a shorter distance between the body mount and the focal plane. So added optics are needed in the adapter, so that the FD lens will focus to Infinity...without the optics, it won't focus to Infinity but would be limited to shorter distances. The problem of the supplemental optics is that it tends to have negative effect on IQ. Most folks advise not to bother with FD optics (and some other older mounts...but not all MF mounts have this Infinity focus issue) because of the need for the supplemental optics in the adapter.

unless they have something like a 35 TS-E, 50 1.2, 85 1.2, 300 2.8, 400, etc; it's not going to be worthwhile to convert them. Ed Mika makes adapter kits for the more desirable lenses, but at around $150 or more plus the cost of the lens you'd be better off looking at older EF lenses.

I just checked at amazon to see if there is such an adaptor for sale here in Europe, and yeah, they have one, for 40 euro. The shop I saw had tons of these older lenses with the prices between 30 to 60 euro a piece, for that amount of money I don't think it would be so bad to experiment.

Thanks for the info.

Wilt, you mentioned the FD optics, but what about the FL lenses, is there a difference?

This is one of several i found on Amazon.

have a read of this from the lens doctor


http://www.thelensdoct​or.co.uk/page14.html

ps hes also selling fully converted lenses on ebay

plumgoo wrote in post #15040173
Wilt, you mentioned the FD optics, but what about the FL lenses, is there a difference?

Same issue for both lens series. FL is an even older lens series that predated the FD lenses, but both were fundamentally similar. In fact, FD-mount cameras can use FL lenses in stop-down metering mode.

plumgoo wrote in post #15040173
I just checked at amazon to see if there is such an adaptor for sale here in Europe, and yeah, they have one, for 40 euro. The shop I saw had tons of these older lenses with the prices between 30 to 60 euro a piece, for that amount of money I don't think it would be so bad to experiment.

Thanks for the info.

Wilt, you mentioned the FD optics, but what about the FL lenses, is there a difference?

Those cheap adapters rely on glass optics. They suck. If you're going to use one you may as well put a coke bottle over the lens opening.

http://www.ebay.com/us​r/ed_mika

I bought an adapter from the lens doctor to use with my Dad's extensive collection of FD lenses (well, mainly his 50 f1.2, to be honest). The results are less than stellar - you can get usable (but still not great) shots stopped down, but that defeats the purpose (of the 50, anyway).

I had far better results using old manual Pentax, Takumar, Nikon lenses, as you can fit them to an EOS body with an adapter that has no glass. If you want to play with manual lenses, I would go down that route - plenty of cheap excellent glass around.

These adapters with optics (=teleconverters) are most bad. Some users are happy with them in combination with longer slower lenses, like 135/2.8.
The one good FD-EF adapter with lens is made from Canon - and used prices are about USD 900.

Ed Mikas adapter sets are good from what I read.
For cheaper FD lenses one could think about a DIY lens mount conversion - if one is a skilled tinkerer with some time and tools. But take a cheap lens for the start - FE-EF mount conversions are hard, and even harder with those lenses with not moving back lens like FD 85mm/1.2L.
And damaging the good old lenses it a bad thing.
On my webpage are some DIY tutorials about lens mount conversions.

Thanks for the information, now i have some things to think about.

I have the fotodoix Fd adaptor I use with my fathers old Bushnell 35mm 2.8, pretty darn good if you ask me. Sharp and fun going full manual. I had a sigma 70-300 FD lens but the aperture blades died on it. Wasn't as sharp but then again it wasn't a prime.

Heres a quick snap and 100% crop with the adapter and lens @ f8, iso 400, pop-up flash, 1/200