Canon FD lens mount

Lens mount of the Canon T90

The Canon FD lens mount is a physical standard for connecting a photographic lens to a 35mm single-lens reflex camera body. The standard was developed by Canon of Japan and was introduced in March 1971 with the Canon F-1 camera. It served as the Canon SLR interchangeable lens mounting system until the 1987 introduction of the Canon EOS series cameras, which use the newer EF lens mount. The FD mount lingered through the 1990 Canon T60, the last camera introduced in the FD system, and through the end of the Canon New F-1 product cycle in 1992. The FD mount was based upon and replaced Canon's earlier FL mount (which in turn had replaced the R mount); FD-mount cameras can use FL lenses in stop-down metering mode. There is no known meaning for the notation 'FD', and Canon has never disclosed what, if anything, it stands for.

Over the 21 plus years of production, Canon introduced 134 different FD lenses ranging from 7.5mm through 1,200mm in 17 different fixed focal lengths and 19 different zoom ranges, one of the most, if not the most, extensive manual focus lens lines ever produced.

The Canon FD system enjoyed huge popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, when it established and grew a market share with professional photographers as well as having equipped over a million consumer users. Indeed, sales of the Canon AE-1 camera alone exceeded one million. Canon obsoleted the FD mount by its decision to create the all-electronic EF mount. Thus, the FD mount system, with no provision for auto-focus, is now commercially obsolete, and Canon FD cameras and lenses are available for low prices on the second-hand market. This makes the system very attractive to 35mm film photographers who demand the highest optical quality, but who do not need auto focus capability.

Background

Canon New FD lens mounting surface.

The FD lens mount is a breech-lock mount, which is a variation of the common triple-flanged bayonet attachment. The advantage of the breech-lock over the bayonet is that neither the contact surfaces between the body and lens, nor the signalling mechanisms, rotate against each other when the lens is mounted. This prevents any mechanical wear, which could conceivably reduce the very precise lens-to-film distance or introduce communication errors between lens and body.

Canon's first iteration of the breech-lock, extended forward from the earlier R- and FL-series lenses, utilized a rotating mounting ring at the rear of the lens; the lens body itself did not rotate for mounting. Its minor disadvantage was a somewhat slower lens change than a bayonet. Second-generation FD lenses, first marketed in 1981 as New FD, are mounted like bayonet-mount lenses in that the photographer twists the entire lens body to mount and dismount, though the actual mating surfaces still remain fixed. This retained the advantages of the breech-lock mount while adding the convenience of a bayonet. Canon later chose a bayonet-style mount for its EOS system's EF lenses, where there is no precision mechanical coupling.

Like its FL predecessor, the FD mount system allowed automatic diaphragm function, but in addition, a new signal pin supported full-aperture metering. A second signal pin for the "auto" setting of the aperture dial, plus a linkage to allow the camera to set the diaphragm opening, enabled integral auto-exposure. The first camera to utilize this was the 1971 Canon F-1, when equipped with the Servo EE Finder. Later, the Canon EF of 1973 had automatic exposure built-in, as did the very popular Canon A-series cameras (save the AT-1) beginning in 1976.

Thus, starting with the first FD lenses produced in late 1970, all FD lenses had the capability of supporting full aperture metering and multiple Automatic Exposure (AE) modes using both shutter preferred and aperture preferred modes. Even Programmed AE was possible with no modifications to the lens mount, even though at the time of its introduction Canon did not have an AE FD mount camera body. This was a design triumph for Canon that no other camera or lens maker was able to do back in 1970. Every other camera manufacturer had to make one or more alterations to its lens mount to enable full aperture metering, and then later AE and or Programmed AE operation. Canon's FD mount had all this in 1970.

The FD mount has no support for either electrical or mechanical lens-body communication required for autofocus, which was a primary reason for its retirement. (The three AC series lenses, extended from the FD lens mount, described below, are an exception). While Canon could have adapted its mount to support auto-focus, as did other manufacturers, instead the company chose to make a clean break with the past and design a completely new interface with support for electrical signaling.

Canon FD, f/1.4, 50mm, on AE-1 Program.

Lens coatings, design variants

The earliest breech-lock Canon FD lenses (1971-1973) are generally recognizable by a chrome (silver) filter ring at the front (this ring includes its own bayonet used to mount an appropriate lens hood). Nicknamed 'chrome nose' lenses, these used two new proprietary lens coatings, designated "S.C." (Spectra Coating) and "S.S.C." (Super Spectra Coating), but neither coating was marked on the front of the lens barrel as were later "black nose" FD lenses. These were both multi-coatings, but indicated two quality grades. In the 'chrome nose' series, only the large-aperture 55mm f/1.2,and 55mm F1.2 AL (Ashperical) and the 7.5mm Fish-Eye lenses used S.S.C. coating. On these early FD lenses, the breech ring can be rotated freely without mounting it on a camera body. This first series of FD lenses had a green "o" at the end of the aperture scale for automatic aperture operation, which at the time of their introduction was only possible with an F-1 body that had the Servo EE Finder attached.

The second series of breechlock FD lenses (1973-1979) lenses is inscribed "S.C." in white or "S.S.C." in red on the front of the lens mount. The S.S.C. coating was extended to most lenses in this series. The basic S.C. coating was, for the most part, limited to the more inexpensive lenses. According to Canon literature, the selection of S.C. or S.S.C. coating was made based on the lens's requirements for flare control, etc. There are two variants of this second series. In the earlier variant, the Auto-Exposure indicator was a green "o", as it was on the chrome nose lenses. In addition, the breech ring could be rotated without mounting the lens on a camera. The later variant used a green letter "A" to indicate that the lens was set for AE operation, and the aperture ring had a small lock button to prevent the lens from being accidentally taken on off the "A" setting. On this latest FD lenses the breech ring is latched in the mounting position until pressed to the camera. Additionally, a spring causes the breech ring to rotate a few degrees upon mounting, making it somewhat easier to mount the lens by having it partially secured as soon as it is pressed onto the camera body.

In 1978, with the introduction of the New FD series (nicknamed 'FDn'), the coating type was no longer specified on the lens front. All of these lenses received S.S.C. coating, with the sole exception of the 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Canon FD f/1.8, 50mm, with caps.

The original breech-ring FD lenses and the New FD lenses are completely functionally interchangeable, and may each be used on any FD camera body. The only functional difference between "new FD" and "old FD" lenses is when using a Canon New F-1 body with the AE Finder FN in aperture preferred AE mode. The new FD lenses have their aperture ring closer to the back of the lens and the aperture in use visible in the new F-1's viewfinder via an aperture direct readout. With older FD lenses using the silver breech lockring, the aperture ring is too far away for the viewfinder readout, but it does not affect the AE operation of the F-1. One just cannot see the Aperture selected from the viewfinder.

Aspherical, Fluorite or 'L' lenses

An enhanced range of FD lenses were available to photographers who required the highest optical and mechanical performance. In addition to more robust mechanical construction, these lenses used a variety of special technologies, including ground aspherical surfaces, calcium fluorite optical elements, and ultra-low-dispersion glass. Canon used these means to achieve outstanding optical performance at the extremes of lens design: wide apertures and extreme focal lengths. Aspherical surfaces improved performance of wide-angle and standard lenses at very wide apertures. Ultra-low dispersion and fluorite elements virtually eliminated chromatic aberration at long focal lengths.

The earlier versions of these lenses are designated "AL", "Aspherical", or "Fluorite" on the front of the lens. The post-1979 'New FD' versions acknowledged all the exotic technologies under the single designation "L" (popularly said to indicate 'luxury' or 'asphericaL'). Canon continued the "L" designation, and the famous red ring around the lens front, in the current EF autofocus lenses for EOS cameras, where the symbol now officially stands for "Luxury."

Macro lenses

The FD series included a number of zoom lenses with close-focusing mechanisms, targeted at amateur photographers. The series also included three true macro lenses at 50mm, 100mm, and 200mm. These offered exceptionally close focusing and were corrected for flatness of field at close shooting distances. The 50mm and 100mm were marketed with extension tubes that allowed life-size reproduction. The 200mm can reach life size without additional extension.

Special-purpose lenses

Canon offered six specialty lenses for the FD mount. The TS 35mm f/2.8 lens is a perspective control lens. It may be tilted ±8 degrees for depth of field control, or shifted 11mm for perspective control. Though it uses the breech-lock mount, it is not literally an FD lens since its diaphragm is operated manually and must be used with stop-down metering.

The 85mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens is designed for portraiture. The photographer may introduce three levels of spherical aberration via a push-pull ring. Since aperture also affects the magnitude of the soft-focus effect, a wide range of results are possible. The lens may also be used as a standard short telephoto. It offers all FD features.

Two other specialty lenses are the fisheyes. Two versions were produced. The 7.5mm f/5.6 is a circular fisheye, rendering a 180 degree field of view in a 23mm image circle. It requires manual operation. The 15mm f/2.8 is a full-frame fisheye, rendering a 180 degree field of view across the diagonal of the 35mm frame with the considerable barrel distortion of a fisheye lens. It includes all FD features and may be used with automatic exposure. Both lenses include internal filters.

The remaining specialty lenses are the 20mm f/3.5 and 35mm f/2.8 Macrophoto lenses. Similar to microscope objectives, they provide magnifications of 4X-10X and 2X-6X respectively when mounted on the FD Auto Bellows. They can only be used with a bellows, via an FD adapter; while the adapter can mechanically mount them directly to a camera, they cannot function optically. They are not properly FD lenses, but are listed here because they are part of the whole system.

FD autofocusing lenses

Before the FD mount was obsoleted by the EOS system, Canon built 4 autofocus lenses. Of these lenses, only the FD 35-70mm AF autofocused on all FD cameras. The other 3 lenses, AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5, only autofocused on the T80.

The FD 35-70mm AF contained an entirely independent autofocus system and was among the world's first autofocus zoom lenses (Pentax ME F was the first ). The autofocus system was activated by a button on the side of the lens, and involved no communication with the camera body. It was reasonably accurate with still subjects, but was too slow to be a practical solution for moving subjects such as sports.

Further development into autofocusing produced the AC derivative of the FD mount. Three AC lenses were manufactured, the AC 50mm f/1.8, AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5, and AC 75-200mm f/4.5. All were released in April 1985 alongside the Canon T80 camera, which was the only camera ever manufactured to take advantage of the AC lenses' AF capabilities. The lenses communicated with the T80 via a modified FD mount with added electrical contacts. They lacked an aperture ring, and were therefore usable only in automatic-exposure modes. They were otherwise identical to the FD mount and could be manually focused on those FD-mount cameras that could control the aperture. The AC line proved to be a dead-end development in light of the EF series development, and Canon would abandon the capability in the three remaining FD-mount cameras it produced, the New F-1, T90, and T60.

Using FD lenses on other mounts

The 42mm flange focal distance of the FD mount is shorter than that of most other lens mounts. FD lenses can be mounted on most other period cameras with the appropriate Canon adapter and still retain infinity focus. They can also be adapted to many modern cameras, though the lenses cannot focus to infinity unless the adapter contains an optical correction element. FD lenses can be mounted on Canon rangefinder cameras or other Leica screw mount cameras using the Canon lens mount adapter 'B', but rangefinder-coupled focusing is lost. FD lenses can also be mounted without optical correction on the Micro Four Thirds system, which has a flange focal distance of only 20mm. The 2× Crop factor of the Micro Four Thirds system means that the field of view is halved. Another popular option is the Sony NEX system of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras with a flange distance of 18mm and a 1.5× Crop factor.

Following the introduction of the EOS camera line, Canon briefly marketed an adapter which enabled certain FD telephoto lenses to be used on EOS bodies. The adapter contained high-quality corrective optics and functioned as a mild tele-converter; it could not be used on lenses less than 200mm, nor any lens that interfered with its protruding optics. The adapter was produced in limited numbers, with the intent of easing the initial cost of conversion for professional users who owned expensive FD telephoto lenses. These adapters are now scarce and highly valued, selling for around $1000 on the second-hand market. (The original selling price was $250). Other inexpensive aftermarket FD to EOS adapters are available and can be used at the cost of severely reduced image quality, particularly at large apertures.

Mechanically skilled photographers and technicians have successfully retrofitted FD lenses with alternative mounts, including the EOS mount. Some Pentax users have had great success adapting FD lenses for use with Pentax "K"-mount cameras.

It should also be noted that in 2011, FD to Sony NEX E video camera mounts are now appearing. This means that wide and ultra-wide FD lenses (especially their F2/F1.4) variants have become usable for video photography.

List of Canon-made FD-mount products

FD cameras

• Canon F-1 (1971)
• Canon FTb (1971)
• Canon FTbn (1973)
• Canon EF (1973)
• Canon TLb (1974)
• Canon TX (1975)
• Canon F-1n (1976)
• Canon AE-1 (1976)
• Canon AT-1 (1977)
• Canon A-1 (1978)
• Canon AV-1 (1979)
• Canon New F-1 (1981)
• Canon AE-1 Program (1981)
• Canon AL-1 (1982)
• Canon T50 (1983)
• Canon T70 (1984)
• Canon T80 (1985)
• Canon T90 (1986)
• Canon T60 (1990)

FD lenses

The FD series includes lenses of all standard focal lengths ranging from 7.5mm to 800mm. At least two different maximum apertures were offered at each focal length from 24mm to 500mm.

The original generation of FD lenses featured a silver coloured locking ring at the base. Only the locking ring turns to lock the lens to the camera body; the lens body remains stationary. The later New FD lenses have a black mount which includes a lens release button.

Note that some lenses listed below were marketed in only one generation. Lenses of identical focal lengths and maximum apertures that spanned both generations, in addition to their altered mounts, were typically smaller and lighter in the New FD generation, and usually used smaller diameter filters.^{[citation needed]}

Fisheye

• 7.5mm f/5.6
• 7.5mm f/5.6 S.S.C.
• New Fisheye 7.5mm f/5.6
• 15mm f/2.8 S.S.C.
• New Fisheye 15mm f/2.8

Ultra Wide-angle

• New FD 14mm f/2.8L
• 17mm f/4
• 17mm f/4 S.S.C.
• New FD 17mm f/4
• 20mm f/2.8 S.S.C.
• New FD 20mm f/2.8

Wide-angle

• 24mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Aspherical
• New FD 24mm f/1.4L
• New FD 24mm f/2.0
• 24mm f/2.8
• 24mm f/2.8 S.S.C.
• New FD 24mm f/2.8
• New FD 28mm f/2.0
• 28mm f/2 S.S.C.
• 28mm f/2.8 S.C.
• New FD 28mm f/2.8
• 28mm f/3.5
• 28mm f/3.5 S.C.
• 35mm f/2
• 35mm f/2 I
• 35mm f/2 II
• 35mm f/2 III
• 35mm f/2 S.S.C. I
• 35mm f/2 S.S.C. II
• New FD 35mm f/2.0
• New FD 35mm f/2.8
• TS 35mm f/2.8 S.S.C. (tilt-shift perspective correction)
• 35mm f/3.5
• 35mm f/3.5 S.C. I
• 35mm f/3.5 S.C. II
• 35mm f/3.5 S.C. III

Normal

The common FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.

• New FD 50mm f/1.2
• New FD 50mm f/1.2L
• 50mm f/1.4
• 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. (I)
• 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. (II)
• New FD 50mm f/1.4
• 50mm f/1.8 (I)
• 50mm f/1.8 (II)
• 50mm f/1.8 S.C. (I)
• 50mm f/1.8 S.C. (II)
• New FD 50mm f/1.8
• New FD 50mm f/2.0
• Macro 50mm f/3.5 S.S.C.
• New FD 50mm f/3.5 Macro
• 55mm f/1.2
• 55mm f/1.2 AL
• 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C.
• 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. AL
• 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical

Telephoto

• 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical
• New FD 85mm f/1.2L
• 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C.
• New FD 85mm f/1.8
• New FD 85mm f/2.8 Soft Focus
• New FD 100mm f/2.0
• 100mm f/2.8
• 100mm f/2.8 S.S.C.
• New FD 100mm f/2.8
• Macro 100mm f/4 S.C.
• New FD 100mm f/2.8 Macro
• New FD 135mm f/2
• 135mm f/2.5
• 135mm f/2.5 S.C.
• New FD 135mm f/2.8
• 135mm f/3.5
• 135mm f/3.5 S.C. (I)
• 135mm f/3.5 S.C. (II)
• New FD 135mm f/3.5
• New FD 200mm f/1.8L
• 200mm f/2.8 S.S.C.
• New FD 200mm f/2.8
• New FD 200mm f/2.8 Rear Focusing/Internal Focus
• 200mm f/4
• 200mm f/4 S.S.C.
• New FD 200mm f/4
• New FD 200mm f/4 Macro
• 300mm f/2.8 S.S.C. Fluorite
• New FD 300mm f/2.8L
• 300mm f/4 S.S.C.
• New FD 300mm f/4
• New FD 300mm f/4L
• 300mm f/5.6
• 300mm f/5.6 S.C.
• 300mm f/5.6 S.S.C.
• New FD 300mm f/5.6

Supertelephoto

• 400mm f/4.5 S.S.C.
• New FD 400mm f/4.5
• 500mm f/4.5L
• New FD 500mm f/4.5L
• Reflex 500mm f/8 S.S.C.
• New Reflex 500mm f/8.0
• 600mm f/4.5 S.S.C.
• New FD 600mm f/4.5
• 800mm f/5.6 S.S.C.
• New FD 800mm f/5.6L

Special limited production:

• 800mm f/3.8 Mirror
• 2000mm f/11 Mirror
• 5200mm f/14 Mirror
• In addition, a 1200mm f/5.6L lens was developed and used at the 1984 Summer Olympics, but never marketed as an FD lens. All copies of that lens were shipped back to Canon headquarters in Japan, converted to the EF mount, and sold as EF lenses.

Zoom

• New FD 20-35mm f/3.5L
• 24-35mm f/3.5 S.S.C. Aspherical
• New FD 24-35mm f/3.5L
• 28-50mm f/3.5 S.S.C.
• New FD 28-55mm f/3.5-4.5
• New FD 28-85mm f/4
• 35-70mm f/2.8-3.5 S.S.C.
• New FD 35-70mm f/2.8-3.5
• New FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5
• New FD 35-70mm f/4
• New FD 35-70mm f/4 Autofocus
• New FD 35-105mm f/3.5
• New FD 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5
• New FD 50-135mm f/4.5
• New FD 50-300mm f/4.5L
• New FD 70-150mm f/4.5
• New FD 70-210mm f/4
• New FD 75-200mm f/4.5
• 80-200mm f/4 S.S.C.
• New FD 80-200mm f/4
• New FD 80-200mm f/4L
• 85-300mm f/4.5 S.S.C
• New FD 85-300mm f/4.5
• 100-200mm f/5.6
• 100-200mm f/5.6 S.S.C.
• New FD 100-200mm f/5.6
• New FD 100-300mm f/5.6
• New FD 100-300mm f/5.6 (second version)
• New FD 100-300mm f/5.6L
• New FD 150-600mm f/5.6L

Macrophoto lenses

• Macrophoto Lens 20mm f/2.8
• Macrophoto Lens 35mm f/2.8

External links

• Canon FD Lens Specifications
• Extensive FD Reference Page at Photography in Malaysia.
• Canon FD FAQL.
• Canon FD Camera and Lens reviews