Difference between revisions of "Canon FD mount"

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m (enough intro text now to permit upsizing lens mount diagram)
(Description: link open-aperture; expand on how FD works; comment Q about Sigma text)
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=== Description ===
 
=== Description ===
  
[[Canon]]'s FD mount replaced the Canon FL mount in 1971 when the company introduced the [[Canon F-1|F-1]] and [[Canon FTb|FTb]].  For the first time, Canon [[SLR]]s offered fully coupled open-aperture metering. In the initial version, the lens is placed against the lens flange without rotation, after which the silver "[[breechlock]]" affixing ring must be rotated to secure the lens. A (mostly theoretical) advantage is that lens and mounting flange never experience any wear from rubbing, maintaining perfect [[flange focal distance]].
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[[Canon]]'s FD mount replaced the Canon FL mount in 1971 when the company introduced the [[Canon F-1|F-1]] and [[Canon FTb|FTb]].  For the first time, Canon [[SLR]]s offered fully coupled [[open-aperture metering]]. As with the FL mount, original FD lenses are placed against the lens flange without rotation, after which the silver "[[breechlock]]" affixing ring must be rotated to secure the lens. A (mostly theoretical) advantage is that lens and mounting flange never experience any wear from rubbing, maintaining perfect [[flange focal distance]].
  
The FD lenses have an Automatic position on the aperture ring, at first identified by a green circle, later by a green A. Initially only the bulky Servo EE finder for the original [[Canon F-1 | F-1]] supported this, but the [[Canon EF]] soon followed.
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FD lenses have an automatic position on the aperture ring, at first identified by a green circle, later by a green A. Initially only the bulky Servo EE finder for the original [[Canon F-1 | F-1]] supported this, but the [[Canon EF]] soon followed. This support for letting the camera body set the aperture would prove a boon with the arrival of the sales-hit autoexposure [[Canon AE-1]].
  
In 1976, Canon introduced the "New FD" lenses. These offered the convenience of twisting on a lens one-handed (like competing [[bayonet]] style mounts) while still retaining the same body flange compatible with earlier breechlock lenses.
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In 1976, Canon introduced "New FD" lenses. These offered the convenience of attaching a lens with a one-handed twist (like competing [[bayonet]]-style mounts), while still retaining the same body flange used with earlier breechlock lenses. A clever design allows the inner, mating face of the lens which contains the aperture linkages to remain stationary as the entire outer barrel of the lens rotates around it. (In effect, the whole length of the lens becomes the breechlock fixing ring).
  
 
In 1987 the company made a forward-thinking (but painful) move to drop compatibility with the FD mount and move to fully electronic communication with new autofocus [[Canon EF lenses | EF mount lenses]] ("electro focus"—no relation to the EF film SLR).<ref>See a [https://global.canon/en/c-museum/history/eos30th-1.html roundtable reflecting on the new mount] from Canon's official [https://global.canon/en/c-museum/index.html Camera Museum] pages.</ref>
 
In 1987 the company made a forward-thinking (but painful) move to drop compatibility with the FD mount and move to fully electronic communication with new autofocus [[Canon EF lenses | EF mount lenses]] ("electro focus"—no relation to the EF film SLR).<ref>See a [https://global.canon/en/c-museum/history/eos30th-1.html roundtable reflecting on the new mount] from Canon's official [https://global.canon/en/c-museum/index.html Camera Museum] pages.</ref>
  
Some later Sigma FD lenses incorporated a locking version of the breech mount which looked very similar (in style, colour and placement of the locking button) to the release button on New FD lenses.
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Some later Sigma FD lenses incorporated a locking version of the breech mount which looked very similar (in style, colour and placement of the locking button) to the release button on New FD lenses. <!--Is there a photo of this? Is this too much of an edge case to be in the intro?-->
 
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Revision as of 14:03, 24 June 2021

Description

Canon's FD mount replaced the Canon FL mount in 1971 when the company introduced the F-1 and FTb. For the first time, Canon SLRs offered fully coupled open-aperture metering. As with the FL mount, original FD lenses are placed against the lens flange without rotation, after which the silver "breechlock" affixing ring must be rotated to secure the lens. A (mostly theoretical) advantage is that lens and mounting flange never experience any wear from rubbing, maintaining perfect flange focal distance.

FD lenses have an automatic position on the aperture ring, at first identified by a green circle, later by a green A. Initially only the bulky Servo EE finder for the original F-1 supported this, but the Canon EF soon followed. This support for letting the camera body set the aperture would prove a boon with the arrival of the sales-hit autoexposure Canon AE-1.

In 1976, Canon introduced "New FD" lenses. These offered the convenience of attaching a lens with a one-handed twist (like competing bayonet-style mounts), while still retaining the same body flange used with earlier breechlock lenses. A clever design allows the inner, mating face of the lens which contains the aperture linkages to remain stationary as the entire outer barrel of the lens rotates around it. (In effect, the whole length of the lens becomes the breechlock fixing ring).

In 1987 the company made a forward-thinking (but painful) move to drop compatibility with the FD mount and move to fully electronic communication with new autofocus EF mount lenses ("electro focus"—no relation to the EF film SLR).[1]

Some later Sigma FD lenses incorporated a locking version of the breech mount which looked very similar (in style, colour and placement of the locking button) to the release button on New FD lenses.

FD Mount Cameras


FD Mount Lenses

  • Canon FD 14mm f/2.8L
  • Canon FD 15mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 17mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 20mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 24mm f/1.4L
  • Canon FD 24mm f/2.0
  • Canon FD 24mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 28mm f/2.0
  • Canon FD 28mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 28mm f/3.5
  • Canon FD 35mm f/2.0
  • Canon FD 35mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 35mm f/3.5
  • Canon FD 50mm f/1.2L
  • Canon FD 50mm f/1.2
  • Canon FD 50mm f/1.4
  • Canon FD 50mm f/1.8
  • Canon FD 50mm f/2.0
  • Canon FD 50mm f/3.5 Macro
  • Canon FD 85mm f/1.2L
  • Canon FD 85mm f/1.8
  • Canon FD 100mm f/2.0
  • Canon FD 100mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 100mm f/4.0 Macro
  • Canon FD 135mm f/2.0
  • Canon FD 135mm f/2.5
  • Canon FD 135mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 135mm f/3.5
  • Canon FD 200mm f/1.8L
  • Canon FD 200mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 200mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 200mm f/4.0 Macro
  • Canon FD 300mm f/5.6
  • Canon FD 300mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 300mm f/4.0L
  • Canon FD 300mm f/2.8
  • Canon FD 400mm f/4.5
  • Canon FD 400mm f/2.8L
  • Canon FD 500mm f/4.5L
  • Canon FD 500mm f/8
  • Canon FD 600mm f/4.5
  • Canon FD 800mm f/5.6
  • Canon FD 800mm f/5.6L


EXTENDERS

  • Canon FD 1.4X-A
  • Canon FD 2X-A
  • Canon FD 2X-b


ZOOMS

  • Canon FD 20-35mm f/3.5L
  • Canon FD 24-35mm f/3.5L
  • Canon FD 28-50mm f/3.5
  • Canon FD 28-55mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Canon FD 28-85mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 35-70mm f/2.8-3.5
  • Canon FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Canon FD 35-70mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 35-70mm f/4.0 AF
  • Canon FD 35-105mm f/3.5
  • Canon FD 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5
  • Canon FD 50-135mm f/3.5
  • Canon FD 50-300mm f/4.5L
  • Canon FD 70-150mm f/4.5
  • Canon FD 70-210mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 75-200mm f/4.5
  • Canon FD 80-200mm f/4.0
  • Canon FD 80-200mm f/4.0L
  • Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5
  • Canon FD 100-200mm f/5.6
  • Canon FD 100-300mm f/5.6
  • Canon FD 100-300mm f/5.6L
  • Canon FD 150-600mm f/5.6L

Adapters

The shallow body depth of R, FL and FD mounts makes it easy to mount other manufacturers' lenses using adapters without losing the ability to focus at infinity. This made Canon FD cameras among the most versatile cameras available.

Conversely, the barrels of Canon FD-mount lenses must be longer than other brands. This means, e.g., that users wanting to attach manual-focus Canon glass to modern DSLRs cannot get a mount adapter that allows for infinity focus (unless it contains optics—a weak teleconverter—which may degrade sharpness). Helpfully this has somewhat reduced price pressure on used FD-mount lenses, which remain widely available, and may be of interest to digital mirrorless camera users (where the shallow flange distance easily allows for FD-lens adapters).

Notes

  1. See a roundtable reflecting on the new mount from Canon's official Camera Museum pages.

Links