Lens Review, Film PhotographyMorten ByskovMay 21, 2021Fujifilm X-Pro2, Lens Review, Sample Images, Canon AV-1, Kodak TMAX 100, Film Photography, 35mm film, Canon Film Camera, Canon SLR, Sample Photos, Canon AV-1 and FD 50mm f/1.4, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4, FD 50mm f/1.4, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 sample images, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 sample photos, Using the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 on a Fujifilm X-Pro2, K&F Concept, K&F Concept FD to FX adapter, K&F Concept FD-FX, Using a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 on a mirrorless camera, Ilford HP5 Plus, Ilford HP5 Plus sample images, Kodak Image Pro 100, Kodak Image Pro 100 sample images, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 built quality, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 Handling, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 in action, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 image quality, Negative Lab Pro, Negative Lab Pro Sample Images, Skier Sunray Copy Box 3Comment

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 Review

A Review of the Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4

Back in the 20th century, 1983, I purchased my first SLR, a Canon AV-1 with an FD 50mm f/1.8 lens. Last year I had the idea that it would be fun to buy this camera again to see what it would be like to shoot with the very first camera I ever had.

I found a mint copy of the Canon AV-1 on e-Bay but for unknown reasons, I had a hard time sourcing out an FD 50mm f/1.8. Instead, I decided to splurge on an equally mint Canon FD 50mm f/1.4.

I paid $125.00 on eBay for the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4.

A Canon AV-1 SLR camera with a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 — The Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4 mounted on a Canon AV-1

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 - Introduction

The Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4 dates back to 1979 and I remember ogling at this lens back in the early eighties. The lens was expensive for me back then, $300.00, roughly $800.00 in today’s value, and f/1.4 lenses were mostly something I dreamed of at the time.

Canon’s lens museum names it “the standard lens of standard lenses”, because of its high image quality. That is all well and good but how does it stack up today, 42 years later?

The Burrard Bridge and Sunset Beach on a dreary fall day. Sample image from a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 — Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, Canon AV-1, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, Ilford HP5 Plus

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 - Handling and Build Quality

It may disappoint some that this generation of Canon lenses is part plastic and part metal design. The barrel and lens mount is at least made from metal.

But to me, the FD 50mm f/1.4 still feels rock solid with the smoothest focusing you can imagine. My copy came with an original 52mm Canon UV filter and Canon BW 52-A lens hood which made the whole package feel more complete.

The lens is light at 8.3 oz / 235 g. The aperture feels a bit sticky but it is, as far as I know, the same for all Canon FD lenses. It is, however very easy to adjust. The lens has 7 elements in 6 groups, 8 diaphragm blades, and a minimum focusing distance of 17.7” / 45 cm.

An old red vintage Cadillac spotted in Steveston, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 — Cadillac in Steveston, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, K&F Concept FD-FX Adapter

The Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 in Action

I ran a few rolls of film through the Canon AV-1 and primarily did street and still photography around Vancouver. 50mm is my favorite focal length and the max. f/1.4 f-stop makes for a wonderful bright viewfinder.

On my Fujifilm X-Pro2, I added the K&F Concept adapter to see how the FD 50mm f/1.4 would perform on a modern mirrorless camera. I had some initial concerns with the adapter as I could not stop the lens down.

It turns out that with the FD-FX adapter, you have to make sure that it is unlocked when you mount the lens and then lock it in order for the aperture ring to work as it should. Alex, a visitor to this site, kindly reminded me of this as I had completely overlooked this function on the adapter.

A Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 shown on a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the K&F Concept adapter — A Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 shown on a Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the K&F Concept FD-FX adapter

I wrote an article about five 50mm lenses for the Fuji X Mount and in that post, I mentioned the challenges or lure of manual focusing. After doing it more lately I still find it somewhat finicky. It is hit-and-miss and you have to have patience in order to get great results.

With that said I did manage to get what I found to be surprisingly good images and decent-looking bokeh with the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4. Please see more sample images below.

An old gas pump in Steveston, BC, Canada. Sample image from a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 — Cadillac in Steveston, Fujifilm X-Pro2, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, K&F Concept FD-FX Adapter

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 - Image Quality

The 35mm film shots in the post are either from an Ilford HP5 Plus black and white negative film, Kodak TMAX 100 (also black and white), or Kodak Pro Image 100 color negative film.

I am not sure I am blown away by the quality I see from the Canon 50mm f/1.4 but nor was I disappointed. Admittedly I am in the early stages of re-exploring film photography.

On the digital X-Pro2, however, I found it easier to see that the FD 50mm f/1.4 has potential and it would come down to exploring its strengths and weaknesses. I hope the sample images to some degree will tell the tale.

A Canon AV-1 shown with a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 and a 3 stop Hoya ND filter — The Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 and a 3-stop Hoya ND filter, mounted on the Canon AV-1.

Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 - Conclusion

I ended up selling the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 but not because I was unhappy with it and I should probably have kept it. As a reviewer, I like to try new things and did a lens reshuffle :)

When I originally shot Canon SLRs in the eighties and nineties I had an FD 35mm f/2.8, FD 50mm f/1.8, and FD 85mm f/1.8 and eventually, my goal is to recreate a similar setup.

I basically replaced the FD 50mm f/1.4 with a Canon FD 35mm f/2 which I will review next. It is not the f/2.8 version but I found a copy of the f/2 version in my local photo store and could not resist.

A photographer is using an old Canon AV-1 with the FD 50mm f/1.4 — The Canon New FD 50mm f/1.4 mounted on the Canon AV-1

I definitely think the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 is worth exploring if you have an old Canon SLR kicking around. It is also easily adapted to almost any digital camera with the proper adapter. I have not tried it for video but have heard of videographers gravitating towards these older lenses due to the vintage quality and smooth manual focusing.

To see more sample images from the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, please check my Canon AV-1 review also:

Canon AV-1 Review

Please see the sample images below. The negatives in this post were copied using a Fujifilm X-Pro2, an AF Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D lens, and Skier Sunray Copybox 3. RAW files were imported to Lightroom and I used the Negative Lab Pro plugin to convert the files.