This is a very heavy lens. Compared to the nFD 50mm f1.2, it's at least 1/3 heavier, and physically larger. It's even bigger than the FL 55mm f1.2, but weigh about the same.
Optically, this lens reminds me of the EF 50mm f1.2L. Naturally, the EF version is much better wide open. The contrast is better on the EF, although both are pretty sharp at f1.2. With a bit of contrast adjustment in post processing, f1.2 is absolutely usable on the FD 55mm f1.2. I have read many people's reviews saying the FD 55mm f1.2 is not very usable wide open, I can only imagine their opinions were based on film, where critical focusing may not be easy to obtain. Using live-view, getting exact focus is trivia. From f1.4 on, the lens is extremely sharp. If time permits, I will do a comparison of the FL 55mm and the FD 55mm f1.2, since both have the same focal length, and same number of aperture blades. One thing I do find weird, is that the FL 55mm f1.2 can not focus to infinity with the adapter I have, but all my other FD/FL lenses seem fine.
I have been using the Minolta MD 50mm f1.2 quite a bit last week, frankly, it's not a bad lens, but when compared to the FD 55mm f1.2 S.S.C, it's just not as good. First, the bokeh on the Canon FD 55mm f1.2 is sweet, even stopped down, it's very pleasing, whereas the MD 50mm f1.2 looks terry anything past f1.2. This I believe due partly to the nice 8-blade aperture on the FD, and the MD has only 5 blades, making the out of focus highlights distracting.
The colour is also very nice on the FD over the FL version. More intense, vibrant and saturated than the FL version. If anything, I think Canon lenses produce very nice colours, which I can't say for the likes of Sigma and others.
I might attempt to convert this lens again to EOS later, but in the mean time, I will enjoy it with the G1.
The F1.2 Trio (FL, FD, nFD). Click to see larger.
Guildwood Park - G1 & FD 55mm f1.2 @ f1.2. Click to see larger.
wow, that last shot is so soft it looks like a filter.
ReplyDeleteThis lens does have a slight hazy look wide open. It looks more pronounced in the last pictures because the surrounding is brighter than the middle. I have included a 100% crop of the center, in my gallery. You can have a look at it here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pbase.com/gummiebear/image/129422960/original
Very nice images. So your favorites are the non-breechlock version of the FD 55 1.2 SSC and the BL version of the FD 50 1.4? Do both of these versions have 8 blade apertures?
ReplyDeletePaul, I think all FD 55mm f1.2 are breechlock mount. I have a 50mm f1.2 nFD, which has a stuck aperture and I haven't used it yet.
ReplyDeleteBoth the 55/1.2 SSC and FL 55mm f1.2 have 8 aperture blades, and I think the nFD 50/1.2 is also.
I do like the 55/1.2 SSC. It's heavy and large, but a fantastic lens. I can only imagine the 55mm f1.2 Aspherical version to be even better.
Nice trio :)
ReplyDeleteI have a few FL 1.2s and bought an Ed Mika adapter. It works amazingly well, and the images are super-sharp, if not a bit soft wide open. I have had to take one of the lenses very much apart to fix the broken A-M selector (using epoxy to glue the metal post to keep the blades closed). It was ok to do this because a ring that is connected to this selector was missing.
ReplyDeleteI have given up on converting them to EOS mount. I have the EF 50mm f1.2L and the Sigma 50mm f1.4 that I could use on Canon bodies. But the FL and FD lenses work amazingly well on NEX and micro 4/3.
DeleteYou said your lens cannot focus to infinite. My friend had the same lens and the same problem with yours. I suggested him to check the focus ring and he found there was 1mm distance, He dissembled it again and finally fix it. You can try it again since you know how to dissemble it. Good luck and have a fan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, and sorry for the late reply! However, I am not about to disassemble the lens again! I may not be able to put it back together for another two years :)
Deletedo you have picture of how dissasembly and re-assembly the fd 55/1.2?
ReplyDeletei have one of this lens and the focusing is a bit heavy, maybe the old grease is the causing factor.
i've done grease cleaning on minolta 28/2.5 which is much easier to take apart. but this 55mm looks much complicated mechanism
Sorry I didn't take any pictures. I still don't know how I did it, but I am glad it was put together and working. Canon FD lenses are a pain to re-assemble!
Deletehello again.
Deletethe front name ring of this lens is screw type or clip type?
is the focusing screw can be accesed from opening the front part without opening the rear part?
thanks again