Canon FD 50mm f1.8 S.C. (II) Chrome Nose - Lens Info
Canon FD 28mm f3.5 S.C. Chrome Nose
The Canon F-1 is a bit of a legend in Canon’s history, it was Canon’s first truly professional grade SLR, built to compete with Nikon’s F-series cameras that dominated the pro market in the 1960s. The F-1 set the stage for the future EOS series of cameras which would eventually become and still are the most popular brand of cameras in the world. What does all this have to do with this lens? Well the Canon FD 50mm f1.8 was one of the kit lenses sold with the F-1 body when it was launched. There were also two other 50mm lenses available at the time. The faster FD 50mm f1.4 and the top of the line FD 55mm f1.2. The 1970’s were an exciting time in Canon’s history. Also worth mentioning is that this lens has Canon’s older Spectra Coating (S.C.) meaning that is more prone to lens flares and ghosting than lenses featuring the newer Super Spectra Coating (S.S.C.)
LENS SPECS
Release Date: 1971
Format: 35mm
Mount: FD
Filter: 55mm
Aperture Blades: 6
Aperture Range: 1.8 - 16
Min Focus Distance: 0.60m
Weight 305g
Optical Design: 6 elements in 4 groups
APS-C Conversion Approx.: 80mm
Menu Settings
In order to use this lens on your modern mirrorless camera you’re going to need to do two things. First you’ll need an FD to (your mount adapter) The second thing you’ll need to do is change your camera menu settings so that it will release the shutter without a lens on the front. Vintage lenses don’t have any electronics that communicate with the camera so the camera sees them as a body cap. You can get more info about it on this blog post: Canon Menu Settings for Shooting With Vintage Lenses
Gear Shots
Shooting with the Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. (II)
There’s something really satisfying about using the Canon FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. (II). It might not be the flashiest lens in the FD lineup, but it has this no-nonsense charm that keeps me coming back. Released in 1971, it’s a classic “nifty fifty”, compact, lightweight, and surprisingly capable for a lens that was often sold as the affordable standard option.
What I love most is how simple it feels in the hand. The focus ring is smooth and easy to dial in, and that breech-lock mount gives the whole experience a solid, mechanical snap when you attach it to a body. With its 6-blade aperture, the bokeh isn’t the creamiest compared to faster FD glass, but it still has a pleasant, vintage character that works beautifully for portraits and street shots. Stopped down, it’s plenty sharp, and wide open it gives just enough softness and glow to make images feel timeless.
The S.C. coating does an ok job keeping contrast decent, though flares can sneak in if you point it at strong light, honestly though, I don’t mind it, since it adds to that vintage look I’m chasing when I shoot FD lenses in the first place. At the end of the day, this lens reminds me why I enjoyed film and adapted vintage glass so much. It’s simple, reliable, and has just enough personality to keep things interesting. If you’re dipping your toes into FD lenses, the 50mm f1.8 S.C. (II) is a fun and affordable place to start.
(I) vs (II)
FD 50mm f1.8 (1) and FD 50mm f1.8 (II) What’s the difference? Optically both lenses are the same the only difference is that in the the (II) version Canon added a Manual Lock Lever on the back. You can see it here in the picture next to the “L” insignia.
Is it radioactive?
Ever wondered if the Canon FD 50mm f1.8 S.C. is one of those “radioactive” vintage lenses? At first glance, it might trick you, the front element has a slight yellow tint when the light hits just right. But don’t worry, that’s not thorium glass glowing at you, it’s just Canon’s Spectra Coating doing its thing. If you look through the lens from the back, there’s no yellow cast at all. I also went down the Google rabbit hole and found zero evidence that this lens was ever made with thorium. So rest easy, this nifty fifty is safe to shoot with.
