Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC review

For the opportunity Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC Review Many thanks to Alexander from the Manual Optics section.

Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC review

TTX Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC:
Focal length: 55 mm
Diaphragm: F / 1.2-F / 16.0 (values ​​of 1.2, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 can be set)
Number of aperture blades: 8 pieces
MDF: 0,6m
The weight: about 600g
Bayonet mount: Canon FD (in this case, reworked FD -> EF)
Front Filter Diameter: 58 mm

Please note that this Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC can not be used on modern Canon EOS digital SLR cameras, since the Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC has a FD type mount (mount to the camera), and all modern Canon digital cameras EOS have a Canon EF, EF-S mount. In this review, I used a Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC lens converted to EF-S... If you do not deal with altering the lens, then you will need to use a special adapter Canon FD - Canon EF with a lens to get normal operation with the lens. The lens may degrade the image quality.

FD 55mm f / 1.2 from different sides

The lens has a brother Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC Aspherical, which is one of the first lenses using aspherical elements. The lens of this Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC review is often referred to as 55mm f / 1.2 pre-aspherical or 55mm f / 1.2 non-aspherical in order to distinguish between lenses. Also, in the Canon Lens FD lens range there are a lot of lenses of the 50mm F / 1.2 type. You can read how to use different non-autofocus lenses in the section old lenses at canon.

Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC on the modern CZK

old man Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC can show exorbitant image quality. When working with a lens, the first thing you notice is its weight. For an ordinary fifty dollars, Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC It is simply huge. This is most likely the largest fifty-fifty (55mm) I've ever used. Together with the lens hood, the lens looks great on the camera.

Photo by Canon 55 1.2. Very small DOF, the image seems soft

The lens has a special SSC coating (Super Spectra Coating), which allows you to normally transfer side and backlight, and also helps to achieve excellent contrast in the image.

Sample photo on a Canon 55mm F1.2 FD

Focusing on the lens is very smooth. Focusing ring metal, not rubberized. The ring rotates a little more than 180 degrees with an easy flight for infinity and a flight for 60cm MDF. At the same time, the lens protrudes the trunk 0.5cm forward. When focusing, all lenses move together.

Sample photo on a Canon 55mm F1.2 FD

The diaphragm in my converted version has only manual control. Most likely, in the native state under the FD mount, the diaphragm had automatic control. The diaphragm ring rotates easily, with a nice click. DoFs are available for F / 4.0, 8, 11, 16 with a dot for infrared shift. The diaphragm has as many as 8 petals with a matte finish. Petals form a regular (not rounded) octagon.

Sample photo on a Canon 55mm F1.2 FD

Regarding F / 1.2: yes, 1.2 is huge aperture, it's as much as 2.25 times lighter for F / 1.8. Such aperture can help out in dark conditions. But focusing even in good conditions is very difficult; in dark conditions, focusing can be a problem.

Example photo on a Canon 55mm F1.2 FD. Bokeh

Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC. very well made lens. He is many years old, but he works perfectly. On modern cropped CZKs Canon EGF lens will match 88mm for Canon APS-C crop = 1,6x, And 71,5mm for Canon APS-H crop = 1,3x. This EGF very convenient for use in portrait photography. It's very good that Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC. can be used without problems on full-frame cameras and on Canon APS-H cameras.

Sample photo on a Canon 55mm F1.2 FD

Image quality

The lens produces a good, sharp and contrasty image. On F1.2, aberrations are noticeable, which completely disappear if you set the aperture F2.8. The lens is devoid of distortion and vignetting on APS-C cameras. The lens is sharp even on F1.2 with a light soft effect that appears due to the very small depth of field. Unfortunately, I can only judge the lens when used on APS-C the camera. The bokeh of the lens is amazing, with discs in the blur zone similar to lemons. The image quality is on top.

Bokeh at full aperture

Sample Photos

All photos taken on Canon 350D APS-C, crop=1.6x. Without processing. RAW – > JPEG 3MP, Q=85%, autolevels, added watermark with options EXIF. Pictures were taken using native protective filter Canon 58mm UV 1x and Canon S-60 60mm lens hoods (with clamping device for smaller diameter filters).

Personal experience:

The lens is very, very difficult to shoot at F1.2. The depth of field is very small. Focusing without Live View on 1.2 is very difficult. I had to shoot with bracketing focusing to pick up for a review of 20-30 photos with a normal sharpness of 1.2. Due to the need to remake old FD, FDn lenses for modern cameras, I come across the fact that they often take Nikon 50mm f / 1.2 AI-S Nikkor MF for Canon and used with Nikon F mount adapter - Canon EOS, which does not require lens. But personally to me the image with Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC liked more for Nikon 50mm f / 1.2 AI-S Nikkor MF.

Photo by Canon 55 1.2

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How to use FL/FD/FDn mount lenses

To use a Canon FL, Canon FD, or Canon FDn mount lens on modern mirrorless cameras, you should use the appropriate adapter:

• Canon RF/RF-S: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> RF/EOS R
• Canon EF-M: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> EF-M/EOS M
• Sony NEX/ILCE/IMCE/FE/E: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> NEX/ILCE/FE/E
• Nikon Z: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> Z
• Panasonic L / Sigma L / Leica L/T/TL: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> L
• fujifilm x: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> X/FX
• Samsung NX: adapter FD/FDn/FL -> NX
• Micro 4/3 (Panasonic/Olympus): adapter FD/FDn/FL -> M4/3
• Nikon 1 : adapter FD/FDn/FL -> N1

The adapters are suitable for FL, FD and FDn mount lenses, these mounts are backwards compatible. But using lenses with a Canon FL / Canon FD / Canon FDn mount on SLR cameras is difficult due to the long working distance. In such cases, a corrective lens adapter must be used, which will degrade the image quality.

Conclusions:

Canon Lens FD 55mm f / 1.2 SSC... - excellent super fast prime lens. For use on modern cameras requires some work. It attracts with a sharp contrasting image and good bokeh. Recommend.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram