Older FD lens to new DSLR
Discussion
The distance between the rearmost element and the film/sensor on FD mount cameras is less than the distance on lots of other camera mounts including Canon EF and Nikon F. My understanding is that this means that FD lenses wont focus to infinity on those cameras. I think you can get adapters which have a lens that corrects this and allows you to infinity focus, but I guess they are more expensive and reduce the overall image quality.
Sam is correct - you can get an adapter with an inbuilt lens that will correct for the fact that the FD lens is further away from the sensor than intended which prevents it from focussing at infinity without the correction.
Obviously it introduces another piece of glass between the FD lens and the camera, and cheap ones may have a noticeable effect on the IQ. You also lose the ability of the camera to read the aperture setting, so everything has to be done manually.
Obviously it introduces another piece of glass between the FD lens and the camera, and cheap ones may have a noticeable effect on the IQ. You also lose the ability of the camera to read the aperture setting, so everything has to be done manually.
My old FD 600MM L spec lens came with a Kood converter. Works fine with my 400D
A Vivitar Series 1 70-210 also seems OK and I have recently been playing with a Canon f4 70-210 + 2x Extender with surprisingly good results including Macro. Especially surprising since the extender I have been using is a Canon A type intended for lenses over 300mm - so in theory not compatible.
A couple of experiments with a 28mm lens were not so convincing.
Obviously everything is manual though you can get stop-down metering information.
I don't think the Kood converter is available now under that brand but there are a number of others around. I would guess the cheapest are not so good and certainly metal only should be the rule.
The previous owner of the 600mm used it for bird shots and so removed the converter's infinity lens. I use it with the lens in place.
A Vivitar Series 1 70-210 also seems OK and I have recently been playing with a Canon f4 70-210 + 2x Extender with surprisingly good results including Macro. Especially surprising since the extender I have been using is a Canon A type intended for lenses over 300mm - so in theory not compatible.
A couple of experiments with a 28mm lens were not so convincing.
Obviously everything is manual though you can get stop-down metering information.
I don't think the Kood converter is available now under that brand but there are a number of others around. I would guess the cheapest are not so good and certainly metal only should be the rule.
The previous owner of the 600mm used it for bird shots and so removed the converter's infinity lens. I use it with the lens in place.
Simpo Two said:
LongQ said:
A Vivitar Series 1 70-210
I have one of those! Bought in 1982, f3.5 all the way and a fine lens from when Vivitar was decent brand and 'Series 1' meant something. However as it's PK fit it'll need a bit of persuasion to fit a Nikon!Apparently there were 4 distinct versions of this lens over time and only one of them really deserved the full on reputation the lens is known for. Only the date of manufacture identifies the 'good ones' from the also rans.
Info on the net (as usual) somewhere.
I still have my original 75-205 Vivitar. I good value for money lens of its time.
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