FD vs FL, some answers.

As some of you might know, I have a love/hate relationship with my Canon FD 50 F:1.8 lens.



The reason for that is that it's optically fantastic, among the 3 best nifties I have (if not THE best, and I'm up to 6 of them, soon to be 7...), but mecanically and cosmetically it's atrocious. 80's black half matte plastic, pseudo modern Zeiss no frill design, but just truly ugly to look at, and hardly nice to operate. There is none of that glorious smoothness usually associated with legacy dampened focus rings.

I even listed it on various sites for sale, but it's so common it didn't draw much interest, despite my copy being an official 1984 Olympic Games badged. Anyway, as much as I hate the feeling, I'm in love with the output of this lens, so I looked for a way to have best of both worlds. Keep the optical quality, but trade for a beautiful and pleasurable to handle alternative.

Enters, Canon FL 50 F:1.8. I grabbed it at an attractive price off eBay UK, and a very good condition lens arrived at my door this morning.
The metal barrel is typical older manual lenses, à la EE Hexanon series, SuperTak, etc... Beautiful to look at, a joy to hold, and a pleasure to use. The focus ring is very similar in looks to the one of my Tak 50/1.4, except it doesn't turn as freely, without being stiff in the least. It just gives a little more feedback, while the Tak requires a lighter touch. Both feel fabulous, and in practice I can't quite decide which feels best. I photographed them here together, with the plastic FD thrown in the mix for comparison's sake.



I made a few test pics throghout the day, and the least I can say it that's it is, indeed, optically on par with its FD counterpart, while feeling and looking considerably nicer. All in all, I'm a happy camper. My FD can go back for sale  


Bokeh is notably nervous, but I can live with that. I have the OM 100/2.8 when I want creamy.


Sharpness is excellent wide open, which I love. Color rendition is neutral and beautiful, contrast is very good. Flare seems well controlled.

Now anxiously awaiting delivery of the 55/1.2 !!

 

It's this very one :
Canon FD 50mm 1 1 8 Lens with Olympic 1984 Cap 829662127272 | eBay

Canon FD 50mm F1 8 Prime Lens Olympic Games 1984 Pristine and Boxed | eBay

I'd be happy to make it go to a board member, so let's say 60 bucks, alas you'd have to consider overseas shipping, which even if we split, would have to add, say 10 bucks. If you're comfortable using the gift option from Paypal (I've bought twice from Dixeyk here, and once from Cherrywood at m4/3user, they should be able to vouch for me), I'd sent it to you for 70. I'm sure there'd be cheaper units locally, but probably not in the limited series edition, and not tested and proven. My copy is just like new (I suspect it was, because only the box shows a bit of wear, the lens is pristine).
I admit there's a certain appeal to gettting gear from a fellow photographer, or maybe I'm just way too sentimental  

 

Oh they certainly can't be flawed optically. They're just great.

 

Yes it probably is !! But I caught that bug from Dixeyk first, so he's just as guilty