FD lenses

[Ross Dinsdale]

Mr. Welker and Mr. Youmans this question is for you. I am looking at buying a Vivitar 100mm f2.8 macro fd lens. I already have a converter. My question is how many stops do I lose if any when using it with the adapter. 

[Anna M. Wood]

What converter do you have?

[Ross Dinsdale]

A buddy of mine gave me one. It's a cheap FD to Eos adapter. No glass in the middle. At the time of this post I've already arranged a meet up for tomorrow to get the lens. Low price. Potential high reward. Any thoughts on the subject would be helpful though. I've seen the images being produced here on the forum. Inspired me to search these coveted lenses out as well.

[Jay Beckman]

I've got a slew of FD glass if you're interested...

[Ross Dinsdale]

What do you have Jay?

[Jeff D. Welker]

Mr. Welker and Mr. Youmans this question is for you. I am looking at buying a Vivitar 100mm f2.8 macro fd lens. I already have a converter. My question is how many stops do I lose if any when using it with the adapter.  

Ross - Sorry for the tardiness of my reply. I need to preface my answer by saying I assume you mean adapter when you say converter in part of your question. In other words, a mechanism that will allow you to mount the Vivitar lens on your Canon camera body. If my assumption is correct, then the adapter does not impact the performance of light transmission through the lens onto your sensor in any way - you don't "lose" any stops. I'm also guessing that the Vivitar is a manual lens that does not offer any auto focus functionality. Your internal AE functionality should not be impaired and continue to function normally. Make sure whatever lens you choose to acquire has an aperture ring that can be manually adjusted. Generally, you'll lose that functionality when using "adapted" lenses. With vintage glass like Jay's FD collection will be no problem in this department. In fact, if Jay has a nice copy of Canon's FD 50mm f/1.2 L up for grabs, I suggest you be very careful. It contains a very large dose of "magic" that is most wonderful.

All that being said, let me humbly suggest you give Jay's FD glass a very hard look before you buy anything. While Vivitar makes quality lenses, I'd generally choose a good FD lens over a similar Vivitar. One word of warning, acquiring manual focus vintage lenses can become habit-forming. One look at my PayPal account will show that I am a full fledged addict  

Just to be a tease, here is a nice manual focus Canon lens that I've wanted for some time now. It's known as the "Dream Lens". That is right, f/0.95  

[Scott Youmans]

Jeff pretty much summed things up.

[Jay Beckman]

Mr. Welker and Mr. Youmans this question is for you. I am looking at buying a Vivitar 100mm f2.8 macro fd lens. I already have a converter. My question is how many stops do I lose if any when using it with the adapter.  

Ross - Sorry for the tardiness of my reply. I need to preface my answer by saying I assume you mean adapter when you say converter in part of your question. In other words, a mechanism that will allow you to mount the Vivitar lens on your Canon camera body. If my assumption is correct, then the adapter does not impact the performance of light transmission through the lens onto your sensor in any way - you don't "lose" any stops. I'm also guessing that the Vivitar is a manual lens that does not offer any auto focus functionality. Your internal AE functionality should not be impaired and continue to function normally. Make sure whatever lens you choose to acquire has an aperture ring that can be manually adjusted. Generally, you'll lose that functionality when using "adapted" lenses. With vintage glass like Jay's FD collection will be no problem in this department. In fact, if Jay has a nice copy of Canon's FD 50mm f/1.2 L up for grabs, I suggest you be very careful. It contains a very large dose of "magic" that is most wonderful.

All that being said, let me humbly suggest you give Jay's FD glass a very hard look before you buy anything. While Vivitar makes quality lenses, I'd generally choose a good FD lens over a similar Vivitar. One word of warning, acquiring manual focus vintage lenses can become habit-forming. One look at my PayPal account will show that I am a full fledged addict  

Just to be a tease, here is a nice manual focus Canon lens that I've wanted for some time now. It's known as the "Dream Lens". That is right, f/0.95  

Ah, the mythical Barry Lyndon catcher... 

[Jay Beckman]

What do you have Jay?

Let me go find the box and I'll put up a list...

Off the top of my head, I have a 24mm, a 50mm and a 300mm f/4 Non L
I also have some Tamron "Adapt-All" lenses in Canon FD mount.

Please Stand By...

[Ross Dinsdale]

Mr. Welker and Mr. Youmans this question is for you. I am looking at buying a Vivitar 100mm f2.8 macro fd lens. I already have a converter. My question is how many stops do I lose if any when using it with the adapter.  

Ross - Sorry for the tardiness of my reply. I need to preface my answer by saying I assume you mean adapter when you say converter in part of your question. In other words, a mechanism that will allow you to mount the Vivitar lens on your Canon camera body. If my assumption is correct, then the adapter does not impact the performance of light transmission through the lens onto your sensor in any way - you don't "lose" any stops. I'm also guessing that the Vivitar is a manual lens that does not offer any auto focus functionality. Your internal AE functionality should not be impaired and continue to function normally. Make sure whatever lens you choose to acquire has an aperture ring that can be manually adjusted. Generally, you'll lose that functionality when using "adapted" lenses. With vintage glass like Jay's FD collection will be no problem in this department. In fact, if Jay has a nice copy of Canon's FD 50mm f/1.2 L up for grabs, I suggest you be very careful. It contains a very large dose of "magic" that is most wonderful.

All that being said, let me humbly suggest you give Jay's FD glass a very hard look before you buy anything. While Vivitar makes quality lenses, I'd generally choose a good FD lens over a similar Vivitar. One word of warning, acquiring manual focus vintage lenses can become habit-forming. One look at my PayPal account will show that I am a full fledged addict  

Just to be a tease, here is a nice manual focus Canon lens that I've wanted for some time now. It's known as the "Dream Lens". That is right, f/0.95  

Thank you for your insight Jeff.  When ever buying anything whether from eBay, craigslist,offered, etc. I like to do my homework.  I ended buying the lens today, but got the price dropped to 80 dollars.  This lens is super out of box crispy.  I just need to get a MC mount to EF mount adapter and I will be set.  Next time we cross paths and I'll have you review the specimen. 

[Ross Dinsdale]

What do you have Jay?

Let me go find the box and I'll put up a list...

Off the top of my head, I have a 24mm, a 50mm and a 300mm f/4 Non L
I also have some Tamron "Adapt-All" lenses in Canon FD mount.

Please Stand By...

Definitely interested in the 24mm Jay. 

[Jeff D. Welker]

Ah, the mythical Barry Lyndon catcher... 

While the Canon "Dream Lens" has Lyndon-like qualities, the real deal was made by Zeiss for NASA. Kubrick got his hands on two copies and had them adapted to fit a special camera he was using to film all the candle light scenes. f/0.7!!!!!!!!!!

[Jay Beckman]

Ah, the mythical Barry Lyndon catcher... 

While the Canon "Dream Lens" has Lyndon-like qualities, the real deal was made by Zeiss for NASA. Kubrick got his hands on two copies and had them adapted to fit a special camera he was using to film all the candle light scenes. f/0.7!!!!!!!!!!

Oofta....