Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

We frequently have questions about using Canon FD lenses on Canon EOS cameras either film or digital.

There are quick and dirty ways of doing this with adapters that have an intermediate lens to compensate for the mount redesign that Canon did back in 1987. They work, but generally are considered less than ideal, especially for the better quality Canon FD lenses.

It is possible to use Canon FD lenses on modern Canon EOS digiial lenses in a purely manual mode with some considerable effort, which may be worth considering for some lenses and some people. In general it is not a way to get inexpensive functional lenses unless you know what you are doing. Ed Mika in Canada supplies some very high quality conversion kits via ebay for around $100 a pop. I have used several. Search for Edmika on ebay if interested.

I have just converted an FDn 35mm to 105mm f/3.5 (constant aperture) zoom for a friend of mine who comes from a Hollywood background. She uses a Canon 7D and when I showed her the converted lens I have she just said, "that's what just what I use for movies, where can I get one?"

I hope this works on the Hog, but attached (at least in intent) is my pictorial of doing the conversion which may help others understand what is involved and what the outcome may be.

Good luck if interested, I hope this is a useful resource for those that wonder about whether old Canon glass can be used...

The answer is mostly yes, but it takes effort, and is only really worth it for the better lenses....

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

How is your infinity focus? That is where you will have a problem if your adapter does not allow your lens to register at the proper flange registration distance. It is for this reason that I have avoided Canon lenses for my EOS camera, I have a lot of great Pentax Takumar lenses that work wonderfully on my EOS with a very simple $10 adapter. You can use Pentax, Olympus, Nikon, any M42 lens and a few others on an EOS body with a simple adapter. You have to be a little careful with the M42's on full frame bodies as the rear element may interfere with the mirror.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Infinty focus is engineered into the replacement mount design. This not an adapter, so the distance adjustment is factored in. Checkout the details on line. This is not for every lens, but the detail is available.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

It still makes sense to me to just go with other lens manufacturers, back in the day Pentax made great lenses as did some the other manufacturers, one inexpensive adapter will fit all my lenses that have the same mount, I generally have anywhere from 6 to 9 old legacy lenses laying around as I collect them and often resell them as I purchase more... It is good to see that you have found a way to do this, as I am sure that there is some really great old Canon glass out there, but unless the lens is really special, like a fast L lens or a super fast prime.... I think that I would just take the easier road.

asiafish Loc: Bakersfield, CA

Minolta glass is FANTASTIC.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Minolta will not register on a EOS system, There are two Minolta lenses that can be manually adapted, the 58mm f/1.4 and the 58mm f/1.2. Those two lenses have a thick spacing ring as a part of the rear mount that can be removed and milled to achieve proper register on a modern Canon body. You then discard the old mount and drill and use an EOS adapter for the new rear mount. I did that for a f/1.4 lens and yes, it was a really great lens, as good or maybe even better than the famed Takumar 50/1.4 but it was a lot of work, something that I am not likely to repeat as I sold that lens. It is easier just to buy something that fits.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Thanks for your observations. As I tried to point out this approach is not for everyone, but it is easier than making your own conversions for those that are interested.

Ed covers significant detail on his Ebay pages for each specific lens, including whether there are any mirror contact issues with some lenses/camera bodies, and also any infinity focus issues with long telephoto lenses.

I have done conversions for a FL 55mm f/1.2 and FDn 135mm f/2 as well as the 35 -105mm zoom which is well suited for video use, and a FDn 500mm f/8 reflex lens. They all function well with infinity focus, but as to whether it would be worth it for other people only they can decide.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Thanks - Interesting conversion. I have a 200 f2.8, the 55 f1.2 and a 135 f2.5 (SSC) that could be fun...

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Thanks, I also have a 135mm f/2.5 still in FD mount, but mine is the just a simple SC not SSC, it's FD not FD/n...., so yours may be a newer version...

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

No, it was a typo (one too many "S") - mine is an SC also 😡

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

If you are interested in the conversions, we can talk offline. We seem to have a few things in common!

DrJ

I'm not sure this posted on my first attempt.
I have about 10 Canon FD lenses that I have successfully used on my Canon 40D and 7D. The lenses require an adapter with optical correction to enable infinity focus. I've bought several such adapters made in China for about $25-30 each and they do a decent job. With the advent of mirrorless cameras, and their small flange to sensor distance that has a lot of room for an adapter--no glass correction needed, I use the FD lenses mostly on mirrorless bodies now. Some of the Canon FD primes are excellent. The Canon FD 50 1.8 (not sure which vintage) was rated a superb 4.4 by photodo. I've performed tests on a SONY NEX-7 (24 MPx) and the Canon 50 f1.4 beat a dozen other MF 50 - 57 mm lenses. The 135 mm FD lenses are also very sharp. You can use an FD lens on a Canon EOS body with a cheap adapter that does not have optical correction as a macro lens. Which FD lens do you have? DrJ

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

If that was addressed to me as the OP, then I have done conversions for a FL 55mm f/1.2 and FDn 135mm f/2 as well as the 35 -105mm zoom which is well suited for video use, and a FDn 500mm f/8 reflex lens. They all function well with infinity focus, but as to whether it would be worth it for other people only they can decide.

Mirrorless changes the issue, but I haven't been convinced that mirrorless is a good option for me yet. It may be for my personal needs in a few years, but for now I think there will be more evolution to come, so I'm happy watching and waiting while still using my older adapted lenses without any additional optics. It's purely a personal choice.