Quick answer
A classic Canon FD standard lens from the S.S.C. coating era. It has a 55mm filter thread, focuses to 0.45m and has an aperture ring.
Pros
- Fast f/1.4 aperture
- Solid metal build
- Aperture ring for stop-down use
- Sharp when stopped down
Cons
- Manual focus only
- Needs an adapter on digital
- Flare without a hood
Verdict
A manual 50mm for adapted use on mirrorless.
About this lens
The Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. is a fast manual-focus standard prime lens covering 50mm at f/1.4 for Canon FD mount cameras. The natural field of view suits street, documentary and everyday photography.
Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon FD
- Focal length
- 50mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/1.4
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Optical construction
- 7 elements in 6 groups
- Autofocus motor
- none
- Minimum focus distance
- 0.45 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.15x
- Filter thread
- 55 mm
- Length
- 49 mm
Specification source: en.wikipedia.org
What can you shoot with the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C.?
- Manual-focus film shooting
- Adapted use on mirrorless
- Portraits
Its very wide maximum aperture suits low light and shallow depth of field with strong background blur.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor (adapted mount, so sensor size depends on your camera). Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 50mm | 39.6° | 46.8° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 80mm | 25.4° | 30.3° |
| Micro Four Thirds | 2.0x | 100mm | 20.4° | 24.4° |
Frequently asked questions
Can the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. be used on modern cameras?
Only with an adapter. EOS R and EOS M bodies can take a simple third-party FD adapter with no glass, while FD to EF DSLRs needs an adapter with a corrective element that costs some image quality.
Is the FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. sharp?
It is sharp in the centre by f/2.8 and softer wide open, with a gentle glow at f/1.4.
What does S.S.C. stand for?
Super Spectra Coating, Canon's multi-layer lens coating used from the 1970s. It improved contrast and reduced flare.
Alternatives for Canon FD from other brands
All Canon FD lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
