PentaPrism Views

Maybe the Niftiest of Fifties. I have multiple of this lens from different years and of different variations. Canon made four types of FD lenses: three older FD breech ring lenses and the new FD “breech-body” lenses. In order of age, the following features apply to all lenses (not just the 50mm f1.8):

1970-1973 “Chrome Nose”

The Canon FD mount was introduced in late 1970. This variation has a silver metal filter ring; this is where the nickname “Chrome Nose” comes from. This version also has a green “o” to represent the auto-aperture setting. The two FD lens coating options were Spectra Coating and Super Spectra Coating, S.C. and S.S.C., respectively. Both were multi-coatings, with the Super just being of higher quality. In these years, the S.S.C. was only applied to the 55mm f1.2 (standard), AL (Aspherical), and 7.5mm Fish-Eye lenses. The “Chome Nose” was discontinued in 1973 and replaced with the following variant.

1973-1976 “Second Gen”

There were not many significant design changes from the “Chrome Nose,” but the most noticeable was the removal of the chrome nose, now painted black. “Second Gen” FDs now had a silver button that needed to be depressed to switch into auto-exposure mode. They also added a lock to the breech ring that prevented the ring from rotating unless a lens back was pressed into the back of the lens or the lens was pressed onto a camera body, making the lens much easier to install. Additionally, Canon extended the S.C.C. to more lenses, specifically the more expensive ones. The lens coating was now indicated on the front of the lens with a S.C. or S.S.C. For total transparency, “Second Gen” is a nickname that I have assigned to this variant. Some of these lenses had a green “A” instead of a green “o.”

1976-1980 “Third Gen”

The last of the breech ring variant had only three minor changes so some people don’t even bother separating them from the second gen. I do however because they are just different enough in my opinion. Here are the changes:

• The green “o” was changed to a green “A” for auto exposure mode
• The auto exposure button was changed from silver to black
• Some specific lenses (including the 50mm f1.8) received a plastic front barrel to reduce weight

1978-1992 New FD a.k.a. FDn

The New FD was nicknamed FDn and would be the final change to the FD design until it was discontinued and superseded by the EOS system. The most significant change was removing the breach ring in favor of what I like to call the breech-body lock. With this system, the entire body of the lens rotates like a bayonet-style mount, but the actual mating surfaces remain stationary like a breech lock-style mount. This allows for the ease of installation of a bayonet and the precision lock-up of the breech lock. Due to the entire body rotating to install, the lens had to lock into place when installed, unlike the previous breech ring models. To release the lens, there is a small square silver button on the side of the body. Additionally, the S.S.C. was extended to the entire range of lenses except the 50mm f1.8. Because it was no longer necessary, the S.C./S.S.C. markings were removed.

As for the ones I have in the 50mm f1.8, I have an FDn and a third and second-gen breech ring, but my second-gen is at my childhood home in Ohio. On my third gen, I am constantly running a Kalt UV filter.

P.S. Thanks to this article by Flynn Marr for a significant portion of my research.