G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

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Archive 2010 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

mpacey
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p.1 #1 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I have a small collection of manual focus Canon lenses from years ago, all excellent and carefully picked for the kind of photography that I did at the time. I was thrilled when I discovered that someone finally made an adapter to mount ANY digital camera to Canon FD lenses. I have been following this and other bulletin boards and have rarely seen the kind of enthusiasm for a camera / system as Panasonic's micro 4/3 cameras. My question is this: does it make any sense to use the following lenses with a G1, or should I try to sell the lenses and start with a new system? My lenses are as follows:
Canon FD 20-35L
Canon 300 F4L
Canon 35 TS
Tamron Adaptall 300 2.8 w/1.4x Converter & FD mount
I realize the implications of the conversion factor on mounting these lenses to micro 4/3.

I don't see some of these lenses often enough on ebay to get a feel for the value.
Any opinions?

Feb 08, 2010 at 02:10 AM

CVickery
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p.1 #2 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I haven't used any of these lenses, but I have used adapted lenses on my E-P1 so consider my opinions advisedly.

Canon FD 20-35L - Likely will give reasonable results, but the kit lens with the mFT bodies will likely be comparable or better.
Canon 300 F4L - Likely very good results.
Canon 35 TS - Likely very good results. I'd like to have a chance to play with this combination

Tamron 300/2.8 - Likely very good results.

I'd also suggest that since you have two 300mm lenses, I'd consider one of the Olympus mFT bodies. The image stabilization will work with all lenses and should make using the longer FL lenses much easier.

Feb 08, 2010 at 02:35 AM

infosecgeek
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p.1 #3 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I agree with CVickery... I don't have any of the lenses you have mentioned, but IBIS would be the way to go with legacy glass...

I actually just won Canon FD 55 1.2 and a 35 2.0 today.. Can't wait to get them..

Feb 08, 2010 at 04:11 AM

systemlayers
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p.1 #4 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

make a thread about how the FD 55 1.2 performs on m 4/3rds, infosecgeek i'm interested in getting one.
(as well as a 35-105 3.5 FD)

Feb 08, 2010 at 06:32 AM

burningheart
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p.1 #5 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I had the 20-35L from my F1 film days and when I got the G1 added it to my G1 kit. The colors were great and the zoom range terrific but I found that there was a little too much CA, softness at infinity and smearing on the outer edges of the frame at all focal lengths. 35 had the least issues and 20 the most. Never had those issues in film days. I ended up selling it off. Give it a try yours may have better results than mine. If not you should get $300-$450US for it on the bay.

The 35 T+S will be great on it.

The 300 should be fine, the one issue you may have is for handheld infinity shots. Given you will be shootng a 600mm FOV it leaves no room for camera shake or focus being off even a tiny it. Tripod shots will be better. I don't have a 300 but often use that focal length when usig my 150-600 on a tripod and they turn out fine.

Feb 08, 2010 at 06:41 AM

mpacey
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p.1 #6 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

Sorry for my ignorance......but what is IBIS?

Feb 08, 2010 at 10:34 PM

bluetsunami
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p.1 #7 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

mpacey wrote:
Sorry for my ignorance......but what is IBIS?

I believe "In Body Image Stabilization"

Feb 08, 2010 at 10:36 PM

SloPhoto
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p.1 #8 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I had the tamron 300 f2.8 adaptal, and honestly, its IQ was a bit low for my taste, even on aps-c. I sold it a week later. I do not know if it was just my copy or what.

That being said, I have a GF1 and will be testing out my sigma 300 f2.8 and 400L f5.6 on it soon. I expect both (especially the 400L) to be quite interesting.

(ohh and I have a bunch of old FD stuff that I got with the GF1 to test too. Hopefully I will get around to that soon.)

Edited on Feb 08, 2010 at 11:03 PM · View previous versions

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:02 PM

mpacey
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p.1 #9 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

Got it, thanks.
I never use either of the 300's without a tripod. With the magnification factor using these lenses I'm wondering how often can I really use a 600mm. I suppose I should just buy a G1 with a kit lens, and see how the FD lenses work out. Thanks to all for the replies.

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:03 PM

mpacey
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p.1 #10 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

Slophoto, I will be anxious to hear how things work for you. I am not in a hurry to make a decision (I'll wait for the debut of the new Panasonics at PMA and their effect on the current G series pricing)

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:05 PM

SloPhoto
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p.1 #11 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

mpacey wrote:
Got it, thanks.
I never use either of the 300's without a tripod. With the magnification factor using these lenses I'm wondering how often can I really use a 600mm. I suppose I should just buy a G1 with a kit lens, and see how the FD lenses work out. Thanks to all for the replies.

Just to give my experience. I love the 20mm f1.7 panasonic lens. It is what justified the GF1 purchase. I LOVE the way it renders, even more so after using it for a while.

I use that lens + alt glass. Most situations where I would need AF I either have my canon with me, or the 20mm will do.

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:06 PM

mawz
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p.1 #12 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

Which of the Tamon 300/2.8's does matter, the last of the 3 versions is better optically than the previous two.

I'd doubt the 20-35L would be of much interest on m43, due to size and the fact it's unlikely to perform as well as the 14-45 OIS.

The other two lenses are of interest, although the 35TS is probably more interesting if converted to a current FF mount (It can be converted to any current mount). The 300 f4L would definitely make an nice super-tele on 4/3rds.

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:35 PM

SloPhoto
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p.1 #13 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

mpacey wrote:
Slophoto, I will be anxious to hear how things work for you. I am not in a hurry to make a decision (I'll wait for the debut of the new Panasonics at PMA and their effect on the current G series pricing)

Click here
http://whyafoto.com/Cold-Storage/300mm-Sigma-f28-GF1/

for some samples with the 300mm Sigma f2.8 on my GF1.

Raw shots processed with the very conservative default Lightroom v3 beta settings. 25 capture sharpening, flat tone curve, etc, no output sharpening.

The closer up shots are with a 1.4x sigma TC. All shots from the same position, all at f2.8, and all are surprisingly usable (I do not consider the sigma to be super sharp)

Just FYI, that roof shot is diagonal across two back yards and prob totals >150 feet total distance. The seed pouches are prob at around 35ish feet

Edit 2: it felt like I had mounted the lens, but forgot to put a camera on. The GF1 is almost smaller than the front element of the sigma!!!

Edit 3: I will get shots using the FD stuff in a few days.

Feb 08, 2010 at 11:48 PM

burningheart
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p.1 #14 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

mpacey wrote:
Got it, thanks.
I never use either of the 300's without a tripod. With the magnification factor using these lenses I'm wondering how often can I really use a 600mm. I suppose I should just buy a G1 with a kit lens, and see how the FD lenses work out. Thanks to all for the replies.

This is from an old thead. If you scroll down you will see several shots with the 150-600L, other than the closeup of the moose head most were in the 200-400mm range (or FOV 400-800)

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/742303/0#6751375

Feb 09, 2010 at 12:16 AM

mpacey
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p.1 #15 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

Does the FF mode give me more function?

Feb 09, 2010 at 02:28 AM

Yakim Peled
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p.1 #16 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

CVickery wrote:
Canon 35 TS - Likely very good results. I'd like to have a chance to play with this combination

Why not just get a Mamiya 35/3.5 instead?

Happy shooting,
Yakim.

Feb 09, 2010 at 11:16 AM

dasrocket
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p.1 #17 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I have used a number of FDs on the m43 and can't say I have been impressed by the IQ by any of them compared to the native glass. Here's my list of the past year:

FD 50 1.8 s.s.c.
FD 24 2.0
FD 17 4.0
FD 200 4.0
FD 35-70 2.8-3.5 s.s.c.
FD 200 2.8
FL 58 1.2.
I heard the FD55 1.2 is pretty good, but thus far, I have seen no advantage over the m43 glass; These FDs are bigger, way heavier, MF and not as inexpensive as you might expect for an extinct mount (meaning no bodies made for it currently).

YMMV.

Feb 09, 2010 at 02:50 PM

photosmart42
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p.1 #18 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

I have a few FD lenses for my GH1, and here's my experience:

Lenses that work very nicely:
Canon FD 50/1.4
Tokina FD 90/2.5 macro
Canon FL 55/1.2

Lenses that are just meh:
Canon FD 28/2.8
Canon FD 135/2.5

I wouldn't use an older zoom lens with the m4/3 cameras - older zoom lenses simply weren't good enough quality compared to today's zooms. The 300 L should be pretty decent, but absolutely must use a tripod for that FL, and personally I'd want to wait until the 100-300 Panasonic lens comes out, which would me MUCH lighter.

I say keep the 35 TS, maybe the 300L, sell the rest and buy some native Pana glass.

Feb 09, 2010 at 04:33 PM

burningheart
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p.1 #19 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

photosmart42 wrote:
I wouldn't use an older zoom lens with the m4/3 cameras - older zoom lenses simply weren't good enough quality compared to today's zooms.

I disagree. I have 3 that I am using all the time. FD 80-200L,150-600L, and 35-105 F3.5. All three give excellent IQ and are sharp. I orginally had issues with the 35-105 but that was due to my technique not the lens. Once I corrected my technique the images improved.

I will agree todays zooms are superior but that does not mean the older ones can not produce excellent pictures. One just needs to try out and test the older ones to see which are usable and which are not. As I did with my copy of the 20-35L.

Feb 09, 2010 at 07:04 PM

photosmart42
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p.1 #20 · G1 & Canon FD opinion needed

burningheart wrote:
photosmart42 wrote:
older zoom lenses simply weren't good enough quality compared to today's zooms.

I will agree todays zooms are superior..

We're saying the exact same thing... Never claimed the old zooms were bad on their own.

Feb 09, 2010 at 07:45 PM

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