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Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L
Canon · 1982-1989
Canon's professional super-telephoto. The 500mm focal length with f/4.5 aperture was designed for wildlife and sports. Fluorite element ensures exceptional sharpness. Built for professional use.
Known for
- Wildlife
- Bird photography
- Sports
- Air shows
Considerations
- Very heavy at 2.9kg
- Requires solid tripod
- Manual focus at distance challenging
Optical Characteristics
Sharpness (wide)4/5
Sharpness (stopped)5/5
Contrast5/5
Flare Resistance5/5
CA Control5/5
Vignetting Control4/5
Distortion Control5/5
Bokeh: Smooth super-telephoto
Rendering: Professional wildlife quality
Color: Neutral, accurate
Common Issues
- Mount stress from weight
- Fluorite element care
- Tripod collar wear
Buying Guide
Check mount and tripod collar carefully. Test focus mechanism. Fluorite elements can develop issues. Professional super-telephoto.
Specifications
MountCanon FD
Focal Length500mm
Max Aperturef/4.5
Min Aperturef/32
Aperture Blades9
Min Focus5m
Filter Size48mm
Weight2900g
Optical Design
FormulaTelephoto
Elements7
Groups5
CoatingSSC (Canon)
SpecialFluorite element
Pricing
£800 - £1500
Typical used price
Mint: ~£2000
Professional super-telephoto pricing
Adapts To
Sony ECanon RF
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Last verified: Jan 2026Report an error