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prime35mmvintage

Canon FD 50mm f/1.8

Canon · 1971-1990

Canon's everyman standard lens. Sharp, reliable, and extremely affordable. The perfect entry point to the FD system. Compact and light for everyday carry.

Known for

  • General photography
  • Street
  • Travel
  • Budget quality

Considerations

  • 6 aperture blades
  • Not as fast as f/1.4

Optical Characteristics

Sharpness (wide)
4/5
Sharpness (stopped)
5/5
Contrast
4/5
Flare Resistance
4/5
CA Control
4/5
Vignetting Control
3/5
Distortion Control
4/5

Bokeh: Pleasant, smooth

Rendering: Sharp, clean

Color: Neutral

Versions

FD S.C. (breech-lock)

1971-1979

Chrome nose ring

Classic build

New FD

1979-1990

All-black, bayonet mount

Lighter, more affordable

The kit lens that shipped with millions of Canon cameras. Despite humble origins, optical quality is excellent. The most affordable Canon FD lens.

Common Issues

  • Sticky aperture
  • Focus ring wear

Buying Guide

Extremely common and affordable. Check aperture and focus. Great value for starting with FD system.

Specifications

MountCanon FD
Focal Length50mm
Max Aperturef/1.8
Min Aperturef/16
Aperture Blades6
Min Focus0.45m
Filter Size52mm
Weight170g

Optical Design

FormulaDouble Gauss
Elements6
Groups4
Coatingsc

Pricing

£15 - £40

Typical used price

Mint: ~£60

One of the cheapest vintage lenses

Adapts To

Sony EFujifilm XCanon RFMicro Four Thirds

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Last verified: Jan 2026Reviewed: Apr 2026Report an errorSuggest an edit
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