Canon’s Vintage FD L series lenses: 24mm F-1.4, 50mm F-1.2 & 85mm F-1.2. I feel like if combined in a set they could ACTUALLY become sentient and take over the world. TIME STAMPS: 0:14: Dragon’s Fire 0:55: Lens History 3:21: Photo Examples 5:08: SMC Takumar 50mm F-1.4 vs Canon FD 50mm F-1.2 (non scientific, just a spot check) 6:06: Low Light Performance

I started taking photographs in 1962. In the late 70’s I was shooting Pentax. I was there, back then, and so I can assure you that the Pentax/Canon color difference existed back then. It was because of coatings. These days various brands are more similar to each other, with Zeiss and Leica being the most different. Back then every company was distinctive. Canon’s colors always favored greens and browns. It was a very natural look for landscapes and people. Pentax tended to be a little warmer and it favored more golden hues. It was fantastic for low sun and glowing portraits. I still have my Pentax 50’s - the 1.4, 1.7, and f2. I also have the FD 50 1.2L. I would rank them Sharpness: (1) Pentax-M 50/1.7, (2) Canon 50/1.2L, (3) Pentax-M 50/1.4, and (4) Pentax-M 50/2 Dreaminess: (1) (tied) canon 50/1.2 and Pentax-M 50/1.4, (2) Pentax-M 50/1.7, (3) Pentax-M 50/2. The Canon would win the sharpness if only considering above f2.8 but the Pentax is better wide open and close to the Canon stopped down. The Pentax-M 50/1.7 is remarkable for excellence from wide open. The 1.4 and the Canon surpass it around f8 but are beaten by the 1.7 for anything under f5.6 and above f11. It gets less respect than it deserves because everyone gets mesmerised by f1.4 and 1.2. As to dreaminess. The Canon would win this for sheer quantity of blur, but is let down by the artefacts introduced by the aspherics. The non-aspheric design of the Pentax gives it better quality of blur. Canon’s FD 50 1.2L was not the first f1.2 lens Canon made. The Canon R-series was introduced in 1959 and included a 58mm f1.2. The FL mount followed the R, and FD replaced FL. There are both 58mm and 55mm f1.2 lenses in the FL mount. In FD that became 85mm, 55mm, and 50mm 1.2’s. So there are a lot of choices for f1.2 in vintage Canon. Then, as now, the 85 is the best of the 1.2’s and the FD 85/1.2 is quite expensive to buy despite its age. BTW the new RF mount has nothing to do with the old R-series.

You're doing more to show value in these old lenses than anybody else on youtube. That's saying something. Well done Marky.

your definitely one of the most underrated creators

That intro won me, the rest of the video simply confirmed the initial feeling! You got one more subscriber. Keep up the high quality work man!

Great stuff! I really enjoyed your creative approach! Good job!

Glad to come across your channel, excellent videography and story telling! Your videos have pushed me to reconsider my video lighting.

Love this review! Great job Mark!

One of the best camera videos I've ever seen. With so many videos out there in this category feeling exactly the same, it was exciting to feel like I didn't know what was going to happen next. Subscribed!

Omg that image at 5.59_6.01 is stunning. Loving that stand up into the forest light transition. You deserve weekend chocolate for being very humble and clever :)

There is something about your videos that I really like. I cannot entirely describe it in words, but one thing is, that I never feel "rushed" like in other youtube videos. I alway feel calm and well informed, without being overwhelmed with too scientific information. And you give very good examples on how to use these lenses. I guess I will keep an eye out for the FD 50 1.2.

"blah blah who cares" best intro ever !!

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thank you. Great presentation.

Hey Mark. I just love your whole channel - fantastic stuff: super informative and all done with brilliant humour ! Danke :)

fantastic video! really enjoyed the production value, and your knowledge on the lens. keep it up brother!

this is hyped up to the most!! great video :-)

I have owned this lens for 35 years. It was my favorite street lens for 15 of those. Just bought a Metabones speedbooster .71 and look forward to using it with my BM4K pocket camera for shallow focus work. Super smooth and sharp. Glad I never sold all my old FD L glass.

You are so good putting together you material. Congratulations.

Very nice video. Great mood and storytelling throughout the entire video together with interesting content.

Amazing work; amazing channel buds! Thanks

One of the finest channel ❤ Kudos to you 🙏

Your videos are always absolutely stunning, anyone with working eyeballs should be able to see the pure passion in your videos! looking forward to what you put up next!

Oh my goodness. I don't even know where to begin. This is such a bloody good video! Hard to believe it's over 9 minutes as that whizzed right by with so many beautiful shots and valuable information. I say Nick-On rather than Ny-Con. But Then again I say Way-com instead of Wack-om. I think the one thing Canon has always done well is building amazing high end stills glass. This 50mm L easily holds up today with those butter shots you took as solid supporting material of that fact. Got to say that the crisp shots on the A7Sii are amazing. I always seem to favour more megapixels witht he A7Rii as my mains tills camera, but clearly it's your skills with the A7Sii that make the difference. Can hardly wait for your next video mate. Your production values and excellent audio effects / music choice alone is worth watching, but your personality and golden information put you above the rest. Boom!

I love your lighting. I subscribed.

Always love your reviews, I’m working on a vintage vs new comparison video too at the moment, nice to see a fee useful pointers to make the review more complete 👍😊

love the vibe of your video!

Just so you know… and everybody else… we totally dig your videos and style!

EXCELLENT content brother! The FD lenses are absolute honey of a set. Much love from east Tennessee🙏

Such a good production behind this. Got lost in all those nice shots. Got the 55mm f/1.2 and it's probably not as sharp as this one, but it's a treat to shoot with. Both on full frame and on m4/3 with a focal reducer. Keep up the great work!

Awesome review Mark! I absolutely love the Canon FD 50mm f/1.2L, even at the hefty price tag. Be well and stay encouraged!!!

Fortuna, you did such a job with behind-the-scenes / previews of this video on your other social media outlets, you had me whipped into a frenzy of anticipation for this video. So worth it. I loved the match-light intro (so theatrical). But I think I'm really going to hear your brief comments on learning from a challenging piece of gear (" ... creative freedom of experimentation ... ") next time I'm kicking myself for not producing perfect images. Thanks. Now to hybernate in desperation for your next video.

I freakin love your reviews.. specifically that you always include known quantities to compare your review subjects against. Also ahoy from Ottawa! :) Also your production quality and storytelling is fantastic. Thanks for your videos.

Great Review as always 👍

amazing video mate , good job

Dude, I am so happy I found your videos. I was in the process of taking up Olympus on their Trade in Trade up to trade in my film Cannon AE-1 program for credit to, well probably the OM-D E-M5 Mark II. I have from my hight school days in the 80's my Canon 50mm f1.4, 50mm macro f3.5 28mm f2.8 and 70-210 f4. It is so great to learn that with a $20 adapter I can continue to use these lenses that I used to love so much with a new digital camera. Not trading them in.

Awesome info!!!!!! Thank you! 🎥😊✌🏽

I wish it was mine too ... :(

Hey Mark, another wonderful video--thank you! I should mention, while I have learned about vintage lenses before and through others (including other YTers), it has been your efforts that really lit my passion for them. Thanks. So, I got the Canon FD 50/1.4 and 28/2.8. I should say, mostly for video work, but have been seduced into using the 50 for some still images. JUST A REALLY WONDERFUL IMAGE! (the 28 strikes me as rather average, much the way my eos 28/2.8 EF lens from the 1980s renders an image). Truth be told, I'm not sure I see enough benefit from the 1.2L over my 1.4. And was not a fan of the bokeh. So not regretting the choice of 1.4. But I do want to share that I also picked up a PIXCO FD > MFT (G85) speed booster. Basically, the cheapest one I could find, with fingers crossed. It was only $89 on Amazon, and a couple of weeks wait from China. Just a physical adapter and optics, no electronics (non needed for these old lenses). I have to say I am loving the images I am getting thus far. Have not totally pixel peeped, just a bit. but as others have noted in reviews, the image quality is nary effected at all. So for UNDER $200, I got a 50/1.4, a 28/2.8, and a booster that gave me a converted 35/1.0, and 20/2.0, respectively. Oh, and the converted 28 is now impressively crisp. WHAT A DEAL ALL AROUND!

Nice editing You got yourself a new subscriber🎉

Not sure how I missed this video. Thanks again, Mark. This was a lens I wanted (aside from price). The first vintage lens I picked up a few yrs back was the Canon 50/1.4, (bought it for around $50/US) which has become my favorite lens, even though it's a tad long on the MFT body. Put on a booster and it's a 35mm, and VERY usable. Not only that, but of course it opens up to become a f/1.0, which is plenty wide enough for me. I didn't see much in the video that makes me want the 1.2 as much as I may have expected. Not a fan of the bokeh, I think the 1.4's is much nicer. I think the 1.2 holds its image quality a bit better wide open than the 1.4 (at least my copy), so there's that plus. But I find that for a lot of shots, the super shallow DOF is so narrow with my 1.4 (and more so at 1.0), that I often need to stop down a bit to get usable DOF anyway.

I have one of these that I use very regularly on a canon F1N, and it’s an absolutely fantastic lens.

haha! I love this! The standig up and sitting down scene transition and "bla bla bla who cares". Subscribed!

I bought this lens because of your review and it completely blew me away

This person knows his stuff, as I love his reviews he is old school know how, I wish to see more of his videos as I love this guy's presentation on photography in technical point of view, than what his face and his floor dripper wife.

nice video mate appreciate it love the lens thanks for telling us the story of it !

I like your style - the best kind of intro to a video! Trying to decide between this lens and the FD 35mm f2, but only the concave looks satisfactory to me. This seems better value.

Brilliant review, Mark! Thanks for taking the time. Quick question - the song playing at the 7:30 Mark. What's the title? Thanks, mate! Keep up the great work.

Sooooooo much love for this lens. Oh man, it must have been a dream to work with. So shallow... wafer thin!! And boy does it look good for it. Lovely video dude, just gets better each time, effortlessly slick. Oh... one thing... it’s definitely Nikon 🙌🙌

Mark, king of the cut 😃

So first off... I love the transitions Mark! Second... I wanting to buy this exact lens but decided to buy the 85mm F1.2L lens and the 35mm F1.4L lens as the 50mm F1.2L lens was too close to the 35mm focal length for style of photography. I love that I can still us them on my analog bodies as well as on my Sony a7RII. Vintage lenses are over looked at the quality they posses and anyone with manual skills can appreciate it more than the guys that rely on Auto Focus to get shots that overlook the skills you need to develop when things go wrong! Great as per usual Mark! Thanks for LIKES on my IG feed every now and then! Hahahaha!

I legitimately got goosebumps watching that “thin red stripe” roll from 1.2 to 2.8 mmmmmhmmmm yes PLEASE!

I love it. And I like that presentation Bro....lengendary

You keep amazing me with your transitions haha.

DUDE WHAT IS THAT SICK SYNTH

0:17 That really scared me lol. Great video!

Superb video Mark! Iast year i got this lens for $100 bucks here in Mexico, its a beast! Love it!

Ut definately lives upto it. Its really really sharp and really really great performing lens with little to no chromatic aberration or anything. I follow you on IG and have seen some pictures you took from this lens and they are awesome. Loved it, keep it coming.

Great review and riviting video, Mark! When first marketed, I suppose this 50mm was not a kit lens😊, was it? Have seen the drive-in shown in your past vids - great for retro theme. For focus comparison were you using peaking, magnify, or some combination? As a video lens, is aperture ring clicks an issue?

Great video!

Great update Mark. The 50mm F/1.2L is a legendary lens and is much sought after. Thanks for sharing your insights.

Amazing review! I might pick up this lens. What soundtracks have you used? Thanks

thanks Mark, as always...

Haha I love it when I find videos like this one! Posted 4yrs ago it says! Haha thanks for the great content!

Excellent video. I'm surprised that you don't have a million subscribers with this quality.

Hey Mark, just getting into the hole vintage lens thing. Wonderful video, thank you so much.

Your videos are an inspiration to me. I wish I could make videos as good as yours. But I'm working on it. Also, I love this lens.

Been getting more and more into video this year and I just got super lucky! I was talking to A photographer friend of my dads and he actually had one of these in his studio that he hasn't touched in probably 30 years. Sitting in the case and everything. And hes just giving it to me.... I had no idea how much they cost until he said he had it lol

I have the 50mm 1.4, non L as well as the 28mm f2 and 135mm 2.5 and I love them. I have had them since the 80s and have just recently been adapting them to my dslr for videos. Thanks for the great review.

The shape of the bokeh is amazing. It has character for sure and I would love to shoot on one.

Great Video. I'd love to know your toughts on the FD 55 1.2 SSC ASPHERICAL or NON ASPHERICAL

I own the Canon FDn 50mm 1.4 lens and honestly I see hardly any difference between the two here. I don't own the 1.2 but from your images and detailed look here the bokeh looks the same, CA similar and overall sharpness. I don't think the lens is worth the price for optic quality but for history, geekiness and all around charm I would love to own one :) Great review!

I'll admit to being in LOVE with the L series. I had no idea the L had FD mounts. I want them, just for the collectability factor.

your videos crack me up!

The bayonet mount Fujinon 50 mm (1.2)(EBC) lens is also outstanding.

I really don't think the price is worth it. I feel the jump from 1.4 to 1.2 is just relevant for sharpness improvement at something like f4. Even though I can't justify the price for me, I understand someone looking always for the best buying this lens. Great review.

With vintage lenses, I always set my wb according to each lens, but median will be 5000K, plus minus around 1000K the most but mostly around plus minus 500K, it help to preserve other colour and make the result easier to tweak later. As we know some vintage lenses can bring so much colour when you "lifted" it more than some modern one.

Awesome lens. There are so many gems people look over and skip. Love your channel! Can you make a video about the different types of creative shots you can take with a dslr? I just got mine a few weeks ago so I’m learning as well.

I have the FL 55mm 1.2 converted to Eos, love it

I didnt know they had L glass back during the AE-1 days. I have an FD to EF adapter I use with my grandfathers AE-1 lenses I inherited from him. He used to let me take photos with his AE-1 in the 1980s. I like the organic feel and soft focus I get from those lenses. I also have an adapter for my Dads Minolta MD mount to EF lenses. I love the look of these old lenses on my Canon 5D mark III and my Canon 90D. I like them more for video than I do stills.

Hey, Mike. I'm loving your videos. Thanks. Do you have any experience with the Canon FD 50mm f3.5 macro lens? I have one on the way and I'm curious if you have any thoughts. Cheers! BB

Hey, Mark. I'm still not sold on the TAk's warm colors being due to yellow tinting. Do you see the yellow tinting when you look at it? Mine has none and the colors I get out of it are incredibly rich and warm.

WOW... Wonderfull video.. Thnx.

I have got it for my 30th birthday :D and I loooooove it

Hey this was a really great review! Are you planning to review the FD 85mm F1.2 L too?

You should definitely review the f/0.95 Dream Lens by canon. Great video.

I'm in love with my Minolta 50mm 1.4 and 1.2

Quite unbelievably beautiful look & bokeh ;O Lives in the nocti range to me in that character.

Simply epic 🤘

Omg so beautiful, I just got the 85mm 1.2

I love Canon FD lenses and in future I want to get a set of FD L primes as well as Zeiss Primes. I just hope they won't go crazy in price by the time I'm actually buying them. FDs are fantastic lenses... The thin red line is worth it.

from the comparisons, the takumar has more contrast than the FD. nice video, cheers

I have it and also 55 1.2 asph version. I would say that 55 1.2 asph is little better, but it also has thorium and is bigger/heavier. I love my fd collection, I have many others fd L lenses and I use them occasionally.

Hey Mark, this is great info on the FDs!! Thanks!! How would you say the focus breathing performs when compared to the cheaper nFD 50mm 1.4 (no red ring). Is it anyway better? Thinking about doing the upgrade!! Cheers!!

I love your videos.

I see terminator's eye!!! Scary!!! NIce video!!! :)

So funny! Nice job!

i have to say that......your Storytelling abilities are great with music choices :)

I had one from an A-1 camera kit I purchased at an estate sale around 1999. It was awesome for focusing on my F-1N if I was going to take the shot stopped down. It's minimum aperture was f16, problematic as I normally shot 125 Ilford or 160 Portra at the time. The vignetting at 1.2 was atrocious, and at 1.4 was worse than my FD 50 1.4 wide open. Correction required a large central dodge. At f2.8 the bokeh was rough in the center but much more creamy at the edges. The 1.4 outperformed it in every way with my style of shooting. The 1.2 wound up being a niche lens for me and for most of the time I owned it was not part of my regular kit, spending most of the time in the closet. I got rid of it on a trade for a 300 f2.8 which I still own. Now, if you want to make a video about *that*, I have much different opinions. I'm glad I still have most of my FD glass primes, with an adapter they have found new life on my new mirrorless kits. Alas, the A-1, F-1N and T-90 are long gone.

Very cool! I think I would prefer the takumar. One lens I had for a while was the Meyer Optik 58mm 1.9. Flared like crazy but had a deeee-licious clarity/pop. I want it back. I’m still trying to creepily locate you based on your shooting surroundings. I’m thinking NorthEast......?

Another great video! It's a little crazy that even so many years later the FD L lenses are still so expensive. I guess the pro line will always hold up, so good work to Canon. Also, what are the names to the tracks at 1:28 and 6:34? They sound really nice.