FDn 85/1.2 L & 7R

[danlindberg]

A remarkable and true legend of a lens. I had a FDn in the eighties (F1n & T90) and later the EF version for the 1Ds2.
I found a mint condition one and had an immediate GAS attack. Recieved it yesterday and went for a stroll in Malaga city. No tripod, all handheld. All shot wideopen f1.2. Only possible though with 6-stop ND (Heliopan). Forgot the hood, so without hood and quite strong sun at times.
These are images with no particular intention in my mind other than testing how a 30 year old lens works on a modern cam.
Can't wait to use it with Alpa FPS and my fat pixel back Aptus II 5

 

[Thomas Fallon]

Very nice. Got to love the beauty of 1.2.

 

[Seascape]

Very nice work Dan, really like the pigeon shot :thumbs:

 

[Michiel Schierbeek]

Very nice work Dan, really like the pigeon shot :thumbs:

Yeah, it looks so simple, but to focus on the pigeon half out of the frame is surprising. It makes the composition. :thumbs:

 

[mjm6]

Dan,

I was a Canon shooter in the 80's and 90's, with most shooting using a few F-1's and later adding a T-90 as well. One of my favorite lenses was the 85L... I did a lot of low-light shooting at the time, and used it to get the shot, rather than for a specific aesthetic purpose.

I just bought another 85L after having sold mine in about 1998 when I switched to the EF line. Bought a 50L as well... Why did I ever get rid of those lovely lenses in the first place?

---Michael

 

[danlindberg]

Thanks guys! It really is a beautiful lens. This is my third copy and now it stays. I'm eager to try it with the FPS and both fat pixel back and the Credo.
I will do some more serious tests tomorrow solidly pinned down on a tripod. Handheld works, but it isn't easy and more misses than hits. I realise that for the portrait shoots I will definitely use a monopod with the tiny mini magic ball novoflex in a loose fashion. This I hope gives many hits when vertical axis is solid, yet lots of flexibility. We'll see....

 

[docmoore]

Thanks guys! I realise that for the portrait shoots I will definitely use a monopod with the tiny mini magic ball novoflex in a loose fashion. This I hope gives many hits when vertical axis is solid, yet lots of flexibility. We'll see....

If that is not ideal perhaps one of these....

Monopod Heads


I have used this and an earlier variant of it for 10 years, everything up to H3D II 39 and a 1Ds Mk II with the small 400 F5.6:

MH-01 Pro monopod head


Bob

 

[danlindberg]

Testimage.

Tripod • Base iso 200 • f1.2 • 1/6400 • Distance 3 metres • 2 second timer • hood

100% crop. Not bad for f1.2, 30 years old lens and 36mp fullframe!