Is this a completely ridiculous idea?

[theLaika]

1st post, y'all!

I was considering purchasing a cheap f/1.2 FD mount for my Canon EF 7d with some kind of lens attachment to fill the gap. Is this a completely ridiculous idea? The cost saving between buying 85mm FD f/1.2 and new EF mount version is Significant!

Your thoughts.

[OsmosisStudios]

Keep in mind you'll likely be losing metering and autofocus in the process. And unless youre transplanting an EF mount, it's gonna lose a ton of quality and some aperture. Transplanting mounts isnt easy, or cheap

[Indigo November]

f/1.2 on a budget...

There's your answer!

[theLaika]

Yeah, this seems a little painful. I might pick up some FD lenses for eventual film Canon SLR but for now, I think my EF 50mm f/1.8 is large enough aperture for my skill level. Tx anyway.

[Glenn72]

Since your in the UK you might want to check out the Lens Doctor. HOME
I just bought a Tokina 400mm f5.6 from him that was converted from FD to EF with AF Confirm chip. Seems to work well but I haven´t had much time to try it yet since by the time I get home from work its dark.

[gturner]

to me that is throwing good money after a bad idea
A 50 1.8 or 1.4 is going to give a IQ far better than a DIY job.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by theLaika

I was considering purchasing a cheap f/1.2 FD mount for my Canon EF 7d with some kind of lens attachment to fill the gap. Is this a completely ridiculous idea? The cost saving between buying 85mm FD f/1.2 and new EF mount version is Significant!

Not a great idea. The adapter you'd need to achieve infinity focus would require adding a glass element. FD/FL lenses are generally not worth using an adapter. Most folks who use them on EOS mount do so by replacing the lens mount altogether. Unless you've got machining capabilities, or the money to pay someone else to do it, it's probably not worth it.

AND the Samyang/Rokinon/Vivitar (etc. etc.) 85/1.4 is hecka cheaper, readily available, already adapted, and gives you pretty much the same picture quality, if you're willing to go with all the PITAness a manual focus lens implies (no autofocus, aperture control from the body, wide-open metering, or full EXIF information).

Originally Posted by gturner

to me that is throwing good money after a bad idea
A 50 1.8 or 1.4 is going to give a IQ far better than a DIY job.

Depends on the quality of the DIYer. I'd recommend taking a look at what cogitech did in the fredmiranda link above: he was testing the Rokinon/Samyang 85/1.4 against both the EF and FD versions of the 85L. But then, cogitech has mad skillz when it comes to lens adapting.

Originally Posted by Indigo November

f/1.2 on a budget...

There's your answer!

Err, no. As the author of that thread, you'll note that in there, I eventually get around to mentioning that FD/FL cannot be adapted the same way as Nikon F, Pentax K, Contax/Yashica, Leica-R, M32, and Olympus OM. It's one of the great ironies that you can use a ton of manual focus lenses on Canon with a simple adapter ring--just not Canon's.