Canon FD 50mm F/1.4 S.S.C.

Specifications01

MountCANON FD

Focal length50mm

Max aperturef/1.4

TypeCinema · Portrait · Prime

Weight350 g

Filter size55 mm

Physical length67 mm

Min focus distance0.45 m

Aperture blades8

Optical elements7

Groups6

Lens hood–

Additional Info02

Category["Vintage"]

Review AuthorKlaus

Review VerdictThe Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. is almost a modern take among the vintage lenses. Its optical performance isn't earth-shattering, but the readings didn't go down into the abyss even at f/1.4. The center quality is quite good at f/1.4, albeit with the usual drop in contrast. The borders/corners are poor, though. Images sharpen up at f/2, and they are pretty good across the frame from f/2.8. A lens this old with excellent center quality at its peak is impressive, actually. Image distortion and some lateral CAs are present. The vignetting is, surprisingly, on the high side at f/1.4, though. Unsurprisingly, axial CAs (LoCA) are massive at large aperture settings. The bokeh is OK, and yes, it can produce highlight bubbles, but its "vintage look" is somewhat underdeveloped. As you may expect, the build quality is generally impressively high. Most of the lens is made of metal. The grippy focus ring is rubberized (?) and turns with the smooth, dampened action that we love in lenses from this era. There is one thing, though - the breech-lock mechanism. Maybe it's something to get used to, but the required 2nd step to lock/unlock the lens is cumbersome. If you just keep the lens mounted on an adapter, it's a non-issue, of course. Overall, a good lens for its era.

Review Published2026-03-12T03:08:55+00:00

Optical Construction7 elements in 6 groups

Field Notes02

Canon FD 50mm prime lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.4 for low-light and shallow depth-of-field use. Intended for general photography and portraiture on Canon FD-mount cameras.

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Catalog note · source: opticallimits