Using FD Lenses On Other Mounts
The 42mm flange focal distance of the FD mount is shorter than that of most other lens mounts. FD lenses can be mounted on most other period cameras with the appropriate Canon adapter and still retain infinity focus. They can also be adapted to many modern cameras, though the lenses cannot focus to infinity unless the adapter contains an optical correction element. FD lenses can be mounted on Canon rangefinder cameras or other Leica screw mount cameras using the Canon lens mount adapter 'B', but rangefinder-coupled focusing is lost. FD lenses can also be mounted without optical correction on the Micro Four Thirds system, which has a flange focal distance of only 20mm. The 2x Crop factor of the Micro Four Thirds system means that the field of view is halved. Another popular option is the Sony NEX system of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras with a flange distance of 18mm and a 1.5x Crop factor.
Following the introduction of the EOS camera line, Canon briefly marketed an adapter which enabled certain FD telephoto lenses to be used on EOS bodies. The adapter contained high-quality corrective optics and functioned as a mild tele-converter; it could not be used on lenses less than 200mm, nor any lens that interfered with its protruding optics. The adapter was produced in limited numbers, with the intent of easing the initial cost of conversion for professional users who owned expensive FD telephoto lenses. These adapters are now scarce and highly valued, selling for around $1000 on the second-hand market. (The original selling price was $250). Other inexpensive aftermarket FD to EOS adapters are available and can be used at the cost of severely reduced image quality, particularly at large apertures.
Mechanically skilled photographers and technicians have successfully retrofitted FD lenses with alternative mounts, including the EOS mount. Some Pentax users have had great success adapting FD lenses for use with Pentax "K"-mount cameras.
It should also be noted that in 2011, FD to Sony NEX E video camera mounts are now appearing. This means that wide and ultra-wide FD lenses (especially their F2/F1.4) variants have become usable for video photography.
Read more about this topic: Canon FD Lens Mount
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