EF lens compared to FD lens

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Has any one done a comparision test EF zoom lens and I think just about all are zoom against the FD lens non-zoom to see if the old FD lens out preforms the EF lens? I've heard that the FD's have clearer and sharper images. I'd like to hear some comments.

Thanks Lyle

-- Lyle Mann (res0k38l@verizon.net), April 18, 2002

Answers

This appears to be a pretty meaningless question, though I'm not sure if I can decipher it correctly.

First of all, Canon make many EF lenses which are not zoom lenses. There are both prime (that is to say, non-zoom) EF lenses and EF lenses.

Second, Canon build lenses across a wide variety of quality levels. They make super-cheap consumer lenses and they make top of the line professional lenses. There's a huge variation in quality across the Canon EF lens series.

Third, FD lens manufacturing covered a fair period of time. Later FD lenses were made using processes that are very close to those used to build many EF lenses.

Fourth, on the whole a good prime lens will outperform a good zoom lens.

So. Yes, some FD mount lenses produce clearer and sharper images than some EF mount lenses. And some EF mount lenses produce clearer and sharper images than some FD mount lenses.

It depends on the lenses you happen to be examining. And since there's so much variability and so many factors this isn't a useful question.

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), April 19, 2002.


Excellent answer (as usual), NKG. I think Fuji should name its next emulsion for you

-- Terry (tcdvorak@aol.com), April 19, 2002.

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