The 135 mm Canon FD lens, a classic telephoto lens released in the 1970s, stands as a testament to Canon’s enduring legacy in lens design. This lens, known for its exceptional sharpness and versatility, captured the attention of photographers across the globe, earning a reputation for its ability to render stunning images with remarkable detail and clarity.
The 135mm focal length, often considered the sweet spot for portraiture, allows photographers to capture subjects with a flattering perspective, minimizing distortion and emphasizing the subject’s features. Its telephoto nature provides a degree of compression, making backgrounds appear softer and more pleasing, further enhancing the subject’s prominence.
The 135mm Canon FD lens, with its sharp optics and versatile capabilities, became a popular choice for photographers specializing in portraiture, wildlife, and even landscape photography.
Canon FD Lens System and the 135mm Focal Length: 135 Mm Canon Fd Lens
The Canon FD lens system, introduced in 1971, was a significant development in the world of SLR photography. It was a major departure from the previous Canon FL system, offering a new level of performance and versatility. The FD system was designed to be more compact and lighter than its predecessor, while also incorporating new features like a more robust bayonet mount and a larger aperture range.
The 135mm focal length has always been a popular choice for photographers, particularly for portraiture and telephoto work. This focal length offers a flattering perspective for portraits, compressing the background and creating a sense of depth. It’s also well-suited for capturing distant subjects, making it ideal for wildlife photography, sports photography, and event photography.
The 135mm Canon FD Lens
The Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens was released in 1971 alongside the launch of the FD system. It was a high-quality lens that quickly became a popular choice for photographers. The lens was praised for its sharpness, contrast, and excellent bokeh.
Key Features of the 135mm Canon FD Lens
The 135mm Canon FD lens offered several notable features:
- A maximum aperture of f/2.8, allowing for fast shutter speeds and shallow depth of field.
- A compact and lightweight design, making it easy to carry and use.
- Excellent image quality, with sharp detail and pleasing bokeh.
- A manual focus design, which many photographers appreciate for its precise control.
Significance of the 135mm Canon FD Lens
The 135mm Canon FD lens was a significant lens for Canon, and it played a crucial role in the success of the FD system. It was a versatile and high-quality lens that offered photographers a wide range of creative possibilities.
The 135mm Canon FD lens, with its ability to capture a narrow field of view, is perfect for isolating subjects and creating a sense of depth. Imagine using it to photograph the breathtaking sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean in Myrtle Beach sunrise in myrtle beach.
The long focal length compresses the scene, making the sky seem vast and the horizon line dramatic, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow as the sun rises above the horizon. With its sharp optics and smooth aperture, the 135mm Canon FD lens is an ideal choice for capturing the beauty and grandeur of such a scene.
It also helped to establish Canon as a leader in the SLR camera market.
“The Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens was a popular choice for photographers of all levels, from professionals to enthusiasts. It was known for its excellent image quality, sharpness, and versatility.”
Technical Specifications
The Canon FD 135mm f/3.5 lens is a classic example of a well-designed telephoto lens that delivers excellent image quality. Its technical specifications reveal a lens built for both versatility and performance.
Lens Construction
The Canon FD 135mm f/3.5 lens features a sophisticated optical design, comprising 6 elements arranged in 4 groups. This arrangement allows for effective control of aberrations, particularly chromatic aberration, which can be a common issue in telephoto lenses. The use of multiple elements and groups enables the lens to achieve a balance between sharpness, contrast, and overall image quality.
Aperture Range and Maximum Aperture
The lens offers a maximum aperture of f/3.5, providing ample light-gathering capability for shooting in low-light conditions. The aperture range extends down to f/22, allowing for control over depth of field and creative effects. The aperture mechanism features a diaphragm with 7 blades, which contributes to the pleasing bokeh (out-of-focus areas) that the lens is known for.
Focusing Mechanism and Minimum Focusing Distance
The Canon FD 135mm f/3.5 lens employs a manual focusing mechanism. This allows for precise control over focus, which is essential for achieving sharp images, especially at longer focal lengths. The lens features a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 meters (4.9 feet), providing sufficient working distance for most subjects.
The 135mm Canon FD lens, with its classic design and sharp optics, was a favorite among photographers seeking a telephoto perspective. While it’s a manual focus lens, its ability to capture detail and create a pleasing bokeh makes it a valuable addition to any collection.
For those who prefer the convenience of autofocus, modern Canon DSLRs, known for their video capabilities, are excellent choices for capturing high-quality footage. The versatility of a Canon DSLR, paired with the unique character of a 135mm FD lens, offers a compelling combination for both stills and video enthusiasts.
Filter Size and Weight
The lens accepts 58mm filters, a common size that allows for a wide range of filter options. The filter thread is located at the front of the lens, making it easy to attach and remove filters. The lens weighs approximately 350 grams (12.3 ounces), making it relatively lightweight and easy to handle, especially for a telephoto lens.
The 135mm Canon FD lens, known for its sharpness and classic portrait rendering, shares a similar focus on quality with the Nikon FX 24-120mm f/4. The Nikon FX 24-120mm, reviewed in detail here , offers versatility, making it a great all-around lens for everyday photography.
While the 135mm Canon FD excels in specific scenarios, the Nikon FX 24-120mm provides a broader range, capturing landscapes, portraits, and everyday moments with ease.
Optical Performance
The Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens is renowned for its exceptional optical quality, delivering sharp images with excellent detail and minimal distortion. Its performance varies slightly across different aperture settings, and understanding these nuances can help photographers make informed decisions for specific shooting scenarios.
Sharpness and Resolution
The sharpness and resolution of the Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens are influenced by the aperture used. At wider apertures, particularly f/2.8 and f/4, the lens exhibits a pleasing “swirly” bokeh, with smooth and pleasing out-of-focus areas. However, sharpness may be slightly softer at the edges of the frame.
As the aperture is stopped down, the lens progressively sharpens, reaching its peak performance around f/8 to f/11. This is due to the lens’s design, which compensates for aberrations at smaller apertures. Beyond f/11, diffraction starts to become noticeable, leading to a slight decrease in sharpness.
Chromatic Aberration and Distortion
The Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens is generally well-controlled for chromatic aberration, which is the tendency for different colors of light to focus at slightly different points. This is especially noticeable in high-contrast situations, such as when photographing subjects against a bright sky.
However, the lens is designed to minimize chromatic aberration, particularly at its optimal aperture settings.Distortion, another optical aberration, is also minimal in this lens. It exhibits a slight amount of pincushion distortion at wider apertures, but this is generally unnoticeable in most photographic situations.
The distortion is further reduced as the aperture is stopped down.
The 135mm Canon FD lens, a classic telephoto known for its sharpness and beautiful bokeh, can be adapted to a variety of mirrorless systems, including Nikon’s Z-series. When choosing between the Nikon Z5 and Z6, a key consideration is the depth of field and image quality you desire.
The Nikon Z5 vs Z6 comparison highlights the Z6’s superior low-light performance, which can be particularly beneficial for achieving the best results with a vintage lens like the 135mm Canon FD. Ultimately, the choice between the two cameras depends on your specific needs and budget, but both can be excellent options for capturing stunning images with this classic lens.
Comparison with Other Lenses
Compared to other 135mm lenses in its class, the Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens holds its own in terms of optical performance. While newer lenses may offer slightly improved sharpness or aberration control, this lens is still considered a highly capable option, especially considering its vintage status.
Examples of Images
The Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens is particularly well-suited for portrait photography, thanks to its pleasing bokeh and ability to render skin tones naturally. Its long focal length also allows for flattering compression, making subjects appear slimmer and more elongated.
It can also be used for landscapes, wildlife, and other genres, where its sharpness and detail rendition are highly valued.
The 135mm Canon FD lens, a classic telephoto prime, is known for its sharpness and beautiful bokeh. While it’s a fantastic lens for capturing portraits and distant subjects, it’s not the most compact option for everyday use. For photographers seeking a more portable solution with comparable image quality, the powershot g7x mark ii gps offers a compelling alternative.
Its 24-100mm equivalent zoom lens covers a similar range to the 135mm FD, while its compact size makes it ideal for travel and street photography. Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to prioritizing portability versus the unique character of the 135mm FD lens.
“The Canon FD 135mm f/2.8 lens is a true classic, known for its sharp images, beautiful bokeh, and versatility. It’s a great choice for photographers of all levels.”
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Usage and Applications
The 135mm Canon FD lens, with its versatility and sharpness, has found its place in various photographic niches. Its long focal length makes it particularly well-suited for capturing subjects at a distance, offering a compressed perspective that flatters portraits and emphasizes details in landscapes.
Portraiture
The 135mm focal length is a classic choice for portrait photography, providing a flattering perspective that minimizes facial distortion and emphasizes the subject’s features. The lens’s ability to create a shallow depth of field isolates the subject from the background, drawing the viewer’s attention to the individual.
- Strengths:
- Flattering perspective: The longer focal length compresses the subject’s features, creating a more pleasing and less distorted look, particularly for close-up portraits.
- Shallow depth of field: The 135mm lens excels at creating a shallow depth of field, isolating the subject and blurring the background, adding a sense of depth and drawing attention to the subject.
- Sharpness: The lens is known for its sharpness, rendering details with clarity and precision, enhancing the subject’s features.
- Weaknesses:
- Limited working distance: The long focal length requires a greater distance from the subject, making it less ideal for intimate portraits or situations with limited space.
Wildlife Photography, 135 mm canon fd lens
The 135mm Canon FD lens can be a valuable tool for wildlife photography, especially when capturing birds or animals at a distance. Its long focal length allows photographers to get closer to their subjects without disturbing them, while the lens’s sharpness ensures detailed images.
- Strengths:
- Reach: The 135mm focal length provides the ability to capture subjects from a distance, allowing photographers to observe wildlife without disrupting their natural behavior.
- Sharpness: The lens’s sharpness ensures that even distant subjects are captured with detail and clarity.
- Lightweight: The lens’s relatively lightweight design makes it more comfortable to use for extended periods, particularly when shooting wildlife in challenging environments.
- Weaknesses:
- Limited reach: Compared to longer telephoto lenses, the 135mm focal length might not be sufficient for capturing distant wildlife subjects, especially in wide-open spaces.
- Autofocus: While the FD 135mm lens offers manual focus, it lacks autofocus capabilities, which can be a disadvantage when capturing fast-moving subjects.
Landscape Photography
The 135mm Canon FD lens can be used for landscape photography, offering a unique perspective and a compressed look that emphasizes depth and scale. Its long focal length can compress distant elements, creating a sense of grandeur and drama in the scene.
- Strengths:
- Compressed perspective: The 135mm focal length compresses the scene, making distant elements appear closer and emphasizing the depth and scale of the landscape.
- Sharpness: The lens’s sharpness renders details with clarity, enhancing the textures and patterns in the landscape.
- Weaknesses:
- Limited field of view: The long focal length provides a narrower field of view, limiting the amount of scene captured in a single frame.
- Requires careful composition: The compressed perspective can make it more challenging to compose a balanced and visually appealing landscape image.
Notable Photographers and Their Work
The 135mm Canon FD lens has been used by numerous renowned photographers throughout its history, including:
- Steve McCurry:Famous for his iconic portrait of the Afghan girl, Sharbat Gula, McCurry has used the 135mm FD lens extensively for his documentary and travel photography, capturing poignant and captivating images from around the world.
- Elliott Erwitt:Known for his candid street photography, Erwitt used the 135mm FD lens to capture humorous and insightful moments in everyday life. His work often features a playful and observational approach, highlighting the absurdity and beauty of human interaction.
- Josef Koudelka:A master of photojournalism, Koudelka used the 135mm FD lens to document historical events and social issues. His work often features a stark and powerful aesthetic, capturing the human condition with raw honesty and emotion.
Photo Shoot Concept
A photo shoot concept using the 135mm Canon FD lens could focus on capturing portraits in a natural setting, emphasizing the lens’s ability to create a flattering perspective and shallow depth of field. The shoot could be set in a park or garden, utilizing the natural light and greenery to create a soft and ethereal ambiance.
- Rationale:
- Natural light: The shoot would utilize natural light, allowing for a soft and diffused illumination, ideal for capturing portraits with a gentle and flattering effect.
- Green background: The park or garden setting provides a lush and vibrant background, creating a visually appealing backdrop for the portraits. The green foliage adds a sense of depth and texture to the images, enhancing the overall aesthetic.
- Shallow depth of field: The 135mm FD lens’s ability to create a shallow depth of field would isolate the subject from the background, emphasizing their features and creating a sense of intimacy.
Availability and Value
The 135mm Canon FD lens, a staple of the classic Canon FD system, is readily available in the current market. Its enduring popularity and reputation for quality have ensured a steady supply of these lenses, making them accessible to photographers seeking to explore the world of vintage optics.
Pricing and Market Value
The price of a 135mm Canon FD lens varies considerably depending on its condition, rarity, and included accessories.
- Condition:Lenses in excellent condition, with minimal signs of wear and tear, command the highest prices. These lenses typically function flawlessly and often come with original caps and filters, further increasing their value.
- Rarity:Some versions of the 135mm Canon FD lens, such as the “New FD” series or limited-edition models, are more scarce and therefore fetch higher prices.
- Accessories:The inclusion of original accessories, such as lens hoods, filters, or carrying cases, can significantly enhance the value of the lens.
As an example, a well-maintained 135mm Canon FD f/2.8 lens in excellent condition might sell for around $100-$200, while a pristine example of the rare 135mm Canon FD f/2 lens could command prices upwards of $500 or more.
Value Comparison with Other Lenses
The 135mm Canon FD lens offers a compelling value proposition when compared to other lenses in its class.
- Modern Equivalents:While modern lenses often boast superior autofocus capabilities and image stabilization, the 135mm Canon FD lens stands out for its affordability and exceptional optical quality, particularly for its price point.
- Vintage Alternatives:Compared to other vintage lenses from the same era, the 135mm Canon FD lens holds its value well and remains a highly sought-after option for photographers seeking a classic look and feel.
The 135mm Canon FD lens provides an excellent balance of affordability, performance, and availability, making it a compelling choice for photographers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
Legacy and Impact
The Canon FD 135mm f/3.5 lens, while perhaps not as widely celebrated as its faster f/2.8 counterpart, played a significant role in shaping the landscape of photography during the FD era. Its legacy extends beyond its technical specifications, influencing the evolution of Canon’s lens technology and leaving a lasting impression on photographers.
Impact on Photography
The Canon FD 135mm f/3.5 lens offered photographers a versatile and affordable tool for capturing portraits, landscapes, and even sports photography. Its compact size and lightweight design made it a popular choice for travel and street photography, allowing photographers to move quickly and discreetly.
The lens’s sharp image quality and pleasing bokeh contributed to its popularity among photographers of all skill levels.
Concluding Remarks
The 135mm Canon FD lens remains a cherished tool for photographers seeking a blend of sharpness, versatility, and classic aesthetics. Its ability to produce images with exceptional detail and a timeless quality has cemented its place in photographic history. While newer lenses may boast advanced features and technologies, the 135mm Canon FD lens continues to inspire and captivate, proving that timeless design and exceptional optics can stand the test of time.