Re: OT Query - Canon FD lenses/cameras

Douglas:
I used to use a Canon A-1 and F-1n with sportsfinder, with FD 20mm, 28mm, 35-105mm and 200mm f/2.8 lenses. The FD 28mm f/2.8 SSC is pretty sharp - in fact, any of the fixed focal length FD lenses are pretty good. I can't recommend the FD 35-105mm f/3.5 (fixed f-stop) zoom - the thing was always in the shop for repair when the front half of the lens would come loose. Tap it and that was it!
Your Vivitar 2X FD/FL converter is usable with FD and older FL-series cameras. The FL-cameras were stop-down metering only.
The TLb is very stripped down - I used to sell those across the counter as an entry-level SLR. Max shutter speed was 1/500 second, manual exposure, with all the TTL and quick-loading features of Canon's upper-level cameras.
The FTb was the manual exposure workhorse of Canon's line, with shutter speeds to 1/1000 but no interchangeable pentaprism finders.
The T-90, A-1 and AE-1 were later auto-exposure models, all with center-weighted averaging meters.
The F-1 and F-1n were the professional models, built like tanks, with interchangeable pentaprisms for waist level finders or huge views with eyeglasses or at a distance from the sportsfinder. You could select the metering pattern, spot or averaging, with the interchangeable focusing screen you used. I loved my F-1n. But Canon abandoned the FD mount when they went autofocus in the late 1980s, so I sold all my FD cameras and lenses. There weren't going to be any improved FD lenses or cameras.
The old-style FD mounts had one moving part, each lens' rotating chrome lock ring. Newer FD mounts were the pin-lock mount.
Enjoy the lenses and camera - find an independent camera store for advice on a battery to use to power the camera's meter. 

--
Mark Bohrer
Mountain and Deset Photography
www.mountain-and-desert.com


Douglas Sharp wrote:

Hi, all,
I've just been given a Canon TLb with an FD 50/1.8 (Chrome ring and bayonet lens-hood, old style FD mount), an FD 28/2.8 (New style FD mount) and a Vivitar 75-260 / 4.5 Zoom (Old FD mount) + a Vivitar Automatic 2x Teleconverter ( [FL-FD] - whatever that means).
Having never used Canon cameras or lenses until the DSLRs came out, I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about the quality of the above.
The TLb is fully functional (and very simple) but needs Mercury or Wein cell batteries - can anyone recommend a good alternative body (assuming that it's worth it for using the lenses I got) - I gather the A series are pretty good and the F bodies are apparently superb - any pros and cons?. 

Thanks in advance
Douglas



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