Optical Review Blog No. 49 – Canon Lens FD 28mm 1:2.8

I’m still fond of lenses with a 28mm focal length, despite having other lenses (in different systems) that are wider, but sometimes all you need to get the job done is a 28mm. The Canon FD 28/2.8 fits that bill; it is essential and no-nonsense, with nothing overly interesting about the lens or optics. The FD 28/2.8 gets the job done without any fanfare. There are two versions of this lens available in Canon’s FD-Mount: the original collar-lock version (FD) and the button-lock version (FDn), which allows for easier mounting and dismounting of the lens from the camera body. After picking up the AE-1, which only came with a couple of lenses, the 28mm f/2.8 is the first lens I picked to help build a small system for the FD-Mount.

Lens Specifications
Make: Canon
Model: FD 28mm 1:2.8
Focal Length: 28mm
Focal Range: ∞ – 0.3m
Aperture: f/2.8 – f/22, 5 Blades
Structure: 7 Elements in 7 Groups

Build Quality
My copy of the 28/2.8 is the third generation of FDn lenses, the all-black version. The lens is well made, and there’s a nice balance between metal and plastic in the construction, with a plastic body with metal on the mount and interior. The new locking mechanism works well, and it can easily be mounted and dismounted with a single hand; it gives excellent feedback to let me know that the lens has been secured on the camera body. The lens is well made, feels good, doesn’t add too much to the camera body, and works well with any FD-Mount camera. The focusing ring is wide and moves smoothly; the aperture ring also moves freely with decent feedback on the different stops. This lens is home on shutter-priority cameras with an excellent auto-mode lock release to prevent accidentally moving it off the A. Also, it is only a short distance from f/22 to A, so you don’t leave it hanging between. It takes a 52mm filter, which, as a Nikon shooter, means I can use all my filters without needing yet another set of filters or adapter rings.

Image Quality
There’s nothing wrong with the image quality outputted by this lens. I first noted that there is only a slight amount of distortion when focused in close, which is suitable for a lens that lacks an aspherical element. While your straight lines are not perfectly straight, they are close enough, and you only notice this when you’re focusing in close. The lens outputs an excellent sharp image, wide open at f/2.8 and up to f/22, although there is little difference between f/16 and f/22. The out-of-focus rendering is smooth, but there’s nothing special. Again, you don’t buy a wide-angle lens for the out-of-focus elements. But they are smooth and pleasing. Now, the lens is still sharp at f/2.8, what is in focus is in focus, and the edge sharpness is superb. But the lens performs better once you get past f/2.8, far better performance between f/5.6 and f/16. The one good thing is that f/2.8 has no fall-off or vignetting. Honestly, I cannot find anything wrong with the images this lens outputs.

Applications
Like any 28mm lens, this is great for travel, landscape, urban, and event photography. It’s wide without being too wide. It makes a great option that is also affordable in this age where FD-Mount lenses are being snapped up and converted for cinematography use. It works well for landscape and urban environments because of the wide angle and the ability to see the whole picture. It is also helpful to get the entire building area in narrow street settings. At events, it’s good for catching crowds and group photos and is an f/2.8 valuable lens in low-light settings. If you get everyone in the same focal plane and inside that depth of field, you can shoot with natural light. As a secondary application, it can make for an exciting choice for environmental portraiture, especially when you want to get the entire environment in your image as part of the storytelling process. As a travel lens with a small size and ease of operation, it takes up little space in your camera bag and can be swapped on and off the camera body without too much trouble.

The Low Down
If you break it down to the nitty-gritty, there is no difference in the optical construction between the three versions of this lens: the original FD, the FDn Chrome Nose and the FDn Black Nose. It all depends on what you’re most comfortable with and if you’re looking for era-appropriate lenses. The AE-1 was around when the collar-lock FD-Mount, but any FD-Mount lens will work. I recommend the modern FDn lens; it’s more accessible and familiar if you’re not used to FD-Mount cameras. The good news is that this lens is still available and affordable as more people are likely to go for the faster f/2 or a 24mm focal length. You can also pick them up for an affordable price; most are between 60 and 150 dollars. If you want to pick one up, I recommend spending more and getting the one with the S.C. coating for improved flare prevention and colour rendering. Either way, if you are getting into the FD-Mount, this should be the second lens that you pick up.

Further Reading
Don’t just take my view on the Canon FD 28/2.8, check out these other reviews.
Casual Photophile – Canon FD 28mm F/2.8 – Lens Review
5050 Travelog – Canon FD 28mm f/2.8 Review
Stephen Dauherty Photography – Canon New FD 28mm f/2.8
Phil.UK.NET – Canon FD 28mm f/2.8 Lens Review