What's old is new.

Recently I shared some photos I took with a self-modified Canon FD mount, 135mm f2.8 prime lens. This is a lens manufactured in the 70's and 80's for canon FD 35mm SLR cameras like the A-1 AE-1 etc.

When Canon switched to the EOS system in the 80's they introduced the EF and later EF-S lens mount system. In creating a new camera mount, they created a whole new revenue source, as photographers wanting to upgrade to an EOS body, had to upgrade their entire collection of glass.

Yikes. Well, fuss or not, the new Canon auto-focus lenses were appealing, as were the new plastic fantastic bodies. You can't easily adapt an FD lens, because the EOS bodies had a much longer focal plan distance.

Well, as they say "there's nothing you can do that can't be done" and I've had some success modifying *some* FD lenses to work on an EOS body - specifically my 7D.

Early, not particularly compelling, results can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ryanpg/Portraiture135mmManualDIYLens#

Since most current Canon DSLRs don't have manual-focus-friendly focus screens, i.e. no split screen or microprism ring, getting a sharp capture can be challenging.

So the question was put to me, why?

Most people seem to like the initial results. A few have wondered why I'm interested in such things. After all, rebuilding camera lenses sounds pretty intense. People express interest, even excitement, but it's still a little perplexing as to what, if any, benefits there are to wrestling an "old" lens on a "new" camera.

Below is an email I sent recently, containing a few of my thoughts regarding this question.

A fellow photographer in reference to my modded 135mm f2.8:

"That is really cool. How did you get into doing this? What made you want to try it?"

My response:

"Thanks. Many factors.

- I believe current glass is way overpriced. I know there's a lot of engineering and tight tolerances involved, but seriously $2K for "L" series lenses? They roll em off the assembly line just like they do every other product. Seems like marketing and market control. *

- There's a lot of really cool old glass out there. Sometimes it can be bought for a reasonable price, sometimes cheap. It's just a shame to see it go to waste.

- I like to "tinker around" and this is an affordable way to do it - and get some interesting results too.

- Ever notice how different all the multi-coated lenses look, compared to good "old-fashioned" glass? I bet you have. My FD mount 135mm lens has two or three elements. New stuff has thirteen elements with AS glass, coatings etc. blah blah blah... The less glass the better IMHO. Sometimes the new lenses just look harsh to me. No character you know?

- Today, manufacturers can design highly precise lenses using software. They simply dial in the compromises they want to make, to achieve the exact lens they want to bring to market. I like the idea of a person or group of people, intimately familiar with photography, working to design a lens with the characteristics they WANT, that's why a name like Zeiss, originally meant something. There was an aesthetic driving the design.

Btw, I think it's funny how companies tag the Zeiss name on currently manufactured lenses. Zeiss has been dead since 1888. A "Zeiss" lens made today is no different from a canon or sigma or promaster for that matter - in that it's designed on a computer.* Funny really.

Whew! that was almost a rant! I still use current EF mount lenses though too - I just can't justify spending $1,000 for an auto-focus but softer version of my $25 modded 135mm. For portraiture do you really want to rely on auto-focus anyway?

Also, I think a lot of people who complain (myself included) about digital not resembling film, are actually complaining about the optics rather than the sensor. I'll attach a couple full-resolution images. I'd appreciate you're thoughts about how "film-like" the b/w one looks.

By the way, the only thing done on these was a little white-balance and exposure adjustment, and some noise removal on the color one. No sharpening at all.

So yeah, to sum it up - I'm just cheap! :)"

Footnotes:

* I do love Canon and Canon tech. They along with Nikon have really pushed the technology in amazing ways. It's incredible what kind of camera can be held in the palm of the hand for under a thousand.

** I don't mean to disparage the Zeiss optical company, as I understand things, they are still innovators especially in the area of microscopy and biomed technology.