Bill Smith's Photography

  Got my Canon New F-1 AE back from the repair tech up at Halton Camera Exchange and it was time for a CLA. The lower speeds were getting flaky late last Summer and decided it was due for a CLA, my usual guy begged off as it was just a bit beyond his abilities, for now. The New F-1 released in the early 1980s (not to be confused with the F-1n from the mid to late 1970s) had a hybrid shutter (mechanical speeds from 1/125 and up, and electroncially controlled speeds from 1/60 downward to bulb) competed against Nikon's F3 series.  I popped on my pre SSC 35 f2 lens and was in Toronto for a networking event with professional colleagues, before dinner I went for a wander through Yorkville and shot a roll of Kentmere 400. The Chrome Nose or Pre SSC 35 F2 has a Thorium element that gives the lens a unique look. I love it even through it weighs more than the Nikkor equivelant. Sadly any FD mount 35 F2 has gotten silly expensive in the last few years because of the trend for lenses to b...

 Canon FD mount 35 F2 lens aren't cheap. I got luck when mine came with the New F-1 I bought off my brother Alex. My version is an early production with the chrome nose and thorium glass. Naively I thought I could buy a decent FDn 35 F2 from the 1980s to compliment my pair of New F-1's, yeah, no.  I got sticker shock some time between I got the chrome nose 35 f2 lens and now, cinematographers fell in love with certain 35mm SLR lenses and they love using the old glass on their digital video cameras. I'm not talking wedding videographers but people shooting movies, TV shows and music videos. The other problem with old FD glass, finding a decent example is going to take time. The old FDn lenses. were prone to haze and very humid climates, fungus. Oh joy, reading many EX++++++ cosmetically great but please ignore the mushroom farm and the fact the previous owner used 120 grit sandpaper on the front element for some dumb reason. Shame.  So I live with the gen one FD 35 F2, des...

 Canon FD glass used to be bargain. Most focal lengths still are, but there are exceptions that have popped up over the past year or so. Fast wide angle, and wide normal lenses have popped in price My friend Alyssa from Aly's Vintage Camera Alley wanted on for her Canon kit and got sticker shock, we talked about it in Facebook Messenger. Well the reason why the 35 f2's and 28 F2 lenses have screwy lately as cinematographers are popping these lenses on their RED Digital Motion Picture Cameras for a different look. I found that out through another friend, a film photographer works in the Film and TV industry in Vancouver BC,  Canada. He has a set of Canon FD lenses for his motion picture work.  Camera: Canon F-1n, FD Chrome Nose 35 F2 lens.  Film: Ilford Delta 100, HC110 B.