My Canon FD Vintage Cinema Lens Set | Cine-modded

How pleased am I with my Canon FD vintage cine-modded cinema lens set? How do they stack up to modern alternatives? How did I "cine-mod" them? For whom would I recommend these lenses?
Links:
Lenses
Canon New FD 24mm F2: ebay.us/XN2qkD
Canon New FD 35mm F2: ebay.us/x9VNed
Canon New FD 50mm F1.4: ebay.us/yI55gJ
Canon New FD 85mm F1.8: ebay.us/cAvt4m
Lens Test Videos
Canon New FD 24mm F2: • Canon New FD 24mm F2 -...
Canon New FD 35mm F2: • Canon New FD 35mm F2 -...
Canon New FD 50mm F1.4: • Canon New FD 50mm F1.4...
Canon New FD 85mm F1.8: • Canon New FD 85mm F1.8...
Cine-Modding
Shapeways EF-mount (only nFD): www.shapeways.com/product/2W7...
Shapeways EF-mount installation instructions: • CHEAP CANON 50mm f/1.4...
Simmod EF-mount (nFD): www.simmodlens.com/product-pa...
Simmod EF-mount (Breech lock FD): www.simmodlens.com/product-pa...
Precisious CINE READY RING 80MM O.D: www.precisious.fr/gb/front-le...
Precisious CINE READY CAP 80MM: www.precisious.fr/gb/cine-rea...
Precisious Focus Gears: www.precisious.fr/gb/follow-f...
Simmod Focus Gears: www.simmodlens.com/followfocu...
Simmod Simrings (Front Diamater Step-up rings): www.simmodlens.com/simrings
Simmod Cine Caps: www.simmodlens.com/cinecaps
Tutorial for 3D printing your own focus gears: • How to Design and 3D P...
Gear I Use:
Camera (A) - Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K
Amazon: amzn.to/34cXDoz
Ebay: ebay.us/In6A3U
Camera (B) - Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (Original)
Amazon: amzn.to/39uRRMI
Ebay: ebay.us/etiuzm
MPB US: prf.hn/l/NdyL5Xq
MPB EU: prf.hn/l/2MLeLQy
All-round Lens - Sigma 18-35mm 1.8 Art
Amazon: amzn.to/32WLDT8
Ebay: ebay.us/B5SCdV
Lens Adapter/Speedbooster - Viltrox EF-M2 Speedbooster
Amazon: amzn.to/2TuqEnK
Ebay: ebay.us/nDtPwy
Lighting - Godox SL60W
Amazon: amzn.to/2xSmCxc
Ebay: ebay.us/OEaBp2
Microphone - Rode VideoMicro
Amazon: amzn.to/3cGxLRl
Ebay: ebay.us/BUtEYW
Monitor - Feelworld F6
Amazon: amzn.to/2TuqLzG
Ebay: ebay.us/w5X3kW
(Some of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase.)
Timestamps:
Intro: 00:00
Lenses in the set: 00:37
Other FD lens options: 01:55
FD vs nFD & S.C vs S.S.C: 02:28
Why vintage glass?: 03:31
A set you can own: 06:06
Cine-modding: 06:52
Outro: 13:56

[@EnSkithogSager]

Riktigt coolt ju!! 👏🏽👏🏽

[@samosterlund]

Great video as always my friend! Looking forward for more stuff in the future, and who knows? Maybe a film? ;)

[@carlscinema7086]

Thank you broski! Who knows? ;)

[@florubenberger]

Great video Carl! I`m currently working with a nFD 28mm f2.8, FD 35mm f3.5, a nFD 50mm f1.4 and the nFD 70-210 f4.Superb set of lenses, even though there`re "better" but therefore more expensive f2-versions out there. Cheers!

[@carlscinema7086]

That's awesome! :)

[@DesertCookie]

You should really look at getting a 35mm f2.8 or f2. I got lucky and got an f2 for below 150€. It's absolutely gorgeous. The f2.8 is still relatively abundant, usually costing around the same and being quite a nice step up from the f3.5.

[@FlyingLapMedia]

How are you adapting it to that Blackmagic shown in the video?

[@automatisatorpeace5453]

Reliable video autofocus for CanonFD works very well with PDMOVIE Lidar AF :)

[@weightlessfilms5651]

Nice! I love my FD set. I went through Simmod for mine. I currently have the 28mm F/2.8, 55mm F/1.2 and the 70-210 F/4. If I could go back, I would've gotten the 24mm 2.8 over the 28mm. I used to have the 35mm F/2, but the mount was loose, and I ended up (regrettably) selling it in a pinch. I highly recommend the 55mm 1.2. I've upgraded that one to the brass mount. I use the BMPCC 4K and BMPCC 6K. With the 4K, I use the Metabones Ultra that has the PL-style locking mount. That set up is perfect (55mm 1.2, Metabones, pocket 4K); I can use a wireless follow-focus with no play and render beautiful images as fast as 0.95 w/the Speedbooster. Unfortunately there's still some wiggle when pairing with the Pocket 6K.

[@carlscinema7086]

That's awesome! Yeah unfortunately the EF mount will most often have a little bit of wiggle, even if it's minimum due to the nature of the mount. Would love it if manufacturers put a locking EF-mount (like the metabones cine versions) on their cinema cameras instead of a traditional EF-mount.

[@Goninextdoor]

Where did you buy the conversion kit for the 70-210 f4? Still looking for an adapter for my lens and sinmod doesnt offer any as far as i know?

[@weightlessfilms5651]

@@Goninextdoor I had sent it in to Simmod for conversion, but it was years ago. I recently saw that they are converting lenses anymore, which is a bummer. They're still selling the conversion kits, so I'd imagine they sell one still for the FD 70-210, but I'm not sure.

[@AndreCostaco]

Hey man, awesome video, thanks for the info! I declicked my aperture on my Nfd, and unfortunately the rotation doesn't feel as smooth as the focus ring, is this also the case with your Nfd declicked aperture? Would love to know. Thanks

[@DesertCookie]

You might want to add some grease. There is some nice helicoid grease for Helios lenses on eBay (of course, they work on any lens).

[@nicolapaoli4561]

Hello and thank you for the video!! I have one question, I was looking into getting some of these Canon FD lenses me too. My idea would be to use filters with my 4x5.65 matte box, but I know that, for example, the front element of the 24mm f1.4 rotates while pulling focus! Is it the same for the f2 that you have, or it stays still? Does any of your lenses have rotating front element? Thanks a lot for your answer!

[@carlscinema7086]

They don't rotate, but do extend a little bit

[@ModernVintageFilm]

Are you looking for a 20mm f2.8?

[@denisrandomtech5822]

They are great lenses for video. Many movie makers use Canon FD lenses cause of their similarities with the K35 cinema lenses.

[@carlscinema7086]

That's true, I totally forgot to mention the similarities to the K35s. Thanks for bringing it up!

[@denisrandomtech5822]

@@carlscinema7086 Basically (aspherical FD versions) are exactly the same lenses. Only the mount is different and they have more aperture blades for bokeh etc.

[@PrentisRyanSnead]

Hello, Carl. I'm currently finishing up my set of FD S.S.C. lenses. I will also be sending these in to Simmod to convert to EF mount. I realize there could be differences with each lens (not to mention breech lock vs. nFD), but I wanted to ask if you have had any issues with focusing your lenses to infinity while using the Metabones Speedbooster? I have read that on FD lenses converted to EF, when focusing to infinity, the rear element protrudes and you run the risk of the rear element hitting the glass in the Metabones.

[@johnteaguefilm]

Did you ever get an answer?

[@PrentisRyanSnead]

@@johnteaguefilm I did not. However, since I am primarily using these lenses on MFT and L-mount cameras, I have decided to stay with the FD mount. This way, I can use an FD Speedbooster or dummy adapter and have a rock-solid connection between lens and adapter no matter which camera system. I also own a set of Zeiss Jena M42 mount lenses, which were very easy to convert to FD mount with screw on adapters. I am incredibly happy with my decision.

[@DesertCookie]

As far as I know that only is an issue with the very fast FD lenses. For example, the 55mm f1.2 aspherical. The mount conversion usually fixes the infinity issue as quality ones account for the slight mismatch in flange distance. Taken from the Media Division video in FD lenses and my own experience owning half a dozen of them (though only the 50 f1.4 and 35 f2 can be considered fast lenses in my set).

[@neopan38]

Very interesting video. What about your pro mist filter ? 1/4, 1/8 ...?

[@DesertCookie]

1/8th is a great all-rounder and adds that little extra character to your highlights. 1/4th might be already too much for most people.

[@johnteaguefilm]

question; Would this modded FD set work with the original bmpcc and the metabones ultra .58x speedbooster? I have no interest in the pocket 4k but love the BMPCC and BMMCC

[@carlscinema7086]

Yes, any EF-mount and covers up to full frame

[@DesertCookie]

3:15 Not entirely accurate. The 35mm f2 SSC have a different internal lens composition. And especially the SSCs with serial number

[@tomhealy7299]

I have heard the ssc are better but he mentions the ssc and nfd have the same coatings. Do you know if that’s true?

[@DesertCookie]

@@tomhealy7299 Yes, SSCs and nFDs have the same costing. It's just marketing. Furthermore, the difference between SSC and SC is so minuscule, it barely makes a difference visually.

[@tomhealy7299]

@@DesertCookiesorry for the noob questions so if they’re not marked sc or ssc they’re nfd?

[@DesertCookie]

@@tomhealy7299 nFD lenses have the new mount without the brass ring. They twist on like most other modern lenses.

[@lmSlMON]

Those caps from Precisious are AWFUL. Super cheap rubber. They don't fit very well. The metal ones seem to be 6 euro's on ali express