BetterPhoto Q&A
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Rob Warwick		Canon macro lens compatibility Is the Canon FD 35-105mm zoom/macro compatible with a Digital Rebel 300D? Is this lens strictly a macro lens? To love this question, log in above February 01, 2010

Jon Close		I can't find a "macro" FD 35-105 at the Canon Camera Museum. (link) There are 2 FD 35-105 zooms, both are general purpose lenses. The earlier model has f/3.5 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range and zooms by rotating a ring. It's not a macro, it's closest focus is 1.5m and max. magnification is only 0.079x. The second is a push/pull zoom with varying maximum aperture of f/3.5-4.5. It focuses a little closer at 1.2m and 0.103x max. mag., still not "macro". Is your lens perhaps a Sigma, or other brand, for the Canon FD mount? Regardless, FD (and earlier FL) mount lenses cannot be mounted directly to EOS cameras. There are adapters for attaching FD lenses to EOS cameras, but there are limitations in the usefulness. There is no communication between the lens and camera, so it can only be used in M and Av exposure modes with stop-down metering. Because the FD lenses are designed to be mounted closer to the film plane than EOS cameras allow, a simple ring adapter without any lens elements acts as an extension tube. The FD lens will focus marginally closer (to about 1.5m and 0.15x magnification for the FD 35-105s), but cannot focus beyond about 2m or so. To maintain focus beyond about 1m to inifinty, there are FD-to-EOS adapters with correcting lens elements, but they also necessarily act as a 1.26x teleconverter with corresponding loss of image quality and maximum aperture. IMHO, it is usually not worth the bother to adapt Canon FD lenses to EOS cameras. Ironically, it is easier to adapt old Nikon, Pentax (M42 screw mount and some K mount), Contax/Yashica, and Olympus OM lenses to EOS cameras because they do not lose infinity focus with simple ring adapters. Similarly, FD lenses are more easily adapted to Four Thirds digital SLRs from Olympus and Panasonic because their shorter lens mount to sensor distance allows a simple ring adapter without losing infinity focus. To love this comment, log in above February 02, 2010

Jon Close		Slight correction - "[with simple ring adapter] The FD lens will focus marginally closer (to about 1.5m and 0.15x magnification for the FD 35-105s),..." The closer focus limit should be about 0.9m, not 1.5m. To love this comment, log in above February 02, 2010

Rob Warwick		Thanks Jon. I saw this lens on eBay and they listed it as a Canon "zoom/macro." I definitely won't be bidding on it now. Probably will end up purchasing a 100mm macro. I know Canon makes a couple. I have never shot macro before and was wondering if you could make recommendations to me - looking to spend in the $500 area. I have a Rebel digital 300D. Thanks for your advice! Rob Warwick To love this comment, log in above February 02, 2010

Peter K. Burian		There is another thread on Macro lenses, Rob, in the New Questions. For about $500 you can get the original Canon 100mm Macro, without the image stabilizer. That's is a superb lens! Peter To love this comment, log in above February 02, 2010

Rob Warwick		Thanks for the recommendation Peter. To love this comment, log in above February 02, 2010

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