| Year | 1985 |
| Lens Groups | 12 |
| Lens Element | 14 |
| Aperature Blades | 8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 |
| Closest Focusing | 1.2 m |
| Max. Magnifcation | 1:3.1 (0.32x) |
| Filter Size | 58 mm |
| Diameter x Length | 72.8 x 153 mm |
| Weight | 675 gr (1.49 lb) |
| Hood | BT-58 |
This lens truly lives up to its iconic status. Excellent product. SUPER SHARP!
I have adapted declicked ef mount copy done by the lens doctor up in Scotland .. bought for £240 of a bbc camera guy .. this lens is awesome , sharp , solid , contrasty images ... totally in ore of how well this lens does at 200mm handheld .. for the money it bets the newer ones hands down ... the only negative is , that it is slightly dark for a f4 . Which require high iso and slow shutter speeds in some situations compared with other lenses .. other than that it’s nuts ,, tested on both a 6d and a7 ...
IMAGES can be found on 500px guy Butterworth
I find it hard to believe that a Push Pull, F4, 80-200mm is canon's best nFD lens.
At all apertures it is the sharpest FD lens I have ever tested, even at F22. Very little diffraction at F32. I even have slight haze and scratches and it beats other lenses. It is highly affordable, my copy bought in Japan for around 200 USD, 22000 JPY, and goes around at ebay for somewhere between 280 and 350 USD. Even though it is not fast, it is surprisingly compact for it's aperture size. Just a bit long.
However, it is a thinly stamped barrel, so it feels like it's gonna snap at any time you apply great force. Rubber ring feels nice though. The push pull nature makes this pretty hard for slow zooms for video and using a follow focus.
If you want a good quality lens from Canon, buy this lens.
As everyone, everywhere, has said, this lens is unbelievable. From the largest aperture to f/16 it's amazing, at all focal lengths. It's also not so heavy that carrying it around is a major problem. But... I just don't love the push-pull design. I use it on a Sony A7 and I find it awkward to work with, and easy to loose focus by accidentally moving the focus/zoom ring. If you can live with that limitation, it's an unbeatable lens (if you like manual focus of course!)
This lens has stunning optical performance. I use it on a Sony A7 and it is sharp and contrasty across the frame at all apertures and all focal lengths. Colours are great. It is better than my EF 17-40 f4 L and 24-105 f4 L. It is an old push/pull zoom with the zoom ring also doing the focussing. I don't mind it but some may.
I use this to shoot film, but find it works very well with the EOS-M, a mirrorless digital rig that has an APS-C size sensor. This is quite a lens optically speaking, better than it's big brother the 100-300mm f/5.6L, though the longer zoom is a nice sports lens. This is a very light lens, enabling artists to work fast and the f/4 aperture is bright enough for most situations. rnrnAt eBay prices, it might be the best deal in photography!
I've owned the FDn 80-200L for about two years. You can shoot this lens at maximum aperture at any focal length without hesitation. It's sharp, out of focus areas are smooth, and the zoom barrel does not creep. There are no real drawbacks to this lens other than the normal trade-offs that you get with any zoom. If you need a faster or smaller lens then you will likely need to use prime, otherwise this lens perfectly covers the 80-200mm range.
This lens has been in my travel kit for years. The optical performance is stunning, and it's made to a high standard, even for Canon. Aside from the slow f4, the lens has no significant flaws, and will give many years of service to the lucky owner. If you dislike zooms, or never tried a good one, this is a lens that will make you a believer.
Theis lens was for years part of my film travel kit. It performed so well I never bothered with any primes for the 80mm to 200mm focal length range other than macros(100 and 200). The macro setting, provides nice macro shots, I often use this lens on a Canon digital for closeup macro shots. It was far superior to the 70-210mm that I also had.
I prefer primes but this zoom is a miracle lens. I've never seen a zoom this good. I compared it directly head-to-head to my Canon FDn 200mm f/2.8 prime and it topped it in sharpness and contrast! Don't hesitate for a second in adding one to your kit.