Canon FD Resources - Macro lenses
New FD 100mm f/4.0 Macro

 

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A combination of Moderate, size, weight, working distance and perhaps price as well.

It is very often after you have master close-up techniques using the 50mm Macro, you will find that the 50mm focal length does not provide the required 'reach' which you needs to further develop your macrophotography skills. This is where the 100mm Macro lens come in. Why 100mm ? Because you might not be convinced with reasons of justification to the high price tag of a 200mm macro lens. And more likely you could have already own a lens of 100-135mm focal length.

Credit: Image courtesy of Laura Kornylak ® <shutterblade@comcast.net> from shutterblade*com where the Company has a website on its own. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved.

NOTE:- Info on the NEWER autofocus version
The major difference between the 50mm and 100mm and up to 200mm Macro lenses is the shooting distance (The FD 200mm has an added advantage where it does not need to attach an extension ring to make it goes life size at 1:1). The 100mm Macro allows you to increase the shooting (film-to-subject) distance while maintaining the same magnification. For instance, using the 50mm Macro, the magnification at the mimimum shooting distance of 23.2cm is 0.5X. The same magnification can be achieved at a shooting distance of 45cm with the 100mm Macro. It sounds more like I am discouraging you to invest into a macro lens of 100mm here, yes - in a way, why ? Because I have been through the same path and I hope I can share my experience with you and save you some money for other investment. But if you are not a 'greedy' type and unless you have already an proub owner of a lens that fall around the 200mm to 300mm focal length or one that comes with a extra-fast speed lenses of f2.0 or f2.8, then it is alright and forget what I tried to convince you earlier. It is as simple as that, never duplicate a similar focal length of any prime lenses in your camera bag, especially with the availability of high power zoom lenses around, that arrangement could sound a little 'un-wised'.

However, stepping up from a 50mm macro lens to the 100mm does present various advantages. First on the list is to increased working (lens-front-to-subject) distance. With that, it is easier to light the subject. The primary reason for using macro lenses is to take close-ups, but as you move closer to the subject, you or the camera may throw a shadow over it, creating poor lighting conditions.
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The 100mm Macro eliminates this problem. In addition, this lens is useful when approaching a subject is impossible like in a hazardous situation or obstructed physically. As compared, this lens is still considered compact enough, weighing only 240 grams and other than using it for close-ups, you can alsoput it into good use for general photography as a normal telephoto lens.

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Some useful resources/manual prepared by
Christian Rollinger:
Canon FD lens catalogue (1984)
Canon FDn Zoom lens catalogue (1982)
Canon FD 50mm f/3.5 MACRO
(1981/2)
Canon FD 100mm MACRO (1979)
Canon FDn lenses catalogue (1981/2)
Canon FD 1,4X Extender (1982)
Canon FD 2A/2B Extender (1980)
Canon Macrophoto Adaptor Manual (1980)
Canon FD Extension Tube M Manual
Canon Auto Bellow Unit Manual
Canon Lens Works (1986)
Canon T90 Sales Catalogue
Canon FDn lens catalogue (1971)
Canon Macro Photography Guide
Canon Slide Duplicator Manual (1983)
Canon Angle Finder User's Manual

The 100mm Macro has a more natural perspective characteristics than that of the 50mm equivalent but still shy from it all as compared with the 200mm. When using a 50mm Macro, moving in too close to the subject produces image deformation due to the accentuated perspective attributable to any 50mm lens. Using the longer focal length 100mm Macro for close-up photography may reduce such phenomenon. Naturally, since the focal length is almost doubles, when using the 100mm Macro for general photography, it will generates less depth of field compared with the 50mm Macro for the same focusing distance, but when both are used at the same magnification in Macro photography, the degree of blur is the same. (Although the 100mm Macro is lightweight and compact, it weighs nearly twice that of the 50mm, and its depth of field is much shallower). To use blur effectively, you must develop a critical eye for the size of the blurred highlights, the tinge difference between the highlights and shadows and the gradation of such tinges.

The 100mm Macro covers an extremely wide focusing range from infinity to a magnification factor of 0.5X without requiring an attachrnent. When combined with the FD 50-U extension tube, close-up shooting over a magnification range of 0.5X to 1X is possible. Of course, the 100mm Macro can also be used to shoot general photographs due to its focusing range from the extreme of macro setting which is also extends to infinity.


New FD 100mm f/4 Macro Lens

This lens is designed largely for close-up photography, and the extended shooting distance it allows gives increased flexibility.

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It has a magnification of 0.5X at its minimum focusing distance of 45cm. (The same magnification is produced at a focusing distance of 23.2cm with the 50mm Macro.) Even at the maximum magnification of 1X achieved when the lens is combined.with the FD 50-U extension tube, a extended comfortable film-to-subject shooting distance of 40cm can be maintained.

This lens is comprised of 5 elements, 3 groups lens construction which also facilitates optimum correction of astigmatism distortions, an all important factor in close-up photography. It also suppresses aberration fluctuations caused by varied shooting distances ranging from infinity to a magnification ratio of 1. A friction mechanism is provided on the focusing ring to prevent the lens barrel from accidentally extending when shooting with the lens pointing down. This is an all-purpose lens which also features general photography capabilities. Its biggest advantage over the longer but even more flexible 200mm macro is its price ( but consider without the need to attach an addtional extension ring, but also at the compromise point of addtional size and weight that adds onto the 200mm lens). The 200mm macro lens dimension is around 182.4mm x 68.8mm and it weighs 880g, while the 100mm featured here is almost half the size, weight and may be halved in its price compared (95mm x 70.3mm and weighing 455g).

NOTE:- Info on the NEWER autofocus version

FD100mmf4MacroAdapterC.JPG FD100mmf4MacroAdapterB.JPG  

Credit: Image courtesy of Laura Kornylak ® <shutterblade@comcast.net> from shutterblade*com where the Company has a website on its own. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.

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Specifications:

Focal length:100mm
Aperture ratio: 1:4
Construction: 3 groups 5elements
Coating: S.S.C. (super spectra coating)

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Angle of view: Diagonal: 24° Vertical: 14° Horizontal: 20°
Distance scale: (m) 0.45 (magnification 0.5X) to7.oo (ft) 1.48 to 15.oo Focusing mechanism: Helicoid
Magnification: 0.5X for lens used alone, 0.5Xó1.0X with Extension Tube FD 50-U (0.4m)
Minimum aperture: f/32
Diaphragm: Automatic
Filter size: 52mm
Hood: BT-52
Cap: C-52 (CG2-0070)

Credit: Image courtesy of Laura Kornylak ® <shutterblade@comcast.net> from shutterblade*com where the Company has a website on its own. Image copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.


Function: Auto Aperture, Full aperture metering (AE operation when used with ALL Canon automatic SLR cameras.
Length x max. diameter: 95mm x 70.3mm
Weight: 455g.

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Older Version: Canon Macro Lens FD 50mm f/3.5 S.S.C. and Canon Macro Lens FD 100mm f/4 S.C.


Prior to the availableity of the FD Macro 200mm f4.0 lens, there were only two macro lenses at 50mm and 100mm (joined by two macro photo lenses at 35mm and 20mm later). Click Here to the dedicated page for more info. Up to 1976, the 50mm f3.5 was a S.S.C. while the 100mm f4.0 with only Spectral Coating.Was there any more upgrade before the FDn version was introduced ?

EF100mmacro.jpg
Current autofocus version: EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

Technical Highlights: Provides good working distance and close-up magnifications up to life size (1:1) without any accessory. Can also be used as general telephoto lens. The optical system is divided ir two sections. The front group is a gauss type lens group which greatly reduces changes in aberration due to change in focusing distance. The fixed rear group is designed as extender. This construction both reduces the lens extension amount.

Quick data for cross reference: Focal length and maximum aperture: 100mm f/2.8; Lens construction: 10 elements in 9 groups; Angle of view: 24°; Focus adjustment: Front group linear extension system with micromotor; Closest focusing distance: 0.31 m; Filter size: 52mm; Length x max. diameter, weight: 105.3mm x 75mm, 650g.

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