The FD's by Date
A List of the FD Lenses by Date of Issue
When Canon introduced the FD lens mount in 1970 with the FD 135mm f/3.5 it was an evolution and not a revolution. There already existed a wide variety of R series and FL series lenses that were compatible with the new mount. The problem being addressed was that cameras were now sophisticated enough to meter the light through the lens and at the same time keep the lens fully open for ease of focusing (remember, it was all manual focusing with these lenses). When the picture was taken, the lens would stop down, take the picture, and then open to full aperture again, all so fast you could not see it happen.
The single pin of the FL lens could not transmit the necessary information to the lens for this routine. So a second pin was added to the back of the lens. One was to transmit the selected aperture and the other was to stop the lens down to that chosen aperture for the brief moment of the exposure.
Initially, no change was made to the mechanical mounting of the lens. That came later with the “New FD” or FDn mount which did not change the pins but the mechanical mount and locking system.
The new FD lenses with this mount makes an impressive list. Here it is in order of Release Date:
| Name | Released | Min.Aperture | Blades | Groups | Elements | Filter | Weight |
| FD 135mm f/3.5 | Jul 70 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 55mm | 480gr |
| FD 17mm f/4 | Mar 71 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 72mm | 490gr |
| FD 24mm f/2.8 | Mar 71 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 410gr |
| FD 28mm f/3.5 | Mar 71 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 55mm | 290gr |
| FD 35mm f/2 (I) | Mar 71 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 420gr |
| FD 35mm f/3.5 | Mar 71 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 55mm | 325gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.4 | Mar 71 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 55mm | 370gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.8 (I) | Mar 71 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 55mm | 305gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.2 | Mar 71 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 58mm | 565gr |
| FD 55mm f/1.2 AL | Mar 71 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 58mm | 605gr |
| FD 100mm f/2.8 | Mar 71 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 55mm | 430gr |
| FD 135mm f/2.5 | Mar 71 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 58mm | 670gr |
| FD 200mm f/4 | Mar 71 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 55mm | 725gr |
| FD 300mm f/5.6 | Mar 71 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 58mm | 1155gr |
| FD 100-200mm f/5.6 | May 71 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 55mm | 820 |
| Fisheye FD 7.5mm f/5.6 | Jun 71 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 11 | – | 380gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.8 (II) | Nov 71 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 55mm | 305gr |
| FD 35mm f/2 (III) | Jan 73 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 420gr |
| Fisheye FD 7.5mm f/5.6 S.S.C. | Feb 73 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 11 | – | 380gr |
| FD 17mm f/4 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 72mm | 450gr |
| FD 20mm f/2.8 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 72mm | 345gr |
| FD 24mm f/2.8 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 330gr |
| FD 28mm f/3.5 S.C. | Mar 73 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 55mm | 250gr |
| FD 35mm f/2 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 370gr |
| TS 35mm f/2.8 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 58mm | 550gr |
| FD 35mm f/3.5 S.C. (I) | Mar 73 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 55mm | 295gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. (I) | Mar 73 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 55mm | 350gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. (I) | Mar 73 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 55mm | 255gr |
| FDM 50mm f/3.5 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 55mm | 310gr |
| FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 16 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 58mm | 565gr |
| FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. AL | Mar 73 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 58mm | 575gr |
| FD 100mm f/2.8 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 55mm | 360gr |
| FD 135mm f/2.5 S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 58mm | 630gr |
| FD 135mm f/3.5 S.C. (II) | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 55mm | 465gr |
| FD 200m f/4 S.S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 55mm | 675gr |
| FD 300mm f/5.6 S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 58mm | 1125gr |
| FD 100-200mm f/5.6 S.C. | Mar 73 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 55mm | 765gr |
| Fisheye FD 15mm f/2.8 S.S.C. | Apr 73 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 10 | – | 485gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. | Jun 73 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 55mm | 305gr |
| FD 35-70mm f/2.8-3.5 S.S.C. | Dec 73 | 22 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 58mm | 575gr |
| FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. | Apr 74 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 55mm | 425gr |
| FD 85-300 f/4.5 S.S.C. | Apr 74 | 22 | 8 | 11 | 15 | – | 1800gr |
| FD 24mm f/1.4 S.S.C. Aspherical | Mar 75 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 72mm | 500gr |
| FD 28mm f/2.8 S.C. | Mar 75 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 55mm | 280gr |
| FD 35mm f/3.5 S.S.C. (II) | Mar 75 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 55mm | 236gr |
| FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical | Mar 75 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 58mm | 575gr |
| FD 200mm f/2.8 S.S.C. | Mar 75 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 72mm | 700gr |
| FD 100mm f/4 S.C. | Oct 75 | 32 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 55mm | 530gr |
| FD 300mm f/2.8 S.S.C. Florite | Oct 75 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 6 | – | 1900gr |
| FD 400mm f/4.5 S.S.C. | Oct 75 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | – | 1300gr |
| FD 28mm f/2 S.S.C. | Nov 75 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 343gr |
| FD 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical | Jan 76 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 72mm | 756gr |
| FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C. (II) | Mar 76 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 55mm | 200gr |
| FD 35mm f/2 S.S.C. (II) | Apr 76 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 55mm | 345gr |
| FD 600mm f/4.5 S.S.C. | Jul 76 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 48mm | 4300gr |
| FD 800mm f/5.6 S.S.C. | Jul 76 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 48mm | 4300gr |
| FD 28-50mm f/3.5 S.S.C. | Jul 76 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 58mm | 470gr |
| FD 80-200mm f/4 S.S.C. | Oct 76 | 32 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 55mm | 750gr |
| FD 135mm f/3.5 S.S.C. (II) | Nov 76 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 55mm | 385gr |
| FD 300mm f/5.6 S.S.C. | Mar 77 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 55mm | 685gr |
| FD 35mm f/3.5 S.C. (III) | Jul 77 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 55mm | 236gr |
| FD 300mm f/4 S.S.C. | Jan 78 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 34mm | 965gr |
| FD 24-35mm f/3.5 S.S.C. Aspherical | Feb 78 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 72mm | 515gr |
| Reflex 500mm f/8 S.S.C. | Sep 78 | – | – | 3 | 6 | 34mm | 740gr |
| FD 300mm f/4 L | Dec 78 | 32 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 34mm | 1235gr |
| FD 500mm f/4.5 L | May 79 | 32 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 48mm | 2950gr |
| FD 800mm f/5.6 L | Dec 79 | 32 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 48mm | 4600gr |
This page is not a review of this Canon equipment but rather a record of an item in my collection. I have no connection with Canon and receive no remuneration nor benefit for this listing. It is for my own use and possibly your enjoyment!.