{"id":26013,"date":"2021-01-04T15:39:54","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T14:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=26013"},"modified":"2026-01-14T09:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:08:59","slug":"canon-newfd-50mm-f-1-8-a-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/canon-newfd-50mm-f-1-8-a-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Canon newFD 50mm f\/1.8: A review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/h2>\n

\"Canon<\/p>\n

The Canon newFD 50mm f\/1.8 is one of the cheapest manual lenses one can find nowadays. Does this small lens give you the best bang for your buck?<\/p>\n

Sample images<\/h2>\n
\"Canon
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Canon
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Canon
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n\n

Versions and history<\/h2>\n

As far as I know there are roughly three versions of this lens which are optically the same (version 1 and 2 can be split up as well but differences are minimal<\/a><\/strong>), the main difference can be found in the number of aperture blades (Version 1 has 6, the others 5), the build quality and mounting system. All three versions are coated with the S.C. coating, unlike all other Canon FD lenses which were coated with the more effective S.S.C. coating.
\nThe first version features 6 aperture blades and seems to be build to much higher standards than the last version. You can recognize the first version by its chrome nose, this version features the breech lock mounting system.
\nThe second version is a bit lighter than the first version and only features 5 aperture blades. This version doesn’t have a chrome nose. This version works with the breech lock system as well.
\nThe third version is much lighter due to the use of much plastic, this version feels very cheap compared to the other versions of this lens, or compared to other 50mm lenses from the same period. The third version does (Fortunately!) not longer use the breech lock system but uses a release button which makes mounting and unmounting the lens less awkward.<\/p>\n

More information can be found here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Canon
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Category<\/b><\/td>\nSpecification<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diameter<\/td>\n\u00a063 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n35 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter diameter<\/td>\n52 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight (excl. Adapter)<\/td>\n170 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aperture<\/td>\nf\/1.8-22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minimal focus distance<\/td>\n0.6 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/groups<\/td>\n6\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aperture blades5<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The lens can be found in decent condition for under \u20ac35,- $40 at ebay.de*<\/a> and ebay.com*<\/a>
\n*Affiliate links (If you purchase the lens through one of these affiliate-links we get a small compensation with no additional cost to you.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Build quality and handling<\/h2>\n

The lens is mainly made from plastics in combination with metal and glass. All markings are engraved and filled with paint. Due to the extensive use of plastics the lens feels very light but also a bit cheap.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The aperture ring sits at the base of the lens and is made from plastics.The aperture ring has a high resistance and feels cheap. Except for the click between f\/1.8 and f\/2.8 where the click sits around f\/2.5, the aperture ring features 1\/2 stop click stops.<\/p>\n

The plastic focus ring is knurled and easy too find. The focus ring has an OK resistance but somehow doesn’t feel very smooth. The focus ring travels about 160\u00b0 from 0.6m towards infinity, the first 90\u00b0 take you from 0.6m to 1.5m. In comparison with other manual lenses from the same era the Canon nFD 1.8\/50 feels cheap and the whole experience is significantly less nice.<\/p>\n

The lens balances well on my a7II and a7RIII.<\/p>\n

Vignetting<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

At infinity vignetting is high with 2.4 stops, as is often the case with small yet fast lenses. At f\/2.8 vignetting is already reduced a lot to 1.2 stops, at f\/5.6 vignetting is negligible with only 0.5 stops.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sharpness<\/p>\n

*This sample was decentered, I’ve used the second best corner for the charts below. A well centered sample might perform a little bit better or worse in the extreme corners.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Infinity<\/h3>\n

\"Canon<\/p>\n

Wide open the center looks already quite good but contrast is low and there is some glow. The midframe is a different story and looks very bad. The corners show quite good resolution from wide open but contrast is very low and there is some spherical aberration. The corners look a bit better than the midframe.
\nStopping down to f\/2.8 hugely increases the contrast of the center. The midframe and corners improve a bit, but not nearly as much as the center.
\nAt f\/4 the center reaches its peak performance,the midframe and corners improve as well.The corners still look a bit better than the midframe although corners show lower contrast.
\nAt f\/5.6 the midframe looks decent, the corners look good as well now. Now for the first time the midframe looks better than the corners.
\nAt f\/8 the image is very sharp from corner to corner.
\nAt f\/11 the whole image is a bit softer due to diffraction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Portrait distance (1.75m)<\/h3>\n
\"Canon
Center, outer midframe and extreme corner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At typical portrait distances the Canon 1.8\/50 newFD suffers significantly. The center looks OK from wide open with some glow caused by spherical aberrations. At fl2.5 the center looks very good. The midframe looks soft wide open and needs f\/4 to look good. The corners have slightly higher resolution than the midframe but also suffer from spherical aberrations and low contrast. Even at f\/4 contrast is still low.
\nIn terms of real use it means that you can place your subject in the center of the frame without any problems, even for somewhat larger prints. Wide open, with the subject in the midframe images are still fine for web use and small prints.<\/p>\n

*I refocused the lens for every position<\/em><\/p>\n

Close up (1.5m)<\/h3>\n
\"Canon
Center, outer midframe and extreme corner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the minimal focusing distance things look much better. The center and midframe look decent from wide open, despite some glow. At f\/4 center and midframe look excellent.
\nThe corners never look great but are quite decent at f\/4.<\/p>\n

*I refocused the lens for every position<\/em><\/p>\n

Bokeh<\/h2>\n

Bokeh is certainly the most important drawback of the Canon f\/1.8 50mm newFD. Near MFD bokeh is smooth but at longer distances bokeh quickly gets very distracting, the direction of the field curvature doesn’t help here.<\/p>\n

Close up<\/h3>\n

Near MFD the bokeh of the Canon nFD 50mm f\/1.8 is smooth and pleasant to look at.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Canon
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mid distance<\/h3>\n

At slightly longer distances, like for example for a shoulder portrait bokeh starts to get more nervous. Especially towards the corners there is quite some outlining and bokeh fringing.
\nStopping down only helps a little bit, at f\/2.8 bokeh is still very busy.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Canon
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Sony a7RIII | Canon 50mm f\/1.8 newFD | f\/1.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n