Nikon 28mm f2.8 AI and Canon 28mm f2.8 new FD

Canon 28mm f2.8 new FD

Nikon 28mm f2.8 AI

I bought the 2 lenses recently. 28mm lenses are of course used in landscape photography. While they are of similar optical angle, the cost differs significant even though both are likely to be more than 30 years old. The Nikon 28mm costs US$128 while the Canon 28mm costs US$21.50, a difference of more than 5 times. These are market prices.

Physically, the Nikon has very attractive and colourful aperture ring and distance information, The Canon on the other hand is a sombre green and white. Currently, lenses from both firms are white and gold on black plastic. The Nikon AI lens design is certainly unnique and a representation of an era long gone. The colours reminded me of Frank Muller Colour Dreams watch.

The Canon new FD lens has a feature not commonly found in lens. The aperture can't be adjusted manually by pushing the lever on the rear. This, I found out after reading from the internet. The aperture can be adjusted when the lens is mounted on a FD body. This is different from Nikon and Yashica lenses. With the feature, I can only test the lens aperture when I use it with a film. I am not sure whether this feature will affect the functioning of the lens when it is mounted on a DSLR with an adaptor.

Canon and Nikon lenses have a different usage preference. For Nikon the smaller f number for aperture is on the right side to the photographer, while for Canon, the smaller f number is on the left side. Likewise the focus ring is also turning against each other in relation to the distance. This may confuse photographer especially so when habit is formed.

Canon 50mm FD f1.4 S.S.C Lens

Canon 50mm FD f1.4 S.S.C with breech lock

Front of the Lens

I have received my Canon 50mm FD f1.4 S.S.C lens bought from Ebay.

First impression is the breech lock is different from all the lens I have owned. It is screwed via a turning ring. In order to screw on, the red dot on the ring must be reset to its zero position before it can be attached to the body mount of Canon AE-1 program. While turning the ring, the lens body does not move unlike modern lens design. I have to spend some time trying to mount the lens on the body.

Secondly, I am fortunate to get a rather clean body with not much scratches on the lens body and the glasses. So it looks pretty decent. The lens uses a 55mm lens filter.

I am currently trying to test it and the result will only make known after the film is developed. I noticed that on Canon AE-1 program and for that matter the A series of Canon camera, the original viewfinder focusing circle in the centre is a horizontal line instead of a slopping line (in Yashica FX-3). I find that the slopping focusing line is more easy to achieve focus. This is because the realistic world has many horizontal lines which coincide with the focusing line and hence does not differentiate easily.

The bokeh from its 1.4 aperture is nice looking through the viewfinder. Hopefully the developed photos stay the same. The lens is heavy because of its metalic component compared to plastic 50mm lens that is currently available. Hence the side grip on the body of AE-1 program is useful. The lens also has a automatic 'A' aperture which will work with the Program model to automatically select aperture and shutter speed.

The distance guide on the lens is coloured brightly for photographer to read. I realised that I have to estimate the distance of the subject and adjust the distance accordingly before even looking at the viewfinder. Something that modern camera and lens do have the convenience over vintage ones.

Yashica FX3

Yashica FX3 body

I have sent my Yashica FX3 to repair. During the discussion with the expert, it reinforces the theory that mechanical equipment, whether it is a watch or a camera, the full mechanical one has a better value than the electrical ones. The FX3 has a mechanical shutter and it will function whether the battery is installed. There are small batteries used for light metering. The Canon AE-1 Program has a curtain shutter and only works with a battery installed.

I bought the FX3 in 1983 for a cost of between SGD$300 to SGD$350 (reminded by the expert). Now the repair cost is SGD$250 due to problem with the shutter (mirror goes up but does not come down) and a fungus growth lens which needs cleaning.

The camera and lens have nostalgic value as they were the first SLR I bought and started my long relationship with photography. The totally manual camera means that it is good to learn photography skills and technique. Even the focus is manually done. 35mm SLR is the predecessor of the full frame digital camera. Considering that a full frame digital camera now cost between $4000 and $5000, it is considered cheap to repair a SLR camera for full frame photography. Somehow, SLR camera traditionally was sold with prime lens instead of zoom lens. Zoom is done by the photographer legs to some limit.

Being the traditional 35mm film, the result of your shoot is only made known after the negatives are processed. There is no corretive action. The film can be digitised and correction made in Photoshop. There is no memory of the shutter speed or aperture setting unless it is purposely recorded.

I remembered I won a school competition (3rd prize) using the camera. The photo was of a polar bear surfacing from underneath water.

Star Wars X Wing Fighter

X Wing Fighter from Revell Painted with Weathering Theme

X Wing Fighter from the movie

The Star Wars X Wing Fighter model from Revell. The model was purchased from Amazon.com. It was easy to fix given its snap tite system between various components. I applied some Tamiya paint on the model with the intention to create weathering effect on a spacecraft.

Star War movie had used scale spacecraft models and weathering effect on their X wing fighters. They were used on a pitch black starry background.

I am quite pleased with the completed model. It is one of the iconic spacecraft from my childhood in the 70s. The other significant spacecraft is the battlestar galactica humans fighter.

Canon AE-1 Program

Canon AE-1 Programe

I have recently bid and bought a Canon AE-1 Program. The camera is delivered today.

It is in good condition and the shutter fires. The exterior is better than expected for a camera that is easily 30 years old.

When I was a secondary school boy, I had a Yashica FX-3, it was fully mechanical and could function without batteries even though batteries could be added for light metering purpose. My classmate had a Canon AE-1 Program, it was one of technologically advanced camera given its program feature which allowed automatic selection of aperture and possibly speed of shutter. It was then the envy of the photograhic society. Somehow it had affected my subsequent purchase of Canon EOS camera.

On first feel, it is heaviler than my Yashica. It has a silver aluminium top as compared to black finishes of my Yashica. The sound of the shutter is very different from my Yashica. I feel that the Yashica has a more mechanical sound which gives confidence to the photographer. The aluminium finishes has the classic look which current retro looking digital camera such as the olympus OMD EM10 tries to emulate. AE-1 Program has a electronically controlled self timer for delay firing of shutter. Yashica FX-3 uses a dial pointer which to me has more classic look.  In my opinion, the Nikon FM series 35mm camera has a more classic external finishes than the Canon AE-1 Program. Canon AE-1 Program has a winder provision which the Yashica FX-3 doesn't.

For a price of 16 pound body only(from UK, excluding shipping cost), it has certainly well depreciated considering the cost of digital camera nowadays. Hopefully, the shutter speed is accurate. I will know when I test it with a 35mm film.