Magic @ 1.2: The Canon FD 55 1.2

January 4, 2019

Shooting at F-stop 1.2 is new to me. It’s a tricky proposition. With a manual lens, even trickier. Indeed, in the short bit that I’ve had the Canon FD 55 1.2, I’ve found that nailing down a portrait at 1.2 is no easy task and not for the impatient (and I’m quite used to shooting at 1.4). To that end, briefing your model or subject on the degree of difficulty is advised. But sometimes what is difficult is achievable and once achieved, the results can be very satisfying.

Shot at 1.2, the Canon 55 1.2 proves to be sharp and highly satisfying. A shot of a new friend, Kevin, who is a kettle drummer in downtown Chicago. Note the focus on the left eye!

As an owner and big fan of various Minolta, Leica and Nikon vintage lens, I’ve only been modestly interested in the Canon FD 55 1.2 since reading a comparison by Philip Reeve (linked below) in which he pitted it against the legendary Minolta 58 1.2, considered one of the greatest bokeh lens ever manufactured. As an owner of a Minolta 58 1.4 (a legend in its own right, at least by those who own the specimen), I’m quite satisfied with my copy and a huge Minolta fan so when I met a friend to consider purchasing his vintage 1970ish Canon 135 2.5, I told him to go ahead and bring the 55 1.2 as I just wanted to “see it.”

Well, once contact was made, the heaviness (565 grams, about 1.24 pounds!) and size of the glass was just too much. I immediately stepped outside, onto a sidewalk and took a few photos. Wow! Sooo different and yes, at least at 1.2, it was sharper than the Minolta. I had to remind myself that I was there to purchase the 135 for super cheap. Fortunately, for whatever reason, the Canon 55 1.2 is also relatively inexpensive, at least when compared to the Minolta 58 1.2.

Like all lens, one has to spend time and determine how/when/where the lens can be used. Then it becomes a tool, a brush. In fact, not used to Canon’s locking mechanism, most of these images were shot at 1.2 as I had not locked this monkey into its proper position to change aperture settings.

Downtown Chicago near Wacker Drive. Canon 55 1.2/Sony A7R2.

: Double exposure.

: Dusk and the Chicago L. Focused on the flower design between the two lights.

: Focused on the dreadlocks nearest me.

: Closer crop.

My 10th-grade niece was patient and indulged me with a few shots with the 55 1.2.

Like all lens, one has to spend time and determine how/when/where the lens can be used. Then it becomes a tool, a brush. and get adjusted

Philip Reeve notes in his review that “the Canon is quite a bit sharper at wider apertures but the Minolta has smoother bokeh but the bigger picture is that performance is rather close.” I snapped the image below during a recording session by Daniel Thompson, a new artist with a soon-to-be-released LP. (Pardon my logos atop the image.)