Production
1960 – 1989
Country
Japan
Optical
6-7 elements in 5-6 groups, Gauss/Tessar/Triplet design
Updated
Feb 6, 2026
Canon 50mm f1.4
Canon FD · 50mm · f/1.4
Overview
Canon's faster 50mm f1.4 FD-mount lens served professional photographers through the 1970s-80s. It offers faster aperture than the f1.8 version for low-light work.
Verdict: The Canon 50mm f1.4 is a solid vintage lens option. MFlenses community members recommend it for photographers seeking reliable optical performance and vintage character.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Pleasant bokeh from aperture design
Color
Balanced to neutral color rendering
Sharpness wide open
Good sharpness from f4 onwards
Flare resistance
Moderate flare resistance
Contrast
Good contrast and clarity
Vignetting
Mild to moderate wide open
Community Insights
What people love
- Reliable optical performance
- Good value proposition
- Solid build quality
- Consistent rendering
- Versatile for various applications
What people dislike
- Limited character in some models
- Can be soft wide open
- May require cleaning
- Some copies affected by fungus
Pro Tips
- Best performance at f4-f8 apertures
- Test on digital camera bodies via adapter
- Clean carefully to preserve coatings
- Works well on modern mirrorless systems
Sample Photos
Sources (2)
MFlenses ForumForum
Canon's faster 50mm f1.4 FD-mount lens served professional photographers through the 1970s-80s. It offers faster aperture than the f1.8 version for low-light work.
DPReview ForumForum
Canon's faster 50mm f1.4 FD-mount lens served professional photographers through the 1970s-80s. It offers faster aperture than the f1.8 version for low-light work.