Vintage Canon FD lenses professionally rehoused in cinema-standard barrels with integrated focus gears and extended focus throws for precision follow focus operations.
Definition
Canon FD (Cine-Rehoused) refers to Canon FD lenses originally developed for photography in the 1970s and 1980s, which have subsequently been converted into professional cinema lens housings (cine-housing). These vintage prime lenses are optimized for film and TV use by specialized companies with standardized focus and aperture rings, uniform housing dimensions, and more robust mechanics.
The optical design of the original Canon FD series is fully preserved, retaining their characteristic image qualities – warm color rendition, organic skin tones, and a subtle vintage look with a slight fall-off in contrast. The cine-rehousing allows for their use with professional follow-focus systems and matte box configurations.
Practical Application
Canon FD Cine-Rehoused lenses are preferably used in productions that aim for a subtle vintage character without excessive stylization. They are particularly suitable for music videos, commercials, independent films, and series set in the 70s/80s. The optical performance offers sufficient sharpness for 4K productions, while simultaneously avoiding the organic, less sterile look of modern optics.
Technical Details
Typical focal lengths range from 24mm to 135mm with a consistent aperture of T1.4 to T2.8. The lenses are usually offered in PL-mount or EF-mount and cost between 2,000-8,000 Euros per lens, depending on the provider and focal length.