Canon FD Price List 2022

Over the last few years, no lens range has courted more controversy in terms of its market and pricing than the Canon FD. Once considered decidedly unglamorous and a poor shooter’s lens set – much like their oft-reviled Cinema Products-rehoused cousins, the K-35s – this range has found new legs with the rise of vintage in cinematic use, meaning that prices have exploded in ways no one might have expected as recently as 2020.

The first signs began around 2018, but didn’t go into high gear for another couple of years. An nFD 24mm L once sold for under $1000, but now they can sell for upwards of $10k. Around the time the pandemic began, I helped VLFV’s own Alan Besedin pick up a copy of the modest 85mm 1.2 L, which was bought for the paltry sum of $350. That lens has since more than quadrupled in value, much to everyone’s surprise. FDs have been a very good investment for many shooters, and perhaps more importantly, they have also been used to produce some absolutely beautiful community content.

VLFV’s test with one of the more affordable FDs

But nothing is ever so clear. Some say prices of FDs have peaked, but it is hard to gauge when shifting economic factors are wreaking havoc on currency exchanges and giving all us indie shooters heart palpitations when we buy what used to be a reasonable 50mm 1.4 (review) on your choice of platform overseas (though if you are going to suffer a heart attack whilst buying glass, we encourage you to help us all out by clicking our ebay affiliate links, hint hint!)

Contrary to what threads on the VLFV Facebook page or listings on eBay might say, FDs are by no means rare. They are, with a few exceptions, quite common and regularly sell on all platforms. However, in spite of all this data all around the internet, it seems like every week we get another post asking about prices for 35mm Concaves, or querying when and why the nFD 135mm f2 suddenly became so expensive.

So we here at VLFV thought – what can we do to help make things clearer and help out the community when they are making their buying decisions, whether online or in stores?

The result is the gargantuan table you see below – hours upon hours of research invested into every single FD lens ever manufactured, from the pricey SSC Asphericals to the humble 20mm 2.8 or 35mm convex. This list is a verified, checked and triple-checked archive, referencing a variety of international online sales platforms. A snapshot of what lenses are actually selling for at the time of writing. 

Prices are in USD, have eBay links for quick searching and are banded as follows:
High prices – Are for mint examples, perfect for your next rehousing project.
Low prices – Are for rough beater lenses, the kinds that have a little dust, a little fungus, and maybe a little more going on.

Our intention is to review these lenses every six months, adjust our table, and to also give an annual “state of the market” review every year so that the entire VLFV community can see where the market is headed with analysis of price trends.

But we do not want this to be a static, detached page either. We want this to be a living, breathing document, and we would love your feedback and where our data might be wrong. Have you managed to make a massive sale that sets new peaks for the market? Do you see trends showing that certain lenses are actually selling for a lot less than we are saying? Please tell us and we will try to incorporate your data into our findings when the next review rolls around!

FD (Breech Lock) Price List:

Lens NameLow Price
(USD)
High Price
(USD)
Link
Fish-Eye 7.5mm f/5.6300750Find on eBay
Fish-Eye 7.5mm f/5.6 S.S.C.350750Find on eBay
Fish-Eye FD 15mm f/2.8 S.S.C.475825Find on eBay
FD 17mm f/4 S.S.C.6251050Find on eBay
FD 20mm f/2.8 S.S.C.7001275Find on eBay
FD 24mm f/1.4 S.S.C. ASPHERICAL900017500Find on eBay
FD 24mm f/2.8 (chrome nose)75175Find on eBay
FD 24mm f/2.8 S.S.C.175275Find on eBay
FD 28mm f/2 S.S.C.8252000Find on eBay
FD 28mm f/2.8 S.C.75150Find on eBay
FD 28mm f/3.5 (chrome nose)5095Find on eBay
FD 28mm f/3.5 S.C.50125Find on eBay
FD 35mm f/2 (chrome nose)325950Find on eBay
FD 35mm f/2 S.S.C. (concave)5001200Find on eBay
FD 35mm f/2 S.S.C. (convex)200650Find on eBay
TS 35mm f/2.8 S.S.C.350750Find on eBay
FD 35mm f/3.5 (chrome nose)2060Find on eBay
FD 35mm f/3.5 S.C.2575Find on eBay
FD 50mm f/1.4 (chrome nose)50150Find on eBay
FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C.50175Find on eBay
FD 50mm f/1.8 (chrome nose)2050Find on eBay
FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C.2585Find on eBay
AC 50mm f/1.875150Find on eBay
FD 50mm f/3.5 S.S.C. Macro65100Find on eBay
FD 55mm f/1.2 (chrome nose)175350Find on eBay
FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C.200500Find on eBay
FD 55mm f/1.2AL38008000Find on eBay
FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. AL40009000Find on eBay
FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. ASPHERICAL25005500Find on eBay
FD 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C. ASPHERICAL40008500Find on eBay
FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C.250700Find on eBay
FD 100mm f/2.8 (chrome nose)75150Find on eBay
FD 100mm f/2.8 S.S.C.125250Find on eBay
FD 100mm f/4 S.C. Macro40125Find on eBay
FD 135mm f/2.5 S.C.50150Find on eBay
FD 135mm f/3.5 (chrome nose)50175Find on eBay
FD 135mm f/3.5 S.C.40125Find on eBay
FD 200mm f/2.8 S.S.C.125300Find on eBay
FD 200mm f/4 S.S.C.40100Find on eBay
FD 300mm f/2.8 S.S.C. FLUORITE15002750Find on eBay
FD 300mm f/4 S.S.C.150350Find on eBay
FD 300mm f/5.6 S.C.3060Find on eBay
FD 300mm f/5.6 S.S.C.30150Find on eBay
FD 400mm f/4.5 S.S.C.250350Find on eBay
Reflex 500mm f/8 S.S.C.100350Find on eBay
FD 600mm f/4.5 S.S.C.400600Find on eBay
FD 800mm f/5.6 S.S.C.8001500Find on eBay
Zooms
FD 24-35mm f/3.5 S.S.C. ASPHERICAL300600Find on eBay
FD 28-50mm f/3.5 S.S.C.75200Find on eBay
FD 35-70mm f/2.8-3.5 S.S.C.80150Find on eBay
AC 35-70mm f/3.5-4.51075Find on eBay
AC 75-200mm f/4.510100Find on eBay
FD 80-200mm f/4 S.S.C.10100Find on eBay
FD 85-300mm f/4.5 S.S.C.130275Find on eBay
FD 100-200mm f/5.61050Find on eBay
FD 100-200mm f/5.6 S.S.C.1075Find on eBay

nFD (Bayonet) Price List:

Lens NameLow Price
(USD)
High Price
(USD)
Link
New Fish-Eye 7.5mm f/5.6250700Find on eBay
New Fish-Eye FD 15mm f/2.8425650Find on eBay
New FD 14mm f/2.8L500010000Find on eBay
New FD 17mm f/4300600Find on eBay
New FD 20mm f/2.8275500Find on eBay
New FD 24mm f/1.4L500010000Find on eBay
New FD 24mm f/2325850Find on eBay
New FD 24mm f/2.875175Find on eBay
New FD 28mm f/2150500Find on eBay
New FD 28mm f/2.825100Find on eBay
New FD 35mm f/2175500Find on eBay
New FD 35mm f/2.875150Find on eBay
New FD 50mm f/1.2125400Find on eBay
New FD 50mm f/1.2L8001400Find on eBay
New FD 50mm f/1.450235Find on eBay
New FD 50mm f/1.82590Find on eBay
New FD 50mm f/22075Find on eBay
New FD 50mm f/3.5 Macro50180Find on eBay
New FD 85mm f/1.2L8001400Find on eBay
New FD 85mm f/1.8200450Find on eBay
Soft-focus FD 85mm f/2.8250475Find on eBay
New FD 100mm f/211002500Find on eBay
New FD 100mm f/2.8125175Find on eBay
New FD 100mm f/4 Macro50300Find on eBay
New FD 135mm f/25001500Find on eBay
New FD 135mm f/2.850100Find on eBay
New FD 135mm f/3.525125Find on eBay
New FD 200mm f/1.8L400010000Find on eBay
New FD 200mm f/2.875475Find on eBay
New FD 200mm f/425135Find on eBay
New FD 200mm f/4 Macro150400Find on eBay
New FD 300mm f/2.8L2501000Find on eBay
New 300mm f/460250Find on eBay
New 300mm f/4L250600Find on eBay
New FD 300mm f/5.650100Find on eBay
New FD 400mm f/2.8L10001500Find on eBay
New FD 400mm f/4.5200350Find on eBay
New FD 500mm f/4.5L6001200Find on eBay
New Reflex 500mm f/8150250Find on eBay
New FD 600mm f/4.56001300Find on eBay
New FD 800mm f/5.6L7001100Find on eBay
Zoom
New FD 20-35mm f/3.5L400875Find on eBay
New FD 24-35mm f/3.5L150400Find on eBay
New FD 28-50mm f/3.575100Find on eBay
New FD 28-55mm f/3.5-4.525100Find on eBay
New FD 28-85mm f/475125Find on eBay
New FD 35-70mm f/2.8-3.575200Find on eBay
New FD 35-70mm f/3.5-4.525100Find on eBay
New FD 35-70mm f/425150Find on eBay
New FD 35-70mm f/4 AF25250Find on eBay
New FD 35-105mm f/3.525200Find on eBay
New FD 35-105mm f/3.5-4.520135Find on eBay
New FD 50-135mm f/3.525175Find on eBay
New FD 50-300mm f/4.5L35005000Find on eBay
New FD 70-150mm f/4.51075Find on eBay
New FD 70-210mm f/440100Find on eBay
New FD 75-200mm f/4.53080Find on eBay
New FD 80-200mm f/42075Find on eBay
New FD 80-200mm f/4L200400Find on eBay
New 85-300mm f/4.550375Find on eBay
New FD 100-200mm f/5.61075Find on eBay
New FD 100-300mm f/5.650120Find on eBay
New FD 100-300mm f/5.6L100275Find on eBay
New FD 150-600mm f/5.630006000Find on eBay

FAQ:

  • Are breech lock FD lenses and bayonet nFD lenses the same?

There are many differences between these lenses. Mounts, coatings, mechanics are all very different. In addition, there are various optical designs that differ between FDs and their nFD counterparts. Your choice of lenses may be driven by look or instead by cost or accessibility.

  • Are SSC Asphericals and nFD “L” lenses the same?

The 24mm and 85mm lenses share optical designs and elements are directly interchangeable, though coatings and mechanics differ between the two. There is no 55mm L lens – the 55mm lens design was abandoned and replaced with a 50mm. The 24-35mm Aspherical zoom has an “L” counterpart, but a 20-35mm lens was also made that is unique to the L range. There are many more “L” lenses than Asphericals. 

  • What are “AL” lenses?

The very first 55mm Aspherical lens was released with a blue “AL” marking. This marking was later replaced with the orange “Aspherical” marking that we all know and love! 

  • Are “O” type lenses special, or worth more?

The auto exposure pin marking on some of the earliest breech lock lenses’ aperture ring were not marked “A”, like later lenses, but instead with “O”. Sellers use this to indicate that the lens is of a certain vintage. These lenses are worth no more than later lenses, and are not any more special.

  • What is SSC “Super Spectra Coating”?

“Super Spectra Coating” is a special multicoating introduced not long after the arrival of the FD range. The earliest lenses were single coated or had “Spectra Coating”. You know a breech-lock lens is SSC due to the red “SSC” marking on the front bezel ring. The later nFD lenses all had a form of “Super Spectra Coating”, and thus the marking was removed.

  • What are “Chrome Noses”?

The very first generation of Canon FD lenses were made with chrome filter ring/hood mounts. These early breech-lock lenses have become known as “chrome noses”. The lenses have weaker coatings than the later SSC lenses (similar to the late generation FLs), but have many optical designs in common with the SSC range. They offer interesting looks, but for a lower price than the later SSCs. Very much worth checking out!

  • Should I only ever pay the prices in this price guide?

A lens is only ever worth the price you are willing to pay for it. You really want a lens, but it is more than the prices you see here? That is ok! As long as you are comfortable paying a little extra to get what you want, that is perfectly fine. Just make sure that you buy responsibly and check the lens is in tip-top condition in order to warrant a tip-top price!


Written by Peter Cooper


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