A
Web Site for Canon FD (Film) SLR Camera's Including:
F1,
F1n, F-1NEW, EF,
AE-1, AT-1, AE-1 Program, A-1,
AL-1, AV-1, T-50,
T-70, T-80 & T-90
The Canon FD System was a physical standard for connecting a specially made photographic lens to a single-lens reflex camera body. The standard was developed by Canon of Japan and was introduced in March 1971 with the Canon F-1. It was the primary Canon SLR lens mounting system until 1987 when (sadly) the cameras from the Canon EOS series were first produced. The last camera in the FD system was the Canon T60, from 1990. The FD mount replaced Canon's earlier FL mount; FD-mount cameras could use FL lenses in stop-down metering mode.
There is no definitive meaning agreed upon for 'FD', and Canon has never said what it stands for.
While the capabilities of FD-system camera bodies increased dramatically, the capabilities of the lens mount remained unchanged, apart from the unique autofocus system electrical contacts used by the T80 and its AC lenses. However, lenses in the FD mount evolved over the years. Initially, all the lenses had silvered metal locking rings at the base and only that ring turned to lock the lens to the mount. In 1976 the New FD lenses were introduced. In these, the whole lens barrel rotated to perform the locking action, and the lens barrel was all black; Canon's Super Spectra Coating was now standard on all lenses except for the 50 mm f/1.8, and the lens markings no longer specified it. In the very late 1970s, Canon introduced its L (Luxury) lenses—a new range of expensive lenses of high optical quality.
The massive popularity of this system combined with its current obsolescence makes it readily available for reasonable prices on the used market.