When Canon first started producing lenses they used the FD mount. In 1987 they switched to the current EF lens mount. This change made the FD lenses plummet in price but not in value. Check out Caleb Pike from DSLRVideoShooter.com shooting incredible video with his 5DM2 and 7D with these $20 Lenses. How do you do it? It's easy, you simply need this adapter that happens to be 63% off for just $30.
DSLR Episode #11: Using FD Lenses With HDSLRs from Caleb Pike on Vimeo.
I love FD 50mm f/1.4 SSC on my Micro 4/3 E-PL1
I use my old Nikon manual lenses a Canon 40D with a ring adapter. I also have an amazing Olympus Zuiko 50mm F1.4 bought off ebay for $80USD with a Canon ring adapter. Checkout the amazing bokeh of this Zuiko lens shot at F2:
www.photoshoot.com.mx/bokeh/rp_bokeh_web.jpg
You can't adapt Canon lenses to use on a Nikon body as the mirror will hit the rear lens element. My move from Nikon to Canon was easier as I didn't need to sell my Nikon lenses on ebay for peanuts.
Manual focusing is really hard if you don't install a split focus screen, I bought my on ebay for $20USD each and they are fine. Katzeye split focus screens are better but too $$$ in my opinion.
Thanks for posting this Fstoppers and Mr. Pike for this video. I was looking at FD lens usage on cheesycam.com. Im really itching to buy a T2i body as a first dslr. I don't want the kit lens, I want a EF 50mm 1.4. But, I have a FD 50mm 1.8 on an unfortunately shutter jammed Canon AE-1. SO, therefore, why not buy the t2i, the adapter for $30.00 and use the FD 50mm until I have saved up about $350.00 for the EF 50 1.4??? I could buy another FD lens for cheap and save money until I can buy the 50 1.4.
I have this adapter ring and it's pretty nice. If you leave the lock ring on it set to open, the lens won't stop down making it easier to focus. Once you have your focus set, you can lock it and meter for the desired exposure. I'm fairly new to manual lenses, so there's probably a better way to do it:)
Love the site, I've learned a ton form it over the past few months.
@Robert Potter:
This is an exact example of an unpleasant bokeh.
It's not because the DOF is shallow and the background is completely blurred that it's an amazing bokeh.
You can see the hard edge from circles of confusion of every specular highlight in the background, as if they were oversharpened.
That's very distracting IMHO.
Instead of the Canon FD lenses, go for M42 lenses. Some of them can fit right on EOS cameras (without adapters) and others that need adapters, don't have the extra element in the adaptor, conserving lens image quality. I've used M42 lenses over the years and you can grab them for just as cheap on ebay, they're normally very good quality and will work with film cameras too.
Is there a way that I can get these type of lens to work on a Nikon??
Adaptators are bad. Buy Edmika set to get your glass as it was working in the days.
does minimum focus rang change