Canon's FD 50mm f/1.4 grew out of the earlier FL 50mm f/1.4, and the S.S.C. version is the breech-lock lens from the middle of the FD years. It came out in 1973, marked S.S.C. in red on the front ring for Super Spectra Coating, Canon's better coating grade. Inside are seven elements in six groups, eight aperture blades and a 55 mm filter thread, and it focuses to 0.45 m. Canon revised the barrel within months, so you'll find a 350 g and a 305 g version with the same glass. On a mirrorless body it's a bright normal lens, and on APS-C it frames like a 75mm portrait lens. Canon's records show no S.C. version of this lens, and the earlier 1971 one has no coating label at all. Off a Canon body the blades stay open until the aperture lever is held, so set your adapter's lock before you shoot.
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a Canon FD lens, and its mount sits 42 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Versions
Canon made two S.S.C. versions in 1973. Version I from March weighs 350 g and version II from June weighs 305 g, with the same optics. The March 1971 chrome-nose FD 50mm f/1.4 before them has no coating label and weighs 370 g. There's no S.C. version of this lens. The New FD 50mm f/1.4 from June 1979 keeps the 7-element design in a 235 g twist-on barrel with 52 mm filters and f/22.
Haze, fungus and oily aperture blades are the common age faults. Seven elements in six groups means a cemented pair, so check for separation at the edges too.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy an S.S.C. graded Exc+5 by a Japan dealer at $85 delivered, or a US copy at $78, both under the band. There are at least 95 for sale and most ask $100–160 delivered, a band Japan dealers set with near-mint grades, while US sellers here start at $59 and many ask under $110. Look for the red S.S.C. on the front ring, and in a flashlight photo through the back check for haze, fungus and a rainbow edge that means the cemented pair is separating. Skip the $600 copy titled rare, about 4.7 times the median. It needs a Canon FD adapter with its lock set so the blades close, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
$69.52est. delivered
The lowest delivered S.S.C. here without a warning in the title, at $70 delivered from a US seller with 100% feedback. The title makes no condition claim, so ask for a flashlight photo through the back before you offer.
Vintage Canon Camera Lens FD 50mm 1:1.4. S.S.C. Made in Japan
![[Exc+5] Canon FD 50mm f1.4 s.s.c. ssc MF Standard Prime Lens FD Mount From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gEwAAeSwVplqsgqI/s-l500.jpg)
$84.99est. delivered
Graded Exc+5 by the Japan dealer at $85 delivered, $15 under the bottom of the band. A grade isn't a test, so ask for a flashlight photo through the back and one of the blades at f/8.
[Exc+5] Canon FD 50mm f1.4 s.s.c. ssc MF Standard Prime Lens FD Mount From JAPAN
$168.97est. delivered
Titled tested, with a case and caps, at $169 delivered, just over the band because $44 of it is shipping from Japan. It's the only listing here that claims a test.
Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. SSC MF Lens for F-1 Exc+5 w/ Case Cap Tested JAPAN
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$69.52est. delivered
$60.00 + $9.52 shipping
Buy It Now$60.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
US seller, Best Offer. No condition claim in the title.
Seller: thethriftyorange
100% positive
Used$84.99est. delivered
$49.99 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$49.99
Good buy
Exc+5 is the dealer's grade.
Seller: mimoss.shop
100% positive
Used$168.97est. delivered
$124.98 + $43.99 shipping
Buy It Now$124.98
Good buy
Titled tested, with a case and caps. Exc+5 is the dealer's grade.
Seller: yj_camera
100% positive
Used$59.00delivered
$59.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$59.00
Our take
Titled READ, so the description lists faults. Read it before you buy.
Seller: cameraspot
99.8% positive
Used$78.22est. delivered
$65.00 + $13.22 shipping
Buy It Now$65.00
Our take
US seller, breech-lock S.S.C. No condition claim in the title.
Seller: uscamerapro
99.9% positive
![Rare"O" [Near MINT] Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 S.S.C. MF Standard Lens From JAPAN A254](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jcUAAeSwbAdqx5YI/s-l500.jpg)
Used$129.99est. delivered
$99.99 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$99.99
Our take
Near MINT is the dealer's grade, and "Rare O" is the seller's own label.
Seller: arorin-camera-tokyo-japan
99.5% positive
Used$149.00delivered
$149.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$149.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller name and feedback weren't on the card. The red S.S.C. label shows in the photo.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$600.00delivered
$600.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$600.00
Priced high
Titled rare, at about 4.7 times the median ask. The main photo shows only a cap.
Seller: vintage_cinema
100% positive
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