Canon's New FD lenses arrived in 1979 with a twist-on barrel in place of the chrome locking ring, and the 50mm f/1.8 is the most common of them. It's the same six-element, four-group design as the older S.C. lens, cut down to 170 g and 35 mm long, with a 52 mm filter thread, five aperture blades and f/22. It's also the one New FD lens Canon didn't give its S.S.C. coating, and Casual Photophile found it flares easily with the sun in frame and has busy bokeh, though its contrast is good. On a mirrorless body it's a tiny, light normal lens, and on APS-C it frames like a 75mm. Off a Canon body the blades stay open until the aperture lever is held, so set your adapter's lock before you judge the aperture ring. With so many around, you can be picky about condition.
Known forHarsh flare
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
The New FD 50mm f/1.8 from June 1979 uses the same 6-element optics as the breech-lock FD 50mm f/1.8 S.C., in a smaller 170 g barrel with 52 mm filters and f/22. Canon gave every New FD lens its S.S.C. coating except this one. The breech-lock S.C. lens has its own page, and the New FD 50mm f/1.4 and f/2 are different lenses.
Haze, fungus, separation in the cemented groups and oily blades are the usual age faults. A knock on the front can also leave the filter thread dented.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy the US copy titled tested at $53 delivered, or the cheapest one at $41 with a 52 mm filter. There are at least 24 for sale and most ask $50–110 delivered, but US sellers here ask $41–73 while Japan dealers grading Exc+5 to Top MINT ask $81–161, a lot extra for a lens this common. It's the one New FD lens without S.S.C. coating, so expect flare with the sun in frame, and the base should be black with a release button, not a chrome ring. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back and one of the five blades at f/8 with the lever held. It needs a Canon FD adapter with its lock set so the blades close, and the model page lists the adapters by camera.
$41.09est. delivered
The lowest delivered lens here, from a US seller, at $41 delivered with a 52 mm filter included. The title makes no condition claim, so ask for a flashlight photo through the back before you offer.
Canon FD 50mm 1:1.8 Prime Lens nFD Mount Made in Japan with Nikon 52mm Filter
$52.51est. delivered
Titled tested and nice, with a cover, at $53 delivered from a US seller, near the bottom of the band. Ask what the test covered and for a photo of the blades at f/8.
Vintage Canon New FD 50mm f/1.8 Manual Focus Prime Lens - TESTED With Cover Nice
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$41.09est. delivered
$34.00 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$34.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
US seller. Comes with a Nikon 52 mm filter.
Seller: goldenmountaingoods
99.9% positive
Used$52.51est. delivered
$44.99 + $7.52 shipping
Buy It Now$44.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Titled tested, with a cover.
Seller: addman6896
100% positive
Used$63.90delivered
$63.90 · free shipping
Buy It Now$63.90
Our take
With a Hoya UV filter. The photo also shows a zoom lens, so ask what's included.
Seller: jubaumg_33
100% positive
Used$72.70est. delivered
$60.00 + $12.70 shipping
Buy It Now$60.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
With a filter and cap.
Seller: wicks359
100% positive
![[Excllent+5] Canon New FD NFD 50mm f1.8 MF Standard Lens From Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9~4AAeSwz0Jqikhh/s-l500.jpg)
Used$80.98est. delivered
$39.99 + $40.99 shipping
Buy It Now$39.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Excellent+5 is the dealer's grade, and $41 of the price is shipping from Japan.
Seller: koumatsu
100% positive
Used$47.99delivered
$47.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$47.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Check the seller
Same title as another seller's listing. Compare photos before buying.
Seller: jarh-73
99.4% positive
![Canon New FD NFD 50mm f1.8 [Excellent5+] MF Standard Prime Lens From Japan #0108](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HmcAAeSwysppOCxT/s-l500.jpg)
Used$81.25est. delivered
$68.25 + $13.00 shipping
Buy It Now$68.25
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. Excellent5+ is the dealer's grade.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$173.99est. delivered
$169.99 + $4.00 shipping
Buy It Now$169.99
Priced high
About 2.4 times the median, with no condition claim in the title.
Seller: coutbe0
100% positive
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