Canon · Canon FD · From 1974, New FD from 1979
Canon introduced the FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. in April 1974 as its everyday portrait lens, and the New FD version followed in 1979. Canon's museum says it was designed for good blur at full aperture, with astigmatism and coma corrected across the frame, which is what you want from a portrait lens wide open. It's a six-element, four-group design with eight aperture blades. The breech-lock lens is the bigger one at 425 g with 55 mm filters, and the New FD lens is 345 g with 52 mm filters and focuses slightly closer, to 0.85 m. On full frame it's a classic head-and-shoulders lens. On APS-C it frames like a 128mm, so you'll need more room. Off a Canon body the blades stay open until the aperture lever is held, so set your adapter's lock before shooting. Don't confuse it with the FD 85mm f/1.2, which is a different lens.
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 breech-lock FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. from April 1974 weighs 425 g, takes 55 mm filters, focuses to 0.9 m and stops down to f/16. The New FD 85mm f/1.8 from June 1979 has the same 6-element layout in a 345 g barrel with 52 mm filters, focuses to 0.85 m and stops down to f/22. The FD 85mm f/1.2 and New FD 85mm f/2.8 Soft Focus are different lenses.
Haze, fungus, dust and oily aperture blades are the usual age faults. Four groups for six elements means cemented pairs, so look for separation 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 the New FD titled tested and graded Almost MINT at $275 delivered, at the bottom of the band, or the US copy with a BT-52 hood and case at $156 once you've seen photos through the glass. There are at least 94 for sale and most ask $270–410 delivered, a band Japan dealers set with near-mint grades, while the two US copies here without a warning ask $156 and $188 and breech-lock S.S.C. copies from Japan ask $350–516. The breech-lock S.S.C. has a chrome locking ring and takes 55 mm filters, and the lighter New FD has a release button and takes 52 mm, with the same six-element layout. Ask for a flashlight photo through the back for haze or a rainbow edge from a separating cemented pair, and one of the blades at f/4 with the lever held, and skip the $710 US copy at about 2.2 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.
$156.18est. delivered
The lowest delivered lens here, with a BT-52 hood and a case, at $156 delivered from a 100% US seller, well under the band. The title makes no condition claim, so ask for a flashlight photo through the back and one of the blades at f/4.
Canon FD 85mm 1:1.8 Lens with BT-52 Lens Hood Shade with Case
![Tested [Almost MINT] Canon New FD 85mm f1.8 NewFd NFD MF Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jwAAAeSwNkpqtjc4/s-l500.jpg)
$274.99est. delivered
Titled tested and graded Almost MINT, a New FD at $275 delivered, at the bottom of the band and under the $324 median. Ask what the test covered and for a flashlight photo through the back.
Tested [Almost MINT] Canon New FD 85mm f1.8 NewFd NFD MF Lens From JAPAN
$365.50delivered
Titled serviced, a breech-lock S.S.C. at $366 delivered with free shipping, inside the band and under most S.S.C. asks here. The photo shows only the shop's tag, so ask for photos of the lens itself before you buy.
EXCELLENT 【Serviced】 Canon FD 85mm F/1.8 S.S.C. Prime Lens
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 14, 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 14, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$156.18est. delivered
$149.09 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$149.09
Good buy
US seller. BT-52 hood and case included.
Seller: nivabef
100% positive
Used$274.99est. delivered
$234.99 + $40.00 shipping
Buy It Now$234.99
Good buy
New FD titled tested. Almost MINT is the dealer's grade. Hood and caps in the photo.
Seller: yutacamerajapan
100% positive
Serviced$365.50delivered
$365.50 · free shipping
Buy It Now$365.50
Good buy
S.S.C. titled serviced. The photo shows only the shop's tag.
Seller: yamadacamera
100% positive
Used$187.88delivered
$187.88 · free shipping
Buy It Now$187.88
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.
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Our take
US dealer. No condition claim in the title.
Seller: robertscamera
99.8% positive
![[Almost Unused/Hood] Canon New FD NFD 85mm f1.8 Manual Portrait MF Lens #79](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gDQAAeSwJiVqt9HL/s-l500.jpg)
Used$295.99est. delivered
$245.99 + $50.00 shipping
Buy It Now$245.99
Our take
New FD graded Almost Unused by the dealer. Hood and caps in the photo.
Seller: hanna_from_japan
100% positive
![[MINT] Canon New FD NFD 85mm F/1.8 SLR MF Portrait Prime Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mKAAAeSwkN1qv8Sy/s-l500.jpg)
Used$324.99est. delivered
$279.99 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$279.99
Our take
New FD, MINT by the dealer's grade. Caps in the photo.
Seller: akyama_71
100% positive
![Tested [Top MINT w/ HOOD] Canon New FD 85mm f1.8 Portrait MF SLR Lens From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QkYAAeSwzlJqxwAL/s-l500.jpg)
Used$400.40est. delivered
$329.40 + $71.00 shipping
Buy It Now$329.40
Our take
New FD titled tested, Top MINT by the dealer's grade, with a hood.
Seller: misak8411
100% positive
Used$709.89est. delivered
$699.90 + $9.99 shipping
Buy It Now$699.90
Priced high
S.S.C. titled Opt Mint and clean. About 2.2 times the median.
Seller: ogcjm89
99.7% positive
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