Canon FDn 20mm F/2.8

Ultra-wide angle prime lens • Film era • Discontinued

  • Announced:
  • · December 1979
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · Japan
  • Original name:
  • · CANON LENS FD 20mm 1:2.8
  • Class:
  • · Fast full-frame ultra-wide angle prime lens
  • · Professional model
  • System:
  • · Canon FD (1971)

Abbreviations

FD The lens is designed for Canon 35mm film SLR cameras with the Canon FD mount.
n (Unofficial acronym) A new generation of FD series lenses without the breech-lock ring.

Model history (2)

■Canon FD 20mm F/2.8 S.S.C.A10 - 90.25m⌀72 1973 ●
■Canon FDn 20mm F/2.8A10 - 90.25m⌀72 1979 ●

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
20mm
F/2.8
10 elements in 9 groups
Floating element system
Canon FD [42mm]
94.5° (35mm full frame)
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Automatic
Aperture control:
Aperture ring (Manual settings + Auto Exposure setting)
6 (six)
Focusing:
0.25m
1:7.7
Focusing modes:
Manual focus only
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
305g
⌀76.5×58mm
Accessories:
Screw-type 72mm
BW-72 - Bayonet-type round
Canon Extender FD 2X-B → 40mm F/5.6

Sources of data

  • Canon FD interchangeable lenses booklet (PUB. IE01-075) (May 1979).
  • Lens Wonderland. Canon FD lens guide book (PUB. C-IE-097AZ) (May 1987).
  • Specifications of Canon New FD lenses (PUB. C-II-099B) (July 1981).
  • Canon FD interchangeable lenses booklet (PUB. C-IE-075AF) (May 1981).
  • Lens Work. The Canon guide to interchangeable lenses and Single Lens Reflex photography.
  • Quick reference guide.
  • Canon AE-1 Program booklet (PUB. C-CE-124) (December 1980).
  • Canon AL-1 Quick focus booklet (PUB. C-CE-135A) (January 1982).
  • The New F-1 World booklet.
  • Canon A-1 booklet (PUB. C-CE-0990) (September 1980).
  • Canon AE-1 booklet (PUB. C-CE-1056AB) (September 1980).
  • Canon FD lenses sales guide.
  • Canon Reflex 1981/1982 booklet.
  • Canon interchangeable lenses FD booklet (PUB. C-IE-075AQ) (March 1982).
  • Canon Reflex booklet (1985).
  • Canon FD lenses instructions (PUB. II01-061I) (July 1979).
  • Canon FD interchangeable lenses booklet (PUB. C-IE-075AL) (December 1981).
  • Canon AE-1 booklet (PUB. C-CE-1056Y) (February 1980).
  • Canon Products Guide (PUB. C-CE-114BI) (February 1983).
  • Canon Products Guide (PUB. CE01-114B) (July 1979).
  • Canon FD lenses (October 1982).

Manufacturer description #1

A lens with quite extreme wide-angle perspective, it has exceptional speed in its favor and an edge in compactness and light weight. It has a floating system for edge-to-edge sharpness throughout its focusing range. Portable and easy to handle, it is useful for a subject that requires extra depth and speed.

Manufacturer description #2

Designed for high performance, this lens at f/2.8 is the fastest among 20mm lenses. The use of glass with a high refractive index in a suitable composition sufficiently corrects spherical and chromatic aberrations, curvature of field and astigmatism, thus promising superb results at any aperture.

This lens uses the floating system for edge-to-edge sharpness from its close 0.25 meter minimum focusing distance to infinity. Its extensive depth of field makes it ideal for commercial and industrial work.

Despite its fast speed and other strong attributes, the 20mm remains compact and light weight for utmost portability.

Manufacturer description #3

There is no faster lens currently available in this focal length than the new FD 20mm f2.8. Sharpness, contrast and freedom from distortion are this lens' strong points. Especially important is its ability to make the most of color films when photographing in low lighting conditions. Thanks to the inclusion of the Canon Floating System, superb image quality is insured at every aperture and distance in its focusing range.

Now that the new Canon fast mounting system has been developed, mounting and removing the new FD 20mm f2.8 lens is an easy one-hand operation. The weight of this optic has been reduced slightly compared with that of the lens it replaces.

Other ultra-wide angle prime lenses in the Canon FD system

■Canon FD mount (5)
Canon FDn 14mm F/2.8LA14 - 100.25m-- 1982 ●
Canon FD 17mm F/4A11 - 90.25m⌀72 1971 ●
Canon FD 17mm F/4 S.S.C.A11 - 90.25m⌀72 1973 ●
Canon FDn 17mm F/4A11 - 90.25m⌀72 1979 ●
Canon FD 20mm F/2.8 S.S.C.A10 - 90.25m⌀72 1973 ●

Lenses with similar focal length

■Canon FD mount (19)
Cosina Wide Angle 20mm F/3.8 MCA9 - 80.20m⌀62 ●
Norita Kogaku Noritar 17mm F/4A11 - 100.30m⌀72 1972 ●
Panagor Auto Wide Angle 21mm F/4A9 - 70.16m⌀82 ●
Sigma MF 18mm F/3.5 ZENA10 - 90.25m⌀72 1992 ●
Sigma MF Ultra-Wide 18mm F/2.8 Multi-Coated IIA10 - 90.25m⌀72 1984 ●
Sigma MF Ultra-Wide 18mm F/2.8 Multi-CoatedA11 - 90.25m⌀67 1980 ●
Sigma MF 18mm F/2.8 FiltermaticA12 - 90.23m⌀77 1978 ●
Soligor Wide-Auto 17mm F/3.5 [MC] (s/n 1xxxxxxx)A11 - 80.22m⌀72 ●
Soligor C/D Wide-Auto 20mm F/2.8 MCA9 - 70.20m⌀58 ●
Soligor Wide-Auto 21mm F/3.8 (s/n 1xxxxxxx)A9 - 80.35m⌀72 ●
Spiratone Ultra Wideangle 18mm F/3.5 Pluracoat [I]A11 - 80.22m⌀72 1979 ●
Spiratone Ultra Wideangle 18mm F/3.5 Pluracoat [II]A11 - 90.25m⌀67 ●
Spiratone 20mm F/2.8 Plura-CoatA9 - 70.20m⌀58 1983 ●
Tokina 17mm F/3.5 RMC Type 2
akaSpiratone Ultra Wideangle 17mm F/3.5 Pluracoat
akaTokina SL 17mm F/3.5		A11 - 90.25m⌀67 1980 ●
Tokina Wide-Auto 17mm F/3.5 RMC Type 1A11 - 80.22m⌀72 ●
Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 20mm F/3.8 (s/n 22xxxxxx)A9 - 70.15m⌀82 1969 ●
Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 17mm F/3.5 (s/n 37xxxxxx)A11 - 80.22m⌀72 1976 ●
Vivitar Wide-Angle 17mm F/3.5 MC (s/n 37xxxxxx)A11 - 90.25m⌀67 ●
Vivitar Wide Angle 19mm F/3.8 MC (s/n 9xxxxxxx)A9 - 80.20m⌀62 ●
■Interchangeable mount (6)
Sigma[-XQ] MF [Widerama] 18mm F/3.2 [Multi-Coated] [YS]
akaAccura/Sigma 18mm F/3.2
akaSpiratone 18mm F/3.2
akaSpiratone 18mm F/3.5		A12 - 100.17m⌀72 1972 ●
Soligor Wide-Auto 21mm F/3.8 (s/n 1xxxxxx) [T-4]A9 - 80.35m⌀72 1970 ●
Tamron SP 17mm F/3.5 51B [Adaptall-2]A12 - 100.25m-- 1979 ●
Tamron SP 17mm F/3.5 151B [Adaptall-2]A12 - 100.25m-- 1984 ●
Tamron Auto 21mm F/4.5 [Adapt-A-Matic]A8 - 60.25m⌀82 1970 ●
Vivitar Auto Wide-Angle 21mm F/3.8 (s/n 37xxxxxxx) [T-4]A9 - 80.35m⌀72 ●

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