Canon FD SSC 50mm f1.4 VS FDn 50mm

[darinwc]

Does anyone know if the
Canon FD SSC 50mm f1.4 is different than the Canon FDn 50mm f1.4 optically.

When I put the two next to each other, one looks longer than the other and I swear I see different reflections.

[2F/2F]

Canon said of the new FD:

"The optical concept of this lens originated with the FL50mm f/1.4 II and FD50mm f/1.4. It achieves more compactness and higher contrast simultaneously. It has been called "the standard lens of standard lenses", because of its high image quality. It has an excellent color balance, which is virtually identical to the ISO recommended reference value."

The S.S.C. and the FDn have the same number of elements and groups, and it sounds like the basic design goes back to the 50mm f/1.4 FL lens. Maybe they just made the FDn one a bit smaller. I know they take 52 filters instead of 55's. And I can never tell the difference between the images made with each, even with my S.S.C. being full of fungus.

[Jeff Kubach]

I have the old S.S.c. 50 f/1.4. Never compare to the new one, but still an excellent performer.

Jeff

[Pumalite]

I have both. I can't tell them apart when pictures come.

[hpulley]

The plastic mounted one has newer coatings, hence the 'reflections' look different. In high flare conditions you might notice higher contrast in images taken with the newer one but in essence both are in fact the same as the old FL 50mm f/1.4 and the newer autofocus EF 50mm f/1.4 as well. Canon got a lot of mileage out of what is essentially the same optical formula.

[benjiboy]

I have both and I prefer the new type with the bayonet fitting and plastic barrel because they are lighter it takes 52mm filters like my other FD lenses, and they are a lot less fiddly to change quickly.

[Pumalite]

I prefer the old type. Call me "Old Fashioned"

[brucemuir]

How do any of these iterations do wide open @ 1.4?
I'm always looking for one that performs well wide open.

Most fastish 50's (1.4) I've tried usually are just passable wide open.
The canon EF version does sharpen up quickly (1.8-2.2) though.

[hpulley]

The FD versions also sharpen up quickly but I've found the FD and EF (unrelated designs) of 1.8 are actually sharper by f/4 or f/5.6. The f/1.2 models are even softer generally in my experience.

[dynachrome]

This is a very old question. I have two 50/1.4 New FD lenses and three 50/1.4 FD SSCs. Both the older and newer lenses are very good. If one works better today it is because of condition and not design.