Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 Review
CANON NFD 28MM F2.8
The Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 is a charming little lens that’s hard not to love. It’s compact, lightweight, and delivers sharp, consistent image quality that punches well above its weight. Whether you’re shooting sweeping landscapes or spontaneous street scenes, its 28mm focal length hits that perfect sweet spot for versatility. The f2.8 aperture is great for handling a variety of lighting conditions, and the smooth focus ring makes manual focusing a joy. The one thing I really appreciate about this lens is how compact it is. It’s perfect for traveling. It's no wonder this lens continues to be a favorite among vintage lens enthusiasts and modern mirrorless shooters alike.
LENS SPECS
Released Date: 1979
Format: 35mm
Mount: Canon FD
Filter: 52mm
Aperture Blades: 5
Aperture Range: 2.8 - 22
Min Focus Distance: 0.30m
Weight 170g
Optical Design: 7 elements in 7 groups
Weather Sealing: No
Lens IS.: No
APS-C Conversion Approx.: 47mm
Price
At the time of writing this blog post in early 2025 the price of this lens on eBay is around $110.00 USD. Is it worth that price, well that’s up to you to decide.
Design and Build Quality
The design and build quality of the Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 is a testament to the craftsmanship of its era. Like all the other nFD lenses the 28mm also features a hard plastic barrel with a metal lens mount. Despite the plastic build it doesn’t feel cheap. The aperture ring has a satisfying click. The focus ring is made of a nicely textured rubber. The same material and texture found on all the other nFD lenses. This lens is relatively small, compact and feels nice in the hand. Canon did a great job streamlining the design of all their New FD lenses so they all had similar design language.
Menu Setting
In order to use this lens on your modern mirrorless camera you’re going to need to do two things. First you’ll need an FD to (your mount adapter) I’ve been using the Fotodiox Pro FD to to R adapter for the past several years and highly recommend it. Note that the FL, FD and nFD mounts are all the same and generally called FD mounts in the world of adapters.
The second thing you’ll need to do is change your camera menu settings so that it will release the shutter without a lens on the front. Vintage lenses don’t have any electronics that communicate with the camera so the camera sees them as a lens cap.
Special Features
The Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 features Canon’s S.S.C. (Super Spectra Coating), a proprietary multi-coating technology designed to reduce lens flare and ghosting while improving contrast and color fidelity. This coating is especially helpful when shooting in challenging lighting conditions, like backlit scenes or areas with strong reflections, as it minimizes unwanted artifacts and ensures your photos retain rich detail and vibrant colors. With S.S.C., images have better overall clarity, and colors appear more natural and well-saturated. For a lens of its time, this coating was a significant advancement, and it remains a key reason why this vintage gem still delivers stunning results when paired with modern cameras.
Gear Shots
Focusing
Since this is a vintage lens it is a fully manual focusing lens. The focus ring is smooth and perfectly dampened, giving just the right amount of resistance for precise adjustments. The lens has a generous focus throw, making it easy to fine-tune your shot. There’s something incredibly satisfying about the tactile feel of manual focusing a lens and I really enjoy using this lens. At 28mm it’s a bit wide so you’ll have to zoom in while you’re focusing if you want to nail focus at f2.8.
Optical Performance
The optical performance of the Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 is impressive, especially for its size and era. Wide open at f2.8, the lens exhibits some softness, particularly toward the corners, which is typical for many vintage lenses of this era. However, it’s worth noting, the softness at f2.8 can add a subtle, dreamy quality to images, making it great for creative compositions. Stopping down to f4 sharpens things up considerably, with noticeable improvements in contrast and edge-to-edge clarity. By f5.6 to f8, the lens hits its sweet spot, delivering excellent sharpness, rich detail, and vibrant colors across the entire frame. Its well-controlled distortion further enhances its versatility, making it a good choice for everything from landscapes to street photography.
Who is it for?
Let’s talk about who this lens is really for. If you’re someone who appreciates the subtle charm of vintage glass, the Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 is a fantastic choice. It offers just enough vintage character to make your images stand out, with its cool, slightly nostalgic color rendering thanks to the lens coatings, and the soft, gently defocused edges when shooting wide open. Unlike the bold, swirly bokeh of something like a Helios, this lens delivers a more understated, elegant vintage vibe perfect for adding a touch of character without overpowering your shots.
At 28mm, it’s a versatile focal length that’s wide enough for landscapes, street photography, and environmental portraits, but not so wide that it distorts your subject. For videographers, the smooth focus ring and natural field of view make it a dream for capturing your subjects in their environment, offering a cinematic look that feels immersive but balanced. Whether you’re shooting stills or video, the 28mm focal length adapts beautifully to a variety of situations, making this lens a reliable and creative tool for anyone who loves working with vintage gear.
User Experience
Let’s talk about the user experience. The nFD 28mm f2.8 is a joy to use, thanks to its lightweight and compact design. It’s the perfect companion for any mirrorless camera, and with FD adapters being easy to find, getting it mounted is quick and hassle-free. What really stands out about this lens is just how small and unobtrusive it is. It’s ideal for creating a low-profile street photography setup that won’t draw much attention. I’ve really enjoyed using this lens over the last several months. I really don’t have anything negative to say about it. It just works as it’s supposed to.
Sample Shots
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Canon nFD 28mm f2.8 is a standout example of why vintage lenses continue to captivate photographers and videographers alike. With its subtle vintage charm, compact design, and versatile 28mm focal length, it offers a perfect balance of character and usability. The Super Spectra Coating ensures rich colors and contrast, while the smooth focus ring and sharp optical performance make it a joy to shoot with, whether you’re capturing stills or video. It’s not overly flashy or dramatic, but that’s what makes it so appealing, it delivers just the right amount of personality without overwhelming your subject.
For anyone curious about diving into the world of vintage lenses, the nFD 28mm f2.8 is a fantastic starting point. It’s affordable, easy to adapt to modern cameras, and incredibly versatile, making it an excellent choice for newcomers eager to explore the beauty and uniqueness of classic glass. This lens proves that sometimes, less is more, and it’s the perfect gateway to discovering the charm of vintage lens photography.
