Canon's compact FD tele — the 300mm f/4 S.S.C. with Super Spectra Coating.
The Canon FD 300mm f/4 S.S.C. was a telephoto prime in the first FD generation, offered from 1978 for Canon's manual-focus system with Super Spectra Coating. It provided a moderate-aperture 300mm that was lighter and more affordable than the fast f/2.8, appealing to wildlife and sports photographers on a budget.
This is a manual-focus Canon FD lens with a fixed 300mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/4. It carries Canon's Super Spectra multi-coating and is a telephoto with a tripod collar, focus and aperture set manually on the barrel. The slower aperture keeps size and weight manageable for the focal length.
A 300mm f/4 reaches distant subjects for wildlife, sport and compressed landscapes while remaining more portable than a fast telephoto. Its aperture is well suited to daylight action and it still separates subjects from the background at range, making it a versatile long lens for outdoor work.
On the used market the FD 300mm f/4 S.S.C. is a practical and reasonably priced telephoto. Inspect the elements for haze, fungus and separation, confirm the aperture blades are clean and dry, and test the long focus helicoid for smoothness. Check the tripod collar and built-in hood, and note it adapts to mirrorless via an optics-free FD adapter.