Canon's fast FD supertele — the New FD 400mm f/2.8L professional telephoto.
The Canon New FD 400mm f/2.8L was introduced in 1981 as a fast professional supertelephoto in the New FD, L-series line for the FD manual-focus system. It used fluorite and low-dispersion optics and was aimed at professional sports and wildlife photographers needing a very fast long lens.
This is a manual-focus Canon FD lens with a fixed 400mm focal length and a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8. As an L lens it employs specialised low-dispersion optics to control chromatic aberration at this focal length. It is a large, heavy tripod-mounted supertelephoto with focus and aperture set manually.
A 400mm f/2.8 reaches well into distant action while its fast aperture allows high shutter speeds and strong isolation of the subject against a fully blurred background. It was built for professional field sport and wildlife photography where reach, speed and colour correction were all required, and it is a substantial lens intended for tripod or monopod use.
On the used market the New FD 400mm f/2.8L is a rare and expensive professional supertelephoto, so condition and completeness matter greatly. Inspect the large elements for haze, fungus, scratches and separation, confirm the aperture and focus operate smoothly, and check the tripod foot, hood and drop-in filter holder. It can be adapted to mirrorless with an optics-free FD adapter.