Canon's New FD short-tele zoom — the 50-135mm f/3.5 standard-to-telephoto.
The Canon New FD 50-135mm f/3.5 was a standard-to-telephoto zoom in the New FD generation, offered from 1981 for the FD manual-focus system. It covered the standard focal length through a medium telephoto with a constant aperture, a useful companion to a wide zoom or standard prime.
This is a manual-focus Canon FD lens with a 50-135mm zoom range and a constant maximum aperture of f/3.5 across the range. It is built in the New FD styling with focus, zoom and aperture set manually on the barrel. The constant aperture keeps exposure steady throughout the zoom.
The 50-135mm range spans the standard focal length through medium telephoto, covering portraiture, candid work, some sport and general telephoto needs in one lens. The reach into telephoto compresses perspective and separates subjects from the background, while the standard end keeps it usable for everyday framing.
On the used market the New FD 50-135mm f/3.5 is a practical short-telephoto zoom. Check the optics for haze, fungus and separation, test the zoom and focus for smoothness and any play, and confirm the aperture blades are dry. Inspect the front element for marks, and note it adapts to mirrorless via an optics-free FD adapter.