Canon FD 50 mm f/ 1.4 Lens

Surprisingly different from the FDn version. 

The build is slightly coarse and plastic compared to the FL lenses, but still quite solid and less plastic than the FDn. Sharpness is at least on par with the FDn version, and maybe a tad better. Colors are very snappy and contrast is high. SA was less obvious than on the FDn. Overall, way better than the f/1.8 versions and a touch better than the FDn f/1.4. It does flare fairly easily, and can completely lose contrast when that happens.

Weaknesses:

Although bokeh are generally quite smooth, there is a thin bright line on the PSF that makes out-of-focus points of light look like circles as opposed to discs. It is more like the bokeh on my FL 55mm f/1.2 than the FDn 50mm f/1.4. It also suffers from red/cyan bokeh CA.

Comments:

Overall, a very pleasant fast normal lens.

My copy is the "silvernose," which looks even nicer.