Canon 100-300mm f/5.6 Manual Focus Lens for FD-Mount Review

The Canon 100-300mm f/5.6 is a manual focus telephoto zoom lens designed for Canon's discontinued FD mount system, which was used on film SLRs before the EOS autofocus era. This lens offers a useful focal range for wildlife, sports, and portrait work, though it requires an FD-mount camera body or an adapter to fit modern digital systems. At f/5.6 throughout the zoom range, it's relatively slow by today's standards but typical for telephoto zooms of its generation.

This is a legacy optic aimed squarely at film shooters, collectors, or those experimenting with vintage glass on adapted mirrorless cameras. Build quality is solid metal construction, as was typical of FD-era Canon lenses, and the manual focus ring offers tactile control. Image quality depends heavily on condition, and copies listed at bargain grade may show wear or optical flaws. At around 29 dollars, it's an affordable entry point for telephoto reach, but expect to accept compromises in sharpness, contrast, and ease of use compared to modern glass.