Canon 85-300mm f/4.5
The Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 is a manual-focus telephoto zoom for Canon's FD mount, the breech-lock system used on Canon SLRs from 1971 to 1987. It covers a short-tele to long-tele range at a constant f/4.5 aperture and was aimed at photographers wanting a single lens for sports, wildlife and distant subjects.
At UK auction in recent years, hammer results for this lens have been modest, with two recorded sales of £45 and £112 giving a median around £79. These are wholesale saleroom figures rather than dealer retail, so today in 2026 the lens is worth roughly what those hammer prices suggest for a clean, working example, and condition largely dictates where within that band a copy sells for.
Variants
Select a variant to filter the sales history below.
| Variant | Years | Edition | Sales | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FD | — | — | 4 | £45 – £180 |
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: July 2026
| Date | Price | Value GBP | Source | Variant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | £180 | £180 | 🇬🇧 eBay | FD | |
Title: Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 SSC Telephoto Zoom Lens – Beautiful Condition – Tested
Description:
Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 SSC lens. I have personally tested this lens on my Canon EOS R5 using an FD-RF adapter and was genuinely impressed with the results. The optics are exceptionally clean for a lens of this age. Location: Burnley , United Kingdom |
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| May 2026 | £85 | £85 | 🇬🇧 eBay | FD | |
Title: Canon FD SSC S.S.C 85-300mm f/4.5 Lens MF Zoom Telephoto
Description:
Good overall condition, some expected marks and blemishes but it's excellent given its age, there is dust build up and small signs of fungus that I can only see when shining a light through the back, this most likely will mainly affect backlit lighting situations, I took this out and shot some motorsport at Donington Park and the lens performed perfectly on an A7, images were sharp and contrast was good, very noticeable chromatic aberration but easily fixed in lightroom, examples included. Be mindful it's a very heavy lens, I shot handheld and had no trouble with it but it's a lens meant more for monopod shooting for sure. Note for FD lenses, the aperture ring does not work until it's mounted to the camera or adapter, this confused me for a while Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom |
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| Feb 2024 | £112 | £90 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | FD | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 101) Title: A Canon FD Zoom f/4.5 85-300mm Lens
Description:
black, serial no. 12046, body, VG-E, elements, G-VG, in maker's hard case |
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| Feb 2024 | £45 | £45 | 🇬🇧 Special Auction Services | FD | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 179) Title: A Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 S.S.C. Lens
Description:
A Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 S.S.C. Lens, serial no 17132, barrel G, some light scratches, elements G-VG, with front and rear caps |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 worth today?
Based on UK auction hammer results, a clean working copy is worth in the region of £45 to £112, with the price a given example sells for depending heavily on optical and mechanical condition.
How much does a Canon FD 85-300mm f/4.5 sell for at UK auction?
Recorded hammer prices sit between £45 and £112, giving a median value near £79 before buyer's premium is added.
Will this lens fit modern Canon EF or RF cameras?
Not natively — it is an FD breech-lock mount lens from the 1971-1987 FD era, so use on EF or RF bodies requires an adapter and remains manual focus only.