This lens was developed as a product in the same series as the FD28-55mm f/3.5-4.5 wide-angle zoom lens (released in December 1983) and the FD35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 standard zoom lens (released in March 1983), which are both highly regarded for being compact and offering good lens performance.

The optical system uses a 3-group zoom optical system, and together with streamlining of the barrel structure and the implementation of the new material called engineering plastic, the lens provides high image quality while being significantly lighter and more compact, and at an affordable price of under 50,000 yen.

It has a zoom ratio of approximately 2.7x covering focal lengths from 75mm to 200mm, and with a wide macro mechanism enabling close shooting down to approximately 55cm from the film plane at wide angle. It also has excellent cost performance, and combined with the good portability and operability resulting from the lightweight and compact design, the lens is effective in a wide range of shooting as a telephoto zoom lens that can easily be used by anyone.