I guess I'll never own the 1200mm

[daaaveman]

Has anyone noticed that the notorious $70k 1200mm f/5.6L has been moved to Canon's archive? Looks like it's not available any more. I guess I won't sell my house to buy one after all!

[Andy_T]

Well, if you look at the German Canon website (http://www.canon.de/for_home/product_finder/cameras/ef_lenses/fixed_focal_length/EF_1200mm_f56L_USM/), you can still buy it.

However, the price is EUR 105,000 which is closer to $120K.
Maybe that's the reason why the cheap version was discontinued :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[daaaveman]

How much did this sucker sell for in the US? I was relying on a much-abused memory system when I pulled the $70k out of the back of my mind. I guess you could say I had way too much fun in the 80's....

[CoolToolGuy]

There's a way to get 1200mm of Canon optics for a lot less.


Get yourself an FD 600mm f4.5
Get the Canon FD-EOS lens converter. It is a 1.26x teleconverter. The optics are required to allow infinity focus on the EOS body.
600 x 1.26 = 756mm
756 x 1.6 (crop factor) = 1210mm
Voila! Total cost - around $2000 USD
Seriously, I wonder if the move to archive is an indication that a new 'Big Dog' is in the wings. An EF 750mm would give the same AOV as the 1200 on a 20D.

Have Fun,

[daaaveman]

I think that's exactly what Belmondo has going on. He's only got a 1.3 crop tho.......Right Tom? How's that working out?

[raylks]

In FD mount era, Canon had produced a zoom lens, FD150-600mm f4.5-5.6L. If Canon produces an EF version, I think everyone will buy it for the lens effective focal length is close to 1200mm on 20D and 350D.

[daaaveman]

Yeah, put IS on that and it would be a great focal length on my 10d. I certainly covet the Sigma 300-800.

[CoolToolGuy]

I think that's exactly what Belmondo has going on. He's only got a 1.3 crop tho.......Right Tom? How's that working out?

Just between you and me (and the rest of the forum), Belmondo passed the mantle to the CoolToolGuy (hence, the reason I know this formula). ;) Now I'm looking for some more long FD glass to fill in the gap between 400mm and 756mm. :o

Have Fun,

[mdr]

Think you got that wrong. Canon is bringing out an EF-S 750mm f8 IS!

[CoolToolGuy]

Think you got that wrong. Canon is bringing out an EF-S 750mm f8 IS!

Oh Boy! So you're saying that they have solved the 'AF at greater than f5.6' problem? Wow, when do we see this technological wonder? :rolleyes:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Have Fun,

[tim]

What kind of people spend that kind of money on a lens, and what are they taking photos of that are so valuable the lens can make a return on the investment for you?

[PacAce]

Has anyone noticed that the notorious $70k 1200mm f/5.6L has been moved to Canon's archive? Looks like it's not available any more. I guess I won't sell my house to buy one after all!
Oh, no! You're pulling my legs, right? Man, I only had one more kidney sale to work out before I could get me one of those. Of course, I would have had to throw in my brain, too, with the deal so maybe it's just as well. :mrgreen: :lol:

[roanjohn]

THIS SUCKS!!! That lens was on my wish list.........hope they bring it back.

:-)

Ro1

[Belmondo]

I think that's exactly what Belmondo has going on. He's only got a 1.3 crop tho.......Right Tom? How's that working out?

I actually sold it. It worked well, but I learned pretty quickly that I was meant to have autofocus and autoexposure. I bought a 500 f/4 instead. Life is uncomplicated again.

[CoolToolGuy]

I actually sold it. It worked well, but I learned pretty quickly that I was meant to have autofocus and autoexposure. I bought a 500 f/4 instead. Life is uncomplicated again.

And it still works well! I did a stitched panorama from my parents' balcony that included a suspension bridge that is 35 miles away as well as a hospital complex that is about 8 miles away, and it worked fine. Next month it gets a workout on some race cars, and who knows what else in between.

Now we have to work on Pekka to expand the maximum size of the sig file so I can work it in. :o

Have Fun,

[Andy_T]

THIS SUCKS!!! That lens was on my wish list.........hope they bring it back.


As I already said ... it's still on the German website.

Just send me the money, I'll get you one :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

PS: I fully understand why Daaveman wants to go for the real thing. 1920 mm effective focal length on a 20D will give you what you need to get even the smallest birds in focus :lol:

[CoolToolGuy]

PS: I fully understand why Daaveman wants to go for the real thing. 1920 mm effective focal length on a 20D will give you what you need to get even the smallest birds in focus :lol:

You mean birds like Voyager, Skylab, and the Apollo landers? ;) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Have Fun,

[Belmondo]

And it still works well! I did a stitched panorama from my parents' balcony that included a suspension bridge that is 35 miles away as well as a hospital complex that is about 8 miles away, and it worked fine. Next month it gets a workout on some race cars, and who knows what else in between.

Now we have to work on Pekka to expand the maximum size of the sig file so I can work it in. :o

Have Fun,

I"d love to see it. Maybe you can email it to me or something.

[cmM]

yup, deffinitely a cute walk-around lens ;):-P

http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/images/eos1200b.jpg

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30674&highlight=80+grand

[CyberDyneSystems]

As I understand it,.

The 1200mm was obviously only build to order... less than a dozen were ever made and about 6 or 7 of them are owned by Sports Illustrated, with the majority of the rest maintained by Canon CPS. (like the one in the photo above)

I've never heard of one being owned by an individual.

I've never heard the price quoted any lower than $90,000.00 ... untill this thread.


Still no thread on the 1200mm is complete without mention of Nikons famous manual offering...

Note in the second Image,. that is the 600mm f/4 as comparison to the 1200-1700mm Zoom!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Realize also in that in the photo above,. the 1200mm is being used with the EF converter and an XL1 Video cam corder... which has approximately a 6X "crop factor"... giving the Video camera a feild of view equivelent to a 7,200mm lens!

[CoolToolGuy]

I"d love to see it. Maybe you can email it to me or something.

Let me work on that. The original panorama, which only covers about 30 to 45 degrees of the horizon, required 56 exposures. Photostitch barfed all over me when I tried to make a single image out of it (not enough memory). I ultimately broke it down into 4 images and printed it on 8 1/2 x 11 paper in portrait. Each of the four images took 9 to 11 sheets. I also learned a lot about panorama shots and why manual exposure is best (variances in the individual exposures), and why an ultra-sturdy tripod is a good thing with a 2-foot lens/hood.

Even with the multiple panorama images, I think they came out over 20MB each in JPG, so email would be out of the question. I'll work something out.

Have Fun,

[HKFEVER]

yup, deffinitely a cute walk-around lens ;):-P



http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=30674&highlight=80+grand

Gees, it is a canon, you might be body search by CIA in any US airport for MDW.:p

[blue_max]

I think you may need a battery grip if you intended to use it as your main walk round lens. And one of those belts that weight lifters use! :D

haven't seen one on Ebay for ages – that's probably why.

Graham

[Longwatcher]

Realize also in that in the photo above,. the 1200mm is being used with the EF converter and an XL1 Video cam corder... which has approximately a 6X "crop factor"... giving the Video camera a feild of view equivelent to a 7,200mm lens!

That is why I bought the XL2 with EF adapter, so if I ever win the lottery (big win) I can get the big puppy, put a 2x extender on it and really reach out there.
Ignoring for the moment that I will probably need a 200k image stabilization system to actually catch a decent image with that much focal length.

In the meantime when I need range 100-400 w/2x and 1.4x on 10D (1168mm equivilant - so it is f11 at best). (again ignoring that I could get a higher res picture of the same area by doing same off 1DsMkII- The focal length sounds better that way).
See
http://www.longwatcher.com/camera_test.html
for example

I thought SI only had 2 of the lenses, with NG having 2 more, Canon a couple and the rest in non-disclosed (read military/government) hands. And you can still order them from Canon, they are all basically hand built, which is one reason for the price.

[Longwatcher]

And I almost forgot, they have a special offer, buy one and the will throw in a tripod for free.

[cmM]

And I almost forgot, they have a special offer, buy one and the will throw in a tripod for free.
LOL :D
How generous of them...

[Jon]

But does it include the lens hood and case, or are those another $7000?

[CoolToolGuy]

But does it include the lens hood and case, or are those another $7000?

Only if you lose yours - Belmondo, are you listening?

Have Fun,

[Belmondo]

Only if you lose yours - Belmondo, are you listening?

Have Fun,


Cruel. Cruel.

I just returned from a 4-day trip, and everything made it back (for a change). :lol:

[Jon]

Cruel. Cruel.

I just returned from a 4-day trip, and everything made it back (for a change). :lol:

Must be a disappointment - now you can't upgrade your gear . . .

[Belmondo]

Must be a disappointment - now you can't upgrade your gear . . .


Not really. This is a totally new experience for me. :o :o :o

[Longwatcher]

Only if you lose yours - Belmondo, are you listening?

Have Fun,

You can't lose the lens hood, it is built in.
Not sure about case though, you may have to negotiate on that. :)

[Belmondo]

Atually, I like the case for the FD600 better than on the new 300 and 500. The FD600 case has a purpseful, almost industrial look to it, and as someone else pointed out, the new ones look like makeup cases. Definitely not in keeping with the macho image I'm trying to promote.

[CoolToolGuy]

Atually, I like the case for the FD600 better than on the new 300 and 500. The FD600 case has a purpseful, almost industrial look to it, and as someone else pointed out, the new ones look like makeup cases. Definitely not in keeping with the macho image I'm trying to promote.

Want to swap? in entirety only, not just the case. :D

Have Fun,