Lens that costs as much as a 3-room HDB flat

[user12343]

Straits Times Digital Life 12/6

This whopper of a lens costs $150,000, the price of a three-room HDB flat.

Only 10 people in the world own it, including the Sultan of Brunei and Mr James Jannard, the billionaire founder of eyewear and apparel company, Oakley.

But other mere mortals will get to gawk and try it, the Canon EF 1200mm super telephoto lens.

This weekend at Ski 360�, East Coast Park, when Canon showcases its cameras and lenses during its EOS experience day.

With a focal length of 1,200mm, the lens allows the world's best photographers to snap the catch-it-now-or-lose-it shots.

Think sports photographers who must capture the elation on a soccer striker's face as he puts in a last-ditch goal.

Or a wild life photographer who needs to shoot a cheetah, the world's fastest feline, in its lightning sprint for prey.

All from afar.

Mr Andrew Koh, director and general manager of consumer imaging and information division at Canon Singapore, said apart from wealthy individuals who have the lens, most of the others are owned by news agencies like Reuters and Sports Illustrated.

The steep price of the made-to-order EF 1200mm is the result of the precision work and materials required to make it.

There are only about five master lens-makers at the Canon optical plant in Japan, qualified to make and assemble this lens - by hand.

The glass used for the lens is nearly three times the size of the regular glass blanks, so it takes extra effort to get it bubble-free.

Plus, it is also made of special material - fluorite crystals - to make images sharper.

You will need a pair of strong biceps to handle it: to protect the lens, it is housed in a metal body that weighs 16.5kg.

A quick comparison

As David was to Goliath, the bread-and-butter telephoto lens of a photojournalist - the Canon EF 70-200mm lens is but a fraction of the size of the Canon EF 1,200mm super telephoto lens, as can be seen in the picture on the left.

With a focal length of 1,200mm, the lens allows the world's best photographers to snap the catch-it-now-or- lose-it shots.

The EF 1,200mm lens has about six times the zooming power of its smaller cousin. Above are two pictures taken with the two lens of the same cable cars suspended about 69m above ground. The same camera, a Canon EOS 1D Mark II, was used for both shots.

On the top left is the photo taken with the EF 1,200mm lens. Much more detail can be captured, as can be seen in the photo's enlargement on the right. Elements such as the faces of the occupants and the words on the stickers of the cars can be seen.

However, bigger may not always be better.

The giant lens has a minimum focusing distance of 14m.

So, the photographer has to be at least that far away from the subject before the lens can focus properly.

It also requires optimal lighting conditions as it has a maximum aperture of f/5.6. The smaller lens' maximum aperture is f/2.8. What this means is that the smaller lens can operate better in darker environments as it can capture more light.

VIEW THE LENS

The Canon EOS Experience will be held on June 16 and 17 from 10am to 6pm at Ski 360� in East Coast Park.

Digital Life readers can attend seminars and workshops conducted by Canon, and will also get a chance to shoot wakeboarders in action with Canon cameras and lenses. For more information, go to http://www.canon.com.sg/eos/

[zhangyb]

the other time was on display at cineleisure, tried it and it was one hell of a lens... lolx... but somehow after using it i was thinking 2000mm maybe can get that bit closer haha

[Duinchlfc]

hmmm maybe when i'm 60+ retired..kids all grown up and stuff.I'd sell my flat,get that lens and retire in a small kampung in malaysia...what a way to grow old...

[JoshSiao]

A whopper of a lens, you'll need a whopper of a dry-box to keep that too.

[vector1]

I might be saving my whole life just for this lens only like 15% saved -.-

[paisatge]

wonder how does that compare to this
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0610/06...eiss1700f4.asp

[zhangyb]

the zeiss is made for prince one worx.... actually there have been longer and bigger lens but not really practical lar... so big lolx..

[vector1]

Think Hubble telescope

[deckard]

what is the nikon equivalent?

[evo76]

Originally Posted by JoshSiao A whopper of a lens, you'll need a whopper of a dry-box to keep that too.

u need a dry room

[Garion]

Originally Posted by deckard what is the nikon equivalent?

The closest match would be this monster Zoom-Nikkor 1200-1700mm f/5.6-8.0 ED-IF. MF only though.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...12001700mm.htm

[thinkvision]

try this lens to shoot golf people in one local CFO home before, he did put it in a special design room (dry room). the owner told me he is one of the three local owners...

[vector1]

Well, that's a real hefty investment he's got there (gimme his address quick ) I rather blow the lot on superfast primes and zooms, not to mention a coupla 1D mk3s to ensure I never face a cranky slr again.

[haagen_dazs]

i believe the 1200mm lens also comes with its own dedicated tripod.

[spazzer]

i think this lens is really costly! if i were to buy i donno how long i got to save

[vector1]

Theres a reason why only 10 people own it... dreaming of this is good, but if you save up for something far more useful and relevant (for us that is), like 1Ds Mk3...1D Mk3... 85 f/1.2L ...135 f2.0L...300f/2.8L...the list goes on and on. For 150k, you can buy much of these first

[lightning]

I will say it may be an investment to own the 1200mm and then rent it out world wide. If each time you can fetch $5-6K of rental including insurance coverage and shipping, you can cover back the cost in no time.

[vector1]

But how many people are willing to pay $5k to use it? The people who DO matter already have it, and the major agencies have their own to lend to their personal

[Garion]

I wonder what is the REAL practical application of this lens, given that its such a pain to lug around and to set-up.

1. Shoot beach volleyball from the comfort of the 20th storey of your hotel?

2. Shoot Hollywood stars from a helicopter?

3. Shoot wildlife? Imagine have to mount it on something like an armour personnel carrier or Humvee gun mount...too big for normal car.

4. Shoot the moon?

[CYRN]

I'll settle for Sigmonster + 1.4x.