big lenses

[meagain]

Was watching the footie the other night.. was impressed by some of the press photographers lenses they are massive... WHY?

[V6GTO]

Basically, they need big holes in the end to let in more light. This means they are able to shoot with fast shutter speeds in what is , to the camera, a very dimly lit place.

Martin.

[meagain]

Makes sense now.... bet they are expensive?

[Bee_Jay]

More than likely using something like this: www.canon.co.uk/for_home/product_finder/cameras/ef_lenses/image_stabilization_lenses/ef_600mm_f4lis_usm/index.asp with a nice big lens hood on the end.

An absolute snip at £5799...

If you have a spare £60k you could get yourself one of these: www.canon.co.uk/for_home/product_finder/cameras/ef_lenses/fixed_focal_length/ef_1200mm_f56l_usm/index.asp

[cirks]

Bee_Jay said:

If you have a spare £60k you could get yourself one of these: www.canon.co.uk/for_home/product_finder/cameras/ef_lenses/fixed_focal_length/ef_1200mm_f56l_usm/index.asp

I like the "closest focussing distance of 14m/46ft" bit of the spec. Is this because it's the nearest you can get to something without hitting it with the end of the lens . Finding a camera bag for one must be interesting.... Hang on, someone is selling one of these lenses on ebay for £2.50

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

cirks said:

Bee_Jay said: If you have a spare £60k you could get yourself one of these: www.canon.co.uk/for_home/product_finder/cameras/ef_lenses/fixed_focal_length/ef_1200mm_f56l_usm/index.asp I like the "closest focussing distance of 14m/46ft" bit of the spec. Is this because it's the nearest you can get to something without hitting it with the end of the lens . Finding a camera bag for one must be interesting.... Hang on, someone is selling one of these lenses on ebay for £2.50

16.5KG's makes handheld work a challenge too

[Andy M]

If 1200mm is your desired length, would it not be more economical to simply buy the EF 600mm f/4.0L IS USM and a 2x Extender?

Image quality won't be as perfect, but I'd imagine you'd have to take one hell of a picture to justify the extra £54k.

Will the 2x work on the EF 1200mm 5.6L USM?

[cirks]

Andy M said:

Will the 2x work on the EF 1200mm 5.6L USM?

I don't know but if you give me £120k I'll send you a lens and extender to find out Twice the length therefore twice the price seems fair to me

[Ian_H]

Interesting article here about the EF1200
www.dvinfo.net/canon/images/images17.php


They have mounted it to a camcorder with a 2x extender giving a focal length of 17280mm

[Bee_Jay]

Andy M said:

Will the 2x work on the EF 1200mm 5.6L USM?

Yes it will (scroll down to the bottom of the canon page).

Also, using the 2x on the 600 would give you a 1200mm f8, so you would lose one stop over the £60k version but it would still look pretty nice.

>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 5th January 13:32

[Bee_Jay]

Ian_H said:

Interesting article here about the EF1200 www.dvinfo.net/canon/images/images17.php They have mounted it to a camcorder with a 2x extender giving a focal length of 17280mm

Have you seen the boxes in the background of the last shot on that page - that is some serious money sitting there. Oooh what I would give for a 5 minute 'trolley' dash around that room

>> Edited by Bee_Jay on Thursday 5th January 13:36

[Andy M]

Bee_Jay said:

Have you seen the boxes in the background of the last shot on that page - that is some serious money sitting there. Oooh what I would give for a 5 minute 'trolley' dash around that room

Checkout this privately owned kit (Belmondo on POTN):

[meagain]

Is it only canon that make these big expensive lenses.... How does the say normal, regional sports photographer afford them?... do you think they get some sort of sponsorship?

[beano500]

meagain said:

Is it only canon

...and Nikon, e.g. 300 f2.8, 400 f2.8, 500 f4, 600 f4 in current line up and MF 800 f5.6 and 1000 f11 - plus I'm sure they used to make a 1200 (and I expect if you give them enough money you can have what you want!)

[GetCarter]

meagain said:

Is it only canon that make these big expensive lenses.... How does the say normal, regional sports photographer afford them?... do you think they get some sort of sponsorship?

I always wondered this... 'till I met a regional sports photographer with a £7k lens and a £7k credit card bill (reducing by about £5 per month on minimum payment).

Still he was having fun

[Bee_Jay]

meagain said:

Is it only canon that make these big expensive lenses.... How does the say normal, regional sports photographer afford them?... do you think they get some sort of sponsorship?

It's called a mortgage.

[V6GTO]

True...but the guy who got the topless pics Diana on a yacht paid his mortgage off the next day.

Martin.