Canon EF 1200mm lens

Infobox photographic lenses
name = EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM


caption =
maker = Canon
feat-is = n
feat-usm = y
feat-sbf =
feat-macro =
feat-special =
type = p
application = Super Telephoto
flength = 1200mm
fov =
aperture = f/5.6 - f/32
groups = 10
elements = 13
diaphragm = 8
close-dist = 45.9' / 14m
max-mag = 1:11.1
weight = 36.37lbs / 16.5kg
max-diameter = 8.9" / 22.8cm
max-length = 32.9" / 83.6cm
filter = 48mm (drop-in)
hood = Built-In
case = Exclusive
av-horiz = 1°45'
av-vert = 1°10'
av-diag = 2°05'
start = July 1993
msrp = $89,579
category = Canon EF lenses

The EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM is a super-telephoto prime lens made by Canon Inc. It uses an EF mount, and is compatible with the Canon EOS camera range. When used on a 35 mm film camera, or a digital body with a full frame sensor, it has a field of view of 1200 mm. When used on a digital body with a crop factor of 1.6x, such as a Canon EOS 40D or 450D, it provides a 35mm field of view equivalent of a 1920 mm. With a 1.3x body, such as a Canon EOS-1D Mark III, the field of view is equivalent to 1560 mm.

The lens is aimed at sports and wildlife photographers, and is both relatively expensive and extremely rare. Canon describe it as "the world’s largest interchangeable SLR AF lens, in terms of both focal length and maximum aperture." [http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Fixed_Focal_Length/EF_1200mm_f56L_USM/]

Technical information

The EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM is a professional L series lens, that may be discontinued [cite web
title = "Canon Hongkong Co. Ltd - discontinued products page for 2005"
publisher = Canon Hongkong Co. Ltd.
date = 2006
url = http://www.canon.com.hk/en/Consumer/Product/Discontinued.aspx?series_id=47
accessdate = 2008-10-08] . This lens is constructed with a metal body and mount, and with plastic extremities and switches. Features of this lens are: a wide rubber focus ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, the ability to limit the focus range, a focus-preset mechanism, and the ability to set the AF speed. An 8 blade, maximum aperture of f/5.6, gives this lens the ability to create depth of field effects. The optical construction of this lens contains 13 lens elements, including two large fluorite lens elements. This lens uses an inner focusing system, powered by a ring type USM motor. Manual focusing is rendered by wire, this lens does not have a direct mechanical connection to the focusing ring, therefore this lens does not have FTM ("full time manual") focusing mode. The manual focus speed is adjustable: 1 = 1/2 standard (for precision), 2 = standard and 3 = 2x standard (for fast-moving subjects). The front of the lens does not rotate nor extend when focusing. This lens does not have a typical rotating tripod mount like other telephoto lenses. However the lens mount can be rotated and locked, this allows the lens to be used in horizontal and vertical shot formats. This lens is compatible with the Canon Extender EF teleconverters.

This lens comes with its own heavy-duty tripod and case, and is built only by request.

Few of these lenses exist; "Sports Illustrated" magazine owns two of them, as does Canon Professional Services and James Jannard, the billionaire founder of Oakley.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Fixed_Focal_Length/EF_1200mm_f56L_USM/ Canon Europe - EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM]
* [http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/lens/ef/data/super_telephoto/ef_1200_56l_usm.html?p=2 Canon Museum - EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM Block diagram]
* [http://v.foto.radikal.ru/0703/00610cceadde.jpgThe lens in action]
* [http://www.canon.com.hk/en/Consumer/Product/Discontinued.aspx?series_id=47 Canon HK - discontinued info page]