[Clinton]

To those of you who haven't been following the fun over in the https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-price-watch/158160-pentax-fa-250-6...t-surplus.html thread, we won an A* 1200 at Canada Gov Surplus for a steal.

Edit: Jump to sample shots: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/160461-1200mm-...ml#post1664600

Following the no frills shipping, care of the unremarkable (but unbroken) parcel service, to the mere tune of $350 we retrieved our lens today.

By the time we retrieved it and made it home it was too late for any shots. Those will mostly be coming this weekend.

The good news is the lens is in like new condition, no issues of any kind. Original warranty card, instruction manual, and keys to the case included. It's internals are almost spotless. One tiny fleck of white was all I could find on the elements.

@DrJulie and I owe a huge thanks to @thorswolf for pointing this auction out. My Google alerts would have eventually caught the 250-600, but I could have easily missed the 1200 as I really didn't have any hope of owning one.

Now into the safe till I can take it out for some shots tomorrow.

One quick shot of the lens for tonight:

Attached Images

 

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Last edited by Clinton; 09-28-2011 at 06:19 PM.

[dgaies]

Very nice, congrats!

[Tonto]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooohhhh!

[Clinton]

Over at Bojidar Dimitrov's site, It says once in a lifetime for availability: A* 1200/8 ED [IF]

The funny thing is, I've actually seen 4 for sale. @smc bought the first one, I saw one on ebay for $7400 that sold in less than 3 hours, and there was one on mapcamera.com for around $6500, but they wont ship things costing above a certain amount, and by the time I could even get a response out of them it was also sold.

I think the Canadians were using it as a spy lens. Why else would a Gov own something like this?

[miltona580]

Now that is a lens!

[blackcloudbrew]

LBA ... must .... not ... look .... must.....ah heck WAY COOL DUDE, we are not worthy.

[kenafein]

Now into the safe till I can take it out for some shots tomorrow.

One quick shot of the lens for tonight:

That would be one big safe for that monster! I did follow the auction thread, and I'm really happy you got such a great deal. I'm looking forward to seeing your test shots.

[dmc]

Over at Bojidar Dimitrov's site, It says once in a lifetime for availability: A* 1200/8 ED [IF]

The funny thing is, I've actually seen 4 for sale. @smc bought the first one, I saw one on ebay for $7400 that sold in less than 3 hours, and there was one on mapcamera.com for around $6500, but they wont ship things costing above a certain amount, and by the time I could even get a response out of them it was also sold.

I think the Canadians were using it as a spy lens. Why else would a Gov own something like this?

Likely spying on the Americans . . .

At the Windsor Casino!

[rawr]

Now get a Q to K mount adapter and mount a Pentax Q on it: 5.5 focal length multiplier = 6000mm focal length equiv...

Then add a teleconvertor.

[Fontan]

Hm . . . . . Not quite big enough for me there . . . .

[jsherman999]

Holy...

[Boris]

That's one honking piece of gear... Congrats!

[hcc]

now get a q to k mount adapter and mount a pentax q on it: 5.5 focal length multiplier = 6000mm focal length equiv...

Then add a teleconvertor.

+1

lba + q + tc = ....

[excanonfd]

Wow, what an amazing lens. Congratulations on your magnificent find! Does the lens break down to fit in the case, could you post a picture of the lens in the case? I'd imagine that you would have to buy another seat on the plane for the A*1200/8.0, if you intend to travel by air.

Thanks,

[sjwaldron]

+1

lba + q + tc = ....

I third this suggestion. Well, I'd really just like to see the output with only the Q.

Anyways, nice lens!