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Really an amazing price for this lens:
Pentax SMC A 1200mm F8 ED IF "Green Star" Lens. Cap. Hard Case | eBay

[normhead]

I'm sure those lens were sold because the RCMP was no longer buying bodies that could use them.

[eddie1960]

I believe these images posted by WildMark from the Sample Photo Search Engine (select A Series Lens and filter 1000mm in the focal length on the right) are shot with the A*1200. They're marked 1000mm because there is no 1200mm filter. The surfer in particular demonstrates it is possible to shoot action on a K-3 with a manual focus Extreme Telephoto.

SteveM also has one and has posted surf shots.

it's always been possible to shoot action with a manual lens, you get less shots and it takes a lot of practice and skill (I shot sports in the early 70s using a Spotmatic with a 135 f3.5 and a 2 x TC when i was in school, got some good shots but a lot of bad ones and i shot sports i knew so i could predict play to some degree. one of these would have been great to have (I remember looking at the /Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1000mm F8 in a duty free shop in st lucia in 73 and drooling over it ,

[monochrome]

it's always been possible to shoot actian with a manual lens, you get less shots and it takes a lot of practice and skill (I shot sports in the early 70s using a Spotmatic with a 135 f3.5 and a 2 x TC when i was in school, got some good shots but a lot of bad ones and i shot sports i knew so i could predict play to some degree. one of these would have been great to have (I remember looking at the /Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1000mm F8 in a duty free shop in st lucia in 73 and drooling over it ,

No doubt. I was simply pointing out all the sports AF Pentax critics have a smaller point than they think.

My daughter was very fortunate to have one-on-one coaching for a week from a SI staff tog (football) using K1000 and K400/5.6. Juried prints at the end - tl:dr story for this thread - so we know it can be done.

I recently bought the SMC 1000/8 from a member - K-mount tube - I've lusted after for decades.

[eddie1960]

No doubt. I was simply pointing out all the sports AF Pentax critics have a smaller point than they think.

My daughter was very fortunate to have one-on-one coaching for a week from a SI staff tog (football) using K1000 and K400/5.6. Juried prints at the end - tl:dr story for this thread - so we know it can be done.

I recently bought the SMC 1000/8 from a member - K-mount tube - I've lusted after for decades.

lucky daughter.
I had a couple of classic SI style football shots (the grabbing the ball one handed while jumping ) in school, it was down to predicting play and zone focusing to start and shooting as fast as possible not much shallow dof when your minimum aperture is f 7 like mine was

[monochrome]

lucky daughter.
I had a couple of classic SI style football shots (the grabbing the ball one handed while jumping ) in school, it was down to predicting play and zone focusing to start and shooting as fast as possible not much shallow dof when your minimum aperture is f 7 like mine was

Exactly.

Get the eyes.

[oneill]

It is an impressive piece of gear, but a more versatile option is the SMC Pentax-M*67 800mm F6.7 ED(IF) with it's dedicated 1.4x extender. At 800mm it is 1/2 stop faster and easier to use, and with the extender it is 1120mm, slightly shorter and 1/2 stop slower. They can be had for $3500 US if you are patient and I got mine for slightly less. The Adaptor K for 67 is only around $125 and you can also use a 645 body on it with the Adaptor 645 for 67 lenses at around the same price.

Murray

[rvannatta]

Seems like a considerable percentage of all of these lenses ever made are currently offered for sale.

Well one thing is clear--they aren't needed as badly as they used to be--- which is probably why the declining interest.

I went to Alaska last summer with particular intent on taking wildlife photos and didn't even take my FA600 lens.

When you combine the impacts of the half frame camera bodies, good quality TC's, and the high ISOs now available, you can get the functionality of a 1200 f/8
in a package that will fit in your airplane carryon.... the head and tail of this juvenile eagle were cut off on this photo because I had too much horsepower on this photo shoot.