45-200mm f/2.8 prototype from 1959 on ebay for $40k

Do you want a modern version eve if it’s 3 kg?

  • Shut and take my money!

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    12

Diko

7 fps...
Apr 27, 2011
441
8
41
Sofia, Bulgaria
Hi Craig.

I believe this site is the best place for such a lucky finding: while looking around for a 11-24mm I stumbled upon this magnificient 3 kg beast. Canon historyans needed. C-35mount?!?

True or a scam? Best would be if anyone in Canon can confirm.

The description states:

Holy Grail even Canon Museum don’t have

Its a MUSEUM Grade ITEM, and Only a Professional Collector Deserve it.

According to research, the lens was introduced in 1959 in a press release but never released commercially by Canon,
they just produced few countable 4 to 5 copies and only Famous filmmakers are able to Test it.
There are only 2 or maybe 3 Owners Worldwide who have this lens including This Lens.
IT WAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND NEVER SOLD BEFORE IN A WHOLE EBAY SELLING HISTORY.
Three major camera makers introduced their first slrs in 1959
and each one decided to enhance their offering with a state-of-the-art zoom lens.
Voigtlander chose the Zoomar 36-82mm f/2.8. Nikon introduced their 85-250mm f/4-4.5.
Both lenses were ambitious, heavy and expensive.
Canon went for a 45-200mm f/2.8, which was extremely ambitious,
heavy and expensive-- probably too much so.

Can’t add screenshots from my iPhone, but have made many just in case the ebay offer dissapears.

Feel free to add. Or I will add here later from my computer.

Here is the link to the ebay

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/163039120661
 

Ozarker

Love, joy, and peace to all of good will.
CR Pro
Jan 28, 2015
5,933
4,336
The Ozarks
Incredibly interesting! Thanks for sharing. While I am no Canon historian, I do ebay a bit and that does not look like a scam. Buy it for us and let us know how it is. The mount size is probably completely wrong so there is no way to adapt it.
Here's the adapter. $35k lens, $8 adapter. ;)https://fotodioxpro.com/products/c-eos
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Upvote 0

Ozarker

Love, joy, and peace to all of good will.
CR Pro
Jan 28, 2015
5,933
4,336
The Ozarks
The comment in the description tells you about the honesty of the seller. "THE LENS WILL BE MARKED BETWEEN 400 TO 500$ MAX VALUE TO AVOID HEAVY CUSTOM DUTIES " That comment may also limit the amount of damages if its lost or crunched in shipping.
And legal ramifications with customs. Agreeing to participate in that arrangement could land a person in prison if caught, I think.
 
Upvote 0
Hi Craig.

I believe this site is the best place for such a lucky finding: while looking around for a 11-24mm I stumbled upon this magnificient 3 kg beast. Canon historyans needed. C-35mount?!?

True or a scam? Best would be if anyone in Canon can confirm.

The description states:



Can’t add screenshots from my iPhone, but have made many just in case the ebay offer dissapears.

Feel free to add. Or I will add here later from my computer.

Here is the link to the ebay

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/163039120661
Lots of companies did low production runs/prototypes for lenses.

Canon has the 300mm 1.8
 
Upvote 0