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

[Diko]

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

 

[ethanz]

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.

 

[Diko]

I do ebay a bit and that does not look like a scam. Buy it for us and let us know how it is.

Yeah right. Your expertise seems sound. I wonder if they accept credit cards ))

 

[Ozarker]

I collect old lenses, but not expensive old lenses. Great find! I believe, however, that my modern "L" probably outperforms it by a long shot. So this makes me happy!

 

[Ozarker]

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

 

[Jim Saunders]

Well that's unusual.

Jim

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

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.

 

[Ozarker]

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.

 

[johnhenry]

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

 

[ethanz]

It is still available and is now only $30,000.

 

[Don Haines]

If I had a Canon lens that was so rare that evenCanon did not have a copy, my first inclination would be to ask Canon if they wanted to buy it........