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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM for rent?
Michael Pina, Photographer
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SF Bay Area | ca | usa | Posted: 2:15 AM on 01.17.08 |
| ->> Hello everyone, I am posting this as a hypothetical question. If the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM were to become available for rent, would it make much sense to invest? A colleague of mine is interested in purchasing this lens from B&H and rent it out to those whom would find the need for such a beast. A question came up during this conversation, would anyone expense $5k to rent for a week, is this viable? Not including Insurance cost and shipping expense. He is not sure if the need is out there in the field and if so who would be interested to rent. So i come to this forum to pick the brains of all the professionals to get your feedback. His intentions are very real so please be professional with your comments. As for the investor, his ID is private. |
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Jesse Beals, Photographer
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Silverdale | WA | USA | Posted: 2:23 AM on 01.17.08 |
->> $5,000 TO USE A LENS FOR A WEEK. Man thats way out of my papers budget.
I get $1,140 a year for camera upgrades, repairs and insurance.
Jes |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 4:51 AM on 01.17.08 |
| ->> consider not just still photographers, but many motion picture cinematographers use lenses like this for special shots via special adapters that can put them on Arri and many other cameras. I know, I rented one (for free) over a year ago for a short film using an Arri 435 35mm camera. It was awesome!! And...budgets are easier in the film business to pay that much. Maybe even consider a slide scale for usage? |
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Paul Alesse, Photographer
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Centereach | NY | USA | Posted: 11:20 PM on 01.18.08 |
| ->> My understanding is that they are not special order lenses and Canon is not making them for ordinary joes anymore. There are only a few of them in existence. So, I doubt that anyone can just buy one. Correct me if I'm wrong on this. |
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Michael McNamara, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Michael Cullen, Photographer
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Wexford Town | 0000 | Ireland | Posted: 4:42 PM on 01.19.08 |
->> $ 99,000.00 for a lens
thats too much
maybe sigma will make a super zoon soon |
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Max Gersh, Student/Intern, Photo Editor
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St. Louis | MO | USA | Posted: 5:01 PM on 01.19.08 |
->> I agree with Scott. Realistically, 5k a week is a lot for most publications. But also, most publications have absolutely no need for that long of a lens. The publications that do have use for them already own them. Lets face it. This is good for some sports, wildlife and a few news events. That's about it. Unless an individual is loaded, they aren't going to shell out 5k a week for the lens either.
They shot a scene in Transformers with this lens so if he can rent out to the big motion picture studios, it seems like a more realistic investment. I would try to survey the studios (if that is possible) or motion picture forums to see the size of the interested community.
-Max- |
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Mike Morelock, Photographer
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Greenwood | AR | USA | Posted: 8:59 PM on 01.19.08 |
->> You guys are looking at this as poorly paid photographers.
In that case $100k is a lot of scratch for a lens.
Michael, or his backer is looking at this as an investment. Put $100k in the bank or in some "safe" bond and you'll be lucky to make 5% a year on it. Rent this thing for one week a year and you did that. Or if you have to borrow the $100k at 7-8% then you have to rent this thing two or three times for break even. That's assuming it doesn't depreciate. It probably won't much, barring Canon doing a newer better version, how about a DO that weighs about 1/3 and costs about 1/10th lol.
The new 800mm might decrease the need to rent this, that might be why whoever had this one puked it up. Put a 1.4x on the 800 and you have a 1120mm f8. Close enough for most people, especially with todays low noise cameras. A big thing in this monsters favor is US Dollar weakness. It's $100k, but only 50k pound, or 70k euro. You might get some overseas renters as well. The dollar getting crushed over the long run should help protect your investment. Someday you'll always be able to get 100k out of it, and then you can go buy a loaf of bread.
Heck you could probably rent it to poparazzi scum. There has to be a few times a year when they know where someone is but just don't have the reach no matter how many teleconverters they stack.
But, how does anyone know you have it? If you're already an established lens rental place, fine, but otherwise how do you get the word out, and keep it out that you're the guy with the 1200mm lens for rent. You'll have to pay up for advertising. |
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