FS: Canon FD 800mm f5.6L

[Steve Gibby]

As a chronic "lensaholic" I'm surrounded by lenses! Its definitely an addiction

Regrettably, its time for me to sell one of my long lenses I use for my wildlife and sports production. Its an excellent lens, and I'll hate to part with it. I hand pick my lenses carefully, and they're regularly serviced for me by Duclos Lenses.

Here's the details on the lens:

Canon FD 800mm f5.6L, with a Century PL mount conversion, plus a dual-side Century follow focus conversion. Beyond the Century conversions, the lens is completely original. The pre-Century conversion lens used a drop-in filter tray, but with the PL conversion, filtering is via 40.5mm filters which screw onto the camera end of the PL mount. The lens comes in a near-new custom case, with 18", 15mm rods included.

The lens is in great condition. The glass is very clean, free from scratches and fungus. There are only a few tiny cosmetic scratches and wear marks on the the original factory painted exterior of the lens. The dual-sided follow focus pieces are both nice and solid, with very smooth action. The lens was recently cleaned and serviced by Duclos - and they found it to be in excellent condition throughout.

Images from this lens on RED One are crisp and clean - just what you'd expect from an L series Canon telephoto. Its not quite as heavy as it looks - I'd estimate its weight to be around 13 pounds.

If you shoot sports, wildlife, certain types of commercial shots (automotive, etc.), and/or nature, this lens could be a great addition to your lens kit for RED. It is a FF35 lens, so it will naturally cover the new larger resolutions of Epic (5k, etc.).

The price for the lens is $4,800 USD, with payment via cash or PayPal. My studio is in California. I'd prefer to sell the lens to someone in California, because it will be really easy for me to connect with you to check out the lens in person. A sale to someone elsewhere in the USA may also be workable.

I've attached pics of the lens in its case, and in use with one of my RED cameras. Interested parties can contact me via my regular email: steve at cut4 dot tv

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Interesting in off the new EF 800mm has been reported to be extremely sharp, but by no means superior in Image Quality to the older FD 800mm, off course it has a better coating, and inner design of its elements, with the external weather proofing, and off course IS, but 11k makes it not that cheap either.

IMHO who ever gets this lens will make a great deal, for a fantastic lens, and knowing and having seen how Steve takes care of its gear, I'll say this baby probably sleeps in the same room with him and Pam (his lovely wife) :~).

 

[Steve Gibby]

Thanks for the good words on the FD 800 Ketch. It is indeed very crisp - creating very similar image to the updated 800 version that sells for $11k. The new version does have IS, but as you know that IS can't be used with RED One anyway.

Cool features of my lens are the Century PL mount and built-in dual sided follow focus. This lens mounts securely onto the PL mount of RED One, and with the follow focus units, its ready for digital cinema work.

LOL - my lenses don't sleep in the same room as me and Pam (if I had my way they would!), but they definitely have a soft, warm, clean, and secure space of their own to sleep

 

[Steve Gibby]

Here's another view of the lens in use on one of my RED cameras.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Thanks for the good words on the FD 800 Ketch. It is indeed very crisp - creating very similar image to the updated 800 version that sells for $11k. The new version does have IS, but as you know that IS can't be used with RED One anyway.

Cool features of my lens are the Century PL mount and built-in dual sided follow focus. This lens mounts securely onto the PL mount of RED One, and with the follow focus units, its ready for digital cinema work.

LOL - my lenses don't sleep in the same room as me and Pam (if I had my way they would!), but they definitely have a soft, warm, clean, and secure space of their own to sleep

Most welcome Steve, its a fantastic lens, and more then once I have found myself wishing I had it, he he, remember the 200mm f/2L IS I used for our Siren of TI shoot in Vegas? I wish I had the 800 then I would have gotten some incredible head shots of those beautiful Sirens no problem he he, but what I love about even shooting Portraiture with SuperTelephotos is the incredible Bokeh they create, especially when framing as close to the subject as allowed and were the subject is place as far as possible from its background, images come out just stunningly Isolated and with a very Particular POP.

God luck with the sale Steve, and I can't believe at this price no one has snatched up already.