Canon 5200mm f/14 lens
September 30, 2008
…really looks like a cannon. 
This is the most mammoth camera lens I’ve ever seen, and has almost unbelievable specifications:
From CanonFD.com:
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Focal Length: 5150mm
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Exposure Control: Light quantity is controlled with the use of built-in ND filters, corresponding to f/14, f/16, f/22, f/32
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Minimum Object Distance: 120 meters (Approx 393 feet!)
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Size: 500mm(wide) x 600mm(high) x 1890mm(deep) [20”x24”x75.6”]
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Weight: 100kg (220 lbs) without stand.
Yes, this behemoth is 220 pounds! That fact alone is impressive enough, then add the fact that it is capable of taking photographs of objects 18 to 32 miles away!
And now, this bad boy is for sale on eBay, for the low, low price of $55,000.00.
I think the best part is the quote from the seller:
This is a very rare Canon 5200mm photographic lens - possibly one of only three ever built. THE largest & most powerful prime lens ever created for dedicated SLR use. Built in Japan it was purchased by a Chinese company & shipped to China where it has since had little use & is now for sale. The optics appear in perfect condition. It is my understanding that a customized SLR/DSLR/EF mount can be created/included by the team of optical engineers who presently look after the lens. Due to its large size, it may be better suited to astronomy applications. It takes two people to lift the lens. It could also be mounted on a customized truck or SUV. A large geared or motorized support head would be needed to get the most out it. The magnification of this lens is truly staggering. If mounted to a Canon XL series video camera for example, a reach of 1000x optical (at least) would be possible (approx 37,500mm). The lens could also be mounted to HD & cine cameras. Tracking the space shuttle would not be a problem. Perhaps it’s already been used for that purpose? - (Did I just say that??!) Manual focus of course. Yes rear drop-in filters can be used. With so few ever built Canon spent “squillions” on the R&D, not to mention the manufacturer of this lens. Original cost price?? - don’t even ask!!
For a better idea of how powerful this lens is, take a look at the following example:
Thanks to the following sites for information on this magnificent lens!
Teacher
September 30, 2008
PC Fastlane: Most Expensive Camera Lenses Ever
September 29, 2008
This list is awesome, but it leaves out the most expensive and largest camera lens I’ve seen, the Canon 5200mm f/14 lens, which is currently for sale on eBay…
From PC Fastlane:
- Price: $11,999.00
- Product Page
- Weight: 10 lbs
Expect to sell a few organs to afford this thing. Price at almost $12,000, the Canon EF 800mm is designed for the pros among us. It will be released in May 2008, it is meant for long-range photography like sports, wildlife, and nature. Don’t expect to use this thing without a tripod by the way. At over 10 pounds, it probably weighs more than your camera. Thankfully, Amazon has graceously included free shipping with the item.
(more here: http://www.pcfastlane.com/rants-raves/most-expensive-camera-lenses-ever/)
Episode 28, Intro to Color Management on Vimeo
September 29, 2008
Gizmodo: North Korean Arcades Are Incredibly Sad
September 29, 2008
Another post to add to my DPRK fascination pile…
From Gizmodo:
I’ve seen some crappy arcades in my day, mostly tucked into some crummy corner of whatever cheap hotel my mom had stashed us at, populated with well-worn Galaga and Street Fighter II machines. They had a certain kind of charm, though, and still do, considering the fact that the arcade is an endangered species in the US. Then there’s this arcade in North Korea, which is almost as bad as the old Soviet ones.
http://gizmodo.com/5055198/north-korean-arcades-are-incredibly-sad
Pownce 403 Message
September 28, 2008
This is just too funny. 
UxTheme Patcher for Windows XP SP3
September 27, 2008
I always forget about this when I’m reformatting my computer, so I thought it might be nice to post it somewhere that I (and you) can find it somewhat easily.
For the time being, XPize does not properly patch uxtheme.dll to allow custom visual styles in Windows XP SP3, though XPize v5 is coming out soon, and that might change.
Here’s the link to the new uxtheme patcher called UXTender:
Yahoo News: WaMu becomes biggest bank to fail in US history
September 26, 2008
NEW YORK - As the debate over a $700 billion bank bailout rages on in Washington, one of the nation’s largest banks — Washington Mutual Inc. — has collapsed under the weight of its enormous bad bets on the mortgage market.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. seized WaMu on Thursday, and then sold the thrift’s banking assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $1.9 billion.
Seattle-based WaMu, which was founded in 1889, is the largest bank to fail by far in the country’s history. Its $307 billion in assets eclipse those of Continental Illinois National Bank, which failed in 1984 with $40 billion in assets; adjusted for 2008 dollars, its assets totaled $67.7 billion. IndyMac, seized in July, had $32 billion in assets.
One positive is that the sale of WaMu’s assets to JPMorgan Chase prevents the thrift’s collapse from depleting the FDIC’s insurance fund. But that detail is likely to give only marginal solace to Americans facing tighter lending and watching their stock portfolios plunge in the wake of the nation’s most momentous financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Because of WaMu’s souring mortgages and other risky debt, JPMorgan plans to write down WaMu’s loan portfolio by about $31 billion — a figure that could change if the government goes through with its bailout plan and JPMorgan decides to take advantage of it.
“We’re in favor of what the government is doing, but we’re not relying on what the government is doing. We would’ve done it anyway,” JPMorgan’s Chief Executive Jamie Dimon said in a conference call Thursday night, referring to the acquisition. Dimon said he does not know if JPMorgan will take advantage of the bailout.
(continued at news.yahoo.com)
8 bytes vs. 8Gbytes
September 25, 2008
8 bytes vs. 8Gbytes, originally uploaded by teclasorg.
Cool photo (not mine) I found in the Computer History Pool on Flickr!
40 years evolution.
40 años de evolucion.8.589.934.592 bytes vs. 8 bytes
1Gbyte = 1.024 Mbytes = 1.084.576 Kbytes = 1.073.741.824 bytes
1Mbyte = 1.024 Kbytes = 1.048.576
1Kbyte = 1.024 bytes
Escape
September 25, 2008
Ubergizmo: Photoshop Mobile?
September 25, 2008
Very cool!
From Ubergizmo:
Amazing! Adobe Systems has released its famous Photoshop software on a platform I never thought possible - the cell phone. Photoshop.com Mobile is touted to be the “easiest way to upload, view, and share photos online from your Windows Mobile phone”, and is currently available as a free download in beta format. This download is [restricted] to folks living in the US only though, and functions with a handful of Windows Mobile-powered smartphones. Would be interesting to see when a mobile Photoshop version is able to hit handsets that allow for various adjustments such as cropping or auto-fixing exposure though.
Reuters: Visa plans applications for Google, Nokia phones
September 25, 2008
Awesome, and/or creepy! I can’t tell if this is convenient or invasive, but the geek side of me is impressed.
NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Visa Inc (V.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) plans to offer alerts, special offers, and ATM and merchant location services in a software application for phones powered by Google Inc’s (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Android system by year-end.
The credit card company also said that in October, No. 1 mobile phone maker Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) would start selling the 6212 phone, which users could wave at an electronic reader to make payments and use for remote payments and money transfers.
Visa said it was still developing its application to allow in-store “contactless” payments by cell phone for Android.
But it said these services — already common in countries such as Japan — may not take off for years here as U.S. stores would need to install new card readers and cell phones with the corresponding technology would need to be in wider use.
In the meantime, Visa said on Thursday that it would start by offering transaction alerts and special offers from merchants to Android users. The application will work with Google maps and location technology to help users find nearby cash machines and stores where special offers are available.
(continued via Reuters: Visa plans applications for Google, Nokia phones)
HandWave: Touchless Interface for S60 3rd
September 25, 2008
Internet Explorer 8: Acid2/Acid3 Test Results
September 25, 2008
IE8 - Acid2 Pass
IE8 - Acid2 Fail (Compatibility Mode)
IE8 - Acid3 Fail
IE8 - Acid3 Fail (Compatibility Mode)
![pdx [portland]](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1046/3168818707_570cff7348_t.jpg "pdx [portland]")
