Really, it's the only 1200mm lens that's affordable for nonprofessionals. Just to put this point-and-shoot lens into perspective,
Canon's longest dSLR EF lens is 800mm and costs $14,000. There is also the near-mythical 1200mm f5.6L EF USM AF lens, which camera retailer
B&H once listed for $120,000. And this is a zoom lens, too, so you're getting focal lengths from 24mm out to 1200mm. Of course, the photo quality simply won't be as good as an SLR's with a high-quality lens on it, but you pick your battles.