When can we get that in A-mount?

[KevinBarrett]

I'm surprised we didn't see a PDF-style spec-sheet rumor about this lens!

[Dusty]

Qouting the website
"The World's Largest Telephoto Lens

Never before has the world of photography seen such a lens. Developed for long distance wildlife photography this supertele lens provides 21x magnification. In search of the highest imaginable image quality the client decided for 6x6 medium format and the Hasselblad 203 FE as the best camera he is aware of.

At 1700 mm focal length and a speed of f/4 this lens put requirements on optical glass, lens assembly and quality assurance methods, never before encountered in photo lens manufacture. This 256 kg behemoth also required Carl Zeiss to develop totally new ways of operating a telephoto lens, including servo controlled aiming and focusing.

Drawing from its expertise in satellite and space optics as well as semiconductor fabrication lenses Carl Zeiss was happy to accept the challenge."

Didn't Bell and Howell make some monster lenses for spy satellites back in the 60's and 70's? I seem to recall them as even larger than this.

Dusty

[David Kilpatrick]

It was reported on last year sometime, maybe photokina, maybe before. I certainly had the press pix and ran a story. The Sigma 50-500mm f/2.8 is a more realistic supertele, and is actually being ordered by the British military and police.

David

[KevinBarrett]

Zeiss lens inspires starship design!

[harvey]

Incredible. Does it come with a Landrover tripod?

Any idea how much Zeiss wanted for that; $200,000-$400,000?

Harvey

[Javelin]

Wow Kevin you reminded me f another star trek object with a similar shape.

The Planet killer

[Lonnie Utah]

From 2006...and custom made for a private buyer from Qatar.

From dpreview:
"Photokina 2006: Carl Zeiss recently announced a totally unique 'monster lens', the built-to-order Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 1700 mm F4 lens. Designed to be used with a Hasselblad 6x6 medium format camera this monster lens weighs in at 256 KG (564 lb) and uses unique methods for handling focusing (because of the weight of each glass element). This lens becomes the largest telephoto lens for non-military use anywhere in the world. The price hasn't been disclosed (although we've heard rumours) nor has the private owner, although some of the text on the lens is in Arabic and it carries a 'State of Qatar' emblem."


More:

http://www.crestock.com/blog/technology ... t-117.aspx


Image: Zeiss

For people who have been into photography for a while, the name Carl Zeiss means top of the line optical quality, usually with a matching price tag. While continuing to produce their top-of-the-line optics for various camera systems, Zeiss have more recently also begun cooperating with Nokia and Sony, making optics for their mobile phones and digital cameras.

Two years ago, the company presented a remarkable one-off tele lens, reportedly custom built for a wealthy Qatari. Weighing in at 256 kilos, it's is a 1700mm f/4 lens designed for medium format (which roughly equals 750mm in 35mm SLR format). The monster bears more than a fleeting resemblance to a jet engine; given the size the 'super tele lens' labeling on the side seems a little superfluous – it isn't very likely that it would be mistaken for an average 70-200mm, after all.

The little black lump at the end is your average 6x6 medium format camera, in itself a quite bulky piece of equipment, but completely dwarfed by the Zeiss lens. Upon it's unveiling, it was said to be the largest non-military tele lens in the world. One wonders what the largest military tele lens might look like.

Drawing from their experience in manufacturing large telescopes and instruments for astronomical sciences, Zeiss had to develop an entirely new focussing system, Due to the massive size of the glass elements, the lens had to be equipped with extremely powerful focussing motors, capable of moving all that heavy glass around. The rear end of the lens has a dedicated LCD monitor built in to display focussing distance, aperture etc. No price has been published, but Zeiss hinted at a price of at least several million Euros.

The intended use for the lens is reportedly "antelope photography". This doesn't immediately strike one as the kind of kit you want to bring along on a safari to photograh fast moving and easily startled animals – hiding in the bushes is certainly off the agenda – but the uncompromising construction is said to allow the lens to autofocus as fast as a 'regular' telephoto lens.

[KevinBarrett]

"...some of the text on the lens is in Arabic and it carries a 'State of Qatar' emblem."

Actually, if you look closely, that same tagging is even in the illustration from Zeiss's website.