The World’s Largest Telephoto Lens

Digital Photography Review recently did a write-up on the Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 1700 mm F4 lens, the world’s largest telephoto lens. Talk about lens envy, this 564 pound beauty wins hands down.

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 6×6 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.

Thanks to Niall Kennedy for the tip!