Novice question: What is the biggest lens available?

[Jeff Donovan]

I attended the New England Patriots/NY Giants football game last night and was struck by the size of the lens one of the photographers was carrying around.

I was wondering what is the biggest zoom lens one could possibly buy? Some net searches have shown me a 2000mm Nikkor that is almost like putting a telescope on your camera.

This is a blurry photo of the photographers, they are right near the corner of the field and the cameras/lenses are on monopods

http://bostonwolf.smugmug.com/photos/189985089-M.jpg

[Marc Hankins]

The largest current lens around is the Canon 1600mm f/5.6 I believe. There is also the siggy 300-800mm f/5.6. I think the Nikon 2000mm is a discontinued lens, was it even an AF lens? I can't remember that.

[KrisCarnmarker]

Jeff, there is a Nikkor 1200-1700mm f5.6-f8 zoom. (http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/12001700mm.htm) AFAIW, this is the largest zoom.

The largest lens is probably Zeiss' 1700mm f4 (http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b58b9/Contents-Frame/8baac109cb80bddfc12571e100393a1b). Custom built for a sheik in Qatar, I think.

Edit: it is questionable whether you could actually buy any of these :)

[Jack_Flesher]

Nikon also made a 2000mm mirror lens. And you can hook your camera to many astronomical telescopes.

[Georg Baumann]

Focal length: 57.6 m (189 ft)
Mass: 11,110 kg (24,250 lb)

<grins>

http://www1.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/2184c7feab3d63fb894c39ac334a17be6g.jpg (http://www.mediafire.com/imageview.php?quickkey=2y1nllmji3m&thumb=4)

[Georg Baumann]

The largest lens is probably Zeiss' 1700mm f4 (http://www.zeiss.com/c12567a8003b58b9/Contents-Frame/8baac109cb80bddfc12571e100393a1b). Custom built for a sheik in Qatar, I think.
:)

****.... I was born poor... <grins> However, he was born naked too, and the last shirt does not have any pockets as my Grandma used to say. LOL

[Marc Hankins]

Just to whet peoples appetites for BIG lenses, I give you this link!

http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/images/images17.php

[Dawid Loubser]

Just to add some information, Marc's link shows the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6. There is quite a bit of info on the net about this lens (no need for me to elaborate) but I do think, apart form the one-off Zeiss 1700mm (big ugly monster) the Canon 1200mm is the biggest commercially available camera lens with auto-focus (to my knowledge).

Of course, Hubble also has autofocus :-) "focus by wire" just like the older Canon USM lenses :-)

Just for some added interest: The largest lens I own is a vintage Tokina 800mm f/8 which I play with now and then, and it's somewhat longer (though not heavier) than Canon's largest commonly available lens: 600mm f/4L

http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs17/f/2007/215/6/0/Tokina_800mm_f1_8_lens_by_philosomatographer.jpg

[Kathy Rappaport]

Canon's 2x teleextender used on the 100-400 can give you 800mm.....I have both but never tried that combo...

[Dawid Loubser]

Hi Kathy,

Yes, on a 400mm f/4 prime, with a 2x TC, one would get the same combination (not on the 100-400, as that would yield a 800mm f/11). On any of the Canons, one would probably get better image quality too - especially a 2x TC on the fabulous(ly expensive and big) 400mm f/2.8. The Tokina is just an old curiosity...

[Dawid Loubser]

Off topic, but on the image on the Nikon 1700mm zoom page, there are some very interesting-looking Nikon lenses in the bottom right corner - short, very very wide constructions. What are they?

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/zoomsMF/12001700groupview.jpg

[Cem_Usakligil]

Off topic, but on the image on the Nikon 1700mm zoom page, there are some very interesting-looking Nikon lenses in the bottom right corner - short, very very wide constructions. What are they?

The white one looks like a Canon spy in a Nikon encampment to me, one not particuarly succesful in camouflage! <LOL>

Cheers,

[John Sheehy]

Just to add some information, Marc's link shows the Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6. There is quite a bit of info on the net about this lens (no need for me to elaborate) but I do think, apart form the one-off Zeiss 1700mm (big ugly monster) the Canon 1200mm is the biggest commercially available camera lens with auto-focus (to my knowledge).

The native autofocus, native IS, and 1-stop speed over a 600mm f/4L with a 2x TC are probably the only benefits. Looking at the MTFs, the 600x2 should outperform the 1200 optically at all common apertures (f/8 and smaller).

[Dawid Loubser]

The native autofocus, native IS, and 1-stop speed over a 600mm f/4L with a 2x TC are probably the only benefits. Looking at the MTFs, the 600x2 should outperform the 1200 optically at all common apertures (f/8 and smaller).

Hi John,

Not sure if I understood you correctly, but the Canon 1200mm does not, in fact, have IS. So, apart from one stop speed loss, a 600mm with 2x TC should, in all respects, give a superior shooting experience. The 1200mm monster is one of Canon's "king of the hill" lenses which I do not desire. (unlike the 50mm f/1.0 [just for the heck of it, even though it's soft] and the 200mm f/1.8 [what a masterpiece]).

Cone on guys....! Any insight as to the funny-looking Nikon lens in the bottom right of the posted lens picture? The massively wide, flat dome.

[Kathy Rappaport]

I guess it's a fisheye type of lens ...

[Dawid Loubser]

I guess it's a fisheye type of lens ...

My first thought also. But it's diameter challenges that of the Nikon 600mm! I really would love to get more info on that lens.

[Marc Hankins]

My first thought also. But it's diameter challenges that of the Nikon 600mm! I really would love to get more info on that lens.

Oooh, I've seen stuff on that lens, it was one of Nikons first ever fisheye lenses I think. My dad has a catalog from the 70's and i remember seeing that. I'll have a hunt for it later and tell you what I find out.

[EDIT] Yeah, apparently it's from the 60's or something, not the 70's. I wont be able to get the catalog any time soon it seems. But yeah, tis an old old fisheye.

[John Harper]

Hi John,

Not sure if I understood you correctly, but the Canon 1200mm does not, in fact, have IS. So, apart from one stop speed loss, a 600mm with 2x TC should, in all respects, give a superior shooting experience. The 1200mm monster is one of Canon's "king of the hill" lenses which I do not desire. (unlike the 50mm f/1.0 [just for the heck of it, even though it's soft] and the 200mm f/1.8 [what a masterpiece]).

Cone on guys....! Any insight as to the funny-looking Nikon lens in the bottom right of the posted lens picture? The massively wide, flat dome.

Hi David

The lens you mention is the Nikon 6mm fisheye lens i believe it had an angle of view greater than 180 degrees so you could get a shot of something behind your eyeline.

Link to some info on it here (http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/fisheyes/6mmf28.htm)

[Dawid Loubser]

Thank you John! Wow, what an interesting lens. You know, I have seen photos where I was sure it represented an angle of view greater than 180 degrees, now I know how they were made!

[John Sheehy]

Hi John,

Not sure if I understood you correctly, but the Canon 1200mm does not, in fact, have IS.

Sorry, I thought it did. Well, maybe the AF still works better than 600+2x, but even then, maybe not!

It must be a must-have lens for people who like to show how much money they have (or pretend to, while they drown in debt)!