Zeiss, one of the most respected names in the optics industry, have announced a product that will surely enter the Guiness Book of World Records.


It seems that the new lens, which will be on display at Photokina, was ordered by a client "in search of the highest imaginable image quality".

This is what the announcement said:

"Never before has the world of photography seen such a lens. Developed for long distance wildlife photography this supertele lens provides 21 x magnifications. 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 glas, 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."
At 256 kg, one can only wonder what kind of support is necessary in order to use this behemoth.