Monster 200mm f/1.0 lens listed on eBay for $387,000
Sep 20, 2015
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If you’re in the market for an extremely fast telephoto lens, Abex UK has just what you need, with a few minor caveats.
The first is the lens is currently listed for a draw-dropping $387,000, and another is that you will require a bit of help lugging around this supersized 18 kg (40-pound) lens.
Also important to note is that the can of tomato soup is NOT included in the price.
Now before you whip out your checkbook I’ve got good and bad news for you:
The good news is that Abex states on the eBay listing that the “Buy It Now” price is set at ten times the lens’ net market value. In other words, with a bit of negotiating you should be able to knock off over 90% of the requested price.
The bad news is that this was designed for a thermal imaging camera, so don’t expect plug&play compatibility with your DSLR.
For those still interesting, here are a few additional tech specs:
- Germanium thermal imaging objective lens
- Front lens diameter of 20 cm (200mm)
- Made in the UK by Rank-Taylor
- Aperture adjustment ring ranging from f/1 to f/5.6
- Focus ring with ranging from 7 feet to infinity
- Threaded rear mounting on a removable adapter pate
- Removable hood and cap for the front of the lens
The lens is said to be in very good condition and the seller adds that it may have never even been used. That being said, it’s been listed by the seller as a used item in excellent condition.
If you’re still determined to purchase this lens, you will have to do so in person from the actual store as the seller does not offer postage for eBay items, even though a wooden shipping or storage crate is included in the price.
While this lens might be faster and a bit heavier than Canon’s behemoth 36-pound 1200mm lens, the latter sells for $180,000 without being marked-up.
[eBay via Mirrorles Rumors]
Liron Samuels
Liron Samuels is a wildlife and commercial photographer based in Israel. When he isn’t waking up at 4am to take photos of nature, he stays awake until 4am taking photos of the night skies or time lapses. You can see more of his work on his website or follow him on Facebook.
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13 responses to “Monster 200mm f/1.0 lens listed on eBay for $387,000”
I would get but can’t afford all the lens cleaning fluid
No problem, just call your friends to blow some mist onto it while you quickly wipe it off with a soft blanket :D
Ok send me one
From the ebay listing… “The “Buy It Now” price is set at 10x net market value.”
So can I put a speed booster for a gh4 what the f stop will be then?
As far as I know, f/1.0 is impossible… :-(
f1.0 is not impossible. You take the length of the lens divided by the diameter of the front element to get the f stop – so a 200mm lens must have a 200mm from diameter to be f1.0. There has even been an f0.95 lens made but in something like a 50 or 55mm length.
Slight correction, Scott. The f-number is determined by dividing the focal length (f) by the diameter of the entrance pupil (En). And, yes, f/1.0 is possible. In fact, the Leica 50mm Noctilux is f/0.95, …and about $11,000.
F0.95 Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm :
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3803989017/f-0-95-mitakon-speedmaster-25mm-compact-lens-announced-for-micro-four-thirds-system
Voightlander makes a bunch of f/0.95 lenses. They are all for micro four thirds, though, because making a lens that fast cover full frame would be hideously expensive.
As of this minute there are also metal adapters available for all major dslr mounts on DX and Aliexpress. :D
this is purely for scientific applications. germanium lenses are typically for mid-wave, infrared light (i.e. 3,000-5,000 nm). so this will not be useful for dslr cameras recording visible light (400-700 nm) with ir cutoff filters at 800 nm. also, germanium is very expensive and soft, so you can’t clean it with any wipes. i believe you use evaporating co2 ‘snow’ off the front element to lift off dust.
Hey! where is the banana for scale?