the most expensive lens I ever saw or imagined, a Leica:

[finnegan]

<p>Well, If you have a couple of extra bucks here's nice little trinket for you:<br>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-Leica-180-280-400mm-3-Lenses-PL-Mount-Conversion-/191221336077?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c85ae080d#viTabs_0</p>

[gulfbeach47]

<p>Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Thani of Qatar allegedly paid $2 million and some change for this Leica APO-Telyt-R 1:5.6/1600mm. The body of the lens is 1.2-meters long, and it 42cm wide at the end. It tips the scales at at least 60kg, or 132lbs. http://www.apotelyt.com/photo-lens/leica-most-expensive-lens<br /><br />He also had commissioned a specially-equipped Mercedes four wheel drive to carry his expensive lens and move it around. Whether this setup has been successful in sufficiently steadying the lens is unclear, however, since no images taken with the lens have been made available:)</p>

[finnegan]

<p>Well, I hope he got some nice pix out of that monster!</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>$100k for THREE lenses? Bargain! Look at <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-6mm-F-2-8-Nikkor-AI-s-Fish-eye-Lens-Museum-Conditions-VERY-RARE-/231575978067?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35eb010053">this one</a>, it's on offer, now that's a massive discount!<br>

Other noticeable entrants which were "mass produced" (and currently not around on eBay) are <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/newsLetter/Canon-EF-1200mm.jsp">Canon's 1200mm</a> lens, or the <a href="http://nikon.com/about/feelnikon/recollections/r16_e/index.htm">Nikon 1200-1700mm zoom</a>. And of course, the one-offs, like the one John mentions go way, way beyond that. Price unknown, but sure not much cheaper than the Leica mentioned, is the <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/articles/3865393209/zeiss1700f4">Zeiss APO Sonnar 1700mm f/4</a>. At 256 kilograms, it sure weighs in, so to speak.<br>

Apparently there is a market for it; I've got problems imagining paying this much for a lens (a fisheye most of all, to be honest), but since I don't have this kind of money anyway it's a moot point.</p>

[andylynn]

$100,000 for three is nothing. Fujinon Premiere PL mount lenses go for $80,000-100,000 each.

[q.g._de_bakker]

<a href="http://leicarumors.com/2008/12/13/the-largest-telephoto-lens-in-the-world-is-not-a-leica.aspx/">Have a look at this</a>. And <a href="http://www.crestock.com/blog/technology/the-worlds-most-extreme-photography-equipment-117.aspx">this</a>.

[GerrySiegel]

A year's supply of Viagra costs less and has the same psychological benefit. The PL mount , used by film studios and their rental outfits in Burbank are just a small cost of production and wages. There will be a market outside of Arab Emirates. Got to keep these in perspective. Why buy when one can rent and figure cost against the gross and take the tax advantage I am thinking. Anyone who has worked for a DP ever see one of these guys?

[q.g._de_bakker]

Though i can't remember what lens, i remember that Leitz once offered a lens that when you bought it didn't come with a lens case, but with a Volkswagen Rabbit/Golf.

[ellis_vener_photography]

Gerry, I suspect that whoever buys it will be a rental house. The seller has a well established rental business in Hollywood.

[finnegan]

<p>I wonder if after all that money, you get results better than a good equivalent - if there are any equivalents for some of those monsters. Must be part of the cost, one of a kinders - or at least rare like owning the first VW Rabbit ever made. That would be worth a good $500.</p>

<p>I think Ellis hit the nail on the head, these are to make money back in rentals. </p>

[aplumpton]

<p>Q.G., I think it was an 800mm Telyt.</p>

<p>The uses of these 100k$ plus optics are pretty limited, subject wise and in terms of handling. They are quite far from H C-B and his almost universal 50mm lens. They put a 50mm f0.95 Leica aspherical lens into poor man's terrritory. </p>

[donald_miller5]

<p>You think it might make my photos better?</p>

[q.g._de_bakker]

Why, yes!