I know this is old news, but a reader pointed out to me (thanks Andreas) that the Leica APO-TELYT-R 1:5.6/1600mm may not be the most expensive lens in the world. Take a look at this monster – Zeiss Apo Sonnar T 4/1700mm:
The “tiny” black cube at the end of the lens is a Hasselblad camera.
I could not find any info on the price, but this is definitely the largest telephoto lens in the world (beats Leica by 100mm).
Such a photo optics, the world has never seen! Developed for animal photography from a great distance in the wild increases of this super-telephoto 21-fold. With the aim to achieve the highest quality opted for the client and 6×6 medium format camera as the best in his experience the Hasselblad 203 FE.
With 1700 mm focal length and intensity 1:4 put this lens unprecedented demands on optical glasses, assembly and manufacturing technology. With 256 kg in weight are all well known tripods totally overwhelmed. So has Carl Zeiss brand new handling and Fotografiertechniken redeveloped.
With his experience in satellite and space optics and micro lithography lenses for the semiconductor manufacturing Carl Zeiss has the challenge of STL likes adopted.
Leica D-Lux 4 Titanium limited edition US price will be $999 (or $998) – $150 more than the regular Leica D-Lux 4. This price includes the leather case. The current ongoing Leica D-Lux 4 rebate (US only) will NOT be valid for the Titanium limited edition, so you will be paying a total of $300 more than the regular version. Selected Leica US dealers will be getting the Leica D-Lux 4 Titanium next week. If you are planing on getting one – hurry up, quantities are limited. And if you get one, send us some pictures.
Unser Geschenk für Sie: Entscheiden Sie sich bis zum 31.12.2008 für eine C-Lux 3 oder D-Lux 4 und Leica schenkt Ihnen die passende Kameratasche im Wert von bis zu 95€ gratis.
Our gift for you: If you decide by 12.31.2008 for a C-Lux 3 or D-Lux 4 and Leica gives you the right camera bag valued at up to 95 € for free.
More info started to surface about the rumored Leica camera cell phone, but this time no one is mentioning the Leica part. Not sure if this was a mistake, or Leica did actually provide some technology to Samsung, but did not want to be associated with such product. My guess is that it was a mistake, since Samsung has its own line of digital cameras and I don’t see why they would use Leica except to charge a very high price (which would be the case for this cell phone – camera combo).
Anyway, here are some more info on this 8 megapixel camera phone:
Update: it seems that the US price for the Leica D-Lux 4 Titanium will be the same as the regular black D-Lux 4, which makes this a really good deal.
The price actually is not that bad – 677.00 GBP (995 USD). Expected delivery January 2009. This is a limited edition D-Lux 4 and only 500 pieces will be available worldwide. Only 50 will be available in the UK.