Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

This is pretty interesting for a lens.
Very expensive as well.

Source PetaPixel:

Carl Zeiss Super-Q-Gigantar 40mm f/0.33: The Fastest Lens Ever Made.
Is that claim true? Well, yes and no… but mostly no.
The lens went up for auction back in 2011 at the famous WestLicht Photographica Auction, where some of the biggest transactions in the camera world occur. It was billed as “the world’s fastest lens ever made,” had an opening bid of €6,000, and an estimated price of up to €16,000. It ended up selling for €60,000, or close to $80,000.

Poke around on the web, however, and you won’t find any sample photographs captured with this lens. Why? Because the lens was never designed for real world use, and was never functional.

Even in the auction, WestLicht states that the 1960s lens was a “unique lens made by Carl Zeiss for Public Relation purposes […] for Contarex Bullseye.” Italian website Nadir Magazine has more of the backstory.

The lens was born in the 1960s during a time in which camera companies were aiming for larger and larger apertures, just as companies these days are gunning for more and more megapixels. Canon had just released its 50mm f/0.95, and photographers became fixated on the speed of lenses on paper rather than their performance in real world situations.

Zeiss Ikon public relations guru Herr Wolf Wehran decided that he wanted to draw attention to his phenomenon by creating a product poking fun at the fast glass fad.

Prior to Photokina in 1966, Wehran visited a buddy of his in the Zeiss lens design department. The two found an old condenser lens sitting around, and used it to create a Contarex-mount “frankenlens” using various found pieces. Along the way, they arbitrarily decided that their lens would have a focal length of 40mm and a maximum aperture of f/0.33.

The lens was given the name “Super-Q-Gigantar.” The “Q” stands for “Quatsch,” which translates to “nonsense” in German.

And that’s how the “fastest lens ever made” came to be.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Weird someone spens $80,000 for a nom functional lens

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Unique collectors item?

captivecookie Loc: Washington state

If you can mount it on a camera and take a picture the lens works. I want to see a photo showing the poor performance.

User ID

Get yourself and old condenser lens, some plastic sewer pipe and gaffer tape and see for yourself ... not joking.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

It was not a functioning lens.
Just a joke according to the article.
But impressive anyway.
Fun to take it out and see the looks you would get.

captivecookie Loc: Washington state

Yes! Now I have photographic power at my fingertips. My bokeh will be the best ever, and I will rule the portrait industry!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

sort of reminds me of an old old joke:

A guy was chilling with an old friend and a few brews. He muses: "I wish I had enough money to buy an elephant".
His friend said: "What in the world would you do with an elephant"?
The guy replied: I don't want an elephant, I just want that much money.

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

Good one! :D

petrochemist Loc: UK

I've just received a 300mm diameter fresnel lens of 200mm focal length (just f/0.66) which was ~£20. It does produce images (of sorts) :)

I wasn't after the fastest possible just the widest 200mm lens. It seams there is a 260mm diameter 70mm focal length one which works out f/0.27 for £59. Arranging a focusing mount for it needn't cost more than another £40.

allison011501

So do I !!!

BebuLamar

The person who spent $80,000 for the lens he/she hoped to some day resell it for more or he/she really liked it?
I don't know the collector value of the lens but I sure don't want to spend $1 for it if I can't resell it for more.

User ID

Do it now !!!!

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

Well, if you had so much money you didn't know what to do with it.