That looks like a big lens

[DanielD]

Came across this one today:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Look at that lens barrel peeking out of the roof(!)

Well actually while I was taking that picture (I came from that side first) I wasn't actually sure that it was a lens, but I somehow assumed, as I couldn't believe it would be allowed to build up that big cannons in the city. :wink:

This is the front

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

and the top

It turned out to be an observatory, as expected. The strange thing is that it's the first one I saw that has a "lens" that was fixed in direction, but has some funny rail mechanism instead. But what for? AF? Zoooom!?

will have to look if they have a website that explains...

 

[DanielD]

Hah. Found it. Wow. It's movable:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

According to their website/wikipedia, it is the world's largest lens telescope, that means its design is actually based on real lenses! No mirror stuff!
Holy smokes!
It was built 1896, weighs 130 tons, has a focal length of 21 meters, and - important for those who want to attach a filter - the front element has a diameter of 68 centimeters. They don't tell if it's threaded, though. :wink:
The magnification is 210x.

Oh, and those rails are merely to move the roof, as that telescope was too big to completely put it into a building.

 

[wbeem]

It looks like a rail gun from WWI.

 

[Faceman]

Ask them if you can put it on your camera and snap a few shots.

 

[JohnC]

Awesome find!

 

[Tierdaen]

Ask them if you can put it on your camera and snap a few shots.

I was going to say, ask them what the flange to film plane distance is to see if you can get an adapter

 

[fireman]

Is this a macro lens or should we use extension tubes ?

 

[wbeem]

Have they ever seen anything that was looking back at them?

 

[Gale]

Really nice shots.
Hummmmm I need a light weight lens that long:>)))ahahahaha

 

[JoeG]

Massive!!!

 

[Julien]

Imagine the price of a CIR Polarizer for that :505: :505:

 

[fireman]

Julien, you are killing me...

 

[CAJames]

Anyone know when they will be coming out with a VR version?

 

[wbeem]

It could be a Canon.

 

[Harry S.]

Have they ever seen anything that was looking back at them?

Yes, the face of the cleaning personel who was wiping the front element.

 

[DanielD]

Thanks for all the comments :biggrin:
No, I guess VR is not needed. The mount looked stable and I guess it's not hand holdable.

 

[DanielD]

Yes, the face of the cleaning personel who was wiping the front element.

Rather the face of something (someone?) living on the cleaning personel's face. (210x magnification!)