We hope you’ve got deep pockets…
Well, to be honest, we don’t expect anyone to be able to purchase a lens like the ones listed here in this post. But you should know that they number amongst the most expensive ever made and sold right now. We’re sure that in the right hands, they’ll take the greatest images that you may ever see, but some of them are for very special use.
Here’s our curated list of the most expensive camera lenses.
Leica 1600mm f/5.6 Telephoto Lens: $2,000,000
Of course, the most expensive lens on this list has to go to a Leica. This monster was designed for the now deceased R series of SLR cameras that Leica produced.
Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens: $160,000
This Nikon prime can literally see behind itself. It’s also quite large.
Canon 1200mm f5.6: $120,000
A B&H Photo rep quoted Canon in saying that it took a year to grow the lenses and crystal inside of this lens. The CIA bought one and Sports Illustrated also made the dive.
Just know that Uncle Sam is keeping his eye on you, and probably using this lens to watch you take a shower.
Sigma 200-500mm f2.8 APO: $25,999
We hope you’ve been working out. Since Sigma released this lens a couple of years back it still manages to turn heads. Who else seriously has a 300mm telephoto zoom range and can keep it at a constant f2.8?
Nikon 800mm f5.6 FL ED VR: $17,896.95
Also fairly new to the list is Nikon’s 800mm f5.6 with vibration reduction built in. Just imagine it on a 1 series camera.
Horseman 23mm f5.6: $13,500
B&H Photo lists this lens as a special order for Horseman medium format cameras. But anything this wide in medium format is incredibly tough to come by and is bound to demand a high price.
Canon 800mm f5.6 L IS USM: $12,999
Though it isn’t the beast that the 1200mm lens is, Canon’s current longest optic in production will still cost you just a bit more than what it costs to live in NYC for a year.
Sony 500mm f4 G: $12,998
Though they don’t have the history that other companies have on this list, Sony still makes quite the serious telephoto lens at 500mm with an f4 aperture. We’ve tried it once or twice, and it’s quite the beaut.
Nikon 400mm f2.8 FL ED VR: $11,996.95
Going bird watching? Or maybe shooting sports? Then the Nikon 400mm f2.8 may be what you need.
Canon 600mm f4 L IS USM II: $11,499
Also introduced a couple of years ago, Canon’s 600mm f4 L IS USM II is quite a lightweight for what it is. Still though, we’d never handhold it without insurance.
Leica 50mm f0.95 Noctilux: $11,350
For years, this was the lone lens that could see in the dark. But since then, many f0.95 lenses have been made and sold. However, Leica’s Noctilux was the only real option worth considering for a while.