Sigma APO 200-500mm f/2.8 with 2x Teleconverter
The Sigma APO 200-500mm may be called the Incredible Hulk of all lenses, given its emerald color and huge girth. It is faster than you think, and it knows how to destroy both your pocketbook and your expectations, much like the iconic comic character. The lens is notable for being the world's first ultra-telephoto zoom lens with an f/2.8 maximum aperture at 500mm focal length and for being apochromatic. This is a one-of-a-kind engineering project. The lens has an integrated LCD monitor that shows the current focus distance and zoom, and it's all driven by its internal battery motor.
Sports photographers and those interested in wildlife would be very interested in one of these, especially since they can be paired with Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts. The Sigma APO 200-500mm remains the most expensive camera lens accessible to acquire through normal methods, more than a decade after its inception. It's been thirteen years in the wild, and it's still a strange creature. Even if you had unlimited cash, most people would find it more intriguing than essential, especially considering contemporary cameras' incredible high ISO capabilities. On paper, this lens is a masterpiece that blasts everyone else out of the water, however, it is a bit tricky to use in practice. Apart from its massive size, the electronic focus is very impressive. It's quicker than you'd think, but not as fast as you'd want to give the astronomical price. Furthermore, while being the ideal safari camera due to its low-light prowess and range, the Sigma lacks any weather protection or dust-sealing.
Another thing to keep in mind when fantasizing about this lens is that you will be spending significantly more than the $26,000 listed price. If you're being responsible, you'll probably spend at least a few thousand dollars on a decent support system - this workhorse and show pony rolled into one weighs over 35 pounds. Having all that, something is appealing about Sigma's risk-taking Hulk lens. It is an incredible technological feat, and there is nothing else like it, for better or worse. When you add the supplied 2x teleconverter, you've got an unrivaled 400-1000mm f/5.6 lens — a truly spectacular piece of gear by any standard.
Cost: $25,999
