Lenses as big around as your head!

[goamules]

Just unpacked a new lens, which came in a series of boxes as large as a living room TV. But first, one to compare it to that I already had. Some of you may remember this photo with my daughter and a 16" Vitax. The caption I put back then was "A Lens as Big as Your Head!"
2008 Vitax first:


Well, time goes by, and we learn children and lenses grow even larger. So I was greatly anticipating whether this lens would be as big as her, today, five years later. I think it's a pretty good scaling! Actually, I don't think she's grown this much! This new one is more than double the focal length of the old Vitax, long sold.
2013 NEW one:

[goamules]

A couple more, so you can start guessing what it is. Those in EU that know, don't answer!

[Vaughn]

It is part of the BFL Series of lenses.

[Jim C.]

It is part of the BFL Series of lenses.

LOL !

Garret, that is one BFL as Vaughn put it, can a studio camera actually hold something that heavy ( I'm guessing it's at least 25lbs )
without the lens board popping off ?

[Mark Sawyer]

I think you'll need an adapter to put it on that Leica...

If only we could check its memory card and see what images have gone through it. Those big lenses cost a fortune new, so they were workhorses in the studios. Had to earn their keep. What a piece of history...

[ridax]

Come on, the above are just for girls. Now meet a real man-of-war. Younger, bigger, sharper (well into infrared), and with some real not a salony history (WWII included perhaps).

Sorry no heads for comparison as no helmets were at hand :). And the scale is in cm, but there are plenty of them...

[goamules]

Holy Frijoles!

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Garret. I'm guessing a big E. Francis? Lucky you!

[goamules]

Close, you're on the right continent. Getting warm!

[Jim Fitzgerald]

At least I'm guessing! So A Gasc Chaconet?