10 Canon 400mm lenses joined to make telescope array to view distant galaxies

Hunstsman Telescope with astronomer Sarah Caddy
The Huntsman Telescope employs an array of 10 Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II supertelephoto lenses that were selected for their anti-reflection properties. (Image credit: Australian Camera)

A set of Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II supertelephoto lenses has been turned into a unique telescope to study ultra-faint galaxies and astronomical objects in the southern sky. The Huntsman Telescope is the only one of its type in the southern hemisphere and the project has been developed by Macquarie University’s School Of Mathematical & Physical Sciences with Australian Astronomical Optics Macquarie (both of which are part of the Sydney-based university's Faculty Of Science And Engineering).

The Huntsman concept was inspired by the Dragonfly Telephoto Array which also uses Canon’s 400mm f/2.8L supertelephoto, but now has two banks of 24 lenses. It was developed by the University Of Toronto and is installed in New Mexico, USA.

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Paul Burrows
Editor

Paul has been writing about cameras, photography and photographers for 40 years. He joined Australian Camera as an editorial assistant in 1982, subsequently becoming the magazine’s technical editor, and has been editor since 1998. He is also the editor of sister publication ProPhoto, a position he has held since 1989. In 2011, Paul was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute Of Australian Photography (AIPP) in recognition of his long-term contribution to the Australian photo industry. Outside of his magazine work, he is the editor of the Contemporary Photographers: Australia series of monographs which document the lives of Australia’s most important photographers.