Suppose you wish to survey 16000 square degrees of the sky to some limiting brightness as fast as possible, but necessarily within some budgetary constraints. Further suppose that the cost of telescopes ~ (diameter of the primary mirror)2.5 and that the cost of a wide-field camera ~ (field of view)3 x (diameter of primary mirror)1.5. For comparison, the costs of a 2m telescope and a camera on that telescope with a field-of-view of 4°x4° are roughly equal. Restrict your choices to 2m, 4m, and 8m diameter telescopes and camera field-of-view to 1°x1°, 2°x 2°, 4°x 4°, and 8°x8°.
What is the fastest way to complete the survey with a single telescope and camera?