In this paper we characterize the behavior of a new pulsed gas lens, the colliding shock lens. We show how input energy, electrical diameter, number of discharge electrodes, and enclosing the discharges, affect its optical aperture and focal length. Experimental results are presented for three different lenses and for a 1 cm aperture lens with a focal length of 1.5 m. We derive a simple colliding shock lens scaling law. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.