We're going to need a bigger camera: Unique 10lb Nikon fisheye lens goes on sale - so wide-angle it can 'see behind itself'

By ROB WAUGH

Published: | Updated:

A camera lens so wide-angle it can 'see behind you' - offering a 220-degreee field of view - has gone on sale in London, priced at £100,000 - minus the camera.

When it was introduced in 1970 at the Photokina exhibition, it was the most extreme fisheye lens of all time - a 10lb glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached.

An exceptionally rare Nikon wide-angle lens has gone on sale in London this week: The 6mm F2.8 ultra-wide lens is priced at £100,000 via Grays of Westminster

An exceptionally rare Nikon wide-angle lens has gone on sale in London this week: The 6mm F2.8 ultra-wide lens is priced at £100,000 via Grays of Westminster

THE LENS THAT CAN 'SEE BEHIND ITSELF' - NIKON'S 6mm F/2.8

6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens

Picture angle: 220º

Diaphragm: Automatic

Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22

Weight: 5200g

Dimensions: 236mm dia. x 171mm long
160mm extension from lens flange

Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case

'Our vintage camera buyer Toni Kowal spent six months tracking it down from overseas,' says Gray Levett, of Grays of Westminster, which is selling the lens.

'We were fortunate to be able to find this example in such pristine condition.'

Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with a speed of f/2.8.

The Nikon 6mm lens prototype was never put into full production, but was made to order for several specialist photographers.

Jeremy Gilbert, Group Marketing Manager at Nikon UK says: ‘The 6mm f2.8 lens is an incredibly rare lens that was initially designed for scientific and meteorological use. It represents the pinnacle in lens design, from a time when lenses had to be designed with a slide rule and individual ray diagrams.

He adds: ‘Having worked at Nikon for 25 years I have only had the pleasure of seeing two 6mm f2.8mm lenses. And yes, the lens does see slightly behind itself 220 degrees -  you see your feet in every picture!’

The 10lb fisheye lens was shown off at the Photokina exhibition in 1970, and was made to order from 1972

The 10lb fisheye lens was shown off at the Photokina exhibition in 1970, and was made to order from 1972

'The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors,' says Levett.

Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order.'




Most watched News videos

Comments 23

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.