Huge 11-Pound Nikon 6mm ƒ2.8 Fisheye Lens Goes On Sale

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Fisheye-6mm-28-001.jpeg

This is probably the least practical lens the world has ever known

FOR SALE>£100,000 ($161,000): 6mm ƒ2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor

That’s what you’ll see at the top of Grays of Westminster’s used Nikon manual-focus lens listings. The London dealer has gotten its hands on this incredible chunk of glass, a 5.2-kilo (11.5-pound) mountain of a lens that makes the camera behind it look like a vestigial tail.

According to UK photo magazine *[Amateur Photographer](https://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/news/Monster_Nikon_6mm_f28_lens_turn_up_in_London_news_312353.html)*, the lens was first seen in 1970 at the Photokina show in Germany, and this example was found by Grays of Westminster co-founder Gray Levett when he was “overseas” seven weeks ago.

The 220˚ angle of view means that it is almost impossible to keep your feet or your tripod’s feet out of the photo, which is ironic as it was made in an age long before Photoshop. But the real crazy spec is that maximum aperture of ƒ2.8. That’s not a bad amount of light to let into any lens, let alone something like this, and is the reason the thing is so huge.

I can’t really see much reason for buying this, though, especially not for this price, unless you’re a collector. I think I’ll keep an eye out, and check [the listing](https://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/products/secondhand.php?cat1=3&pg=1) from time to time to see if a) some crazy person buys it or b) the price drops. My money’s on the latter.

Here’s the full listing, edited to make it look non-horrible:

EXCEPTIONAL – NEAR NEW AND ULTRA RARE! Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing a 220 º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world’s most extreme wide-angle lens to cover of the 24 x 36mm image area (at the time) with a massive glass dome which dwarfs the camera attached.

The 6mm is for scientific and industrial applications and special effects when shooting portraits, architecture and interiors etc. Lens production began in March 1972 and was only made available to special order.

>6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkor lens serial no. 628024

>>Lens construction: 12 elements in 9 groups

>>Picture angle: 220º

>>Diaphragm: Automatic>Aperture scale: f/2.8-f/22 on both standard and aperture-direct-readout scales

>>Weight: 5200g

>>Dimensions: 236mm diameter x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange

>>Distance scale: graduated in meters and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity (∞)

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

>Filters
>>built-in skylight(L1BC)
>>
>>medium yellow (Y48)
>>
>>deep yellow (Y52)
>>
>>orange (O56)
>>
>>red (R60)

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