Grays Of Westminster Are Selling A £100,000 Lens

A rare Nikon fisheye lens which is said to be able to ‘see behind itself’, has gone on sale at
Grays of Westminster.

The 220º Nikkor fisheye lens weighs 5.2kg, measures 171mm in length and has a diameter of 236mm. It's one of the few 220º Nikkor fisheye lenses ever to be made and has a price-tag of £100,000.

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

Technical Specifications:

• 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 dia. x 171mm long (overall); 160mm extension from lens flange
• Distance scale: graduated in metres and feet from 0.25m (0.9ft) to infinity
• Filters: built-in skylight (L1BC), medium yellow (Y48), deep yellow (Y52), orange (O56), and red (R60)
• Front lens cap: Slip-on, delivered in a rugged metal case.
• Condition: MINT

Nikon stunned the photographic world at Photokina in 1970 by introducing the 220º fisheye Nikkor with an astonishing speed of f/2.8. It is the world’s most extreme wide-angle lens to cover 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.

Founder of Grays of Westminster, Gray Levett, said: "The background of this immense lens is that our vintage camera buyer Toni Kowal spent six months tracking it down from overseas, and we were fortunate to be able to find this example in such pristine condition. The lens was photographed by master photographer Tony Hurst. It is a stunning example of the optical expertise of the engineers and designers at Nikon."

Visit Grays Of Westminster for more information.