I got something special at the show in Tokyo

[Flat Twin]

Wow what a great story, I enjoyed the read immensely.

Didn't one of these 6mm f2.8 lenses recently sell at Grays of Westminster in the U.K. for £100,000 ?

What a find!

Regards,

Simon

 

[Speedfreak]

Wow didnt know this thing was that expensive. My father (ex camera store owner) has one of these in his collection. He may even have the case for it somewhere.

 

[drew.saunders]

I remember visiting the Nikon House in NYC many years ago, and they had one of these on display. It was inside a display case, with a hole in it and a camera attached (at the time, probably an F3, since that was the top of the line then) that you could go up to and look through the viewfinder. Everyone who looked through stuck their arms straight out, or even just a bit behind, to be able to wave at themselves. Congrats on getting one!

 

[loquax ludens]

Fascinating lens, and a wonderful acquisition. I enjoyed the story.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, I'd love to be able to get a Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6 L USM lens some day. I doubt I'll every be able to afford one, though. There are supposed to be something like 20 to 100 of them in existence.

 

[BobYIL]

I remember this lens from a NatGeo documentary many years ago. It was about the research stations located down in Antarctica. When the Japanese station was visited, a scientist went out to a device on a stand, lifted a large glass hemisphere and I saw this lens lying horizontally. He cleaned the dome surface with a chamois leather I think and then closed the glass. He commented that they were recording the cloud formations down to horizons.

 

[Mohan]

I've been very very lucky to have had a chance to play (but not shoot) with one of these (and at the other end of the scale the canon EF 1200mm 5.6 L which rents at over £500 a day)

 

[raid]

Congrats.

$50,000-$100,000 ?

 

[twopointeight]

An early morning caper in Tokyo, and lens sale history was made. But as a photographer I really wish you could have organized a photo op of Shinjuku Station in the rush hour or something like that, just to document the event. That lens may never be used.

 

[japancamerahunter]

An early morning caper in Tokyo, and lens sale history was made. But as a photographer I really wish you could have organized a photo op of Shinjuku Station in the rush hour or something like that, just to document the event. That lens may never be used.

Honestly, I wish I could have done too, but I was so exhausted that I didn't want to take it out and damage it. It just wasn't worth the risk.
Though I do have it on authority that the lens will be put to good use.

 

[fireblade]

beautiful lens, the new owner will be pleased, as i would be if it were mine😀
i'll stay happy with its baby brother the 8mm.

 

[dct]

Incredible apparatus! Thank you for sharing this extraordinary story. But, even if I had the money: What type of shots would you likely do with a 220° fish eye lens? I cannot immagine a real photographic situation where you would be in need for such a FoV...

 

[Shutterspark]

So -you- were the one who nabbed it 😀
I actually dropped by on the first day just to see the lens in person but I got there too late 🙄

Congrats on the rare exotic.