I got something special at the show in Tokyo

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by photomoof

I have the EPOI sales manual, there was no tele-converter.

With a 220 degree "picture angle" the fact it cannot use a tele-converter is pretty obvious.

The 6mm 5.6 was a much more practical lens @430gr -- far less than the 5.2 kg of the 2.8.

Suggested retail price in 1985 was $7377. Dealer cost was 4795.

Fred, here's a shot of the user's guide that Bellamy posted on his website. So the inclusion of the Teleconverter TC-200 as an accessory is just a typo?

[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...

[Speedfreak]

Originally Posted by photomoof

One well known Nikon photographer who made use of the Nikon fisheye lenses, showing in some cases a full circular image.
http://www.alsatterwhite.com/sports8.html

Is this guy still in business? Looks like mid-90s stock photography.

[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.