Huge lens, huge $

[Karhallarn]

Wow! That's some kind of a lens and it has some kind of a price...

http://cgi.ebay.de/Nikon-2-8-6mm-Fisheye-Nikkor-Auto-non-AI_W0QQitemZ370271553616QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Lenses?hash=item5635e78850&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_4924wt_1581

[fates]

Well in Photo Arsenal's defense, it does allow you to see into parallel dimensions. In 4D. And it's like that old Maxwell ad every time you get near the eyepiece.

[kansalliskala]

Last time Arsenal offered this lens it was place in other position. Mount side down, lens up.

[Big Dawg]

For some reason I just do not feel the need to own this lens!! LOL

[justtorchit]

I was just reading about this lens on MIR. almost 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg)... Talk about schleppin' equipment around!

[Esox lucius]

Must be a blast to use, with a weight of 5.2kg

I've read an arctic expedition article which had photos taken with it. I remember reading it was developed by Nikon for these teams to be able to document full coverage of the sky, at the Earth's poles. 220 degrees field of view, you can see behind you. When aimed upwards you'd be able to catch ice on the ground and a full view of the sky, in one photo. Limited use and undoubtedly costly to manufacture, ought to explain the about 500 unit production run.

Taking 360 degree panoramas with this lens should be very easy, only 2 snaps and a quick blast through Photoshop's Panorama feature

Seems some of the images on this page were taken with the lens

http://philip.greenspun.com/images/pcd2386/

[kds315*]

Well I know a PRO in Hamburg who owns one, payed 25k for it (hard EUROS I mean) and uses that
for breattaking panos usually shot at "l'heure blue" and prints them up to 5 meters wide (15ft).
We chatted about that lens before I bought mine (which was sold later). He told me that the biggest
issue using that lens is "getting your own feet out of the picture".

Here in case someone might be interested, the Nikon fisheyes and their design in detail, by my
friend Macro Cavinia:
http://www.luciolepri.it/lc2/marcocavina/articoli_fotografici/Nikkor_fisheye_story/00_pag.htm

and how that fisheye looks like inside (c) Macro Cavinia:



(c) Gerhard Kubetschek, Hamburg




that's the guy and his "baby" btw.

[Esox lucius]

[darosk]

Wow - those example are breathtaking!