A rare Nikkor 17.3mm f/4 220° fisheye lens from Nikon is currently listed for sale on eBay for $149,500. The lens can cover a medium format image circle. Additional information and pictures:
This is rarer than the Holy Grail Nikon 6mm 2.8. So, I guess there is a “New” Holy Grail!
Ok, this lens has even stumped the most renowned lens collectors. That is how rare this lens is. This is what I can tell you about this treasure. Back in the 80’s when Nikon made their masterpiece 6mm f/2.8 fisheye lens for 35mm film cameras, they also made only a few of the ultra-rare 17mm Nikkors for larger cameras and projectors for Imax size film. I know, because I have both versions. They are identical lens designs. Back then, there was a world-traveling giant screen roadshow for Imax and they used these two rare 17mm lenses for the camera and projector for special expos. (See the Picture of the 70mm Camera in the listing with a 17mm Nikkor lens on it. The giant 200 pound Camera not included in this sale) The lens has no iris as the huge camera does. At a fast f4, and being a 220-degree fisheye, there is really no need as the depth of field is already very great with inches to infinity all in focus at f/4. If the light is too bright you simply use a Neutral Density filter. The lens has the same complex glass design structure of many elements in the 6mm, except this lens remarkably can cover larger film area of 6x6cm. The 17mm lens is also physically bigger than the 6mm. I was told by a very reputable lens expert that another very rare Nikon fisheye lens, the 6.2mm 5.6 SAP lens that covers 35mm film, made a few of them, sold for over $500,000 Euros. If there is a more rare Nikon fisheye lens, then why can no one find a 17mm Nikkor lens anywhere? Because this is it!
This huge lens is about 14 inches wide. It has a specially made lens support to carry the load of the weight of this giant. Over 20 lbs! Your camera will not hold the lens, the lens will hold your camera. You will mount the lens to a head on a tripod. There is an image posted to refer the scale of the large 17mm Nikkor lens next to a Nikon Noct 58mm listed separately!
Check out also this rare Leitz 17mm f/2 163° fisheye lens from the same seller listed on eBay for $24,500:
Check out this rare Leitz 17mm f/2 fisheye lens listed on eBay for $24k
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