An especially uncommon Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens with a large 220-degree area of view has appeared on eBay for 130,000 euros, or about $146,152. It’s the very same lens that did not promote on the 2022 Leitz Photographica Public sale.
The Nikon 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye-Nikkkor Auto 220° is described as “some of the well-known and noteworthy lenses ever made” and it’s estimated that fewer than 200 have been manufactured in complete as they have been particular, made-to-order optics. This specific lens is described as in mint situation and with “good” optics and comes full with a specially-made leather-based entrance cap, a rear cap, the unique steel carrying case, a multi-language instruction handbook, and a “uncommon” restore handbook.
This specific lens, which was manufactured in 1981, has been looking for a purchaser for a while now, because the serial variety of the eBay itemizing matches thean unsold lens from final yr’s twentieth Anniversary Leitz Photographica Public sale catalog. Under is a photograph of the pages from that catalog that function the lens:
That public sale was crammed with some extraordinarily uncommon cameras — together with a uncommon Leica 0-Collection that was initially owned by Oskar Barnack — which could have overshadowed the Nikkor lens. Valued someplace between 80,000 and 100,000 euros on the public sale, the lens had a gap value of 40,000 euros however didn’t promote.
The Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 is uncommon however fluctuates wildly in value relying on a number of things. For one, there seems to be at the very least three variations of the lens: the Nikkor Auto (the one on this itemizing) seems to be the oldest and was first launched in 1972, however there are additionally AI and AI-S variations of it that have been made beginning in 1977 and 1982, respectively. All of them seem like the identical primary optical product and the distinction seems to be how the aperture ring is moved by the digicam. It’s tough to say if this distinction is the trigger for such a variety of costs, because the ones which have appeared over time may additionally differ dramatically in situation.
PetaPixel has reported on this uncommon lens showing on the market way back to 2012 when it appeared on eBay for $34,020. That very same yr, one other iteration of the lens offered on eBay for about $160,000.
In 2014, one other was listed on eBay that was accompanied by a video of the lens in motion, which was and nonetheless is very uncommon. This time, the vendor was looking for $70,000.
One other one popped up in 2015, this time on Craigslist in the UK for an unspecified quantity, as the vendor was “awaiting affords.”
Given the large vary of costs that this lens has commanded over time, from as little as $34,000 to as excessive as over $160,000, it’s not clear why this specific lens hasn’t discovered an purchaser, particularly given its “mint” situation and particularly after being featured in some of the high-profile digicam auctions on this planet. Because it hasn’t moved, these within the lens may need some room to barter on value and decide up what is without doubt one of the most uncommon lenses that has ever been made.
Picture credit: Leitz Photographica Public sale, except in any other case famous