Nikkor 6mm 2.8 Ai

[Roland Vink]

Thanks Erik!
There is a 6mm for sale on ebay right now for $55K. Serial no 628035, an early AI model that I have seen before. That seems to be the case with these lenses, the same ones keep turning up over again, rare to see a new example...

[Erik Lund]

That is indeed the lens I'm renting

[Roland Vink]

Thanks, so no new numbers for my database.
I'll update my site to reflect the gaps in the numbers I've seen, I think the current listing grossly overstates actual production numbers.

I look forwards to seeing results from this lens at your NG meeting. I'd love to try an astro-shot - point directly up at night sky with milky way above, and landscape all around ... biggest problem is keeping dew off it ... maybe one of you guys will get the chance to do something like that?

[Harald]

Hi Roland,

Erik seems to be the Chuck Norris of photography. It will be possible.

Harald

[Roland Vink]

I refreshed my lens serial no page so it more accurately reflects the serial numbers I have seen so far.

However, I still have a large gap between the early AI set (628030, 628035, 628042) and no.628147. If this series is not continuous I may still be overstating the quantity by over 100 units. And then there is no.628556 ...

These lenses were only made to order, so would have been produced in very small batches. I wonder if the numbering for the AI series goes like this:
628BXX where B = batch no, XX = sequence no.

Therefore no.628147 is the 47th 6mm lens made, but from batch 1, not the original batch 0. Lens no.628556 is the 56th lens from batch 5 ?? This would be a unique numbering system for Nikon but it does explain the strange distribution of numbers...

[Jan Anne]

Erik, your project lens has been picked up by NR 
http://nikonrumors.com/2016/03/13/weekly-nikon-news-flash-358.aspx/

[Erik Lund]

More and more items for the tripod support of the 6mm are appearing

Base plate for vertical tripod support, the ring fits the Gitzo series 5 and the hole in the plate allows free viewing of the rear camera screen

Vertical base-plate and tripod-ring for Fish-eye Nikkor 6mm f/2.8 by Erik Gunst Lund, on Flickr

Rods for vertical tripod support

6mm F/2.8 Vertical Mount spacers by Erik Gunst Lund, on Flickr

Here the rods before cutting off the screw-heads to allow the 1/4" threads to be mounted directly into the three bushings in the rear of the 6mm

Untitled by Erik Gunst Lund, on Flickr

[Jørgen Ramskov]

Very cool stuff Erik!

[Akira]

Erik, what is the purpose of the vertical support?  To place the lens away from the tripod hub so that the tripod legs won't come into the image circle?

[Hugh_3170]

Neat work Erik - your lathe?     What kind if I may ask?  TIA.

[Erik Lund]

The vertical support is for shooting straight up, think a shot of the complete night sky and surrounding skyline - The 6mm has three extra 1/4" threads for this to avoid having the lens and camera supported only by the lens foot or planted on the camera display,,,

The vertical support will have three or four spikes to set it into the ground firmly, these come with rubber protectors as well is done on a floor for instance.

Second use is for mounting on a tripod again for shooting straight up but with view of the cameras rear display.

Third use is for  shooting with relay lenses and the needed extension tubes attached for shooting un-cropped video, there the plate acts as an extra support for the lenses and camera, I have made an extra set of extension-rods for this.

I will upload some image when I'm further with the manufacturing Will be much easier to see than read the words,,,

On a side note here is a concept shot of what I will try and use it for at work, I'll have our entire sales organisation in all of the 'windows' and ground level here in our Copenhagen headquarters

It's two shots with 10.5mm merged,,,

Rotunde10_5_2 by Erik Gunst Lund, on Flickr

I haven't told them how much the rent is yet,,, 

[Erik Lund]

Neat work Erik - your lathe?     What kind if I may ask?  TIA.

I borrow it from a co-worker, I don't have the brand at hand, it's a really nice old toolmakers lathe with fully adjustable rpm

[Hugh_3170]

Thanks Eric - I suspected that it might have been a tool makers lathe.  My lathe has an arrangement whereby a series of fixed speeds can be selected by changing V-belts on a pair of multi grooved pulleys.  OK for general turning, but not helpful for the low speeds needed for safe thread cutting, which must be done manually on my machine.

When I get rich and famous I hope to convert it over to one with an inverter driven motor that will give me fully adjustable speeds like the one you are using. 

 

I borrow it from a co-worker, I don't have the brand at hand, it's a really nice old toolmakers lathe with fully adjustable rpm

[Akira]

Erik, thanks for the description of the support.  Looking forward to seeing further info and actual images.  But no hurries!

[RonVol]

Looks like it's coming together nicely Erik.
Nice work with the machining.

I guess this is something like what you're hoping to achieve?
The bubble level looks like a good idea.