Five Legendary Wide-Angle Lenses That Shaped Photography

Summary

Exploring five significant ultra-wide-angle lenses, this piece details their historical development and innovative features. It begins with Thomas Sutton's 1859 "Patent Panoramic Water Lens," the first true wide-angle lens, followed by Harrison & Schnitzer's 1862 "GLOBE," the first ultra-wide sold separately. Pierre Angénieux's 1950 retrofocus lens revolutionized SLR compatibility, while the 1969 Zeiss 15mm f/8 Hologon offered a distortion-free ultra-wide view. The collection concludes with the 1975 Nikon 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye Nikkor, a massive lens with a 220° field of view, notable for its scientific applications and extreme cost.

Key points

• Thomas Sutton's 1859 water lens was the first true wide-angle lens.
• Pierre Angénieux's 1950 retrofocus lens enabled wide-angle use on SLRs.
• The Zeiss 15mm f/8 Hologon provided a 110°-120° view without fisheye distortion.
• Nikon's 1975 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye Nikkor offered a 220° field of view and was made to special order.