In an earlier article, I talked about a few of the incredible monster ultra-telephoto lenses that have been made over the years. So I though it only fair to take a look at some of the more unusual, and certainly fascinating, ultra wide-angle lenses. This is not a complete history of ultra-wide development, but rather a look at five of the most intriguing examples to come along.
It really all began in 1859 when Thomas Sutton patented his “Patent Panoramic Water Lens” . It was the first true, wide-angle lens and was produced in very limited quantities, starting the next year. It consisted of two thick flint glass lenses with concentric surfaces that enclose a hollow space filled with crystal clear water. The result was a lens with a field of view of 100° to 120°, depending on plate size, and an aperture of f/12. It was never sold as a separate lens, as it required an expensive curved glass plate. Thus is was sold as part of a complete camera and fewer than 30 are thought to have been made. Far fewer survive today.
