NIKKOR FISHEYES:
As you probably know, the original camera “eyes” used in the HAL 9000 props were actual Nikkor (Nippon Kogaku; now known as Nikon) 8mm f/8 photographic fisheye lenses. These lenses, manufactured in the 1960s, are very costly on the used market.
A REPLICA:
What if you want a decent HAL replica, but don’t want to shell out the big bucks/pounds/euros/yen/etc for a real lens? There are no fisheye lenses sold today that look much like the classic Nikkor lens. The Moebius kit was pretty approximate and toylike.
So last year I built a reasonably accurate 3D model of the barrel assembly. This has most of the details seen on the outside of the real thing, including the double concentric barrel, internal threads and engraved lettering. It’s based on a real lens, and I traced the lettering from my photos.
The model has a number of minor deviations from the real lens, mostly because the original lenses were superbly machined metal parts, and 3D printing has certain limitations. The barrels are thicker, the threads are slightly taller, and the gap between the inner and outer barrel is reduced compared to the real lens. But the differences aren’t significant unless you compare them side by side, really.
Internally it does not replicate the original lens assembly, mainly because it would be expensive, given all the glass lens elements that were in there. Instead it has a rough approximation of how the interior looks from the outside, and also a place to put an LED for that glowing red eye look. The area below the knurled ring is modelled as a simple cylinder with holes for mounting screws. The overall thing is fairly tall, so not suitable for a wall-mounted replica. Unless you made a hole in the wall or cut back this model, of course.
PRIMARY ELEMENT:
The big problem is the primary lens element - the big bulgy glass bit. I investigated having replica glass lenses made by optical specialists, but it turned out to be cost-prohibitive. So I’ve sourced a company that can make acrylic plastic replica lenses that are reasonably good looking, and pretty close in terms of sizing. However, they are definitely not optical lenses. But at a fraction of the cost, I think it’s a reasonable compromise. The main visual difference is that they’re flat on the bottom (planar convex) whereas the original lens elements had a large spherical recess on the bottom (sort of like a meniscus lens, though not really).
Note that the replica lenses don’t have optical coatings, but that’s fine - the original Nikkor lenses didn’t either! (Which is one of the reasons they were quite slow at f/8, versus f/2.8 like a modern equivalent lens)
WHAT THIS WOULD INCLUDE:
I’m looking to gauge serious interest in a replica Nikkor 8mm lens, which would consist of a lens barrel assembly printed in high resolution resin, and a turned acrylic primary lens element. Possibly with additional secondary lens elements for depth, a masking sticker, and maybe a turned aluminium mounting ring. The parts would require painting and assembly - this would not be a finished product. They could be used to upgrade the Moebius HAL kit, but it would take some fiddly work. You’d have to enlarge the opening for the lens - it’s not a drop-in replacement.
Cost estimate really depends on how many are made, but probably in the $100-150 USD range. Excluding shipping and handling from the UK, etc. At this time I do not plan on releasing the STL files.
So. Please ping me if you’d like either:
a) a 3D printed lens barrel assembly and turned acrylic “lens” as described above, or:
b) a printed barrel resized to fit the glass replica lenses sold a couple years ago on eBay (for those who have one), and which does not include the acrylic lens.
IMPORTANT:
I need to know if there’s serious interest, so please do NOT respond unless you’re fairly certain that you’d want to commit if this project happens. I basically need to figure out whether this project would be financially viable. It would need about ten people.
Thank you!
As you probably know, the original camera “eyes” used in the HAL 9000 props were actual Nikkor (Nippon Kogaku; now known as Nikon) 8mm f/8 photographic fisheye lenses. These lenses, manufactured in the 1960s, are very costly on the used market.
A REPLICA:
What if you want a decent HAL replica, but don’t want to shell out the big bucks/pounds/euros/yen/etc for a real lens? There are no fisheye lenses sold today that look much like the classic Nikkor lens. The Moebius kit was pretty approximate and toylike.
So last year I built a reasonably accurate 3D model of the barrel assembly. This has most of the details seen on the outside of the real thing, including the double concentric barrel, internal threads and engraved lettering. It’s based on a real lens, and I traced the lettering from my photos.
The model has a number of minor deviations from the real lens, mostly because the original lenses were superbly machined metal parts, and 3D printing has certain limitations. The barrels are thicker, the threads are slightly taller, and the gap between the inner and outer barrel is reduced compared to the real lens. But the differences aren’t significant unless you compare them side by side, really.
Internally it does not replicate the original lens assembly, mainly because it would be expensive, given all the glass lens elements that were in there. Instead it has a rough approximation of how the interior looks from the outside, and also a place to put an LED for that glowing red eye look. The area below the knurled ring is modelled as a simple cylinder with holes for mounting screws. The overall thing is fairly tall, so not suitable for a wall-mounted replica. Unless you made a hole in the wall or cut back this model, of course.
PRIMARY ELEMENT:
The big problem is the primary lens element - the big bulgy glass bit. I investigated having replica glass lenses made by optical specialists, but it turned out to be cost-prohibitive. So I’ve sourced a company that can make acrylic plastic replica lenses that are reasonably good looking, and pretty close in terms of sizing. However, they are definitely not optical lenses. But at a fraction of the cost, I think it’s a reasonable compromise. The main visual difference is that they’re flat on the bottom (planar convex) whereas the original lens elements had a large spherical recess on the bottom (sort of like a meniscus lens, though not really).
Note that the replica lenses don’t have optical coatings, but that’s fine - the original Nikkor lenses didn’t either! (Which is one of the reasons they were quite slow at f/8, versus f/2.8 like a modern equivalent lens)
WHAT THIS WOULD INCLUDE:
I’m looking to gauge serious interest in a replica Nikkor 8mm lens, which would consist of a lens barrel assembly printed in high resolution resin, and a turned acrylic primary lens element. Possibly with additional secondary lens elements for depth, a masking sticker, and maybe a turned aluminium mounting ring. The parts would require painting and assembly - this would not be a finished product. They could be used to upgrade the Moebius HAL kit, but it would take some fiddly work. You’d have to enlarge the opening for the lens - it’s not a drop-in replacement.
Cost estimate really depends on how many are made, but probably in the $100-150 USD range. Excluding shipping and handling from the UK, etc. At this time I do not plan on releasing the STL files.
So. Please ping me if you’d like either:
a) a 3D printed lens barrel assembly and turned acrylic “lens” as described above, or:
b) a printed barrel resized to fit the glass replica lenses sold a couple years ago on eBay (for those who have one), and which does not include the acrylic lens.
IMPORTANT:
I need to know if there’s serious interest, so please do NOT respond unless you’re fairly certain that you’d want to commit if this project happens. I basically need to figure out whether this project would be financially viable. It would need about ten people.
Thank you!
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