When did decent wide angles show up? [lens history question]

[Dan Fromm]

Arne, thanks for the correction. It was a mistake, not a typo.

[tgtaylor]

Hmmm...One of the first, if not the first decent wide angle lens was the CC Harrison & Schnitzer Globe lens which appeared in the late 1850's IIRC. It represented a revolution in photographic lenses in its day.

Here's one currently for sale although the FL is not given: http://www.leicashop.com/vintage_en/...u31312-23.html

Thomas

Here is an 1865 advertisement with prices for Globe lenses:

Attachment 194687

Carleton Watkins would have used the 16inch version for the mammoth plate which cost $275 in 1865 or about $4,330 in 2019 dollars.

Thomas