Nikon Rayfact website start page from 2002!
We were able to track down some old Rayfact press releases from their website. Some of the information, like the production numbers are really interesting! This explains the rarity and extreme prices for some Rayfact lenses.
Nikon Rayfact 7x
From: Tochigi Nikon Co., Ltd.
Release Date: June 2, 2005
Model: OFM70350HN-TS
Production: 200 units (per year)
Price: $19,250 USD for 1 unit and 8 to 10 week delivery
Press release: Ideal for fine pattern inspection of flat panel display substrates and printed circuit boards. It has an image circle of φ64mm and is compatible with large line sensors.
Notes: Rayfact noted that the coaxial model OFM70350HN-TP was extremely expensive.
Nikon Rayfact 3.5x
From: Tochigi Nikon Co., Ltd.
Release Date: May, 2005
Model: OFM35162MN
Production: 200 units (per year)
Price: 1,108,000 JPY for 1 unit ($7,954.00 USD today)
Press release: Optimal reference magnification for enlarging fine patterns on a large line scan sensor.
Notes: Very good lens but rare on the used market.
Nikon Rayfact 80mm F4 (Rayfact GF 80mm f/4 0.47x)
From: Tochigi Nikon Co., Ltd.
Release Date: February 4, 2005
Model: QVM0504MF
Production: 500 units (per year)
Price: “extremely expensive” quote from Rayfact Japan.
Press release: inspection of various industrial products; liquid crystal, printed board, TAB, sheet etc. Reliability is ensured by providing lock screws for focus adjustment and aperture adjustment.
Notes: For high-resolution camera with CCD pixel pitch corresponding to 4.7 μm. The Nikon Rayfact 80mm F4 would be renamed the Nikon Rayfact GF 80mm f/4 0.47x. The Rayfact GF is an excellent performer and was designed to cover a 24 x 36mm sensor. You can find a couple of tests here on Closeuphotography.com:
Nikon Rayfact 2x (95mm F2.8)
From: Tochigi Nikon Co., Ltd.
Release Date: August 30, 2006
Model: OFM20119MN
Production: 500 units (per year)
Price: 1,314,390 JPY new for 1 unit ($9,436.60 USD today)
Press release: As the resolution of line sensors used for inspection continues to increase, so does the demand for higher performance lenses. In addition, due to factors such as environmental considerations, there is an increasing demand for lenses that use eco-glass that does not contain lead or arsenic. High resolution and performance uniformity are ensured from the center to the periphery of the image, and distortion is reduced, so even with a large line sensor, a uniform image can be obtained over the entire surface.
Notes: one of the best performing lenses we’ve ever tested and one of our favorite lenses of all time. See these here pages on Closeuphotography.com for more info: