Reflex-Nikkor 500mm F:5: Recently purchased on Ebay this lens for a great price (< $375)! I've read much of the reviews and comments about these reflex lens and their inherent flaws...

silveragemarvel Loc: Keller, Texas

Recently purchased on Ebay this lens for a great price (< $375)! I've read much of the reviews and comments about these reflex lens and their inherent flaws but for the price I could not refuse. Lens came with all the pieces (filters, case, lens shade, and even the original instruction sheet). Condition of the lens and the leather case were exceptional for the age. I wanted to use this primarily for photographing birds. I had to use a tripod and wireless shutter release to get the best results. The KatzEye split focusing screen really helped focusing on my D300s. The female Scrub Jays were about 75 feet away.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

silveragemarvel wrote:

Recently purchased on Ebay this lens for a great p... (show quote)

Well i think you kind of got robbed, you could have bought the 70-300 nikor VR 11
For $100 more or less on the used market , and had a lot sharper lens to boot .

silveragemarvel Loc: Keller, Texas

Bram boy wrote:

Well i think you kind of got robbed, you could have bought the 70-300 nikor VR 11
For $100 more or less on the used market , and had a lot sharper lens to boot .

I already have a 28-300mm Nikkor. I wanted something greater than 400mm. I can resell the reflex lens easily for what I paid. The f8 versions are selling for same or more.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Are you referring to the Nikkor 500-mm Reflex mirror lens with a fixed f/8 aperture?

The Nikkor version is superior to any other mirror reflex lens. The major characteristic of which to be aware, is the 'halo' shape rendered of point light reflections.

Black-Crowned Night-Heron via Nikkor 500-mm Reflex Mirror lens

silveragemarvel Loc: Keller, Texas

Nikonian72 wrote:

Are you referring to the Nikkor 500-mm Reflex mirror lens with a fixed f/8 aperture?

Yes, regarding what they are selling for. The lens I bought is the F/5 version. BTW...I've seen your Night Heron photo and it just gave me additional incentive to go with a F/5 500mm Nikkor reflex.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

It sounds like you got a real bargain on the faster of the two 500mm Reflex Nikkors.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

silveragemarvel wrote:

The lens I bought is the F/5 version.

I was completely unaware that an f/5 version existed (Circa 1969).

Here is one for US$800: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Reflex-Nikkor-500mm-F-5-50cm-Mirror-Lens-Nippon-Kogaku-14265-/200941441321?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D190864574030%26ps%3D54

JPL

But did you know about this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIKON-11-2000-2000mm-F11-REFLEX-NIKKOR-C-MIRROR-LENS-SPIEGELTELE-D4-D800-/310464235715?pt=DE_Foto_Camcorder_Objektive&hash=item48491c48c3

This one should have enough reach for most people. Even those who are buying 50X zoom bridge cameras are not getting much zoom compared to this, not to mention if we put a 3x Kenko between the camera and the lens! (You also have to reach deep into your pockets to pay for this masterpiece of a lens)

Nikonian72 wrote:

I was completely unaware that an f/5 version existed (Circa 1969).

Here is one for US$800: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-Reflex-Nikkor-500mm-F-5-50cm-Mirror-Lens-Nippon-Kogaku-14265-/200941441321?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D190864574030%26ps%3D54

silveragemarvel Loc: Keller, Texas

JPL wrote:

But did you know about this one? br http://www.eba... (show quote)

Wow, you can even dial-in the filter you want! Shipping cost to U.S. is too prohibitive...otherwise.... :wink:

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

JPL wrote:

But did you know about this one? br http://www.eba... (show quote)

A 3x extender would make it f32- good luck focusing that.

jrscpu2004 Loc: Selden, NY

silveragemarvel wrote:

Recently purchased on Ebay this lens for a great p... (show quote)

I have just purchased this exact lens and it came with everything but that Instruction Sheet. If there is any chance you could make a copy of that instruction sheet, I would deeply appreciate it?

User ID

silveragemarvel wrote:

I already have a 28-300mm Nikkor. I wanted something greater than 400mm. I can resell the reflex lens easily for what I paid. The f8 versions are selling for same or more.

One of your many numerous respondents ... not pointing any finger ... is just trying to rain on your parade. So let a smile be your umbrella and laugh at the fool.

What you do with your pocket change should be according ro your whimsy, not the word of an armchair expert.
.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

User ID wrote:

One of your many numerous respondents ... not pointing any finger ... is just trying to rain on your parade. So let a smile be your umbrella and laugh at the fool.

What you do with your pocket change should be according ro your whimsy, not the word of an armchair expert.
.

Yeah, nothing like someone whose mind is "clouded" by fallacy, recommending a lens that is inferior in many ways to what the OP has posted about. No wonder he is attempting to rain on his parade. . . I'll bet he's never hand that fine reflex Nikkor in his hands, much less shot with one. Just sayin'

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Gene, you got sucked into a 9 year old thread.

User ID

romanticf16 wrote:

A 3x extender would make it f32- good luck focusing that.

With obsolete cameras it would be kinda dark at f/32. But if you can afford that lens then you can afford a Z6II. A 7 or a 9 would improve nothing over the 6 for this application. It's got the DoF of a 50mm f:0.05 but you lose 8 EV (without a TC). IOW on a nice day around midday you need at least ISO 1600 to 3200.

It's unlikely a TC will be useful anywho so f:11 (about T:14) is the real deal. Cats don't seem to like generic TCs, and no lens anywhere likes 3x TCs. Those are all pig pen muck. A TC concentrates on the lens's more central region, much of which is blocked by the secondary mirror.