500 mm lens which on to buy? Need your feedback and your help. I want to purchase a 500mm lens for my Sony a77M2 and don't know what to buy. I am thinking about the Bower 500 lens.

bnsf

Need your feedback and your help. I want to purchase a 500mm lens for my Sony a77M2 and don't know what to buy. I am thinking about the Bower 500 lens. What are your opinions on this lens and what lens have you folks purchased? Please advise I need help.
Thanks

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Can't say on the Bower, but I have an A-77 and a Sigma 150-500mm and it works well for me.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

You MUST get the Minolta 500 f8 AF mirror lens. -- About $350 if you shop. You should also get the Minolta 70-210 f3.5-4.5 about $50 most places - another great lens.

bnsf

Is this lens A/F and when u purchased the lens how expensive?

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

bnsf wrote:

Is this lens A/F and when u purchased the lens how expensive?

Assuming you are asking me, yes it has af and also in lense image stabilization which seem to work better at long range than the in camera is. I got it used from Adorama about two years ago for $540.00. Stopped down to f9 I think it's pretty sharp, I was gonna upgrade to the Tamron 150-600mm but now I think I will just keep this lens.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

If you went ahead and got the Sony 400mm G lens, you would go nuts! Great lens!

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

imagemeister wrote:

You should also get the Minolta 70-210 f3.5-4.5 about $50 most places - another great lens.

Ive got one of those sitting in my closet along with the film body and a 24-70 to match. It was given to me a year or so ago, and I've never even shot it. Sad, huh.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I think the Bower lens you mentioned is a cheap mirror lens, short style, 500mm f/8, costing less than $100 new at B&H. I have this lens in the name brand Phoenix, discontinued. I bought it several years ago and had to buy a T-mount for my camera. I must say this lens still sells despite it being cheap and not sharp. Manual focus only. Images are satisfactory in daylight hours only. I have not used this lens in years. It works, but it takes time to set it up right. Also, try eBay for older Minolta manual lenses. You're not likely to get a 500mm prime Minolta cheap either, if they are available. Good luck.

bnsf

The Bower lens sells at B&H for $140.00 and is out of stock. Has 7 lens in 4 elenents. F6.0 is the starting F stop on the camera. Has anyone read the review of this lens?

Leitz Loc: Solms

bnsf wrote:

Need your feedback and your help. I want to purchase a 500mm lens for my Sony a77M2 and don't know what to buy. I am thinking about the Bower 500 lens. What are your opinions on this lens and what lens have you folks purchased? Please advise I need help.
Thanks

B&H lists three Bower 500mm lenses, which one are you referring to?

bnsf

The Bower 500mm Lens has a F/6.3, mirror less, 7 lens, 4 elenents. Is 4 inches long 3 1/2 round. Manual focus selling price $139.99 @ B/H photo. Has anyone purchased this lens and if so how would you rate this lens? It comes with the a mount for all Sony Alpha cameras. Only things to purchase are UV and Polarized filters which run $29 95 each and made by Bower.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Save your cash, those cheap mirror lenses are just crap.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I have a 500 mirror lens. It is a 'fair weather' bright sunny-day lens, and very light. It is possible to get tac sharp images, but not very consitently. It is manual focus only. The trademark of a mirror lens is the circular bokeh. You may find little circles in all kinds of places of your image, or none at all.
I you are looking for a fun lens to play around with, this is a fun one. but if you are looking for high quality images on a consistent basis, a lens to use in low light, or want to photograph subjects that are moving, then this is not the lens you are looking for.

Leitz Loc: Solms

bnsf wrote:

The Bower 500mm Lens has a F/6.3, mirror less, 7 lens, 4 elenents. Is 4 inches long 3 1/2 round. Manual focus selling price $139.99 @ B/H photo. Has anyone purchased this lens and if so how would you rate this lens? It comes with the a mount for all Sony Alpha cameras. Only things to purchase are UV and Polarized filters which run $29 95 each and made by Bower.

Looks like the T-mount is 16 dollars extra. Personally, I would forego the filters, mirror lenses are inherently low contrast and not especially sharp as it is. Perhaps if you say what you intend to use it for, you will get more helpful advice.

bnsf

Which lens would you suggest purchasing?