500m lens - mirror or refractor? I'm thinking of getting a low cost 500mm lens to play around with on my D7000. I've looked at both mirror and refractor and understand the relative...

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

I'm thinking of getting a low cost 500mm lens to play around with on my D7000. I've looked at both mirror and refractor and understand the relative merits of each. My photos would all be made using a tripod so that's not an issue, but in terms of focus and sharpness, I believe a refractor might be the better choice. Conversely, a mirror lens is a lot lighter and looks to be much easier to set up and shoot with, but I'm open to advice on both.
Thanks!

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

NJphotodoc wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a low cost 500mm lens to play around with on my D7000. I've looked at both mirror and refractor and understand the relative merits of each. My photos would all be made using a tripod so that's not an issue, but in terms of focus and sharpness, I believe a refractor might be the better choice. Conversely, a mirror lens is a lot lighter and looks to be much easier to set up and shoot with, but I'm open to advice on both.
Thanks!

FWIW - I have an old Spiratone 500mm Mirror lens - it is 100% manual and a constant f/8.0 aperture...it is OK, a typical mirror lens which will provide a nice donut bokeh ... but it is not going to be super sharp. A zoom or telephoto with a faster aperture will do better for focus and probably sharpness.

The Spiratone, Opteka and many other f/8.0 mirrors can be found for cheap on EBAY with a screw on T mount adapter for most any camera.

Sample shots from a 500 Spiratone Mirror.....shot with car license plate done hand held from about 1/8 mile away.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

NJphotodoc wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a low cost 500mm lens to play around with on my D7000. I've looked at both mirror and refractor and understand the relative merits of each. My photos would all be made using a tripod so that's not an issue, but in terms of focus and sharpness, I believe a refractor might be the better choice. Conversely, a mirror lens is a lot lighter and looks to be much easier to set up and shoot with, but I'm open to advice on both.
Thanks!

I have an old Canon FDn 500mm f/8 reflex lens adapted for use on an EOS camera. On an APS-C body that's a 800mm equivalent field of view and the DOF is razor thin. It has its uses, but more so hand held than tripod based. I believe that a variable aperture refractive lens would be easier to use, especially with a decent tripod, so long as the quality is good enough. You will probably need a good vibration resistant tripod (expensive CF) to compensate a little.

Two examples of the reflex lens

(Download)

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

As with 'glass' lenses, mirror lens' IQ varies according to construction/optic quality. I occasionally use a Nikkor 500-mm f/8 mirror-reflex lens, and am quite pleased with its IQ. Enlarge each photo, and notice the doughnut-shaped specular highlights.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonian72/5447456006
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonian72/6490284243

rbfanman

Mirror lenses are low cost, but a bit fuzzy....not the sharpest things around. They can serve if you don't enlarge a lot.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Funny, my 500 F8 Nikkor used to look so big ad fat -- compared to the current crop, it looks quite normal. I have found it to be a useful, light, and relatively handy part of my collection. The donuts can be good or bad, but with PP nowadays....I have found the lens to be acceptably sharp within its range of usage.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I have a 500 mirror lens. its fun to play around with. Handheld shots aren't a problem.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I have an old Tamron 500mm mirror lens I use to use on my Canon film cameras and a 1200mm refractor lens with no aperture with an EF mount. I believe both are f/8. The mirror was fun to play with and the 1200mm toy is fun to play with also. The mirror has a removable mount, maybe I can get an EF mount for it...

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

I have a Minolta maxxum auto focus. it works well even with a 1.4x tc. the iq is ok for any but the most descrimating.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The 500mm f/8 mirror lens has been around for a number of years. Some aftermarket brands (Phoenix) sold for $100 or less and needed a T-mount. They were for the budget minded of course. Needed a lot of TLC to get the best out of them, tripod and high shutter speed. Quality wasn't excellent, but satisfactory. You can still find them brand new now, f/8 and f/6.5. The 500mm f/6.5 goes for $140. The mirror type lenses are no longer made by Nikon.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Dngallagher wrote:

The Spiratone, Opteka and many other f/8.0 mirrors can be found for cheap on EBAY with a screw on T mount adapter for most any camera.

I remember when they were new and fairly popular decades ago - a radically different design. I also remember when Spiratone was a big name in photo gear.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

jerryc41 wrote:

I remember when they were new and fairly popular decades ago - a radically different design. I also remember when Spiratone was a big name in photo gear.

Sadly, I remember that too ;) Always loved an old Spiratone 400 mm telephoto on my Minolta srt 101....When I saw one on Ebay with a Nikon T mount I had to have it fore old times sake ;)

No longer that that Spiratone, but have the 500 mirror with an extender.

Costs nothing to keep it in the pelican case ;)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I had the opportunity to purchase a Nikkor 500mm f/8 mirror lens. It was expensive, but an opportunity like that doesn't come along every day of the week. It's exceptionally sharp. Hand held, Ilford Delta 400, rendered a pocket clip on a ball point pen at a distance of approximately 100 yards. Digitally, I've used it for some bird photography and animal portraits.
--Bob

NJphotodoc wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a low cost 500mm lens to play around with on my D7000. I've looked at both mirror and refractor and understand the relative merits of each. My photos would all be made using a tripod so that's not an issue, but in terms of focus and sharpness, I believe a refractor might be the better choice. Conversely, a mirror lens is a lot lighter and looks to be much easier to set up and shoot with, but I'm open to advice on both.
Thanks!

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

A mirror lens will never be as sharp as a refractor lens. As several others mentioned....a fun toy. If you are serious, get a conventional lens.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

NJphotodoc wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a low cost 500mm lens to play around with on my D7000. I've looked at both mirror and refractor and understand the relative merits of each. My photos would all be made using a tripod so that's not an issue, but in terms of focus and sharpness, I believe a refractor might be the better choice. Conversely, a mirror lens is a lot lighter and looks to be much easier to set up and shoot with, but I'm open to advice on both.
Thanks!

well, if you want something to just try, occasionally, the mirror lens will give you an introduction to a very long focus lens. the downside is you are stuck at the f8 aperture, and typical mirror lens requirements. an actual 500mm lens, being very long, requires a solid tripod mount for the lens and the ability to hang a body on it. but you get specific f stops and this is a great advantage. but the good ones are very expensive. if you are planning more than occasional use, then the 500mm telephoto lens is the way to go. but remember, at that extreme focal length you will need to contend with atmospheric conditions and vibration. when using my 500mm on my hasselblad or rollei 6x6 cameras, i use a heavy zone VI tripod, with no center column.

all the best in your search!