Opteka................ I've been looking at the 650-3000 for awhile. I have a friend who just bought the 500-1000 lens with a 2x and loved it - but it's a fixed lens and I prefer the...

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

I've been looking at the 650-3000 for awhile. I have a friend who just bought the 500-1000 lens with a 2x and loved it - but it's a fixed lens and I prefer the zoom ones. Does anyone have any personal knowledge of the 650-3000 Opteka? The reviews are mixed roughly 75% good, 25% bad so I'd like to hear from anyone with personal knowledge of it. Thanks.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

prestonphoto wrote:

I've been looking at the 650-3000 for awhile. I have a friend who just bought the 500-1000 lens with a 2x and loved it - but it's a fixed lens and I prefer the zoom ones. Does anyone have any personal knowledge of the 650-3000 Opteka? The reviews are mixed roughly 75% good, 25% bad so I'd like to hear from anyone with personal knowledge of it. Thanks.

I don't own one but I think you mean a 650mm-1300mm f/8-f/16 which goes for~$265+ a pop. It is a $265 lens and good glass cost money in my experience.

That being said it all depends on what you are satisfied with or looking for in image quality. :roll:

ward5311 Loc: Georgia

I have owned one Opteka lens and one day while removing the lens the front element just fell out. I wouldn't waste my money. JMO

AKeane

I noticed on the Opteka website that an item is described as for "Nikon EOS". Enough said.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

robert-photos wrote:

quote=prestonphoto I've been looking at the 650-3... (show quote)

You right - 650-1300 - sorry. After seeing your response along with the others I think I'll leave it alone and keep saving my pennies for better. Thanks all for the responses.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

AKeane wrote:

I noticed on the Opteka website that an item is described as for "Nikon EOS". Enough said.

You can get one for a Canon too. Already checked into it.

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

I have the Opteka 650-1300. A lot of reviews say it is good for little more taking photos of your neighbors incandescent light bulb elements.

My experience is that it can get good moon shots. I got a bird on a chimney down the street with it.

This is a fully manual lens. The F-Stop is directly tied to the extended length. There is no iris, the longer the lens, the less light comes through.

The lens is as long as your fore arm. It is a little heavy. Definitely a tripod only lens. Maybe 2 tripods. Or come up with a rig that will bolt on to the camera tripod mount as well as the lens tripod mount with a movable mount for the tripod so you can balance it better.

gopiqpp Loc: SAUDI ARABIA

When used with the Manfrotto 293 Telelens Support and a good heavy tripod you can get quite good shots in bright to slightly overcast lighting conditions with both the Opteka long lenses.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

RocketScientist wrote:

I have the Opteka 650-1300. A lot of reviews say ... (show quote)

This is what I wanted - someone who actually had one and uses it. Thank you and gopigpp too. Ok - so 2 tripods - hhhmmmmm - well - do what we got to do. Have to look on Amazon for a lens mount. So.....the lens is really worth the $265?

RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado

prestonphoto wrote:

This is what I wanted - someone who actually had one and uses it. Thank you and gopigpp too. Ok - so 2 tripods - hhhmmmmm - well - do what we got to do. Have to look on Amazon for a lens mount. So.....the lens is really worth the $265?

Is it worth $265? Hard to say. Mine came in a package deal from a guy on craigslist (3 lenses, a 10D body, a good set of extension tubes and a 2X - all for 300). But if somebody offered me 265 for it, I probably would keep the lens.

I believe the native mount on the lens is a T-Mount. I could be wrong, research it. As I recall the adapter from that to Canon or Nikon is less than $20 on eBay.

I just ordered one of them Manfrotto 293's - Thanks gopiqpp. I think it will cause me to haul that lens around and use it more.

prestonphoto Loc: Bath, NY

RocketScientist wrote:

quote=prestonphoto br This is what I wanted - so... (show quote)

Thank you - saying you'd keep the lens rather than take the $265 makes me feel good about this. I'll be ordering off Amazon and the T-Mount for a Canon is suppose to come with it. Other's before have me thinking leave it alone but actually owning and using one, you changed my mind and I'll be getting one. Again - Thank you. I like your saying - If I can't fix it, I'll fix it so nobody can. That is funny.