Five Star 500mm... trash or treasure?
Jul 20, 2017 00:36:11 #
I acquired this at a local yard sale for $2. I was wondering if it's worth getting the mount adapter for it to mount to my Canon T3i. If so, what adapter should I be looking for. Also, is there ways to improve this old lens. I am limited on funds and just getting into photography.
Jul 20, 2017 00:48:45 #
Jul 20, 2017 01:49:21 #
Good chance you can find a better deal than this:
https://www.amazon.com/Opteka-T-Mount-Adapter-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000KNCB7C
But while it should fit, will it work?
This lens is preset, which means you manually set the aperture and then move the preset ring to stop it down after focusing and when ready to take the picture. It's also manual focus. Both of these were not much of a problem in the old days of manual film cameras, but it's a real pain with the new ones. And the optics probably are the pits, probably a cheap triplet at best.
Anyway, for 15 bucks you got a lens to play with. The cool thing about digital cameras is that while figuring out focus and exposure, you get immediate feedback.
https://www.amazon.com/Opteka-T-Mount-Adapter-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000KNCB7C
But while it should fit, will it work?
This lens is preset, which means you manually set the aperture and then move the preset ring to stop it down after focusing and when ready to take the picture. It's also manual focus. Both of these were not much of a problem in the old days of manual film cameras, but it's a real pain with the new ones. And the optics probably are the pits, probably a cheap triplet at best.
Anyway, for 15 bucks you got a lens to play with. The cool thing about digital cameras is that while figuring out focus and exposure, you get immediate feedback.
Jul 20, 2017 03:01:06 #
This is a 'T' screw, you need a 'T' mount screw for canon.
Try B&H they will help you.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/261256-REG/Celestron_93419_T_Mount_SLR_Camera_Adapter.html
Try B&H they will help you.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/261256-REG/Celestron_93419_T_Mount_SLR_Camera_Adapter.html
Jul 20, 2017 04:23:52 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
jackerayc wrote:
I acquired this at a local yard sale for $2. I was wondering if it's worth getting the mount adapter for it to mount to my Canon T3i. If so, what adapter should I be looking for. Also, is there ways to improve this old lens. I am limited on funds and just getting into photography.
It takes a T2 adapter such as this: https://www.adorama.com/syt2eos.html
You need a lot of light and a static subject. Best image quality should be around f/11.0 - f/13.5. Adding a bit of weight would be an improvement, and raise the mirror.
Jul 20, 2017 05:36:33 #
hell yes it's worth the effort. count it as one of many experiments we try in our hobby.
Jul 20, 2017 08:33:20 #
Jul 20, 2017 08:35:32 #
Jul 20, 2017 11:17:25 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Don't throw more money at a $2 lens ...
It was reasonably priced though. Its not worth more that $1.50.
Jul 20, 2017 11:26:52 #
I bought it at a garage sale about 8 months ago. Long before I got my T3i. I just bought it on a whim because it was so cheap and I thought I could get some shooting experience with it. Obviously not for the quality. ;) Thanks for all the information and advice!
Jul 20, 2017 12:26:52 #
I bought a similar lens on ebay for about $30. Mine is branded a Cambron f8 500mm. Here is a pic I took of a bird on a roof about 40 ft. away with the lens, f8, manual focus, on a tripod, cropped, using a Nikon D3100. Not all that sharp but not too bad. The pic at the bottm is the same pic with some sharpening and some tweaking of hue, saturation, shadows and highlights in Photoshop.
Jul 20, 2017 12:39:18 #
Jul 20, 2017 12:47:20 #
True. I didn't try to filter those out. On the other hand, you can't get that shot with a cellphone.
chaman wrote:
^^^^ Can you say chromatic aberration? Lots of it BTW.
Jul 20, 2017 16:36:26 #
I have not read any other replies so I may be repeating what has already been said.
You can get a Canon EF adapter for this lens. Obviously it will be full manual. The lens was manufactured by a subsidiary of Toyotec back in the late 1960's or 1970's. It is not a high quality lens but, since it was made mainly for shooting slides, a fairly sharp lens. If it's in good shape you got it for a good price, they usually sell for around 30 to 40 USD.
Bottom line, for a cheap lens it's really not that bad. It will do until you can afford a newer, better lens that has built in electronics your Canon can communicate with and better glass.
You can get a Canon EF adapter for this lens. Obviously it will be full manual. The lens was manufactured by a subsidiary of Toyotec back in the late 1960's or 1970's. It is not a high quality lens but, since it was made mainly for shooting slides, a fairly sharp lens. If it's in good shape you got it for a good price, they usually sell for around 30 to 40 USD.
Bottom line, for a cheap lens it's really not that bad. It will do until you can afford a newer, better lens that has built in electronics your Canon can communicate with and better glass.
Jul 20, 2017 21:22:09 #
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