telephoto lenses: Has anyone out there own or have any experience with TOYO 500mm f/8, ROKINON 650-1,300mm lenses or the BOWER 500mm f/8 lenses mounted on Canon T3i camera? I have read...

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Has anyone out there own or have any experience with TOYO 500mm f/8, ROKINON 650-1,300mm lenses or the BOWER 500mm f/8 lenses mounted on Canon T3i camera? I have read some conflicting info but I am intrigued because of their relatively low prices compared with CANON lenses.

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

I bought the Bower 650-1300, thought it was garbage and returned it. I saved up and bought the Canon 100-400. It was well worth the wait.

Pappy

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

bcheary wrote:

Has anyone out there own or have any experience with TOYO 500mm f/8, ROKINON 650-1,300mm lenses or the BOWER 500mm f/8 lenses mounted on Canon T3i camera? I have read some conflicting info but I am intrigued because of their relatively low prices compared with CANON lenses.

These lenses are "cheap" for a reason, they are also inexpensive. They simply will not give publishable results except maybe under absolutely PERFECT conditions and immeasureable patience. That said, they are still fun to play with for the price.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I wonder why anyone would think cheap means anything other than c**p, make me wonder ......

Here I am spending 1-2K on a lens and people buy £100 ones !!!

WOW! bowyer 500mm lens $119, what a lens, cost about $5 to make, any good "Duh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I wouldn't (purchase those). You get what you pay for and good lenses like Canon are worth every cent you pay for them. Another way to look at it is buy good lenses and you will have and enjoy them forever.

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Yes like MT said...they are not of a very high quality...more like fun toys to play with....learn with. I have the Bower 500mm F8 lens...and it takes allot of work to get some reasonable shots as it is an all manual lens....if you like I can post a shot or 2...and see for yourself what can be done with it.

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

Before I bought a couple of quality 'big' lenses, I had a Samyang 500mm f8. It was $169 & that included a 2X TC to give 1,000mm. No VR/OS (tripod only), slow, reasonable image. Quality lense? Of course not. It served a purpose at the time & I had a ball with it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bcheary wrote:

Has anyone out there own or have any experience with TOYO 500mm f/8, ROKINON 650-1,300mm lenses or the BOWER 500mm f/8 lenses mounted on Canon T3i camera? I have read some conflicting info but I am intrigued because of their relatively low prices compared with CANON lenses.

Here's a similar lens. With less than a day left, no one has bid even the $75 opener. Get this one and save some money. You might be able to sell it eventually, since Soligor is a more familiar name in lenses than Toyo.

saycheese Loc: By the Big Lake in West Michigan

JR1 wrote:

I wonder why anyone would think cheap means anything other than c**p, make me wonder ......

Here I am spending 1-2K on a lens and people buy £100 ones !!!

WOW! bowyer 500mm lens $119, what a lens, cost about $5 to make, any good "Duh!!!!!!!!!!!"

Does your rudeness and conceit have any limits? Your reply was worthless.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Jerry, thanks for the reply but which lens are you referencing? Soligar 500?

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Thanks Brett, I would be interested to see your shots.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Thanks to all who responded. I get the picture. One gets what one pays for.

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

This shot was taken with the Bower 500mm F8 lens.

SOFC 1/1250s iso800

Crop version same shot

corryhully Loc: liverpool uk

JR1 wrote:

I wonder why anyone would think cheap means anything other than c**p, make me wonder ......

Here I am spending 1-2K on a lens and people buy £100 ones !!!

WOW! bowyer 500mm lens $119, what a lens, cost about $5 to make, any good "Duh!!!!!!!!!!!"

ever considered that not every one is as well off as you ?

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

Now remember....distance from subject. This shot is about 30 yards away. This female Red Shoulder Hawk I have photographed several times...I know where she hunts...what time she hunts...favorite perches and so on. She landed so close to me once...about 10 feet away and caught a mouse...I couldn't get a shot....just to close...one of the limits of long lens.