500mm for $80??? (Opteka 500mm f/8 "HD")

04/21/2010 01:20:01 AM · #26

Ok, finally..

I've been waiting, waiting to post.. Life has been busy.

Sorry, so sorry this has taken me so long..

Impressions: This thing feels solid, the movement of the lens focusing ring feels damped, it's VERY pleasant, better than any other lens I've every used..

This is a long lens.. No really, it's long, essentially it's not a telephoto, which means there actually has to be 500mm of lens body.

Test photos (I've not found the lens to be hit and miss.. It's pretty solid, biggest thing is to make sure your diopter is adjusted correctly).

Everything is a little soft, not bad, not bad at all, the biggest issue I can see is a fairly serious fringing issue.. I haven't used this lens much, and certainly haven't yet used it for the intended purpose (range shots..)..

Here are a few test images:

100% crop

Full Size

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Nikon

04/21/2010 01:22:50 AM · #27

End Result for me, a fun purchase at $80, don't take it seriously, and you'll find it fun.. Not to be carried around, and not for shooting anything that isn't going to be in a predictable place, as focusing takes a bit of time.

You'll likely want a tripod, and it won't turn out images anything near the quality of incredible L glass... But I'm certainly not disappointed.

One major dis-function... It will not focus to infinity, although I'd bet that this could be fixed, and I may have over-tightened the T-adapter for my body..

HarveyG

Nikon D800

04/30/2010 04:11:42 AM · #28

Good for you! I have loved and used mirrors since about '84.
I had this one added to the DPC Lens DB.
It is a new (2009) Vivitar MF 500mm f/6.3 Mirror (Reflex)
I have some shots here and a review here and more help/links about mirrors here.

Here is my Flickr Set for the Vivitar Mirror Lens. It was a bit pricier at US $170 and the filter was US $ 80 but I have got some very useful results so far, after a lot of practicing. And yes, tripod of relatively static subjects is best. BTW, Sony make a lovely AF version, for Sony only of course!

Have a look at this shot using the Sony 500mm f/8 AF Mirror. Sigma used to make an AF one. I hope they make another.

There are a few very good Flickr Groups here, here and a no metering group here

Have fun and let's see some shots!

Message edited by author 2010-04-30 04:15:15.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/30/2010 04:15:18 AM · #29

Originally posted by Magnum_za:

Good for you! I have loved and used mirrors since about '84.
I had this one added to the DPC Lens DB.
It is a new (2009) Vivitar MF 500mm f/6.3 Mirror (Reflex)
I have some shots here and a review here and more help/links about mirrors here.

Here is my Flickr Set for the Vivitar Mirror Lens. It was a bit pricier at US $170 and the filter was US $ 80 but I have got some very useful results so far, after a lot of practicing. And yes, tripod of relatively static subjects is best. BTW, Sony make a lovely AF version, for Sony only of course! Have a look at this shot using the Sony AF Mirror. Sigma used to make an AF one. I hope they make another.

There are a few very good Flickr Groups here, here and a no metering group here

Have fun and let's see some shots!

I think I'll buy a mirror lens sometime, just for that sweet doughnut bokeh..

Not sure if you'd read above, but this is not a mirror (cat) lens, it's all glass refractive lenses..

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

04/30/2010 04:26:36 AM · #30

Eventually, software technology like "content-aware" will advance so much that you can just point your camera and cheapest lens at anything and the software will figure out what you meant to capture. ;-)

HarveyG

Nikon D800

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Nikon

04/30/2010 04:47:57 AM · #31

Originally posted by coryboehne:

I think I'll buy a mirror lens sometime, just for that sweet doughnut bokeh..

Not sure if you'd read above, but this is not a mirror (cat) lens, it's all glass refractive lenses..

/me slaps forehead ala Homer Simpson style. Doh! I looked at the lens description (and not the link) as they also have a mirror. Quite right, glass not mirror. Still, not bad for the price! I hope you have lots of fun with it as I did with my 750mm (1.5x crop factor) monster :)

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

04/30/2010 10:15:47 AM · #32

Originally posted by Magnum_za:

Originally posted by coryboehne:
I think I'll buy a mirror lens sometime, just for that sweet doughnut bokeh..

Not sure if you'd read above, but this is not a mirror (cat) lens, it's all glass refractive lenses..

/me slaps forehead ala Homer Simpson style. Doh! I looked at the lens description (and not the link) as they also have a mirror. Quite right, glass not mirror. Still, not bad for the price! I hope you have lots of fun with it as I did with my 750mm (1.5x crop factor) monster :)

Indeed I have been enjoying it, and I'm sure one day I'll get a cat lens too :)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

04/30/2010 06:08:19 PM · #33

Originally posted by coryboehne:

... one day I'll get a cat lens too :)

But can you *shoot* a cat *with* a cat?

wormtown

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G

05/13/2010 02:46:20 AM · #34

That thing is crazy. Though I'm sure I'd pick one up at a yard sale just to fool around.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G

05/13/2010 04:15:18 AM · #35

I've added pictures of this lens.. See above..

wormtown

Nikon D3s

05/13/2010 10:20:40 PM · #36

Originally posted by coryboehne:

I've added pictures of this lens.. See above..

Kind of reminds me of a Maglite. ..."License and registration please!"

George

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

05/13/2010 10:30:05 PM · #37

Get a 300mm f/4.5 Nikkor like mine, a TC-301 2X teleconverter, and a Nikon-lens-to-Canon-body adapter, and there's your 600mm f/9 lens ;)

ETA: Total cost, probably about $250. $150 for the lens, almost $100 for the teleconverter, and not much for the adapter.

ETA2: Probably about ten times sharper than that Opteka.

Message edited by author 2010-05-14 22:02:38.