Mirror Lenses - Any Recent Experience?

[CoolToolGuy]

I'm on the lookout for my next lens, and I see there are some 500mm mirror lenses still out there. They have always been known to produce lower image quality than a traditional telephoto, but I am wondering if there are any new wrinkles to the story with digital. Has anyone used a mirror lens lately on a 20D, 10D or DRebel, and how did it work out?

Thanks,

[ron chappel]

They mostly work fine on the EOS cameras.Just set the metering to Av and watch the histogram occasionally until you learn any bugs in the metering.I've found they tend to miss exposure slightly where there is high contrast but it's a minor thing

They do indeed have lower optical performance compared to what else is available-but it's cool having a lens so tiny and they usually have great closup abilities.

The main characteristics of the commonly available cheapies are- low contrast, resolution and colour plus they don't handle contrasty conditions very well

If you spend a few hundred $+ you can get quite good ones.Of the better ones,those that can be made to fit EOS cameras are(in approximate order of optical quality): Sigma 600mm ,Tokina 'solid cat' ,tamron 500mm SP,nikkor 500mm (later versions are best),zeiss mirotar(spelling?),and leica
These better ones are about as good as average modern primes going by occasional example pictures you see online.They still get flogged by an L prime though.
Of these the sigma is easiest to buy and fit- (it's still made new and comes in an EOS mount),then the nikon-(only $30 for an adapter).The tamron requires a very expensive rare adapter but there is a great workaround.Buy the M42 adaptall mount then add an EOS to M42 adapter and you have a cheap multipurpose mount system (you can use all M42 screw mount lenses too!).The tokina i'm not sure about and the zeiss/leica both use expensive adapters

If you want a good value cheapie and don't mind something larger than mirror lenses,try one of these
http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/pages/kimunor-500mmf8%20j.html
http://members.dodo.net.au/~l8r_ron/index_5.html
They are sold under many different brand names such as titar,tamron-popular,titar,etc and come in two common types-the 400/6.3 and the 500/8

[CoolToolGuy]

Hmmm, interesting - Thanks Ron!

I wonder whether the crop factor is a help here - if the center is sharp on a full frame it could be a win.

Have Fun,

[DaveG]

I'm on the lookout for my next lens, and I see there are some 500mm mirror lenses still out there. They have always been known to produce lower image quality than a traditional telephoto, but I am wondering if there are any new wrinkles to the story with digital. Has anyone used a mirror lens lately on a 20D, 10D or DRebel, and how did it work out?

Thanks,

I used to have a Nikkor 500 mirror that I used with full frame Nikon film cameras.Mine, being Nikkor, was a good as it gets and that still wasn't very good. There was a definite hot spot in the centre of the lens and it was easily noticed if the image had a lot of clear sky in it. Then there was the out of focus specular highlight donuts that got old very quickly.

These lenses are also very slow (f8 ) so it'll take a lot of light or a high ISO to make them useful. But I expected that. What I didn't expect was that the inability to go from f8 to f11 was worse! I knew that these are fixed focal length lenses and everyone always wants faster lenses. But there is so little depth of field that a little smaller aperture would have come in handy A LOT!

Finally - and although this has nothing to do with the mirror part of the lens - the focal length would be effectively 800mm. You will need a VERY stable tripod or nothing will be sharp.

So digital or not these lenses are very limited. They are also cheap and small.

[CoolToolGuy]

Thanks, Dave. The jump from 400mm to 600mm may be worth a try, given the price of a Canon 600mm.

I would always use it on a tripod or monopod, and outdoors.

I am intrigued by this - I may have to give it a try. My alternative is using my 400mm f5.6L with the 1.4x TC - that gives me 560mm at f8 - very similar, but I can stop that combo down if necessary. The option for the mirror is to add an ND.

Well, I have until springtime to mull this over.

Have Fun,

[duliskov]

I posted my experience with Rubinar 1000mm on Canon 5D body just today!
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3604032#post3604032

[CoolToolGuy]

Jeez, I forgot about this thread - 2 1/2 years ago!

I think I'll stick with what I have for now. . .

Have Fun,