The best Mirror lens?

zoe · 10-11-2009, 08:00 PM

I am looking for lens 500mm upward.. I think for cheap solution I will get mirror lens. Any recommend the best and sharpest mirror lens? Thanks.

Marc Sabatella · 10-11-2009, 11:02 PM

Check out the Mirror Lens Club thread in this forum for plenty of pictures to help you decide. My impression on seeing the pictures, hearing people discuss them, and knowing what tends to be available and what the prices are, is that the Tamron 55BB is the best choice; can usually be found used for around $200.

**Ash** · 10-11-2009, 11:04 PM

I'll attest to the Tamron 500/8 55BB - it's very sharp IMO and I have many examples posted up in the Mirror Lens club that can support my claim.

MattGunn · 10-12-2009, 02:31 AM

I have tried the Tamron and one of the budget ones (Centon). The Tamron is significantly sharper and more contrasty and is also faster. The Tamron can take superb pictures in the right hands (notably Ash's).
Although most mirror lenses are stated to be f/8 some allow light through better than others. The Centon (and by all accounts vivitar etc) budget mirror lenses have an effective working aperture of f/11 (as compared to a refracting lens) and the Tamron realy workes at f/8.

reeftool · 10-12-2009, 09:28 AM

The pictures I have seen from the Tamron are pretty nice. Most of the new mirrors you see advertised are all the same lens, just labeled under different names. I bought a used one recently, an Opteka 500mm/f8. The IQ is not better than crops I get off my 70-300 Sigma. I haven't used it enough yet to give it a thumbs up or down as I have had a few good shots come out with it along with a lot of deletes. It takes some practice to use one.

kristoffon · 10-12-2009, 09:42 AM

the rokinon/bower is pretty decent, and at f/6.3 more luminous.

there's also the 800mm f/8 rokinon

jogiba · 10-12-2009, 02:09 PM

YouTube - First test of the Pentax K-7 with 500mm F6.3 Rokinon mirror lens at 7 ft close focus on a tripod
YouTube - Pentax K-7 test with 500mm F6.3 Rokinon mirror lens mounted on a tripod

10-11-2009, 08:00 PM	#1
zoe New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5	The best Mirror lens? I am looking for lens 500mm upward.. I think for cheap solution I will get mirror lens. Any recommend the best and sharpest mirror lens? Thanks.

10-12-2009, 02:09 PM	#7
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	test shots with K-7 & 500mm F6.3 Rokinon mirror YouTube - First test of the Pentax K-7 with 500mm F6.3 Rokinon mirror lens at 7 ft close focus on a tripod YouTube - Pentax K-7 test with 500mm F6.3 Rokinon mirror lens mounted on a tripod

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10-11-2009, 11:02 PM	#2
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Check out the Mirror Lens Club thread in this forum for plenty of pictures to help you decide. My impression on seeing the pictures, hearing people discuss them, and knowing what tends to be available and what the prices are, is that the Tamron 55BB is the best choice; can usually be found used for around $200.

10-11-2009, 11:04 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	I'll attest to the Tamron 500/8 55BB - it's very sharp IMO and I have many examples posted up in the Mirror Lens club that can support my claim.

10-12-2009, 02:31 AM	#4
MattGunn Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 347	I have tried the Tamron and one of the budget ones (Centon). The Tamron is significantly sharper and more contrasty and is also faster. The Tamron can take superb pictures in the right hands (notably Ash's). Although most mirror lenses are stated to be f/8 some allow light through better than others. The Centon (and by all accounts vivitar etc) budget mirror lenses have an effective working aperture of f/11 (as compared to a refracting lens) and the Tamron realy workes at f/8.

10-12-2009, 09:28 AM	#5
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	The pictures I have seen from the Tamron are pretty nice. Most of the new mirrors you see advertised are all the same lens, just labeled under different names. I bought a used one recently, an Opteka 500mm/f8. The IQ is not better than crops I get off my 70-300 Sigma. I haven't used it enough yet to give it a thumbs up or down as I have had a few good shots come out with it along with a lot of deletes. It takes some practice to use one.

10-12-2009, 09:42 AM	#6
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	the rokinon/bower is pretty decent, and at f/6.3 more luminous. there's also the 800mm f/8 rokinon