Mirror lenses

[Jarhead5811]

Check this out at PopPhoto.com: ProOptic 500mm f/6.3 Mirror: Lens Test(It's $159.95 atadorama.com)...not my cup of tea but there it is.

[db_ch]

I do have a Walimex 500mm f/6.3 which is awful but still pretty decent ,-)


I mean I did manage to shoot some cool pics with it and some of them even handheld. It does mount to my Canon EF cams with a so called T2-adapter. There are loads of different adapters available for many camera makes.


There's my facebook group "Cheap & Affordable Equipment Photography"


http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=10322131620&ref=ts


If you browse to the last page, 12 or so, there are a bunch of pics taken with the lens (cat, landscape, church, etc). The bokeh is awful but then again the pics lost even some of their "quality" through fb-upload..


Obviously there's a pro version out now - sorry, the website is in German only, I guess:


http://www.foto-walser.biz/shop/Artikel/2715/83/Fuer_AF_Kameras_walimex_pro_500_6_3_DX_Spiegeltele _fuer_Canon_AF.htm


Not sure if those walimex lenses are available in the us or where ever. Got mine in Switzerland, Germany does have a market for them, too.


Price was around US$ 240 (CHF 250 or so)...


I am now more than happy with my Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS and I hardly ever use the Walimex anymore. But - the Canon is a different (price) league then, isn't it ,-)

[Jon Ruyle]

These reflecting lenses are small because they fold the light path, but also because they are slow.


Another option is a slow refracting (not reflecting) lens. One can buy an 800mm f/10 telescope (not reflecting) for $400. Not much heavier than a canon 400mm f/5.6. Would require a strong tripod for long exposures, though. (I don't know how it would compare to the reflector, not as portable, better bokeh no doubt, but I dunno about false color with this inexpensive glass... probably not too bad at f/10)