Are Mirror Lenses any good?

[Texas_Flower]

I got my new T2i and love it. I like taking photos of animals and want a long focal lens. I saw the mirror lenses...but I do not know anything about them. Are they good or bad. If there are degrees of good and bad like other lenses, what should I look for in one. Any particular brands to stay away from? They seem to offer a much farther range for less money.

[Tom]

They are pretty terrible. Unless you want to see purple lines around everything that are invisible to the human eye.

Find a good macro lens if you want to take pictures of flowers. You want one with 1:1 reproduction and close focusing. I use the Sigma 150mm 2.8 Macro and it is amazing. Focuses at ~9 inches for a depth of field of just millimeters.

There is no degree of good in a mirror lens.

[Texas_Flower]

Thanks for the input.

I will look at at a macro then. I like Sigma lenses; although I want something with a little more distance on it. I guess I will have to start saving my pennies!

I am selling my SonyA100 and lenses.

Hopefully I will get enough from it to save towards a longer lens for my Canon T2i. The 75-300mm lens it came with is horrible; the wide angle lens it came with 18-550mm takes great pics though.

[CaptainTom]

I'd recommend you get some more opinions before you decide to ditch the mirror lens idea.

[Texas_Flower]

Thanks CaptainTom...

All input is welcome.

I have never used a mirror lens and know nothing about mirror lenses so have no idea what to look for in one. The ones I have seen have been fairly inexpensive and have very long focal length. I know "you get what you pay for" usually applies, hence the reason I am asking questions.

[CaptainTom]

Mirror Lens vs. Telephoto Lens - Photography QnA at BetterPhoto.com

[Tom]

Sorry, from the original post, I thought you were looking for better pics of flowers. The macro lens is pretty much just for macro type stuff. I know someone selling a Tamron 200-500, that would give you a lot of range. Sigma's 50-500 would work too. But all those lenses are pretty much only useful during the daytime.

Long lenses for low light are extremely expensive. Like $5,000+.

[Carl Stone]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I'd recommend you get some more opinions before you decide to ditch the mirror lens idea.

Ayep! It all depends on who is shooting it. Here's one from Jay Hector that was published in Road & Track magazine. Shot with A 500MM F8 Reflex Nikkor. Jay has been published many times shooting that 500 mirror lens.

http://www.jaypix.com/pix/villb01.jpg

Jay is no slouch, he won the Best Sports Photo of 1983 with the next one. shot with a 55mm non-AI Nikkor.

http://www.jaypix.com/pix/bss.jpg

[Texas_Flower]

wow...impressive photos...

Thanks for the link CaptainTom...

I am not necessarily looking for something for low light. I primarily like to get close ups at the zoo...the reason for a long lens, so the shots would be daytime. $5000...is definitely not in my price range.

What are they selling the Tamron for, condition does it fit the Canon T2i etc?

One of the reasons I was asking about the mirror lenses is because their price range is low.

[Tom]

With lenses, you always get what you pay for. Especially long lenses. Getting reach with a decent lens is never cheap.

I don't know what they are selling that lens for, but I am forwarding that thread to them.

All lenses made for the EOS mount work with the T2i.

[ngoduyviet]

I'm selling my 200-500 Tamron lens that Thomas was talking about. I haven't had a chance to list it yet. Here's some shots I took with it a while back at Brazos, if you are interested, lemme know.

[tc95]

I would tell you that the Sony/Minolta 500 f8 Reflex is a pretty awesome lens...plus it is AF...combined with the Sony a100...you can take some stellar shots....

a100 IR w/500 Reflex



a700 w/500 Reflex










Is it the best lens out there...no...can you handhold it and bring it places you cannot take a regular 500mm yes...I have taken this lens to pro football and baseball games...they don't look twice at it...is it a viable alternative yes...you can get a 400/500/600 mirror for 1/10 the cost of a normal 500...and around 1/4 the cost of many zooms....

I would play with one first before making a decision...(also food for thought...most of the telescopes around the world are mirror configurations...including Hubble...)

Hope these help a little....

[Flea77]

Mirror lenses are excellent for what you pay for them, $100 on the bay. If you are looking for a cheap toy I would recommend one. I have one and it is a blast to play with. I would never ever shoot anything I really wanted to keep, but for a toy, you betcha!

Allan

[Carl Stone]

The bottom line here, and with all due respect, is that reflex lenses are but a tool, and it's the operator of that tool that determines what it produces.

[zeroendless]

If you are not happy with 75-300mm at tele end, you can't possibly happy with a $100 mirror lens.