NIKON 500MM REFLEX MIRROR LENS REVIEW 

I love these reflex lenses. You have to work around their flaws such as manual focus, shallow DoF, low contrast, sometimes distracting bokeh & lack of sharpness but they are light, small & above all: FUN! I've just received my 3rd 500mm f8 (Samyang branded) but due to the current Corona virus lockdown here in Blighty, can only play with its macro close-focussing on my Nikon Z6. One aspect of using these lenses with modern mirrorless(!) cameras is focus peaking where in-focus areas are outlined in colour that makes manual focussing so much easier.

Fun video. I had the Canon 500mm mirror lens with my A-1 in the 80s. I loved that lens and will pick up one of these when I can.

Reflex lenses are known for their typical "donut shape bokeh" in unsharp highlights, resulting from the shadow of the central secondary mirror in the front. This may lead to busy background... You either love or hate this effect.

I have both of the lenses you show in this video. I really like the Reflex lens for its portability and compactness, however, it really does require a lot more work than the 200-500 5.6 E ED G VR lens. I like the 200-500 because it is a great value for the money and pretty sharp for the money. The VR works extremely well too. When I want to challenge myself, I will use the Reflex. I have the 500mm Nikkor C version. I am heading to Portugal in March if COVID does not stop me and I am probably going to take the Reflex for convenience. Thanks for the review.

I vaguely remember that the filters are part of the optical formula. Was one of them clear? I just did the research, there should be 5 filters, the missing (?) filter is the L37c; is this on the lens? And yes, the filters are to be used at all times as they form part of the optical formula.

I'm thinking of using this lens for a spotting scope up to about 300 yards.

Just got mine yesterday. I want to photo shoot some wildlife in my area, Using a Nikon F-3. How fast should my shutter speed be?

Hi, I have a Sony A7RIII and would like to test this mirror lens on my camera. I have other nikon lenses coming from my old one, and I am using them via an adaptor. My question is; This lens is possible to use in the same way? I mean, by its special construction is possible to use a converter from Nikon to Sony E. Thanks by your answer.

i got one of these from my grandpa and i use it for astrophotography and it is amazing

Thank you for sharing this video David. The information is organized the presented very well. I have seen 500 mm mirror lenses on eBay from $30.00 to $100.00. Most of those were off brands. There is an adapter that can be purchased for a Nikon camera. I may give it a try.

Also mine came with a 4x ND filter mounted on it. Another way to control the lack of aperature.

How do you insert the filters in the lens?

I love this lens I've worked with mirror lens a lot and they are way underrated. Keep the videos going. P.S. Sonny lied

I found the same lens on a flew market here in Belgium. Can iuse it with my CANON EOS 90D? What do I need?

nice video!! blowing the dust off my mirror lens collection. right now that i've got a nikon z6 coming in. they went into storage after i found that was so hard to focus with using an APS-C DSLR.

I have a very similar 500mm f/8 reflex lens that I'm trying to figure out, but it's from a second-hand company. It has some serious aberrations away from the center optical axis. Your images are enviable compared to the ones I get and I wonder what I'm doing wrong. The lens mount is a M42X.75, (T2) which is made to go onto telescopes. The coupler to my Nikon cameras are probably the reason why my images look so bad. I guess your 500mm f/8 lens is by Nikon, and probably made for the Nikon body you use it on. Thanks!

You gotta remember, that back in the film-only days, a fixed aperture lens could become un-usable if the lighting conditions changed too much for your film's latitude. Nowadays we can just change our film-speed by pushing buttons.

Would you recommend this for dx? id imagine with the 1.5x crop this thing would be an awesome stationary wildlife lens!

I just got one of these with a D600 but now I want to get a lens adapter for my Xt20!

i went to school in Georgia but now im back in Thailand. i took a photo class and haven't put down the camera since. i love the weather there, hot like Thailand. :)

Thanks for the video ...... can I use this lens w/ Nikon D-5300 camera?

Fun short video, good job mate

Is that a film camera?

I ask for help: does anyone have the technical drawing / detail of the focus lever for the latest version Ninon Nikkor Reflex 1000 f / 11? It is nowhere to be found and maybe a technician would make it for me: thank you all !!!

I like your Russian accent.

Thank you so much. Having only used my D3100 in auto mode with a Tamron 300 lens. I then bought this 500 lens from a charity shop. When I couldn't get any F stops I thought the lens or camera was broken. Now I am enlightened and have got some initial shots. Thank you so much.

i got this lens recently wish to use it with nikon d7200 (dslr) can it be used ??? found focussing issues with it manual focussing is very critical guide in this regard. thank u.

Loved the video. I live in Peachtree City GA. Go Dawgs! Can the 500mm be used on a Nikon D3300?

Thanks !

Cool lens

4x = 2 stops

There was a f5 500mm reflex lens but its twice the size ... 🦘