Tamron 500mm F8 SP Mirror Lens Test ...

[fengwei]

Never had a mirror lens before, I always wanted to try one. Finally I got hold of an old Tamron 500mm F8 Adapt-All mirror lens w/ a PK adapter:



Seems the lens is very well built, full metal barrel. And it is very light and small for a 500mm lens. The lens can focus very close with a minimum focal distance of 1.7m (1:3 macro), a very interesting and useful feature.

[fengwei]

Here are some quick test photos from this morning. It's the first time I really used the new Grand Prix K10D

[fengwei]

And the moon I got early in the morning (ISO800, 1/250s handheld):

[fengwei]

The lens is pretty sharp when focused properly. Here are some center or near center crops followed by its full size photos:

[fengwei]

Anyway, I think it is a very good tele lens alternative if you can't find or afford those more expensive non-mirror lenses

Cheers!

[Denosha]

Interesting results. How often do you see the infamous donut bokeh? Also, do you find the inability to change aperture limiting?

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by Denosha Interesting results. How often do you see the infamous donut bokeh? Also, do you find the inability to change aperture limiting?

Well, I only used it twice, can't say how often I'd see the donut bokeh. But I can say that if choose the background properly, this lens can produce very good results with creamy smooth bokeh :

[JoshSiao]

Hmm, out of all the test shots here, only the one with the lizard seems to have the donut bokeh. Other than that, it seems a pretty good lens with 1:3 macro ability too! Very interesting.

[polantics]

hmmm, nice pictures...btw, how much did u get it for? i heard they don't come cheap nowadays..

[V one R]

Nice... thanks for sharing...

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by JoshSiao Hmm, out of all the test shots here, only the one with the lizard seems to have the donut bokeh. Other than that, it seems a pretty good lens with 1:3 macro ability too! Very interesting.

Yeah, the lens is considered as the best 500/8 mirror lens. It can produce some surprising results sometimes

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by polantics hmmm, nice pictures...btw, how much did u get it for? i heard they don't come cheap nowadays..

Thanks I bought it as a bundle with a camera and a couple of other lenses. It is not a cheap mirror lens, but still alot cheaper than any other 500mm prime lenses

On eBay, good condition ones easily cost over $200USD:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=260141652013

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by V one R Nice... thanks for sharing...

Thanks, and my pleasure sharing these

[Scaglietti]

Originally Posted by Denosha Interesting results. How often do you see the infamous donut bokeh? Also, do you find the inability to change aperture limiting?

It seems that this lens is design such that the donut-like bokeh is in front of the focus plane rather than behind. You'll the the donut-shape in the OOF area in the foreground rather than background.

I must say the the image quality is pretty good.

BC

[Denosha]

Originally Posted by Scaglietti It seems that this lens is design such that the donut-like bokeh is in front of the focus plane rather than behind. You'll the the donut-shape in the OOF area in the foreground rather than background. I must say the the image quality is pretty good. BC

Keen observation! I didn't see it until you pointed it out. Maybe I'm too used to looking for bokeh in the background rather than in the foreground. You're right about the donuts being very obvious in the foreground areas. Can see it in the leaf and lizard shot. I guess one has to be quite careful when using this lens to avoid creating the unwanted effect (shoot stuff flat to the focal plane?).

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by Denosha Keen observation! I didn't see it until you pointed it out. Maybe I'm too used to looking for bokeh in the background rather than in the foreground. You're right about the donuts being very obvious in the foreground areas. Can see it in the leaf and lizard shot. I guess one has to be quite careful when using this lens to avoid creating the unwanted effect (shoot stuff flat to the focal plane?).

Well, just avoid busy foreground I guess. And nice finding, BC I didn't see much donut like bokeh even with quite messy and busy background like this one:

[notone]

it is really sharp and goof performer as a 500mm lens and mirror lens and old lens

[Stress]

I've a few mirror lenses and I love them all. Must first understand the lens and work towards it's strength. Try not to shoot anything that can reflect light easily especially white surfaces. sometimes the "donut" bokeh can give you very interesting pic which normal lens will nt give......it's how you look at your pictures.

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by notone it is really sharp and goof performer as a 500mm lens and mirror lens and old lens

Yes, it is a really sharp lens, better than I expected

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by Stress I've a few mirror lenses and I love them all. Must first understand the lens and work towards it's strength. Try not to shoot anything that can reflect light easily especially white surfaces. sometimes the "donut" bokeh can give you very interesting pic which normal lens will nt give......it's how you look at your pictures.

Thanks Stress Several mirror lenses? You are not using them as mirrors when shaving, are you? Seriously, it is indeed a very decent tele lens, probably better than those cheap 500/5.6 lens even stopped down to F8