Reflex 500mm lens (mirror)

Adrian.Sadlier

Hi guys,

Today I bought a Nikkor 500mm Reflex f/8 N lens (secondhand - last one made in 2005). Seems in good nick, no dust or fungus, glass clean, all filters seem to be there.

Anybody have any experience with them? I heard they are very hard to focus, with a very shallow depth of field, requiring a high ISO to get a fast enough shutter speed to avoid camera shake, handheld.

Anybody have any experience using this lens who can give some advice? I will be shooting it on a D810, mostly handheld. I couldn't wait to try it out this evening so I tried to take a shot displayed on a 28" 4K monitor - this shot https://www.flickr.com/photos/asadlier/46856282482/.

It was handheld at ISO 1600, 1/8". I took about 15 shots and this was the only one near acceptable. I edited it in LR (sharpening etc.) and reduced the image size to 1/4 of the original width. The screen was at an angle to the focal plane and focus was on the butterfly eye.



Was I stupid to spend money on this or has anyone had success with this or a similar lens?

ED E

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

It was handheld at ISO 1600, 1/8". I took about 15 shots and this was the only one near acceptable.

Is that a typo? 1/8"?

The rule of thumb says 500mm = 1/500 or faster. With a light short lens (shakes more, no IS either) you'd probably be in the faster end of the scale. Like 1/800.

ISO3200, Sunny Days, 1/800 F8. That might get you handheld. Newer bodies with better high ISO would help with it. Also adding weight to the body would help (big f off battery grip).

CabanSail

Never tried one but have also been tempted.

Advantage is the lightweight and cost.

The down side is that they are not fast.

You also get quite distinct bokeh

magicbastarder

i bought a pristine 350mm tamron many years ago in dublin camera exchange. was sitting in the window, marked 100 (pounds or euros, can't remember which).
anyway, i went in to padraig to ask about it and he said 'oh no, don't buy that, you'd be foolish to' and then admitted he could hardly sell it to me for the price on the tag and gave it to me for 70 quid. i didn't get much use out of it, took photos of friends surfing and at a few rugby matches.

Adrian.Sadlier

ED E wrote: »

Is that a typo? 1/8"?

No 1/8" is correct.

I took the lens out late this afternoon to try it out.



St. Sylvester's Church, Malahide by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr

This was taken at 1/1600" at ISO 1600, handheld, at a distance of just over 500 metres.

It will take me a while to figure the lens (and my) limitations - But is should be fun!

Adrian.Sadlier

Starling by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr



Old Howth Lighthouse by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr


A couple more from Howth today. ISO 400 on a bright Winter's day.

ED E

Ahh now, you're stealing Keps' limelight

Adrian.Sadlier

ED E wrote: »

Ahh now, you're stealing Keps' limelight

No way - his 500mm is better than mine - it's a zoom and has autofocus - he can shoot moving birds!

Iancar29

Good lens to use for a bit of fun on bright days. I don't use my nikon mount one.