Samyang 500mm f/6.3 mirror lens

see also:

• super telephoto mirror lenses

• NB. these lenses are often branded Rokinon, Opteka, Pro Optic, Vivitar, Bower, Walimex, Albinar, Falcon
• this super telephoto lens introduced in 2010?? is a catadioptric mirror lens, and as with all such mirror lenses, share the following characteristics:
  • manual focus
  • fixed aperture (in this case f/6.3)
  • virtual elimination of chromatic aberration as uses mirror rather than lenses
    • also means focus position for infrared photography is the same as for light photography
  • central mirror:
    • allows much more compact lens length as the optic path is reflected internally twice
    • by necessity, blocks some of the light and thus causes:
      • decrease in image contrast
      • characteristic “doughnut” shaped bokeh imagery in out of focus areas

• 500mm focal length and field of view (5°) at infinity focus
• fixed f/6.3 aperture
• 7 elements / 6 groups (multicoated)
• closest focus 2m
• 95mm filter thread but mount turns when you focus + 34mm rear filter
• 119mm diameter, 98mm long and 705g
• T2 camera mount
• kit also includes a practical transport bag, T2 adapter for a selected system and protective caps
• ~$140
• Samyang website

• Bob Atkin's review
  • the 500mm f/6.3 is a little soft, the Tamron 500mm f/8 is quite a bit sharper, but the Canon 500/4.5L is the sharpest of the three
• hobography review
• if outside temperature is 20F degrees below inside, you need to let the lens cool for 30 min or so before it is usable.
• mounting the lens on a 36mm extension tube further improves close focus - without sacrificing infinity focus! (normally, it can focus way past infinity)
• sharper, better built and with less vignetting than the Samyang 500mm f/8.0 mirror lens - although plastic base plate is dodgy