tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post9195826541048653098..comments2023-08-22T08:31:39.629-06:00Comments on Marc Sabatella: The Vivitar 500/8 Mirror LensMarc Sabatellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280931807746316434noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-18915415029731212122016-10-19T17:05:18.449-06:002016-10-19T17:05:18.449-06:00hi!
new at these lenses...
Would you recommend i...hi!<br /><br />new at these lenses...<br /><br />Would you recommend it for brand new mirrorless Olympus Em-1? with which adapter?<br /><br />thanks!Kaos o Kramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08251210385156781781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-52605138874110594632015-09-12T20:36:27.556-06:002015-09-12T20:36:27.556-06:00Wow! Great information!! Its nice to have this typ...Wow! Great information!! Its nice to have this type of info before getting a lens and having to high of expectations. Sounds like its a matter of technique more than anything. I think I might try using one of these cheaper lens now that I know how to deal with them and what to expect. Thank you so much! Who can afford thousands of dollars on a lens anyway? This is a hobby for me, not my lifeblood. Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00733562337602685546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-88285321863904401432015-08-09T14:48:06.380-06:002015-08-09T14:48:06.380-06:00That is quite a review. I bought one just to learn...That is quite a review. I bought one just to learn to be a better photographer. I was frustrated at first but really got the feel for it. Bob Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00558512211379314724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-21567188398986286112013-09-13T00:49:28.367-06:002013-09-13T00:49:28.367-06:00Brilliant review, Mark!! I kinda smiled when i rea...Brilliant review, Mark!! I kinda smiled when i read that part where you said about not finding any good reviews or sample images by the time we go to your review. That is EXACTLY what happened with me. :-)<br /><br />Thanks for a super detailed review, research and analysis!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07638967694347117301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-673862186655142072013-08-29T20:33:10.201-06:002013-08-29T20:33:10.201-06:00Marc:
Thank you for taking the time and write a an...Marc:<br />Thank you for taking the time and write a an explanation on the strengths and weakness of the mirror lens. <br />It is a peace of mind knowing that when used properly, we can obtain good images.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15940820911733109253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-78409202290398992792013-06-27T04:31:02.390-06:002013-06-27T04:31:02.390-06:00Thanks! Your review was exactly what I needed to c...Thanks! Your review was exactly what I needed to convince me.<br />I'll get one of those used mirror lenses.<br />Leoleodphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794948667116193893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-47871494587720620832013-06-27T04:30:46.965-06:002013-06-27T04:30:46.965-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.leodphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08794948667116193893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-56145340761853849942013-01-10T14:21:32.113-07:002013-01-10T14:21:32.113-07:00Hi Mark,
i have dillema.
Tamron 500mm f8 for $36...Hi Mark, <br /><br />i have dillema.<br />Tamron 500mm f8 for $364 CAD dollars<br />or <br />Vivitar 500mm f8 for $120 CAD dollars<br /><br />which would you get ? <br /><br />thank you. i bookmark your page. its a gem of explanation. thanks.Rock-V-https://www.blogger.com/profile/15536927256916940991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-11920271603250214072012-11-02T21:00:27.147-06:002012-11-02T21:00:27.147-06:00Mirror telephoto Rokinon 500mm f1:6.3
Also going a...Mirror telephoto Rokinon 500mm f1:6.3<br />Also going around as Samiyang and Vivitar with minor cosmetic differences.<br /><br />This is a very affordable lens that comes with a 2x adapter, effectively making it 1000mm. After looking at some existing reviews, I see most issues experienced by users are not "lens" but "user" specific. You must know how to properly use a lens that is almost a telescope.<br /><br />I think we can help some folks overcome some of their telephoto / telescope lens issues. So let's begin:<br /><br />First remember you're working with a mirror lens, so very little light comes through it. You further reduce that light when you add the 2x adapter. The lens is not stabilized, you're working handheld because you want to look good doing it, and to catch sufficient light based on what you see, you will probably use a shutter speed of 250. WRONG! Stop doing that and blaming the results on the lens please...<br /><br />Here is how to get great results every time.<br /><br />Use the "reciprocal rule" as follows:<br />Your shutter speed must match your focal length for a 35mm camera, or with an ASP-C cropped sensor, multiply by 1.6. So to be able to capture a good handheld shot with a 500mm lens (no 2x converter attached) your shutter speed on a Canon Rebel camera should be 500x1.6 = 800 (at least 800). Compensate by raising your ISO as needed, but no more than necessary. You will want to capture a higher quality image so here is what you do further: don't be ashamed to carry the heaviest tripod in your arsenal. Use it. Click the shutter with the wired remote control when using this lens. Install Magic Lantern to get focus help on screen. <br /><br />When on a tripod you can cheat the reciprocal rule significantly and still take great telephoto / telescope pictures. If you use the wired remote shutter, on heavy tripod, you can easily take continuous ISO 800 shutter speed 160 pictures indoors in moderate lighting (concerts, sporting events, etc) in TV (shutter priority) mode.<br /><br />And remember, even touching the lens to focus it will move what you see by at least a third of the frame, so compose your shot like a film director, have it focused on a spot, and get your hands completely off the body and off the lens. No touching. That is why you're using that wired shutter. Ignore this and you'll get blurry images.Dan Banicihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14708612081874518290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-24608171269622391992010-12-29T09:17:36.244-07:002010-12-29T09:17:36.244-07:00Thanks for writing this review. As you say, there...Thanks for writing this review. As you say, there is a dearth of valid reviews for this item. I also recommend Harvey's excellent review (link is at the end of Harvey's comments).Robert Petkushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820099507544327502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-86189254276306485052010-11-24T03:28:54.372-07:002010-11-24T03:28:54.372-07:00Great Review
regards,
Garry Jones
Photo Studio E...Great Review <br /><br />regards,<br />Garry Jones<br /><a href="http://www.photostudiosupplies.com/" rel="nofollow">Photo Studio Equipment </a><br /><a href="http://www.photostudiosupplies.com/chromakey-green-screen.php" rel="nofollow">Green Screen Chromakey </a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552471090832742794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-87185573733046311042010-10-08T16:43:42.864-06:002010-10-08T16:43:42.864-06:00You could print a custom lens hood:
http://www.le...You could print a custom lens hood:<br /><br />http://www.lenshoods.co.uk/Mark M. Fredricksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13153103517132920757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-6974724274612787432010-08-08T05:44:58.889-06:002010-08-08T05:44:58.889-06:00Thank you a lot for review!Thank you a lot for review!Stas Davydovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13625493864669320274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-85629226135027255042010-01-27T16:57:10.153-07:002010-01-27T16:57:10.153-07:00Hey, Mark, yes, this is very useful.
My lens is 9...Hey, Mark, yes, this is very useful.<br /><br />My lens is 95mm ... Saw you got a "cheap" 72mm hood. I'm hunting around for a collapsible rubber 95. Not really seeing any.<br /><br />Lots of non-collapsibles from anywhere from about $80 to $570 (and what the heck are THOSE made out of???) <br /><br />How far out of the way horizontally do these things have to be? I've seen some that look like they basically just extend the outer diameter of the lens casing. Seems like you'd want it to flare out a bit, but maybe with that long focal length it's really not necessary?<br /><br />How far "out" does your hood extend?Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01514033542507136460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-73276909095260976762010-01-22T14:34:30.032-07:002010-01-22T14:34:30.032-07:00Thanks to your review I finally decided to buy thi...Thanks to your review I finally decided to buy this lens and after trying it out I found out its pretty good. The construction is peaty solid and its aluminum considering that my stock lenses for my Olympus E410 are plastic. Also the price of this 500mm lens is perfectly compatible with my budget (I got my E-410 at sale from a store that was going out of business). The manual focus does take some time to master after using AF, luckily I had some training with manual focus using my dad’s old Russian Zenit film camera. <br />For those who think that mirror type lenses are good for nothing, just think about astronomical telescopes those are also based on mirrors and have been chosen as standard for viewing objects at great distances. Besides a photo should be viewed as a whole, you could have the most expensive gear in the world and it wouldn’t help you one bit if you can’t get your composition right.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12272572158667385311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-17841983464612788352010-01-16T12:49:41.038-07:002010-01-16T12:49:41.038-07:00Great article Mark, and well balanced. My first us...Great article Mark, and well balanced. My first use of mirrors was in about '83 on SLR (of course!)<br /><br />I have come across the same type of anti-mirror brigade everywhere I've looked as you did. Yes there are some real el cheapos and I agree each mnf has their own quality criteria as you mentioned. There's a Sigma 170-500mm f/5-6.3 APO Aspherical in my stable but the Vivitar Series 1 DX 500mm f/6.3 performs very well indeed for its weight and price. Most photographers I know post-process even their $1000-$6000 USD Glass taken images! Yet they rubbish mirrors. So why not post-process a mirror image? I have some shots and a review of my Vivitar f/6.3 and if I may be so bold for the benefit of your readers, I'll add the link here...and yes, focusing at f/6.3 is indeed an art! But rewarding. More shots on my Flickr page and there are Mirror Groups there if your readers are interested.<br /><br />http://photocommission.com/harveyg/2009/12/28/vivitar-500mm-f6-3-dx-series-1-the-mighty-mirror/Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05318000300095329030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-52961798650110712332009-12-25T06:02:37.768-07:002009-12-25T06:02:37.768-07:00Great post Marc as always. Thanx for clearing up m...Great post Marc as always. Thanx for clearing up most of the queries I had at the back of my mind.<br /><br />How does it (if it does fit) work on a Kx?Arijithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17939480774827328643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-14921594780054606102009-12-20T08:24:47.550-07:002009-12-20T08:24:47.550-07:00Thanks, Marc for the excellent discussion. It sett...Thanks, Marc for the excellent discussion. It settles for me giving the 500mm a try. It's available from Adorama new for ~ $120.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03086290810699058500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-51455486093009937072009-12-12T17:27:30.961-07:002009-12-12T17:27:30.961-07:00well balanced comment on an interesfing subject ar...well balanced comment on an interesfing subject area. Thank you :-)Kevin and Serihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08400198514673913656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-547324485541836002009-10-13T19:47:03.443-06:002009-10-13T19:47:03.443-06:00The only mirror lens I've used other than the ...The only mirror lens I've used other than the Vivitar-Samyang 500/8 is the Sigma 600/8 I mentioned. Results I've seen from the 500/6.3 suggest it is perhaps slightly better (contrastier, sharper when focusing relatively close up) than the 500/8. DOF might be shallower, but going to f/8 doens't work miracles in that department. The 800/8 appears to be of the same basic design as the 500/6.3, so I might expect similar performance.Marc Sabatellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280931807746316434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-11839615623110298752009-10-12T22:45:56.645-06:002009-10-12T22:45:56.645-06:00nice article, I wish I had read your article befor...nice article, I wish I had read your article before I bought my own Mirror Lens. <br /><br />I do like my f/6.3, but if I had known that the f/8 is half the weight, I may well have been willing to trade the extra speed for the larger dof (cause it is exceedingly tight on on the f/6.3) and the $$ savings.Justushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17544329622421170676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-47984103185840834912009-10-09T08:38:37.304-06:002009-10-09T08:38:37.304-06:00mark good eview, thinking of buying the 800 f8 ver...mark good eview, thinking of buying the 800 f8 version for static sports. Would you recommend the lense in bright daylight.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07770694756341161429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1460687387614137618.post-85000507053654304832009-08-27T12:18:26.709-06:002009-08-27T12:18:26.709-06:00Great review Mark..Great review Mark..অরূপ (Arup)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04662226681863602503noreply@blogger.com