Nikon Reflex-Nikkor 500mm f/8

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Introduction

You either hate it or you love it, allot of pro`s complain about the OOF(out of focus) donut shapes. I think that the OOF shapes can be a nice effect and make you`re pictures stand out(as with everything don't over do it). This lens "can" produce really good quality pictures, when the forces are with you that is. With a constant f/8 aperture you need allot of light to be able to focus correctly. Although you can obtain good sharp pictures handheld with this lens, you`re best off mounting this on a Tripod, a good tripod, and even better if you have a cable release (especially if you`re using a non pro camera, since these seem to vibrate more when the mirror slams up and down)

Specifications

Lens Construction: 6 elements in 6 groups

Picture Angle: 5° (35mm)

Filter Size: Front 82mm, Rear 39mm

Nikon Lens Hood: HN-27

Included Accessories: Filters(39mm) ultraviolet (L37C), medium yellow (Y52), orange (056), red (R60), and neutral density (ND4) Lens case(CL-39, Lens hood (HN-27)

Size and weight: 3.5" dia. x 4.32" long. 840g

Diaphragm: None

Price from: discontinued

Manufacturers web site: www.nikon.com

Positives

• Light weight. compared to a 500mm AF-S, the 500mm Reflex don't weigh anything
• Built like a tank. Good old Nikkor quality. Old Nikkor lenses was built to last. Not like most of the new plastic consumer lenses.
• IR performance, there is no focus shift on mirror lenses.

Drawbacks

• Constant f/8 aperture
• Tricky. sometimes it can be difficult to obtain good results, a good tripod will help you a bit, a cable release will help you the rest of the way.
• Focus ring. IMO (In My Opinion) it is too loose, it`s so loose that you have to be careful when u let go of the ring, because you might turn it when you let go.
• Hood. The supplied hood is like a joke, way to small.

Verdict

Focus ring is too smooth (yeah there I said it) you can almost spin the focus ring on this lens, I would have preferred a stiffer focus ring. This is a tricky lens to use, you can get really good pictures with this lens, but you have to know what you`re doing.
Value for money on this lens completely depends on how much you have to pay for it. Should be less then $ 400 USD in EX condition.
The reason for the low feature score should be self explanatory, there simply aint any bells and whistles on this lens. Pretty straight forward, mount, focus, take the picture.

Features
Performance
IR Performance
Build
Value

Alternatives

Phoenix 500mm f/8.0 Mirror Price: $109.95 USD

Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM Price: $1,059.00 USD

Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO HSM Price: $4,999.00 USD

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/4G ED VR Price From: $8,449.95 USD

Tamron SP 500mm Reflex, IMO this lens is better then the Nikon one.

There is also a couple of Russian reflex lenses on the market, I haven't tested any of those, but I have seen some decent sample pictures of them.

*Prices and rebates are subject to change. Listed price is from July 27, 2009

Sample Pictures

Images have been imported to photoshop CS3 through Capture NX 2 thus leaving the original image settings as shot, I. E white balance, sharpening, etc .etc. Full resolution sample images are in RGB color mode. Check out my copyright page for information about usage of these images.

Nikon D2H, Reflex-Nikkor 500mm f/8 @ 8sec

crop @ 100 %