ananda Posted May 5, 2015 Share #1 Posted May 5, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just picked up the MR (mirror) 500MM Telyt just for fun and am trying it on my M 240. I got it for a reasonable price and will may sell it eventually, but the lens I have is absolutely mint. I took a few shots with it today. After a bit of work in LR on the DNG file, it looks pretty nice, but the donut bokeh is unwelcome. Yet the lenses I have (50 Summilux ASPH and 28 Elmarit ASPH) do not include a telephoto and this 500 mm piece seems about right when I want to experiment a bit. Or literally have to have a telephoto. I am wonder if anyone else has this lens in their kit with their M240 and why? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 5, 2015 Posted May 5, 2015 Hi ananda, Take a look here MR 500 mm Telyt on M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dugby Posted May 6, 2015 Share #2 Posted May 6, 2015 I saw one of those on ebay last week........ is that the one you bought ? By default, are the images inverted in the DNG/jpeg ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted May 6, 2015 Share #3 Posted May 6, 2015 (edited) I do have this lens for some years now. In my case it is used on a Canon 5D and a R8+DMR. The bokeh does not bother me in most cases, it is only there on backlit subjects with point lightsources in the background. Sometimes the donuts even have added artistic value... It is and remains the smallest and lightest package for this focus length. You can even use it with good results for macro, with some extension tubes in front of it. Great when the subject does not like to be approached like a butterfly or dragonfly. With this you can take the shot at about 2 or 3 m! Maybe not the best Leica lens ever, but certainly unique in its application. Edited May 6, 2015 by dpitt 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted May 6, 2015 Share #4 Posted May 6, 2015 Actually it was never a Leica lens, it's a straight Minolta design, made by Minolta in a mount specified by Leica for the R system. I had one for a little while, it was nicely made but honestly I never found much optical quality difference between mirror lenses. The one I have now is as good as the R or Nikon ones I had were. It's a Rokunon or Rokunar or something like that in T-mount for R/Leicaflex. Cost me $25 or $50 I think, don't really remember, nice thing about it it's really small, 72mm front filter. I've taken it to sporting events on a Rebel (with R-EOS adapter) and security never bats an eye, they think it's just a kit zoom or something. Had I tried walking in with a 500/4L-IS it might've raised eyebrows Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarav Posted May 6, 2015 Share #5 Posted May 6, 2015 I am wonder if anyone else has this lens in their kit with their M240 and why? I've bought it several years ago when I had DMR, It's a small and lightweight tele. With Leica-M is very very useful because you can crank up with ISO values and take shoot at a reasonable shutter speed. The characteristic donut bokeh is a welcome when you need it, especially photographing sparkles in the water or in brunches of trees. I like it very much for the uncommon views. I hope you enjoy it, it's a funny "toy" Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 6, 2015 Share #6 Posted May 6, 2015 I just picked up the MR (mirror) 500MM Telyt just for fun and am trying it on my M 240. I got it for a reasonable price and will may sell it eventually, but the lens I have is absolutely mint. I took a few shots with it today. After a bit of work in LR on the DNG file, it looks pretty nice, but the donut bokeh is unwelcome. Yet the lenses I have (50 Summilux ASPH and 28 Elmarit ASPH) do not include a telephoto and this 500 mm piece seems about right when I want to experiment a bit. Or literally have to have a telephoto. I am wonder if anyone else has this lens in their kit with their M240 and why? Most of them are mint, because the owners hardly use them after the first few shots. I get better resolution cropping a 280 or even 135. But it is fun having such a light and short long lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaPassion Posted May 7, 2015 Share #7 Posted May 7, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Years ago Leica presented a side by side comparison between the 50mm mirror lens and an all glass lens. Images taken with the mirror lens lacked color saturation and were less sharp by a huge margin. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ananda Posted May 7, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted May 7, 2015 Nice thing is, though, one can crank up the color and saturation, if desirable, in PS or LR. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted May 7, 2015 Share #9 Posted May 7, 2015 (edited) For strange reasons, happens that I have its original leather bag... lensless... (btw, I notice that in the Wiki is quoted as having f stops 8 to 22... clearly a mistake) Edited May 7, 2015 by luigi bertolotti Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 10, 2015 Share #10 Posted May 10, 2015 There aren't many decent mirror lenses available but one worth considering is the Olympus Zuiko 500mm f8 http://www.savazzi.net/photography/olympus500.html … unlike other catadioptric lenses it has back silvered mirrors which do not deteriorate … and with an OM to M adaptor could be a viable lightweight long focus optic for an M240. I've just bought one for use with my Leica T; the lens is being serviced and recollimated; when it's back I'll post some pics on the 'T' sub forum. Another mirror lens with a good reputation is the Zeiss Mirotar which was available in Contax bayonet fitting … and if sourced will also adapt to the M240. dunk 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted May 11, 2015 Share #11 Posted May 11, 2015 The Tamron SP 500/8 is also worth considering. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 11, 2015 Share #12 Posted May 11, 2015 The Tamron SP 500/8 is also worth considering. The Tamron is one of the better mirror lenses but image quality is not on the same league as that of the Zeiss Mirotar and Zuiko OM 500mm lenses. Enrico Savazzi in the above link mentions the Tamron. dunk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted May 12, 2015 Share #13 Posted May 12, 2015 The Tamron is one of the better mirror lenses but image quality is not on the same league as that of the Zeiss Mirotar and Zuiko OM 500mm lenses. Enrico Savazzi in the above link mentions the Tamron. After reading Savazzi's article, checking his examples, and reading this: "The Olympus OM Zuiko Reflex 500 mm f/8 catadioptric lens [...] is, in practice, just as good as a 500 mm refractor lens from one of the major camera brands, but price, weight and volume are several times lower." I am quite perplexed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 12, 2015 Share #14 Posted May 12, 2015 His reasoning, argument and conclusion are sound; he's an experienced and respected lens reviewer. dunk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted May 12, 2015 Share #15 Posted May 12, 2015 (edited) Does a lens booster also boost a mirrorlens? In the normal use one loses half an f/stop due to the secondary mirror. So the mirror R-lens f/8 500mm is f/8 for the DOF, but only 9.5 for the incoming light (ISO and time). What is good? One can measure a single sample. But is there a difference between several samples of the same brand? See lens rentals. Jan Edited May 12, 2015 by jankap Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 12, 2015 Share #16 Posted May 12, 2015 After reading Savazzi's article, checking his examples, and reading this: "The[/size] Olympus OM Zuiko Reflex 500 mm f/8 catadioptric lens [...] is, in practice,[/size] just as good as a 500 mm refractor lens from one of the major camera brands, but price, weight and volume are several times lower."[/size] I am quite perplexed. Don't forget he appears to work on micro 4/3rds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted May 12, 2015 Share #17 Posted May 12, 2015 He works with a variety of formats ... he's a regular contributor to several scientific photography fora … and in 2011 wrote the definitive 698 page book 'Digital Photography for Science'. dunk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted May 12, 2015 Share #18 Posted May 12, 2015 Don't forget he appears to work on micro 4/3rds. Indeed. Which makes it even harder to beleve that mirror lens is as good as a Canon refractive 500 prime (on the same sensor). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 12, 2015 Share #19 Posted May 12, 2015 At any rate he does point out the technical difficulties of shooting a long lens, especially if it lacks bulk. That may account for part of the bad press mirror systems are getting. I'll have a go at my MR Telyt again one of these days. It is disappointing the Leitz or the virtually identical Minolta offering were not mentioned in the article. I once had a 800 Minolta one, decades ago - i remember finding it extremely disappointing compared to the 500. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted May 12, 2015 Share #20 Posted May 12, 2015 The biggest issue I have with my Tamron 500/8 is vibrations. Even on a solid tripod with remote, the shutter vibration is enough to ruin the shot. The electronic first curtain in modern Canon cameras (used in Live View mode) makes a day and night difference. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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