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Pro Optic 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Lens Review

Posted March 26th, 2009 by cgarrard

Pro Optic 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Lens Review

March 2009, Carl Garrard

Curiosity finally killed the cat, I just had to review this lens. The Pro Optic 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Lens was just too low of a price for me to pass up. Adorama sells these lenses exclusively for about $165.00. Certainly a tantalizing price to many of us whether you want to admit that or not. I am sure there are many of you who want to know what this lens is like, but don't really want to part with the money. I know how you think. Well, I took one for the team and shelled out my own money to answer that question for you. We all know you don't get something for nothing most of the time regarding glass for our DSLR's so I wanted to see if this lens was worth its very affordable price tag when compared to the Sony 500mm f/8 AF Mirror lens variant. I have fired enough shots through this lens to give you my thoughts on it. So off we go to the (rather short) review of this lens. Pro Optic 500mm f/6.3 Mirror Lens Review

Sony 500mm f8 SAL-50080 Lens Review

Posted December 2nd, 2008 by cgarrard

Sony Reflex 500mm f8 Lens Review

December 2008, Carl Garrard

(Updated 12-8-2008, Added Pro Optic 2x Teleconverter Test and Sample Image Page)

Sony Reflex 500mm f8 Lens So you are looking for a new telephoto lens and the Sony Reflex 500mm F8 seems to be a lens worth considering, right? For about the last 3 weeks I have been running this lens through the usual paces with the Sony A700, and am glad to report my findings in this review. First, some history. The Sony 500mm Reflex f8 is another re-badged design carried over from Minolta that was initially introduced in 1991 (re-introduced by Sony in 2006), and to this day remains the world's only auto focusing catadioptric (reflex) mirror lens for DSLR cameras. Hence this lens is completely unique, and exemplifies Minolta's dominating design genius. As the name indicates, it is a fixed aperture prime lens with a rather simple and effective design that will also turn a few heads.