500mm len's

whats the best 500mm len's, that i can buy for as little as poss? i have a k100d super.

TIA

The Tamron 500mm mirror is pretty good, this was taken with it. There is one on Ebay yesterday around £95

I have the old Tamron but I wouldn't say it's very good optically. It doesn't seem all that sharp and is of very low contrast.

Mechanically it's a pleasure to use and is very handy as it's so small. Very smooth focusing, very good close focus and the tripod collar makes it easy to mount and rotate.

If it's a very sunny day and the light has good contrast then you'll probably get usable shots but I don't think it's as good as any "glass" lenses. You can post process however to boost both the contrast and sharpness.

If I was desperate I would use it but mostly it stays at home.

It's cheaper! And really the only budget option. There are some truly awful no-name 500mm lenses out there.

G

Yes it is the cheapest option. I just meant that I'd only use it if I absolutely had to. Probably worth £50 but I'd rather use something like a 70-300 Sigma, tamron or Pentax lens and enlarge it a bit.

I think the OP has a 75-300. As you say, cropping from that would be not a bad idea.

G

The Sigma 50-500 EX "Bigma" has a top reputation. I'm very impressed by mine.
bb2

John, given your other thread, are there any lenses you like?
Ken

FA 50mm F1.4, FA50mm Macro, FA 100mm F2.8, FA 135mm F2.8, "M" series 20mm, 50mm F1.4, 85mm F2, 100mm F2.8, 135mm F3.5 and 200mm F4 and of course the 43mm Ltd when it's on somebody elses camera.

Actually I had a Tamron 28mm F2.5, Fujica 55mm F1.8 (best standard I ever had) and takumar 85mm F1.9, that was my favourite lens ever, soft but beautifull pictures.

I did look at some old slides I'd taken with my MZ5 and there were some absolute crackers taken with a Sigma 70-300 I had. I'd always thought is was rubbish as I never had much use for it but when I finally did use it the results were outstanding.