is it worth a punt

Saw this for sale in a local shop, is it worth a punt?

Second Hand Tokina 500mm f8 CAT (pentax K) Con:Mint £55

Sure it comes with 6mths warranty

Have read somewhere there are rear filters for these types of lens are they essential? any info welcome

The filters are not essemtial - and can be picked up on ebay sometimes

£55 mint is a reasonable price but not an exceptional bargain. I had one of these for a couple of years and as mirror lenses go - not a bad lens and well worth the price. Like all mirror lenses - demands bight light and a totally rock steady platform to get the best out of it.

Carl

Stan, I think the most highly regarded is the Tamron. That one is design to be used with the filters, and does come with a rear filter set, including a clear filter

If you want to try out a mirror lens, you can always pop round. I'm in Blyth

Thanks for the info and invite Alan. There was a Tamron for sale too, condition exc for £130, but no mount, think they have mounts from about £20. That would be a bit pricey for what might just be a whim buy.
I'm waiting for my camera to be returned from repair so all plans on hold just now. I have an old *ist DL2 but it gobbles up the batteries so just use it for practicing marco shots in the house, I'm sure I have a pen point and a small screw I haven't shot yet

The Tamron is a very good lens and all the advice above about getting the best from one is spot on. People are all too ready to dismiss mirror optics because they dont know how to use them. In much the same way people dismiss the 18-55 'kit' zoom because they are often new to DSLRs and blame their lack of skill on the lens.

Lack of skill. Definitely one of the reasons I don't want spend mega bucks on lenses. It's a hobby, I don't want it to become a chore.

picked up a Samyang 500mm mirror for £30 and was surprised at the lightness of it. Compared to my Tammy 70-300 it's as light as a feather!

Like just about all 500 mirrors I've seen it's a f8 lens, so I'll be waiting for better light before trying it out properly.

For £55 the Tokina sounds a good deal, give it a try, you never know it may be just what you want.

Some from my Tamron which I was using before I got the Sigma 150-500. The last one provides an example of the messy bokeh it can produce at times. While the first two show it is perfectly suitable on many occasions



Swan close up by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Eider Drake close up by Blythman1960, on Flickr



Brambling by Blythman1960, on Flickr

phrases like that is why I prefer this forum to the yank ones

Pete

Wow, not much else to say really, where were they taken Alan?

First two at the quayside in Blyth. 3rd in the garden. These were with my K-x and they were processed when I didn't know what I was doing I'm sure if I re-process, I'll be able to recover some highlights on the swan and duck.