Niblue,

Well I got three out of a group of 8 pictures hand-held at 400ASA, which I am happy with - the Mallard shows I have still to practise on hand-holding or get the tripod! They are not as good as your Gull photos that is for sure, but they were taken at 800 ASA and are really fantastic. Next ones I must go up to 800 ASA or get hold of a decent tripod or both.

All my Mirror lens test photos will go here:-




Thanks for sharing your excellent examples, I hope one day to get just as good ones.

Yes I noticed how difficult it is to focus very close-up. the secret then is to take the picture so the bird or subject is sideways to the lens, then the whole bird or whatever is sharp. I can hardly wait for the sun to come out and for it to stop raining!!!!!

You have done this with the first photo from the garden, taken it when the bird was sideways to the lens. I think also in that position close-up you get less out of focus doughnuts. Would you agree? Also on the bee and flower shots you can crop of course, which also reduces the out of focus distractions.

river Forth - did you have any static bird samples that you could put a link to here?

Tokina RMC 500mm F8 mirror. Ok I got my hands on one in good condition.
I will post a link to quickly taken two pictures, both hand-held at F8 1/180 using built-in flash + a halogen room light in background. I have had the lens for about 1 hour or so. Will go out in the next few days, and hopefully taken some images in the sunshine and try and use 400 ASA. When it is uploaded in a few minutes the link should be:-

http://web.mac.com/stevenbutterworth/iWeb/Butterworth/Test-Photos.html

Comments please!

I am hoping to get my hands on a Tokina 500 mirror ad will post some "first" shots on my website when I have the lens.

Of course this is a brand new boxed lens, sitting on a shelf. No idea how long it has been there and therefore how old it is.

I was amazed to see a new Sigma 600mm F8 Mirror in a shop window, along with a load of other lenses, in their boxes for 1100 Swiss Francs taking a rate of 2.20 to the pound, 500 quid seems like a lot of money.

How would this mirror lens stack up to Tamron and others?

I too am happy. I bought a DL with the 40mm pancake limited lens and the da50-200 zoom. I like very much both lenses, and the camera controls are ready to hand. Nice piece of kit. I will buy next a wide-angle say 20mm or perhaps a another zoom.

So go ahead buy Pentax and enjoy capturing those spevial moments.

Thanks Matt, appreciate the clarification.

Thanks Liam,

That is interesting p-ttl works with a 360 on the hotshoe. I will try it out with a small Metz I have hidden somewhere .......