Anyone using a Nikkor 500mm Reflex? Let's see some picks.

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cfphil

New member
Anyone using a Nikkor 500mm Reflex? Let's see some pics.

I recently picked up a Nikkor 500mm Reflex and absolutely love it. I cannot afford refractive glass at the focal length so I opted to buy a used Nikkor 500mm Reflex. On a D90 with crop factor of 1.5 it is like a 750mm. It is not $5000 lens but for the price it is not bad.

Let's see some pics.

peakclose.jpg

moonreflex.jpg
 
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cfphil

New member
Yea, it requires some light with the version I have. I have the 80's model. F8 and better macro capability. You need the bright light to get the contrast up as well. By nature they are pretty flat. However, I have played with the el chepos and found those to be horrible all around. The Nikkor at least is sharp and has ok contrast.
 
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cfphil

New member
blueiron said:
Are you getting the donut effect?

I recently saw a 1000mm Reflex, but the comments about them make me leery.
Click to expand...

It depends on what the background is. The circles you are refering to can be easily managed by being aware of your OOF areas. Who made the 1000mm Reflex? Was it the Nikkor 1000mm F/11? If it wasn't I would be leery too. The only others that work with Nikon that are worth the salt are some of the Russian made lenses. Oh, and the Tamron 500mm SP. I hear that some copies of that lens are sharper and have better contrast than the Nikkor.
 
J

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
You have the 500mm f/8 Reflex C version? (the second version - first being the f/5, and last being the one with the orange band on the focus ring)
 
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blueiron

New member
Yep, it was the Nikkor f11, but since my tripod got damaged and I haven't replaced it yet, it wasn't an option. I imagine that hooting wildlife at dawn or dusk with a f11 lens might be frustrating as well.
 
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cfphil

New member
jdeg said:
You have the 500mm f/8 Reflex C version? (the second version - first being the f/5, and last being the one with the orange band on the focus ring)
Click to expand...

jdeg,

I have the last version with the orange band. I played around with the C model but the seller was asking too much for it. I have read that the last version has better optics, but that is up for debate on several reviews. Either way, I am really happy with my copy. The drawback with the latest model is that it is really light so handheld is a little more difficult than the C version. Also, the focus ring lacks resistance when turning, but it is easy to adjust to.

Do you have the C version?
 
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cfphil

New member
blueiron said:
Yep, it was the Nikkor f11, but since my tripod got damaged and I haven't replaced it yet, it wasn't an option. I imagine that hooting wildlife at dawn or dusk with a f11 lens might be frustrating as well.
Click to expand...

Yea, low light is not optimal for these lenses.
 
K

Kodiak

Senior Member
Hi blueiron,

I was using the baby with great pleasure on my F4Es in the old days. Ok, this
type of lens has some "give & take" considerations attached to it, but it brought
me good contrast and saturation and… and the donut effect in given conditions.

I shot slides with the thing in the past, but since my sons are learning to shoot
as well and got their hands on it, I, we, will be submitting some pictures in a gal-
lery soon enough.
 
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