Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Used for "long distance" wildlife. Fixed aperture limits use to daylight with support. For its purpose it is a great lens. Lightweight.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

very usefull for moon photography, but only in manual in my NIKON d80 because the fix aperture

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Much larger and heavier than I was expecting, but, overall it does the job and the output is very nice.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Great for my bird photography! Can't beat the price.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I see why this type of lens didn't catch on in the film days. Prepare to shoot three to four times as many shots to get one good one. Depth of field is tricky, contrast isn't always great, out of focus elements look funny. But I can't compare it to one of those $5000+ telephoto monsters - because I can't afford one! Face it, if you want 500 mm of reach for under $200 it's going to take some work and compromise. I drive it with a Nikon D5000 and enjoy the technical challenge of getting the good shot.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

A very good lens for the price... not a great lens but very good for shooting wildlife and maybe a full moon...

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

My experience with this lens is good. I dont recommend this for amateurs.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I have an Olympus E-3. Read a review. Saw a photo of moon this guy took using this lens. I had to buy it and try it for myself. So I did. It's great. The Lens have not had much use since I bought it, but this summer this lens will travel with me EVERYWHERE. The photo below was taken during half moon in Feb 2010 by Olympus E-3 with the Pro-optic 500mm lens. ISO100, exposure 2 seconds.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

While it took some experimenting to get used to I have been very satisfied. I had to tape the contacts in my digital camera when using it with a 2X extender but the results were worth it. I used it with a medium grade tripod with a ball mount head. No noticable shake in long shots. A tripod mount on the lens rim might take a bit of stress off the camera. I have not yet tried any night photography. I do a lot of photomicrograph photography and have T mounts for several brands of cameras. I can attach this lens to each brand with the appropriate T mount which adds to its versitility.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

You can get some really nice effects with this lens. Lights in the background of a picture have a halo effect which can be really nice. You can get creative with this.
a 500mm for this price...worth it!

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I am going to get the 800mm

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

The main thing to remember when using this lens is to watch your distance from your subject. To close and the image will be blurred. The results were better when supported on a tripod. Handholding possible but only for quick shots

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

using the lens for wildlife and scenic photgraphy
for good consistant focus must use tripod or cable release.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I Like It alot

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Excellent lens for the price. Especially with the 2X converter, nothing will get you that close for the price.

Also the circular bokeh can be used for special effect, which can be very nice if done right.

Detail when zoomed is acceptable for the price again - don't expect 'crystal clear' sharpness, but the loss is well compensated by the zoom level.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I knew at [$] it couldn't be that good, but I was surprised how hard) it was to focus. When I had it in focus on a tripod, with cable release the photos were out of focus, not soft, but out of focus. Used it for big birds on a nest and moon shots. Moon shots were not too bad so it could be a cheap telescope. IF you ae a beginner this could be a low cost way to get long photos. I WISH IT HAD Auto focus which may have helped a little. Also the Depth of field it tiny.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I shoot wild life and landscapes and it realy works well for me, in fact I going to get another one for my Nikon.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

This is a fun "Gimmick lens" to have in your kit if you don't take it too seriously. It is lightweight and compact, but the light conditions must be perfect for it to work well. The 'mirror' design kicks back light in mysterious and odd ways, creating a bizarre but sometimes appealing bokeh and some unusual circular flares. Sometimes though the flare is horribly milky and hard to control. It is difficult to focus, so don't use it if focus is critical. The minimum F-stop is really high (6.3) - and it seems to work better a few stops above the minimum (closer to F11). The bottom line is that for a 500mm it is really inexpensive and you can put a 2x doubler on it and have a 1000mm lens. Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed. For a 'fun' play lens you can't beat the price.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

fun lens for the money...tough to put the lens on/off if you have big hands and fat fingers...sharpness lacks put still able to get decent pics. great for animals and landscape...

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Surprising quality for the price!

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

While this lens works better than you'd expect for the price, prospective buyers should note that a lens this long is a difficult piece of hardware to master. The difficulties using such a lens is made even more acute due to it being a mirror lens.

To get good results, you'll need to manually focus and it has to be right. The depth of field is very narrow so your focus must be spot on. This means your eyesight must be matched to your viewfinder to a greater degree than other lenses where you can stop down and 'cheat' by adding more depth at a smaller aperture.

In addition, the lens must be held very steadily. Even a normal tripod won't work very well in a breeze although this lens is less sensitive than those huge conventional lenses which may weigh several kg and are much longer. Still, this sort of lens is best used on a solid tripod and with mirror lock up.

Really this is a good deal but it's not a replacement for a 600 mm f4 super telephoto. Don't expect to screw this one on your camera and then go out and get stunning crystal clear shots of junior's soccer game. For slower use and with the careful user, this lens can work well, however.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

It's hard for me to manual focus moving wildlife but you can't beat the price for a 500mm lens

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

This lens while handholdable works best with a tripod.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

This is a great lens when you want to be relatively inconspicuous or when you need a really long telephoto in places where they look askance at long zooms (e.g. ballgames). If you take the limitations of this lens into account, you can have a great deal of fun with it. It helps that it's so cheap.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Bought for widlife photography and it is all I expected.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

very nice for the price and end-use application

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I'm using it with a Canon 40D. It's a difficult lens to focus and a tripod is a must because of camera shake. Before buying a mirror lens, I did some research because I didn't know anything about them. With this lens you completely rely on TTL to judge all of your settings. This is entirely new to me. You can't go wrong with the price. And it's always fun to experiment with new gear. If anything, I may use it for moon shots.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I like the fact I can get up close, When framing it shows it's in focus but, IT'S NOT!!![...]

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Great range for the price. It is not the sharpest, but it is good.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Great and not that expensive option for a large focus lenght...This technology is basically the same used in modern telescopes. Has, in my opinion, a nice bokeh. Due it's focal lenght you can obtain a more pronunciated photographic effect. However, I haven't been able to find a polarizer filter for it's diameter (95mm!!!), which would be very useful for the kind of pictures I shoot with this. Not suitable for low light enviroments.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Images simply were not sharp enough and the depth of field is too narrow for anything but long distance landscapes or objects of greater than 100 yrds. The adapter ring-lens mount can loosen while carrying or using after several focus attempts.

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

WILDLIFE & LANDSCAPE
LIGHTWEIGHT & DURABLE
THE PRICE WAS RIGHT
VERY SLOW TO FOCUS BUT THAT MIGHT CHANGE WITH TIME

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

For "only " [$], the lens and adapter is an inexpensive foray into high 'mm' telephoto lens. It is very wobbly when attached, so hand held shots are impossible. It takes time to figure the focus parameters, but with instant delete digital, there is no cost other than time. It does take good shots once you figure the above, and makes for some iteresting compressed scenes . . and the 'donut' light effect I read in other reviews is constant at dusk/night - again, depending on taste/preference is sometimes neat!!

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

Great Alternative 500mm

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

very good item conidering then price line

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

This is a 500mm lens, but is used on a digital camera. When you factor in the sensor size, this is equivalent to a 750mm lens. I travel to Denver and I have some outstanding photos of the Rocky Mountains taken from downtown Denver. A little more contrast would be great, but Paint Shop Pro takes care of that. Excellent buy!

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

I use this only for birding-animals. But it must be a bright day,sunny,and you have to "play" with focus to get it just right. Even when I adjust it slowly ,lots of times I have to go back and adjust it just a bit more cause its not quite sharp enough.Its a very hard lens to adjust,you'd have to use it for a while to se if its "what you want"

Comments about Pro Optic Pro-Optic 500mm f/6.3 Manual Focus, T-Mount Mirror Lens:

For the price, this is a great lens. It takes me back to my manual days. It give extremely precise crisp focusing and the bokah is unique. It's light weight and compact and a great addition to any lens collection.