Aaron, I've used the Tamron SP 500mm f8.0. If this is the only way you can
shoot a 500mm & you have a need for it I recommend you go for it. The images
I shot with it I never would have shot without that lens. It told me enough
about a 500mm lens that I new I had to have a long lens. Yeah, mirror lenses
have special issues, but I've never regretted having one.
I sold mine years after I bought it new for almost as much as I paid for it.
Kenneth Waller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Aaron Reynolds" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 6:38 PM
Subject: Re: mirror/cat lenses
I was wondering if anyone here had experience with faster mirror lenses.
I've used a few. My favorites are the VS1 600/8 Solid Cat, the VS1
450/4.5
Aspherical, and the Tamron SP 500/8.
You already know about the "hot spots", etc., but some mirror lenses show
these artifacts more than others. (The above are quite good in this
regard.) The narrow DOF can be a problem, and you can't compensate
ordinarily (no normal aperture control). They can often be a nuisance to
focus except in bright light.
Mirrors are always a compromise, and you end up juggling two or more
conflicting factors when trying to use them. On the other hand, they can
be quite portable for telephotos, and ~can~ do a good job under the right
circumstances. But there are a lot of mirror "duds" out there, too, I
guess.
Fred
