The 500 mm mirror objective has a catadioptric optical construction with a diameter of 89 mm and a length of 116 mm, and clan thermocline be classified among compact objectives, that tidy without problem in a bag classic photograph. Its weight is only 840 g. Its diaphragm is fixed and equal to 8, and the picture angle is 5°.
Filters are type to screw, 39mm of diameter and put to the rear lens mount. They are provided with the objective in versions : L37c, O56, A2, B2, and ND4. It is nevertheless possible to screw to the front side attachments or filters size of 82 mm.
This lens focus down to 1,5m. The focusing ring has two scales : the first, that is white color, is used for distances between 2,5m and infinity. The second, that is orange color is used for distances between 1,5m and 2,5m. The objective comes with a hood to screw.
It is fitted with a fully rotatable tripod mounting collar with click-stop positions provided at 90° intervals.
This objective will not couple with the TTL exposure metering systems that are built into most camera bodies.
If one compares its characteristics with those of a classic lens, as for example the Nikkor AF - S 500mm f4D YF - ED, one can train the table following :

Nikkor 500 mm f8 mirror lens Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
IF-ED
Diameter (mm) 89 and 140 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
lenght (mm) 116 and 394 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
Weight (g) 840 and 3800 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
Aperture 8 and 4 - 22 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
Angle 5° and 5° for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
Focus down to (m) 1,5 and 5 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
Filter diameter (mm) 39 and 52 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
Autofocus No and Yes for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D
TTL coupling No and Yes for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D

Exposure system :
Spot for the two lenses
Pondération centrale for the two lenses
Multizone for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D

Cost (DM) 1898 and 13.993 for the Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4D

An other important characteristic of this objective is its very reduced depth of field :

Distance (m) Depht of field (m)
1,5 1,499-1,501 or 0,002 m
5 4,98-5,02 or 0,040 m
10 9,92-10,1 or 0,080 m
20 19,7-20,3 or 0,60 m
50 48,1-52,1 or 4 m
Infinity 1119-infinity

On the terrain, it is counseled to work with a tripod. It is true that a tripod is heavy and encumbering to transport. But to the moment of the plug of view, it is comfortable and guarantor a plug of quality view. When you take a picture with a tripod for example, you have all the time to refine your centering, without fatigue none, this being all the more important that the focal length is long and that the objective is heavy and cumbersome. The tripod is also justified by the little opening of the objective, f8, what imposes long exposure times incompatible with maximum picture sharpness and freedom from camera shake. The utilization of high sensitivity films could have repel them limit utilization to hand-held shooting, but it fathers others disadvantages linked to the lesser quality of these films.
The compactness of this objective makes such that the distance between the film plan of the camera and the fixing on the foot is very little. That has for consequence a diminution of vibrations during the plug of view with slow speed, and it becomes therefore possible to work without to lift the mirror. If one possesses a camera that does not allow to lift the mirror, it is always possible to place in supplement under the camera a monopode to stabilize it.
If one works in manual mode, given that the diaphragm is fixed, it is counseled to have a camera having the possibility to rule speeds to 1/3 of diaphragm. The precision with which will be able to rule the speed of your camera in manual mode is going to condition the precision of the picture exposure.
The alone modes of exposure are the measure in central balancing, or the spotlight measure, that with a few experience are very efficient.
As explained higher, the focusing ring is reduced. This characteristic justifies because as soon as one changes a bit the focusing, the image is totally different. That explains the huge potential to realize different images with an alone plug of view. This is not not at all the case with classic optics. On the other hand, after having changed viewpoint, it is vain to will find afterwards a centering, it is sorrow lost. The diversity of images is all the more great that the centering comprises plans situated to different distances and that the distance of development is little. This characteristic limits the utilization of this optic to subjects fix as the landscape and the dead nature, rather than to the reporting. Indeed, the absence of autofocus and the strong reduction of the development linked to the difficulty to notice a situated object outside of the plan of sharpness, limit obviously the rapidity of action. On the other hand its weak distances minimal development allows to use it with close subjects by reaching a maximal reproduction report of 1 : 2,5 to 1,5 m.
The alone modes of available exhibition are the manual mode and the priority to the diaphragm.
When one acquires this type of objective, it is necessary to be very attentive to the " Hot point ". This defect characterizes by an image whose central zone is appreciably clearer than the rest of the image, what is very disagreeable with subjects unite, or similarly tonality. This defect is particularly well corrected on Nikkor lenses of the second generation (end of 80s).
It can be used without problems with all converter TV not AF of the range Nikon. On the other hand the lens hood provides origin is clearly insufficient size in practice.
This objective has the particularity to render in the form rings luminous points that are found outside the plan of sharpness. This characteristic is typical to mirror lenses. This rendered individual can be source creativity, but it has to be used with moderation.

...thank you Fernand...someday I hope I'll have one...I know it is not enough to have it to achieve some great results like you have in your portofolio...but learning...trying...taking pictures :-)...
...all the best...
...I wish you a Happy New Year and many, many beautiful pictures...
Codrin

Never tryied but must be without problem !

I have a sigma 500 mm f4 mirror objective.....the biggest and a very special light.....i love it with my canons

I have the 500/4.0 AF-I, the pre AFS one. Excellent glass, but heavy at near 4 kilos, very hard to work with without a sturdy tripod. I use it at the D300, and with a cropfactor of 1.5 it equals the picture angle of a 750mm. Not much of a solution for handheld..

I've had the Sigma EX 500mm f/4,5 APO HSM and loved it on my D70 (750mm equal) and now have the Canon EF 400mm f/2,8 l IS USM. That one is a bit on the heavy side with its 5,3 kilos, the Sigma was much easier at 3,2 kilos but no IS to compensate for my shakings when using it handheld. The Canon has that.

Hi there, I have the 500mm Nikkor F4P manual lens and the 1000mm f11 Reflex Nikkor. I find a sturdy Tripod is essential for both. And they both appreciate a Gimbal Head. Used to have the 500 reflex Nikkor but prefer the prime f4. Thanks for a very good review.

Hello to those who are interested...

The 500mm f/8 Reflex-Nikkor is rather an unknown lens to many photographers - even Nikon users. Although I have owned and used them over the past 30 years, my current (latest) model is only an occasional choice for mounting on my camera when the light is right... and the scene has some specular highlights which will reveal the "donut ring" effect.

I have a review posted on one of my pages here... http://blogs.salon.com/0004217/2004/11/18.html

Regards, Ed Buziak.

Hi Ed, thanks for the link, I agree that these are lenses that many do not appreciate and there is sometimes an irrational hate of the donut effect that blinds some to the excellent image it has produced.
Andy.

This lens is very similar to the minolta / sony 500mm f8 reflex lens which i had for my A700 before moving over to nikon, it was a joy to use! Great lens and the only AF lens of it's type also being on a A700 had IS meaning i could hand-hold with sharp pictures at 1/200.

I play with a 500 f8 at times. Its on my shelf for the most part. I like the lens for somethings. Its a joy to shoot when the sun reflects on the ocean. Millions of little rings. It's a crisp lens but slight movement in the subject moving and you adjusting can become a critical mess leaving the image soft enough to drive you mad.

However the 500 f4 is nice. I'll still take a f2 200mm with the new 2x by nikon on the 300 or 700 and feel safe. Less the money means a few more places to shoot.

Hi Fernand,

I use 500 and 1000 mm reflex nikons since 1984 and really enjoy both for creative work, specially close-ups with great background effects. When out of focus the straight lines tend to break apart and create an unusual look.

This topic also should not be pinned