Sigma 600mm F8 Mirror Telephoto Multicoated

Rick1779 · Expire: 2014-06-06

Just a test of a new bargain for a MD version.
I'm pretty impressed, not so easy to focus but has a decent sharpness for a tele-mirror-lens

Rick1779 · Expire: 2014-06-06

I was planning to sell it, but now I'm not so sure about it Laughing

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

Rick, you should hang onto it.

There's a good reason why a Sigma mirror built some 30 years ago still routinely sells for $300 or more on eBay. It's because it's a damn good optic, is why.

I had a Sigma 600mm mirror during the 1980s when I was shooting Canon FD. Sold it when I switched to Nikon in 1989. Now that I have Canon FD cameras again, I wish I would have kept it. Especially since the FD mount is no longer an impediment to digital photography with a good digital camera, thanks to the popularization of MILCs.

So all my images from my 600mm are from film. But here's a couple just to show you how sharp mine was. Taken at an SCCA race at Willow Springs Raceway, California. Probably in about 1986. Film was just plain Fujichrome 100. The first image is the shot, the second is a 100% enlargement. No sharpening or any other PP was done, except for a few cloned out dust spots and reduction in size of the first image, crop for the second. Click on the images to show them at 1600 pixels wide.

In case you might be wondering how I managed to get an in-focus shot of a race car at speed, let me assure you, it wasn't a lucky shot. This is a great spot on the racecourse for taking photos of race cars because of the S-curves, especially if its a knot of race cars going through the S-curve. So what I did when I positioned myself there was to focus on a precise spot on the empty track. Then I'd trip the shutter the moment the car entered the in-focus zone.

Rick1779 · Expire: 2014-06-06

awesome shot Shocked

So I think I can call it a bargain since I get mine for 35€ Cool

Rick1779 · Expire: 2014-06-06

A moon shot taken yesterday

larger here
http://www.telltale.it/signora-luna/

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

I have seen this lens on ebay and wondered,thanks for the samples. Great moonshot!

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

You know the story Mike,always looking for another lens to try Wink

It's nice to see these other Mirrors and their sample images posted up...narrows the search pattern.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

Yeah, I know. And even though I own a 55BB, because I used to own a Sigma 600, I guess it's sort of natural to want to own another one in a more useful mount -- like Nikon instead of Canon FD. In my case, it's more for sentimental reasons, though.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

A sentimental reason is good enough for me, and you have the benefit of knowing how that lens will perform having used it in the past. I am however thinking I will try a Russian Mirror lens next, before I would buy the Sigma.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

It's hard to fault the Russian mirrors. There are a couple of other brands that make long mirrors -- 1000mm typically: Celestron and Meade, both US makers. Their "small" mirrors are quite good. I say "small" because their more serious mirrors are telescopes with 8" or larger diameter objectives.

I used to own one of the Celestron 1000mm f/11's and it was a very nice lens/spotting scope. They are fairly plentiful here in the US, so often can be found for cheap.