300mm Mirror Lenses

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Not having experience with the Hanimex, I could only speculate - and with skepticism. Perhaps a bad copy or not from the same manufacturer.

A friend nearby purchased a Cambron 5.6/300 after I told him I was reasonably sure it was the same lens as Ohnar. It is the style where there is a limited aperture selection. Ohnar has that version too and I've also seen it with the Travenon name. After comparing images, his Cambron is the equal of my Ohnar. I have not been able to make any other direct comparisons with the other brands but will in coming weeks. I have a Super Danubia, which I will be receiving and believe to be the same as Ohnar.

It remains a mystery to me who actually made the lenses. Ohnar seems to have only been an accessory supplier with some few lenses as exceptions.

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Found a good use for my 5.6/300mm CELESTRON - using a eyepiece adapter for birdwatching
for our Easter trip to Majorca, Spain to some wetlands near Alcudia. Very small, light and a high
magnification.

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

Shot of the Waterhouses Cement works this morning with the little Chinon 300mm/5.6. The shot was always going to be low contrast due to the sun and mist, therefore it was always going to be very highly processed, but I'm still impressed with the detail it picked out.

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

That's beautiful. I think the best use of mirror lenses is long distance work like that where there are no oof areas and none of the horrible donut bokeh.

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

Thank you Klaus & Ian. This lens gave me a new problem to deal with; "dust spot donuts"! I had to make about 20 horseshoe shaped corrections with a spot healing brush...

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

I wouldn't worry too much about colours, that BW shot is far better than anything else in this thread.

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

I found a colour shot from this morning with the Chinon. ISO 640, edited in LR, just Whites & Blacks, no added contrast, Sony A7 II. Keen eyes will see that Andrew is using a helicoid adapter to reduce the MFD of the Canon 50/1.4 LTM39.

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

This was the shot he took with the Canon, you will all be pleased to know that I scolded him for burning out the highlights in the shot, I then had to retract the scolding when my version of the shot also had burnt out highlights...

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Thanks, Simon. The lens looks quite decent.I've found that the colors and contrast are very good as long as the lens is shaded from the sun.

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

Antoine · Joined: 08 Jan 2016 Posts: 298 Location: London

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

I'm going to start a sister thread about 500mm mirror lenses. I already have a Maksutov thread but will make this one about all 500mm mirrors. Since this 300mm thread has included some 500mm examples, it will hopefully be useful. I'll have three 500mm lenses to contribute to the thread.

3dpan · Joined: 05 Nov 2017 Posts: 65 Location: New Zealand

3dpan · Joined: 05 Nov 2017 Posts: 65 Location: New Zealand

I have four 500mm mirror lenses, Zeiss Mirotar, Olympus, Tokina, and Rubinar.
A good excuse to dust of the cobwebs.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

Here are some of my most recent Ohnar 300mm images.

3dpan · Joined: 05 Nov 2017 Posts: 65 Location: New Zealand

Makes me wish I had an Ohnar, and your ability.

itsfozzy · Expire: 2021-04-14

That heron shot is fantastic, Woodrim!

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Looks pretty poor to me, lacking contrast and vibrancy and the bokeh is really nasty in some shots, that last one of the Racoon especially, it looks muddy, flat and the bokeh is very nervous.

Oldhand · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:14 am Post subject:

iangreenhalgh1 · Expire: 2014-01-07

Three looks okay, but it's in a high contrast lighting situation, even a poor lens can do well when the light is right.. Five is in flatter, duller light and there the lens doesn't perform well.

3dpan · Joined: 05 Nov 2017 Posts: 65 Location: New Zealand

I think the racoon pic is superb, it portrays aptly the soft lighting one would expect on the forest floor.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

My first images from Super Danubia 5.6/300, which I believe to be the same lens as Ohnar.