500mm mirror options.....which one should I get?

[pollux114]

This is my first post on this forum and let me just start by saying that this site is great.
I've always wanted more reach when shooting wildlife, but never had a couple thousand dollars kicking around for a nice 500mm lens.
I became interested in Mirror lenses, but quickly turned away once I started looking at the results from some of them........however, these were all the "newer" ebay models, like opteka.
Since coming here I've been turned on to the russian made mirrors, which seem to be miles ahead of the others. So it seems like a good step while I'm saving for a long prime.

Long story short, here are the options I have found, all within a similiar price range. My only concerns are highest IQ and lowes "donut effect". I would be interested in hearing from anyone with experience using any of them, or links to sample images.
Some of these are not Russian, but are included because I have found good reviews, or couldn't find any info at all.

1. Spiratone 500mm f/8
2. Soligor C/D 500mm f/8
3. Celestron 500mm f/5.6
4. ZM-5CA MC 500mm f/8
5. ZM-5A 500mm f/8
6. 3M-5A 500mm f/8 (Typo? 3M=ZM?)
7. 3M-6A MC 500mm f/6.3 (about $100 more than the rest....worth it?)

Thanks in advance.

Oh, also. If it matters they all have M42 mounts and I plan on putting it on a Canon.

[Attila]

6. 3M-5A 500mm f/8 (Typo? 3M=ZM?)
7. 3M-6A MC 500mm f/6.3 (about $100 more than the rest....worth it?)

Both are very good, last one is extremely good sharp like hell if you see this is an 500mm lens. Surely worth to take it.

Put into your list Tamron SP 500mm f8 sharp , compact great lens.

Other lenses on your list I think lot more worst than these.

With Russians you need to count lens diameter especially 7 , it's huge.
I think it will be un-mountable on Canon house of flash will not allow to mount it.

I did test with several camera , Olympus E-300 (like a brick) and Olympus E-1 (no flash) was right camera for large Russians.

[pollux114]

Thanks, I had heard of some issues with the lens barrel hitting the flash housing. Some people use extension rings to clear the housing, but apparently that only works if the lens will focus beyond infinity, which I am not sure if this one does.
Like I said, it's about $100 more than the 3M-5A and the shipping is quite high, so it may be out of my price range at the moment.
Is there that much of a difference between the 3M-5A and the 3M-6A?
Would the quality of the 6A rival say....the sigma 400mm prime? If so, then I could consider just getting this now as my long lens and not worrying about a prime until I can afford a *really* good one.

So the 3M-5A and the ZM-5A are actually different lenses? This may be a bit of a noob question, but what do those letters mean? (the 3M and ZM) do they represent the manufacturer of the lens?

I find it hard to track down these russian mirror models, it seems you need to know exactly the model # that you are looking for.

[Attila]

3M-6A really good one, you can't find better one even for thousand bucks.

400mm sigma can be very crap and good one also , but handy , small.

[fergus]

Hi pollux114

[pollux114]

Alright, thanks for that.......I've found them called both......at different prices.

I had previously read that post, which is where I got my starting point for which lenses to search for.

My reason for starting this thread (primarily) was because I found some other similiar lenses which I couldn't find ANY information about, and I didn't want to inadvertently pass up an unknown gem.

Now my issue is deciding between the 5A and the 6A........the 6A will end up costing be close to $400 CAN, but if the IQ is that much better, then it's probably worth it.

[Attila]

[fergus]

Hi pollux114

My 3M-5A (ZM-5A) lens just fits my Canon 400D, lens barrel almost touches prism/flash housing. I like this lens a lot, but can't comment on how it compares to other 500mm mirror lenses.

I would have concerns about 3M-6A (ZM-6A) fitting Canon DSLR's without the need for using extension tubes or converters.

Regards

Fergus.

[Attila]

[mavagner]

Hello, i am about to buy this lens. It is possible to adjust it to focus to infinity with an adapter? (it is M42 and i have Nikon camera)
Thank you

[Poolhall]

This is correct I have a 3M-5A, and use it with a Pentax t-mount, it just clears the flash housing on my Samsung Gx-10. The fact it can focus beyond infinity overcomes the extension caused by the t-mount. Btw Its a much better lens than the Sigma 400/5.6, my version is af and frankly not that good, but as Attila says some versions of it are ok, just a gamble what you get.