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Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm first steps
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 1:50 pm    Post subject: Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm first steps Reply with quote
My first pictures with the Minolta AF Mirrortele 8/500mm. Conditions were very dull. Every other mirrorlens i have would be left home as they all require clear conditions, preferrably with two suns shining above.

I expected a slow en hesitating AF as this one has the old contact configuration. Wrong. It focussed quick and exact.
I expected low performance. A bit wrong, given the circumstances the lens performed quite good.

The lens on my A77-2
Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Cygnus Olor by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Falco tinnunculus by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Falco tinnunculus by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Grauwekou by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm by Ouwesok, on Flickr

Now waiting for better weather and more birds to see how it really performs.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 7:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm first steps Reply with quote
Ouwesok wrote:
My first pictures with the Minolta AF Mirrortele 8/500mm. Conditions were very dull. Every other mirrorlens i have would be left home as they all require clear conditions, preferrably with two suns shining above.

I expected a slow en hesitating AF as this one has the old contact configuration. Wrong. It focussed quick and exact.
I expected low performance. A bit wrong, given the circumstances the lens performed quite good.

Now waiting for better weather and more birds to see how it really performs.

Like 1
Why were you expecting low performance? The Minolta 8/500 has a decent reputation as far as mirror lenses go.

It is only in the last image (the cows) and the one two before it (birds with OOF power cables) that the catadioptric nature of the lens reveals itself (double outline bokeh).


PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 8:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm first steps Reply with quote
[quote="RokkorDoctor"]
Ouwesok wrote:

Like 1
Why were you expecting low performance? The Minolta 8/500 has a decent reputation as far as mirror lenses go.

It is only in the last image (the cows) and the one two before it (birds with OOF power cables) that the catadioptric nature of the lens reveals itself (double outline bokeh).


I have five other mirrorlenses in my collection. Under conditions like i had on this day they would not perform at all where sharpness and contrast are concerned. This one was a pleasant surprise. An absolute fun lens.
When i use a catadioptric lens i don't worry about OOF-areas, double backgrounds or donuts, they are all part of the deal for any mirror tele.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 9:03 pm    Post subject: Re: Minolta AF Reflex 8/500mm first steps Reply with quote
Ouwesok wrote:

I have five other mirrorlenses in my collection. Under conditions like i had on this day they would not perform at all where sharpness and contrast are concerned. This one was a pleasant surprise. An absolute fun lens.


The Minolta (Sony) AF 8/500mm mirror lens was a pretty outstanding construction when it came out along with the Minolta Dynax 7000i around 1990. Unlike the previous 5000/7000/9000 AF SLRs, the 7000i was the first to have two additional AF sensors outside of the image center (which were required for AF on a mirror lens). At least in Switzerland the lens always was selling well, even in 2010 when I was working with Sony. At that point, however, Sony Japan decided to discontinue the AF 8/500mm mirror lens since they would introduce the (non-mirror) Sony AL 4/500mm G lens soon.

Well, the 8/500mm mirror had been offered for around CHF 1000.--, while the new 4/500mm was above CHF 10'000.--. The reactions of our local Swiss Sony managers to this decision are not quotable, even 15 years later.

S
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