Sigma Mirror Telephoto

8 years 3 months ago #465962 by DacrimL
Not to far in the distant past while I was absent from this great place I was fortunate enough to be gifted with a new lens. At the time it was still wrapped in the paper and plastic and came complete with hood and bag. 

The question is is what is the best use for this lens?
The lens in question is a 
Sigma Mirror Telephoto
f = 600mm
1:8.......
whatever that means.
Macro 1:3 also stamped on it?

It has a filter mounted at the rear of the lens. So any advice would be much appreciated on what the best use for this lens would be, so perhaps I could go out and test it out.


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8 years 1 month ago #471600 by Joves
It is novelty lens at best, and a nightmare  at its worst. Mirrored lenses tend to suck. It is always at f-8. So just go out and play with it to see. Also it will have doughnut shaped bokeh. The problem with those lenses is that the quality control is not all that high on the optical end, and the lens elements are not collimated  very well. All that means is that they do not focus the light waves very well, hence they do not form images well.
So as I said go out and try it. Since it is a freebie no harm, no foul. You might use it to shoot the moon sometime for grins and, giggles.


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8 years 1 month ago - 8 years 1 month ago #471603 by Screamin Scott
It's an inexpensive way to shoot distant objects. As Joves said, not the best of IQ & points of light in the image will present themselves as "doughnut" bokeh. The macro feature is laughable as it's difficult to nail focus at long distances, much less close up. It is a fixed F8 aperture, but there should be neutral density filters that should have come with it that you drop in a rear slot that allow for less light on the sensor (or film as it may). Best to save up for a conventional lens as opposed to this mirror lens. Shoot with it though as it cost you nothing & you may get a few keepers....

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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8 years 1 month ago #471682 by Carlos
All good points, really at the end of the day.  It's preference, it's personal exploration using what you have.  Get it and find a way to make it work for you.  Just my 4 cents and a cup of Joe. 

(2) Canon 7D, Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM, 50mm f/1.4 USM, 85mm f/1.8 USM, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM, Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6
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8 years 1 month ago #471760 by Pierce Steenken
:agree:  that pretty much sums it up. It's an inexpensive way to shoot things from far away.  I just wouldn't expect much when you zoom in. 


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