📷 Opteka 500mm f/6.3 Telephoto Mirror Lens with 2X- 1000mm for Canon EF-Mount Cameras Review

Replaces an old Opteka 500mm catadioptric lens that was lost in a flood. Small cosmetic and functional improvements have been made in recent years, so Opteka has not neglected this lens. While it produces decent images, no one would mistake the results for a $1,500 lens. But its compact size (and doubling the focal length) make it a realistic candidate for casual shooting, particularly of wildlife where a large lens mass can be a disadvantage. It's often criticized in reviews for its f/6.3…

I didn't have high hopes. I didn't have high expectations. I figured that after trial and error and refocusing I could get some usable shots. I didn't even use a teleconverter. I have a decent body, Canon 5D2. I have a nice Manfrotto tripod with a Giotto ball head. I know the limits of my equipment. The focus on infinity is just too spirited. I tried repeatedly for two weeks to get at least a decent picture of the moon hoping for the same results as posted, but couldn't get close. I'm pretty…

I'll make it short, the magnification is impressive at 500mm, at 2x it feels good but noticeably darker and at 500mm it's already a dark feeling, ONLY for ONLY use the handheld on bright sunny days, all you need is a tripod. Now my main feeling is how soft it is. It's the softest optic I've ever used, to the point where images become unusable for serious use. This is good glass for documentation or even reconnaissance, but don't think you'll want to print or cut anything out of this glass. If…

This lens meets all my expectations, flaws and everything. This is my second 500mm SLR lens. I used to have a 500mm Soligor, which I used to photograph North Korean sentries and military operations in the DMZ in 1981. chic bokeh. I knew about all of this. These qualities are more than offset by its small size and low cost. I couldn't use this lens due to the bad weather. However, what I was able to extract from it shows that it is at least as good as Soligor, if not better. This is a very…

Overall I like the idea of the reflective lenses but this lens is compact for a 500mm focal length. I did focus tests right out of the box and this lens is great for wide-angle astrophotography. I have seen other reviews that the lens requires a tripod to be used reliably. No with #!%. Any major increase in magnification may be accompanied by an increase in vibration. You'll need a sturdy tripod that's at least 30 pounds mid-weight to really stabilize the zoomed image. Sorry, mini rant. This…

Added three photos. I was shooting the moon at 10am on a wobbly tripod, so I increased the shutter speed. Also, the Exif info says 800mm because I set it that way since my old Pentax Kx has an APS-C sensor. i.e. 1.5x 500mm. Since the shutter speed was set to ultra-fast to reduce jitter, I had to increase the ISO to 800. Since this is actually a T-mount telescope, the aperture is fixed. You control focus, exposure, shutter speed and white balance manually. I have a better tripod that supports a…

Any review of this lens should start with the phrase 'for the money' and yes, for the money it's great. Keep in mind that the 1000mm length is so long that you actually need a tripod or monopod. 500 mode lets you hold it if you have something to lean on. You may be wondering how this works at 500 and 1000mm. First, they make it universal for any camera, and it comes with an adapter that you screw in for your camera type. If you want to put on the doubler to zoom up to 1000mm, unscrew this…