Customer Reviews

Phoenix 500mm f/8 Multi-Coated Mirror Lens for Pentax K-7, K-5, K-R, K20D, K200D, K2000 Digital SLR Cameras

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I bought this on a whim because it was so large for so cheap. I'm still trying to find the best use for it, but I've gotten some decent images out of it. Used on my Pentax K10D, I find I get the best images out of it on a sunny day with a high shutter speed. I tried some night/tripod shots, and wasn't too excited about the results. Buy it for a cheap and lightweight lens to tide you over until you can afford one of higher quality.

I purchased this lens as an addition to the 18-250mm Pentax lens I intend to use most of the time on my Pentax K20D. I can recommend the 500mm as a lens you would use when you absolutely had to have that effective 750mm focal length. It is rated at f8 which becomes f12 at 750mm. If you try to hand hold it, you'll discover that even in bright sunlight you are using film speeds like ISO 1600 just to maintain the minimum rule of thumb 1/750th of a second for minimum sharpness. It's definitely a lens to be used on a tripod for this reason.

On the computer screen, the photos are just OK although I would hope they would print better. The depth of field is minimal even with the f12 aperture. The 750mm f.l. is what sinks the depth of field.

If you really need crisp images and can afford the optics of true lens, then I would invest in that. Otherwise, for light weight, portability and photos in a pinch, the Phoenix 500mm is just OK.

P.S. Day after initial review: OOPS! I goofed up. You're not really using a lens with a 750mm focal length here, only cropping the center out of a 500mm lens image. The aperture remains f8. Sorry for the misinformation.