Far reach but disappointing image quality: Soligor C/D mirror 500mm F8

 Cost: $35 (average cost around $50)

As an amateur photographer interested in wildlife and bird photography, I recently got my hands on the Soligor 500mm f/8 mirror lens—a budget-friendly option that offers an intriguing experience, to say the least. While it opens up creative possibilities, the lens presents its fair share of challenges that may limit its appeal to more serious photographers.

The Soligor 500mm f/8 impresses with its solid, metal build that feels durable despite being lightweight. Its compact, catadioptric design—combining lenses and mirrors—makes it more portable than traditional telephoto lenses, a huge plus for outdoor enthusiasts. However, its wide barrel can feel cumbersome to handle during extended shoots. The focus ring, though smooth to operate, can be a bit stiff, adding to the overall challenge of using this lens.

Optically, the Soligor 500mm f/8 is a bit of a mixed performer. The fixed f/8 aperture means there’s no flexibility to adjust the depth of field, making it harder to adapt to different lighting conditions. This can be limiting, as you’re often forced to adjust ISO or shutter speed instead, which can be a headache when trying to capture fleeting moments, especially with wildlife.

Sharpness is another point of contention. In bright daylight, the lens can produce decent images, especially when shooting away from the sun, but when you shoot slightly in the direction of the sun, it struggles. Images often come out soft and lack the crisp details you might expect from a telephoto lens, giving photos a somewhat flat, washed-out appearance. However, with some post-processing in software like Photoshop—boosting contrast, adjusting sharpness, and playing with levels—it’s possible to bring out some of the detail that the lens struggles to capture naturally.

One of the more polarizing aspects of this lens is its distinctive donut-shaped bokeh, courtesy of its mirror-based, catadioptric design. In certain situations, like capturing wildlife against a blurred background, this effect can add an artistic flair to images. However, it can also become distracting when out-of-focus elements dominate the scene. This is a characteristic that some will appreciate for its uniqueness, while others may find it a hindrance.

The manual focus mechanism is both a challenge and a learning opportunity. The Soligor's narrow depth of field requires precision, which can be difficult to achieve with fast-moving subjects like birds in flight. Dialing in focus often requires patience and practice, with many near-misses as subjects dart out of the frame. For stationary subjects, the manual focus can be manageable, but it’s undeniably more frustrating compared to an autofocus lens, especially when shooting unpredictable wildlife.

For final thoughts, the Soligor 500mm f/8 mirror lens is a quirky, budget-friendly option for those looking to explore long telephoto photography without a significant financial investment. It lacks the flexibility and sharpness of more conventional telephoto lenses, and the fixed aperture can be a limiting factor in varying conditions. However, it offers a unique shooting experience that can help develop your skills, especially in terms of manual focusing. If you're willing to spend time in post-processing and can embrace the quirks, it can be a fun addition to your kit. But if you’re serious about capturing consistently sharp, vibrant images, you might soon find yourself wishing for a lens with a bit more precision and control. I therefore decided to not keep this lens in my collection.

Lens Specification:
Optics: catadioptric mirror
Focal Length: 500mm
Fixed Aperture: F8
Image Format: 35mm
Minimum Focus: 25mm
Lens Mount: FD
Focus: Manual
Filter Size: 77mm
Weight: 560g
Length: 93mm
Production: - Discontinued
Made in: Japan

More information on Soligor

Samples

1/160 sec - F8 - ISO-2000 - Manual Focus

1/250 sec - F8 - ISO-100 - Manual Focus

1/200 sec - F8 - ISO-100 - Manual Focus

1/160 sec - F8 - ISO-160 - Manual Focus

1/160 sec - F8 - ISO-3200 - Manual Focus

Big, heavy, shiny and sharp in the middle: Auto Tamron Zoom 1:4 f=70-220mm

Cost: $49.99.00 (average cost around $46)

   

Nice to review a lens that is only 3 years younger then yourself. This Tamron Zoom is a versatile two-touch zoom lens that is a pleasure to use. This lens offers a decent range, decent image quality, is smooth to handle, easy to focus and well balanced

With a 70-220mm focal length range, this lens covers a broad spectrum of shooting scenarios from portrait to telephoto. It's a pretty heavy beast though, so that could be a reason to look for a different, lighter to carry around, lens. 

While it's not a premium-grade lens, the build quality is decent, and it feels durable enough to withstand regular use. I don't really like the shiny black exterior, but the bright orange lettering does give it a late sixties, early seventies, feeling. 

Image quality is acceptable with rich colors, but does not really meet current standards. There is some noticeable distortion at the extreme ends of the focal range, and although sharp in the center, it is not as consistent in the corners, especially on the high end of the zoom range.

The maximum aperture of f/4 can be limiting in low-light situations, but modern camera's and denoise software brings new life in this older, slower lenses. A constant aperture is nice to work with though.

In summary, the Auto Tamron Zoom 70-220mm lens is a good choice for hobbyists and enthusiasts who are looking to experiment with an older lens. It's a versatile lens that delivers good results for the age of the lens but it does have its limitations, particularly in challenging lighting conditions and extreme focal lengths. 

Lens Specification:

Lens Model: PZ-30Au
Focal Length: 70-220mm
Maximum Aperture: F4
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Adapt-a-Matic with M42
Optics: 14 elements, 11 groups
Blades: 9
Focus: Manual
Minimum Focus: 200cm
Filter Size: 67mm
Weight: 1065g
Length: 190-197mm
Production: 1969 - Discontinued
Serial Number: 185593
Made in: Japan

More information on Tamron

Samples:

1/320 sec - ISO-3200

1/320 sec - ISO-100

1/160 sec - ISO-320

1/125 sec - ISO-6400

1/800 sec - ISO-100

1/250 sec - ISO-100

1/250 sec - ISO-100

1/640 sec - ISO-100

1/250 sec - ISO-100

1/400 sec - ISO-100

1/200 sec - ISO-100

1/2000 sec - ISO-100

Sources:

Adaptall-2.com

lens-db.com

A Versatile Workhorse: Kiron 28-210 f/4-5.6 Macro MC

   Cost: $24.00 (average cost around $30)

   

The Kiron 28-210 f/4-5.6 Macro MC lens is a versatile one-touch (Push-Pull) lens and was one of the first uni-lenses (one lens to cover a wide range with good quality). This lens offers a wide focal range, macro capabilities, and a compact design that makes it a great addition to any camera bag.

The build quality of this lens is decent considering its original price point. The lens feels sturdy in hand, has no lens creep (and common problem for one-touch lenses with a large range) and the metal construction adds to its durability. The zoom and focus rings are smooth, making it easy to adjust settings while shooting. The lens is relatively lightweight, for it's size and range, which is a plus for photographers who prefer to travel light.

One of the standout features of the Kiron 28-210 lens is its impressive focal range. With a 28mm wide-angle perspective to a 210mm telephoto reach, it covers a broad spectrum of shooting situations. Whether you're capturing landscapes, portraits, or wildlife, this lens has you covered. The versatility of the zoom range makes it an excellent all-in-one solution for photographers who don't want to carry multiple lenses.

What made the lens very special, and easy to use when shooting very wide, was that the lens was almost always sharp, regardless of the position of the focus ring. I don't think I have ever seen this before with any other lens. Fool proof sharpness in the wide range.

The lens also offers limited macro capabilities, allowing you to get up close and personal with your subjects, making it suitable for close-up photography of flowers, insects, or other small subjects. While it may not compete with dedicated macro lenses in terms of magnification, it offers good flexibility for general macro work.

The image quality of the Kiron 28-210 f/4-5.6 Macro MC lens is generally acceptable. In good lighting conditions, it produces sharp and contrasty images. However, as you approach the longer end of the zoom range and use wider apertures, you may notice some softness, and distortion at the edges of the frame. Chromatic aberration and lens flares can also be an issue in high-contrast situations.

This lens may struggle in low-light conditions due to its variable aperture (f/4-5.6). When shooting at the telephoto end in dimly lit environments, you'll likely need to use a higher ISO setting, which can introduce noise into your images. A tripod or image stabilization (if available on your camera) can help mitigate this issue. And de-noise tools like Topaz Denoise work like a miracle. Some of the samples below had a high ISO, but you would not notice.

The Kiron 28-210 f/4-5.6 Macro MC lens is a budget-friendly, all-in-one solution that offers a wide focal range and macro capabilities. It's a versatile lens that can handle various shooting situations, making it a good choice for amateur photographers wanting to shoot manual or those on a tight budget that want some extended range beyond their kit lens. While it may not deliver the optical quality of more expensive lenses, it provides a valuable tool for photographers looking to expand their creative options without breaking the bank.

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 28-210mm
Maximum Aperture: F4-5.6
Minimum Aperture: F32
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: MD
Optics: 14 elements, 11 groups
Blades: 6
Focus: Manual
Minimum Focus: 110cm
Filter Size: 72mm
Weight: 840g
Length: 130-186mm
Production: 1984 - Discontinued
Serial Number: 57618571
Made in: Japan

MC: Multi-layer Coating for minimizing ghosting and flares.

More information on Kino Precision Industries, Limited

Samples:

1/320 sec - ISO-100

1/100 sec - ISO-100

1/80 sec - ISO-6400

1/125 sec - ISO-6400

1/40 sec - ISO-6400

1/1600 sec - ISO-100

1/800 sec - ISO-400

1/500 sec - ISO-400

1/160 sec - ISO-6400

1/125 sec - ISO-6400

1/400 sec - ISO-100

Sources:

Lens-DB.com

Finally a ZE Mount Lens: Mamiya -Sekor Zoom E 80-200mm 1:3.8

  Cost: $50.00 (average cost around $60)

   

I was looking for a while for a ZE-mount lens when I found this nice example. The ZE-Mount is able to drive automatic aperture (via the camera) and pass on information such as focal length. It is however not an auto-focus lens. To set the aperture when using my Sony camera, you need a ZE-adapter that can manually set the aperture on the adapter. I purchased the Photodiox Pro ZE-NEX (not to many adapters available for this mount), and not only does it come with the ability to set the aperture, it also has a nice graphic scale showing you aperture size.  

The main reason to find me a ZE lens, was their good reputation in lens quality. And to be honest, for an early zoom lens, it handled very good and provides great quality. Good colors, sharp, easy to focus. Solid metal build, but as a two-touch zoom lens is is very large and heavy compared to todays lenses. 

Nice to play around with for a day, but a little heavy for every day use, or to carry around in your camera bag. But the image quality and nice looks is making me keep this lens. One more for the collection.

I will for sure try to find more Mamiya ZE-mount lenses. 

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 80-200mm
Maximum Aperture: F3.8
Minimum Aperture: F32
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Mamiya ZE
Optics: 14 elements, 10 groups
Blades: 8
Focus: Manual
Minimum Focus: 13cm
Filter Size: 58mm
Weight: 765g
Length: 154-158mm
Production: 1980 - Discontinued
Serial Number: 20877
Made in: Japan

More information on Mamiya

Samples:

1/160 sec - ISO-2500

1/160 sec - ISO-1000

1/160 sec - ISO-320

1/500 sec - ISO-100

1/160 sec - ISO-1250

1/160 sec - ISO-400

1/320 sec - ISO-12800

1/320 sec - ISO-2000

1/320 sec - ISO-12800

1/320 sec - ISO-12800

Sources:
Wikipedia - Mamiya

Lens-DB.com