Playing With Lenses: 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