- Minolta AF 500mm Reflex lens
-
Minolta 500mm f/8 Reflex Key features Maker: Minolta, Sony Ultrasonic motor: 
NoMacro capable: NoUnique features: AF capable Mirror Lens Application: Telephoto Technical data Type: Special Prime Focal length: 500 mm Aperture (max/min): f/8 fixed Construction: 5 groups / 7 elements # Diaphragm blades: No blades, circular Close focus distance: 4 m Max. magnification: 1/7.7 Physical Max. length: 118 mm Weight: 665 g Filter diameter: Front 82mm & Rear drop-in (Clear and NDx4) Accessories Lens hood: Front threaded Angle of view Horizontal: 4.9° History Introduced: 1991 Discontinued: 2010 Replaced by: Minolta version succeeded by Sony version in 2006 Retail info MSRP US$ $699 USD - Sony Version Originally produced by Minolta, and until recently, produced by Sony, the AF 500mm Reflex is a catadioptric photographic lens compatible with cameras using the Minolta AF and Sony α lens mounts.
The Minolta/Sony 500mm Reflex lens is the only production mirror lens designed to auto focus with an SLR camera. There are other mirror lenses that can mount onto current mounts such as Canon EF-mount and Nikon F-mount but all of these mirror lenses are manual focus only. Only this lens can have its focus controlled by the camera's autofocus motor in conjunction with TTL autofocus sensing. In terms of the Minolta AF and subsequent Sony α SLR systems, this lens is an anomaly, being the only lens able to auto focus at f/8 (with the exception of this lens, all other AF lenses must be f/6.3 or larger for AF to function).
The mirror design does not utilize aperture blades, and thus the aperture of the lens is fixed at f/8. Exposure may only be controlled by shutter speed, film or sensor sensitivity, or a rear mounted neutral density filter.
By using a mirror design similar to that of a telescope, this lens uses very little glass compared to traditional telephoto lenses and is thus much smaller, lighter, and far less expensive than traditional lenses in the same focal length. However, this and all other mirror lenses can produce an undesirable donut shaped bokeh in the image it produces.
- Minolta 500mm Reflex Lens
-
Minolta 500mm Reflex Hood off
-
Minolta 500mm Reflex Front design
-
Minolta 500mm Reflex Rear filter out
-
Minolta 500mm Hood on, cap on
-
Minolta 500mm Reflex Mirror assembly
-
Minolta 500mm Reflex Kit
See also
References
- Technical data and user reviews (Minolta Version) on dyxum.com
- Technical data and user reviews (Sony Version) on dyxum.com
Sources
Categories:- Minolta lenses
- Sony Alpha DSLR cameras
- Photography stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
