(FT3) Coming soon: A mirror tele lens from Panasonic?
That is a surprise! One of our very good sources just told us that Panasonic is developing a new 500mm mirror(reflex) tele lens! UPDATE: The source doens’t know if that lens will be announced within 2011. The picture I posted above shows the Minolta 500mm reflex. According to the source Panasonic is working with some of the minolta specialist that made that lens. The Panasonic version will have AF (autofocus), O.I.S. (in lens stabilization) and be smaller than the Minolta version. What I don’t know is if there is really a “market” for such a lens. That’s why I added a poll at the bottom of the post to ask you if you would be interested in buying such a lens. And if you know more about that lens drop us a line at 43rumors@gmail.com or use the contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For reference:
- The Minolta 500mm lens is out of production. You can get it for $500-$700 at eBay (Click here to see the current lens auctions).
- The new verison of the Minolta lens is the Sony 500mm f/8. Price $750 at Amazon (Click here to see it).
- Opteka offers a 500mm lens with Four Thirds mount. You can get them on eBay (Click here) or Amazon (Click here).
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Recent comments
Comment from Lindsay: I believe that would be next to impossib...
Comment from frosti7: The user "safaridon" at dpreview forum's...
Comment from pdc: Haven't met a mirror lens yet that I lik...
Comment from Mr. Reeee: Stick the thing on a rifle stock mount a...
Miklos Rabi
2 years ago |A Pana 300/2.8 OIS mirror lens would be interesting. But the usual 500/8 is a way too dark and long for (m)43. Also the f/8 Av is the diffraction limit of that sensors… :/
Inge-M.
2 years ago |I to will like a 300/2.8. but in a mirror lens is the not aperture setting, the lens is only full open aperture and not diffraction, so diffraction is not a problem all. But F8 is to dark also by OIS in a lens.
Jim Ramsey Khoury
2 years ago |Why panny? Why? This is not needed ATM :p
If the next lenses include a fast normal 25, a fast wide angle, a fast normal zoom, that means you need to make a fast portrait prime, a fast medium tele prime, and a fast-ish tele zoom before you consider this lens. Hell we could even do with a longer macro first.
Jim Ramsey Khoury
2 years ago |- 25mm f1.4
- 12mm f2 or 10-20mm f2.5-3.3
- 12-50mm f2.5-3.3
- 40mm f1.6
- 100mm f2
- 50-150mm f2.8-3.5
- 100mm f3.5 macro
- 400mm f5.6 CAT
That would be quite the lineup
Eric
2 years ago |+1
A 500mm reflector lens before any of the lenses you listed is nuts. Although I would make one change, I’d rather have a 50mm/1.2 over a 40mm/1.6.
Jim Ramsey Khoury
2 years ago |I didn’t list the 50mm because Oly is supposedly making one though I guess an f1.2 would be reasonably sized if somewhat heavy.
Eric
2 years ago |Size isn’t much of a factor to me on a portrait lens. I don’t carry one of those with me on photo walks. I only use portrait lenses when I’m actually doing portrait work. If I’m carrying a bag of strobes and light stands a slightly bigger lens isn’t an issue for me.
safaridon
2 years ago |I like your choices of lenses you would like to see especially the 100mm/f2 for short tele end and if you need longer just add 2x for the compact m4/3s. This lens also would be very good for candid photography and portraits in a very compact size.
I also like your suggestion of the 10-20mm/f2.5-3.3 wide zoom as a little brother to the projected 12-50mm/f2.5-3.3 lens coming. I have always projected a smaller 2x is coming but never considered it would be this wide as would be larger size and cost more than a 12-24mm?
I think the mirror lens should be the 250mm/f5.6 smaller version as would be a good fit again for the compact m4/3 models and same size as a 50mm/f1.4 if only they can find a way to get rid of the out of focus donuts!
Jim Ramsey Khoury
2 years ago |Yeah the 100mm f2 for the Canon FD cameras was nice and compact so an m4/3 version would be reasonably sized I believe (maybe the size of the 14-45mm while retracted).
Tim
2 years ago |All I want them to make now is a fast rectilinear 7mm prime then I would get the GH2 with the Nauticam housing that is supposed to be coming and go and shoot deep wrecks.
YeahYeah
2 years ago |What the F***? This is all the shit they have?
Why the hell aren’t they developing a REAL portrait lens? We’re still waiting for the 50/1.2….
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |I Agee w/ Jim.
It just seems like not many would buy it, but their marketing peopl would love it.
If I wanted a lens that long I’d get a good spotting scope and adaptors.
A reasonably priced macro, f2 or so.
Bright primes.
Better yet, just find us some Voightländer 25mm f.95!
M43Photo
2 years ago |I think this sounds like a good idea. A mirror tele lens is a way for Panasonic to distinguish itself. A mirror tele with OIS has not been done before, according to my knowledge, and is sure to catch some headlines.
If it can be made reasonably compact and light, then it fits well into the system. The rumor does not mention the aperture speed. Assuming it is f/8, I don’t see that as a problem with the high ISO capabilities of modern cameras.
I’m sure a lot of wilflife/safari/sports photographers will love this lens.
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |How about a detatchable EVF on par or better than the GH2?
How about a real successor to the GF1, with more external controls (not dumbed down) and a higher-res, articulating LCD… see Sony NEX5…
Henrik
2 years ago |I know what you mean but it sounded funny
Not dumbed down… see Sony Nex 5 (I know you are referring to the LCD only but some may not get it). Sony Nex is one of the mest downdumbed cameras I know of right now 
.
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |LOL. That was a bit unclear.
I meant dumbed-down like the GF2 is vs. the GF1.
Sony is marketing dumbed-down as a feature!
But the pivoting LCD on the NEX5 is really nice.
ssj_george
2 years ago |My question is what does it mean “mirror lens” ?
Gabi
2 years ago |A mirror lens is a catadioptric lens with usually just one aperture. It is much lighter and smaller (shorter) than other tele lenses of the same focal length.I own both the Minolta 250/5.6 and the 500/8. I would love to have a mirror lens with autofocus and image stabilization! however, I would prefer the smaller variant (perhaps 300-400mm). The Minolta 250/5.6 is about the same size and weight as the standard lens (14-42 mm).
Brod1er
2 years ago |Bizarre- which may mean it’s true!. A 500mm /1000mm equivalent f5.6 OIS for the same size as the minolta would have a unique appeal as a compact ultra long telephoto. It does fit the mft compact ethos nicely – but it needs to be f5.6 in my view, and can they do anything about the doughnut bokeh issue these lenses have?
Daemonius
2 years ago |It can be faster (Nikon made few faster in past time), but bokeh will be same, cause bokeh is created way this lens works.. Though maybe it could be reduced/eliminated by using STF-like system. Unfortunately, I think Minolta/Sony owns that patent and Im not sure it could be done with this design. That Minolta guy which is making this lens would know.. but I cant ask him.
Though.. would be nice to see 65mm STF lens on Panny.
DonTom
2 years ago |Mirror lenses are well known for their bad (donut) bokeh, plus being slow glass. Seriously, why buy a slow lens with what bokeh there is being not very good?
Much better getting a compact superzoom, at least the focus is likely to be good. Probably weigh less too.
I really would prefer Panny would concentrate on filling the holes in their standard line-up. I want a wide fast prime, and a fast portrait lens, that is where this format should be shining.
Igorek7
2 years ago |Considering that the catadioptric (mirror) lenses are relatively more compact and cheaper than the regular refractor-only ones, it can be a nice idea. However, I would rather prefer to have something like Tamron SP 350 f5.6 mirror, which delivers excellent optical performance and is 1 F/stop faster (just add the AF and OIS!). It may even provide a better imaging quality than Panasonic 100-300mm f4-5.6 at 300mm.
joel
2 years ago |What?? Why make rubbish like a mirror lens, i doubt its true, if it is they are really out of touch..
tobi
2 years ago |meh.
Guest
2 years ago |Why are they putting a mirror in their lens?
WE’RE ON A MIRRORLESS SYSTEM! WE HATE MIRRORS!
ChrisGH2
2 years ago |Where the f**k is the fast standard tele (35-100) at 2.8, we still have no fast standard zoom or fast fifty or portrait lens!!! Why are they wasting their time with niche produxts like this!!
Ranger 9
2 years ago |I voted “don’t need,” but I don’t think this is a dumb idea at all.
The Minolta mirror lens was extremely good in terms of optical quality, and it was one of the few mirror lenses that would work with an AF camera. (Most won’t because the hole in the mirror cuts off the view of the AF sensors.)
Also, the small size and light weight of a mirror lens tie in nicely with the benefits of a Micro Four Thirds system. You get a huge amount of reach in a small, easy-to-handle package. They also tend to be less expensive than a refractive lens of the same focal length and performance.
So while I’d never use such a thing, being a mostly “indoor” photographer, I think it’ll sell to casual bird photographers, people who want to shoot their kids’ sports events from the grandstand, and so forth.
juan e
2 years ago |Un 500mm AF seria una maravilla para los que hacemos fotonaturaleza.
)
safaridon
2 years ago |Admin – The only problem with this rumor most likely true is you posted a picture of the wrong lens! The lens should have been the Minolta 250/f5.6 mirror lens which about same size as a 50/1.4 lens perfect size for the mini m4/3 models.
As others on web have noted this lens is very sharplens probably sharper at 250mm than existing 200 or 300mm range zooms and with added AF and OIS would be very good for sporting events, animal photography, and candid pictures. If only Pany can find a way to get rid of those mirror lens out of focus donuts this lens would become very popular. I would assume with a faster f5.6 aperature there should be less of a problem with the halos than with f8 longer tele mirror? Don’t know. The mirror telephoto lenses were very inexpensive in their day so this lens promises to be both very small, light, and less expensive. Makes my decision to get a m4/3 camera even more exciting.
Both the Pany 45-200 and 100-300 lenses at f5.6 have shown that they can take good portraits so why not this one? Pany probably for now not making a fast 50mm portrait lens because they already have the 45/2.8 M and many figure they will use the new projected 25mm/f1.4 for portraits anyway?
Snowbird_UT
2 years ago |I agree with Ranger 9 and Safaridon. I will not be buying a mirror tele but there will be many that will if the size and price are small. The halo effect is more obtrusive with light sources so if you understand that you can learn when to use this lens and what scenes/backgrounds to avoid. Used properly the mirror lens can be a great choice.
Steve
2 years ago |Admin,
Production for the Sony 500mm Reflex lens was discontinued last year as well. The ones you see for sale are just the remaining stock.
Archer
2 years ago |A really well executed mirror lens could be interesting. One problem with making “fast”-ish mirror lenses is that the central obstruction generally has to rise as the speed of the lens increases, resulting in nasty bokeh and other problems. Solve some of those problems in interesting ways (like designing for a larger image circle and then incorporating a reducer in the OIS/AF section) could result in a useable long tele.
Ulli
2 years ago |i would welcome a 300/350mm 4.5/5.6 mirror tele….the ois would really be usefull if it can provide the effect during framing/composing so handheld shooting would be alot easier, can anyone enlighten me on this if panasonic ois lenses have this option, and does it work on olympus bodies too during composing?
marauder3c
2 years ago |I wonder if they could use the software correction to fix the “rings” in the bokeh to make it look smooth like a normal lens.
Lindsay
2 years ago |I believe that would be next to impossible.
josé
2 years ago |I -have- the Rokkor in the picture above, and I use it with a µ4/3 adapter on my Panasonic & Olympus bodies. I would certainly be in the market for a true µ4/3 catadioptic. As an aside, since buying the 100-300mm tele zoom, I hardly ever take out my dozen or so adapted tele lenses.
ed g.
2 years ago |If the stabilization is good, I would buy that lens in a heartbeat. The Minolta 500mm AF Reflex is my favorite lens on my Sony DSLR.
By the way, the Rokkor lens in the picture is a manual-focus lens. The later Minolta design, that Sony just discontinued as part of their continuing strong support for photo enthusiasts, is an autofocus lens.
Bill
2 years ago |With the 100-300 lens currently available, a longer than 500mm lens would be more useful. I’d buy something like the Vivitar 800mm. A tripod mount would be more useful to me than OIS as OIS only reduces the effects of the photographer, not the subject. Since one of the primary uses of this lens would be wildlife, high shutter speeds on a tripod would be much more useful than handheld with OIS. The reason I don’t own any of the current 600-800mm cats mirror lenses is the lack of a tripod mount.
dCap
2 years ago |I can see them doing this if it’s real small … remember minolta did one of these for their APS film camera (vague memory of it being really small)
the kind of thing that would sit well on a GH or G# series. it would be a headline grabber if nothing else. a 1000mm f8 for the marketing department (500mm). but maybe instead of making it real small they could make it the same size as the Sony 500/8 but make it a 5.6
ps – I voted: no, I really don’t want one (I only want pancakes)
Mr. Reeee
2 years ago |Stick the thing on a rifle stock mount and you’ll be good to go!
thomas
2 years ago |I can see why a lot of people feel this probably isnt the most important thing Panasonic could be working on right now, but I’d be interested if it is affordable, small and has decent AF – manual focus at that magnification, even on a tripod, sounds like a nightmare. And I quite like the donuts.
Voldenuit
2 years ago |Mirror lenses seem to be a natural fit for m43: they’re smaller than refractive telephoto lenses, after all.
Would be a great birdwatching/safari/video tele lens. Imagine 1:1 video mode on a GH1 and a 500/8 lens!
As for the funky bokeh, that’s part of the charm of using them, although expectations might be different between a $100 Vivitar user vs something costing $800-1000.
Voldenuit
2 years ago |GH2, sorry, the GH1 has no 1:1 mode.
pdc
2 years ago |Haven’t met a mirror lens yet that I liked. For quality extreme telephoto you need a big long gun! At 300mm the Panny 100-300 does quite well, but I find my fast Nikon 300 still beats it on Gx.
frosti7
2 years ago |The user “safaridon” at dpreview forum’s mentioned the Minolta 250mm f5.6 mirror design which is quite compact – it seems much likely that panasonic would produce this smaller lens over the big 500mm,
Here is the lens:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b265/anandasim/Minolta%20on%20Olympus/100_5490.jpg
Here is the Source:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=37543935