Mirror lens MR TELYT R 500mm
A review and Photo example of the MR-TELYT-R 500mm F8
Table of Contents
Gallery
- The sample photos were taken with the EOS-1Ds MK-III
Review
1．Overview
The MR-TELYT 500mm F8 is a telephoto reflector lens designed by Walter Mandler in Germany and manufactured by Minolta in Japan.
According to the Wiki on the overseas Leica-Forum, 3,800 were made between 1980 and 1996. Accessories include a leather case, a hood, and a filter.
The hood is a screw-in type with a 77mm thread, and compared to the hoods of the same mirror lens, the TAMRON mirror lens 500mm, model numbers 55B and 55BB, the MR-TELYT 500mm F8 hood is very short, only about 1/3 the length of the TAMRON hood.
The filter is a general-purpose 77mm on the front side, and a screw-in filter can also be attached to the rear of the lens. This is a slightly unusual diameter of 32mm, and is usually equipped with a colorless protective filter.
Other filters in yellow, orange, and blue are stored in the leather case.
Even if you buy a product without filters, there is no particular problem if you do not attach these filters, and the colorless filter is a protective filter and dust will not get in if you do not store it with the rear cap removed, so it is only a little reassuring to have a protective filter.
Color filters are filters used to adjust the color tone when shooting with film, and are no longer used in this day and age when colors can be freely converted on a computer.
2．Usability
Although the MR-TELYT 500mm F8 is a lens sold under the Leica brand, there is no particular difference between its performance and image quality from other mirror lenses. Because the focal length is 500mm, if you use this lens on a body without image stabilization, the image will shake in the viewfinder, which can make you feel dizzy if you use it for a long time.
A mirror lens with a focal length of 500mm and weighing 750g is easy to carry and allows you to easily use a telephoto lens.
However, the donut bokeh that is unique to mirror lenses is a matter of personal preference, and you will certainly get tired of it after taking a few pictures.
The photo of the camera attached is attached to an R8 equipped with a DMR (Digital Module R). However, when I took this photo, the DMR was already broken, so I was unable to use the MR-TELYT 500mm F8 with the DMR. It is unfortunate that I was unable to capture the actual 500*1.38=690mm image.
The used market price for this lens seems to range from about 80,000 yen to 150,000 yen.
The lens I have has a 3-cam and can be used with any R-type Leica except for the Leicaflex/SL/SL2 (film cameras). I have never seen a lens other than a 3-cam even on the second-hand market, and I would like to know if this lens can be ROM modified, but since it is a Made in Japan lens, I assume that is not possible.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the MR-TELYT 500mm F8, it is a lens that is not significantly different from mirror lenses made by other companies.
The market price for mirror lenses with a focal length of 500mm made by other companies is less than 10,000 to 50,000 yen, so unless you are looking to complete your R lens collection, this lens is not one you would actively choose.
Specification
| Items | Value | Note |
| Focal length(mm) | 500 | |
| Max aperture | 8 | |
| Min aperture | 8 | Fixed Aperture |
| Lens Construction | 5elements in 5groups | |
| Min distance(m) | 4 | |
| Lens length(mm) | 121 | |
| Max diameter(mm) | 87 | |
| Filter Size(mm) | 77 | |
| Weight(g) | 750 | |
| Release date | 1980 | |
| Production numbers | 3,800 |
Reference links
Update history
- 2025.1.6
- 2024.02.11:Update article
- 2022.02.01:First draft
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