(Purchased from a large camera store on the West Coast - so I'm not a Verified Purchaser)
Reasonably good image quality, given the bad name mirror lenses have for IQ. But good IQ requires care: mount it on a solid tripod, focus carefully using focus peaking if you have a mirrorless camera, use a 5-second delayed release, shoot in a stable atmosphere, and the wait until the lens fully is acclimated to the ambient temperature. Contrast is lower than with a glass lens, but if you shoot in RAW format, you can boost contrast and add sharpening to significantly improve the image.
But: I returned the lens, because it's very difficult to focus. The focus ring turns smoothly, but it turns only about 90 degrees. A very small adjustment of the ring makes a large difference in focusing on both close and (especially) distance objects. Focus peaking and magnifying the image in the viewfinder helped. But it was still vey tough and time-consuming to lock focus. My trials were on a tripod; I think it would be even harder hand-held.
The difficulty with focusing is what made me return the lens, but there's also a flaw worth noting. The lens ships with a sturdy metal lens hood that's as long as the lens. But it has a screw mount rather than a bayonet. So it can't be reversed to nest it onto the lens when it's put into a camera bag or backpack. Thats a minor issue, and the lens that feels well made, but it is still a poor design.
Add to your order
-
Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary) -
24/7 support when you need it. -
Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
2-Year Protection $36.99
3-Year Protection $48.99
Cover all of your eligible devices:
Asurion Complete Protect: One plan covers all eligible past and future purchases (Renews Monthly Until Cancelled) $16.99/month
Select a plan
Add to your order
- Coverage for accidental damage including drops, spills, and broken parts, as well as breakdowns (plans vary)
- 24/7 support when you need it.
- Quick, easy, and frustration-free claims.
Cover this product:
Select a plan
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Consider a similar item
$120.99
Climate Pledge Friendly Buy it with
$358.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Compare with similar items
This Item  Tokina SZX 500 mm F8 MF for Sony E |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $358.99 | -13% $1,387.98 New Price: $1,598.00 | -20% $239.00 List: $299.00 | -8% $365.79 List: $399.00 | -9% $499.00 List: $549.00 | $95.90 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, May 9 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 20 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Auto focus | ||||||
| Image stabilization | ||||||
| Sold By | OK soon | Minty Gadgets (we track serial numbers) | OK soon | Adorama | PROCAM | SZJINTU |
| lens type | Telephoto | Standard | Telephoto | Macro | Telephoto | Telephoto |
| compatible mountings | Sony E | Sony E | Canon EF | Sony E | Sony E | Canon EF, Canon EF-S |
| lens design | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom | Prime | Zoom | telephoto lens zoom lens prime lens |
| focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | — | Auto/Manual | Manual Focus |
| minimum focal length | 500 millimeters | 36 millimeters | 400 millimeters | — | 70 millimeters | 420 millimeters |
| max focal length | 500 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 400 millimeters | — | 300 millimeters | 800 millimeters |
| fixed focal length | 500 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 400 millimeters | 65 millimeters | 70300 millimeters | 800 millimeters |
| real angle of view | 4.8 degrees | — | 6.8 degrees | — | 8 degrees | — |
| model name | SZ 500 mm for Sony E | — | Tokina SZX 400mm F8 Reflex MF | macro lens | Tamron 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame/APS-C E-Mount (Tamron 6 Year Limited USA Warranty) | 420-800mm telephoto lens manual control |
