Mirror lenses!

woodrim wrote: Thank you for starting this thread, Leo.

You're welcome Mike! Love to hear from you, the expert, about the dos and donuts (sorry :-() of cats!

Any advice on a mounting system for Vectis on Sony FE that is not totally Frankenstein?

pegelli wrote: Snegren wrote: Any advice on a mounting system for Vectis on Sony FE that is not totally Frankenstein? I think Howard_S has got an adapter for that and used it with good result. Here's a thread about it

The MonsterAdapter people resumed production of their Vectis adapter this past year. Of course, they sold out again but not before I got one. I believe they will be introducing an updated version sometime soon.

I had bought a Vectis 400mm and was looking at ways to adapt it to my mirrorless when they resumed production. I was thankful for the timing since I was about to start surgery. Glad I didn't. What I did learn is that the Vectis mirror focuses by movement at the front of the lens while leaving the rear in place. I had tried making a helicoid extender to do the focusing but the results I got defied everything I knew about focusing by helicoid. Anyway, the MonsterAdapter allowed the mounting of the lens and focusing in manual. The focus by wire was certainly different for me but I quickly got used to it and started to like it. As with most other things, it takes some practice and technique development.

I learned after using the Vectis that it is a very good mirror. The sharpness is right up there with the 250mm and Tamron SP 350. It gets difficult to assess differences when they are that good but I do enjoy my Vectis even more than the SP 350. It focuses well at all distances, even infinity, which can't be said for many other mirrors. Contrast is also good and colors are warm.

I will follow this post with images from my Vectis 400. The lens is rare enough and not seen for sale often, so I'm glad I bought when I did. I expect them to increase in price and become more difficult to find.

Keep an eye on the facebook site for announcements:   MonsterAdapter

Domien: Thanks for the Samyang images. Sharp indeed. I've stayed away from trying it mostly because of the APS format. Do you know how much of the FF it covers?

And you got to hang out with Leo

Just found and ordered a used Samyang E-mount for a nice price, so will be able soon to show the vignetting on full frame

The first big (long) mirror I bought was the one that got me hooked. MTO 3M-6A 6.3/500. I referred to it as the big Mak (Maksutov). It's bigger and heavier than the f/8 Russian mirrors but also sharper. I think I researched the Russian mirrors well before settling on this lens. I would later get the Rubinar 5.6/500.

Big Mak...
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I used my Minolta 500 reflex to shoot the last solar eclipse. I made a filter for the front out of mylar. It worked like a charm. (both shot with A77ii). No worry about donuts!

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