Overall: 3.5 out of 5
Optics: 3
Price on Used Market: ~$200 USD
Value at $200 USD: 4
Accessories: Accepts TC-200 2x Teleconverter, Incompatible with TC-300 due to the rear filter.

By far the cheapest route to a 500mm lens, the catadioptric design of the Reflex-Nikkor C 500mm f/8 is limited in usefulness, but worth the money.

Reflex-Nikkor C 500mm f/8 (more at end of review)
Taken with Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4

Assorted Information

Max Aperture	f/8
Min Aperture	f/8
Aperture Blades	Fixed/Round
Close Focus	4m/13ft
Filter Thread	39mm (rear)
Hard Infinity Stop?	No
Built in Hood?	Yes*

*Note the hood screws on, I find no reason to not leave it on permanently so I count it as built in.

Image Quality
The lens is reasonably sharp, and free of chromatic aberration. The biggest downside to the reflex design is that images aren’t as contrasty as traditional lenses. However, I tend not to use the lens outside of bright sunlight, which increases contrast to perfectly acceptable levels. If I had a D3/D700’s high ISO capabilities, I would probably use it in less favorable conditions, in which case the lack of contrast may be of more issue.
[edit: I have since gotten a D700, and added a couple photos]



Operation
The second smallest and lightest 500mm lens after the new version Reflex-Nikkor 500mm f/8, I mostly use it handheld. The focusing ring is smooth, travelling about 1/2 of the way around the barrel from a close focus of 4m/13ft to beyond infinity. While 1/2 way around the barrel may be a bit short for many lenses, due to this lens’s width you get accurate control. As with almost all manual focus Nikkor lenses, the focusing ring is vastly superior to virtually all AF lenses.

The Tripod collar is excellent, sturdy, and able to be rotated 90° when holding of a small switch on the side. This design isn’t used nearly enough, and allows for effortless camera rotation when mounted on a tripod or monopod.

Note, this lens requires a rear filter be attached at all times, and you should make sure you at least get the clear rear filter with it.



Donut Boke
Easily the most controversial aspect of catadioptric lenses is the donut boke. There are those who detest it in all forms, and reject the use of these lenses for that reason. While I have certainly taken a number of photos where it’s distracting, I find it can also be a positive when used well. It can create a cloudy boke effect which I sometimes find more pleasing than the silky smooth boke of a good non-mirror lens.

I suggest looking at large size for any thumbnail in this review you find to have distracting boke, as there are photos where I find it bad at thumbnail size, but pleasing at large sizes.

Cloudy Boke


Distracting Boke

I like the subject for this image, but certainly think it would be improved by standard boke.

With Teleconverter
The lens is compatible with the TC-200 2x teleconverter, and some newer ones, however I don’t recommend it. I believe it is incompatible with the TC-300 due to the need for a rear filter to be in place.



Final Word
I really enjoy shooting with this lens. Without a mirror lens — or a healthy amount of strength — it’s impossible to handhold most other 500mm lenses for hours, but it’s not a problem with this lens. It is easily the least versatile lens I own, but if you accept the limitations of speed/contrast it’s a fine addition to a collection. I imagine once I upgrade my camera body to something with ISO performance like the D3/D700 this lens will be given new life.

More Photos with this Lens



Light Doughnuts and Ducklings


Sparrow — D700, ISO400 1/800s


Full Frame (D700)




Black Crowned Night Heron












More Photos of this Lens

Taken with Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4


Taken with Nikkor-S 50mm f/1.4 AI'D


Taken with Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4


Taken with Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/4

Tiny link: http://taii.cc/2n

What is the difference between C and non-C Nikon 500mm Reflex mirror lenses?
Tiny link: http://taii.cc/4v

C is the older variant of this lens. In the 1980s, Nikon replaced it with a newer version which is labeled N that is smaller and focuses closer.
Tiny link: http://taii.cc/4w

I have this lens and have made very nice pictures with it for years, on long hiking trips in the mountains.
Why do you say use a rear filter at all times? Is that the clear glass in the F-mount?
Tiny link: http://taii.cc/4I

To my knowledge, the Reflex-Nikkor 500s were introduced like this...
- Starting in 1961, a 500 was sold as a 50cm f/5.
- In 1968 they were replaced by an f/8 “500mm”.
- In 1974 the 500s were given the C designation when they were given improved multicoating.
- In 1983 the C version was replaced with the N version, which was smaller, focussed closer, and produced better images.

I’ve owned a C for a few years and use it on my D300. The softness and low contrast don’t bother me at all because these “problems” are so easily corrected in image-editing software.

If you’re interested, I invite you to visit my review of the C version. It’s quite long, and very tongue-in-cheek in places, with sample photos at the bottom. You can find it on my blog here: http://hoaiphai.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/recumbent-review-the-mighty-reflex-nikkor-c-500mm-f8/
Tiny link: http://taii.cc/5x

Thanks for the info! You have some really nice shots from yours.
Tiny link: http://taii.cc/5y