Mirror lenses are relatively compact and affordable, compared to conventional telephoto lenses. What are they like to use? What are the pros and cons? How good are the results?

This video featuring the Tamron SP Adaptall 2 500mm f8 Tele Macro lens should be of interest to anyone who has never owned a mirror lens. Plus, for owners of mirror lenses, it presents some inspiring and bizarre photographs to review.

Here are time links to the different sections:

00:00 Introduction
01:59 How a mirror lens works
03:39 The Tamron SP 500mm’s design
05:02 Long distance photography
08:18 Street shots/portraits
10:16 The moon and stars
11:45 Closeup shots
13:39 Bokeh the good/bad, including "horror bokeh" at 14:12
15:43 Donuts
18:00 Conclusions

If you’d like to contact me direct, or make a contribution to my channel: [email protected]

You can see more of my photos with many different lenses on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/95859572@N06/albums/page1