Getting close in the landscape
Following the fence
Irish Landscape photography : Nigel Borrington
Way back in 1986 I purchased a Tamron SP500 f8 Mirror (Telephoto) lens from a camera shop in London, it was second hand and cost around £150 back then.
The lens is reviewed very well here : Photozone review
I came across this lens again while sorting out some equipment last week and could not resist taking some images with it, so I put it onto my Sigma x3 camera and took a walk with both through some local fields.
I am not going to reviews the lens as such here as this is done so well in the above review, what I would say however is that this is a manual focus lens that is able and very capable of producing some very detailed and delicate images.
I really enjoyed using it again, if you are looking for a lens that is quick to use then this lens is not for you. If you take your time while creating your images however then this lens offers some very different and interesting results. I very much liked the shallow depth of field, there is something about the design in a mirror lens that produces a very find focus area in the image results.
I also felt that the combination of this lens alongside the sigma x3 sensor, produced some of the closest results to using film that I have noticed while using a digital camera.
The lens is very sharp, it produces wonderful colour and contrast, focuses down to 1.7 meters from the nearest subject and has a very shallow depth of field through out its focus range. Photographers spend a lifetime looking for lenses that have these features along with very distinctive results, if you can give this lens the time to learn how best to use it, I feel you will love it !
These lenses are often for sale on Ebay, if you want to purchases one and try one out !
Gallery
Nigel Borrington 
Nigel, your eyes always capture the beauty of the simplest of things! Your keen eye and selfless heart shines brightly always through your pictures my brother…God bless!
January 30, 2014 at 1:40 am
Hello Wendell 🙂 🙂
This is a wonderful comment , thank you very much !!!!
I am very happy that you commented and liked the post !!!
🙂 🙂
January 31, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Love those closeups!
January 30, 2014 at 3:25 am
Hello Rene 🙂
Thank you 🙂 🙂 🙂
January 31, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Love these close-ups and DOF.
Great shots, especially the 4th image of the weathered wooden posts (?).
January 30, 2014 at 6:45 am
Hello Vicki 🙂 🙂
Thank you, very please you like this post, I had you very much in mind with your own lens reviews and telephoto images !!!
I don’t do much telephoto work so its great to get a good comment from yourself – who does – thank you !!
the wood is the remains of an old oak tree !!
January 31, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Nigel, effortless beauty. Thank you for sharing your talent with us. Rebecca
January 30, 2014 at 11:13 am
Hello Rebecca 🙂 🙂
Thank you, that’s a lovely comment and it’s a great pleasure to share , with such great and helpful people , Thank you for such a great comment !!!!
🙂 🙂 🙂
January 31, 2014 at 12:36 pm
That last fence shot is my favourite. So rich in atmosphere!
January 30, 2014 at 11:47 am
Hello Anne 🙂 🙂
Thank you , very , very pleased that you liked them !!!! 🙂
January 31, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Beautiful, nice textured close-ups!
January 30, 2014 at 1:54 pm
Hello Mary 🙂 🙂
Thank you, very happy that you liked them and commented 🙂 🙂
January 31, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Love these Nigel !
January 30, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Hello Poppy 🙂 🙂
Thank you, very pleased you liked them 🙂 🙂 🙂 !!!
January 31, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Rich and vivid – the shallow DOF is fantastic, Nigel. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I LOVE them!
January 30, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Hello Sharon 🙂 🙂
Thank you , a pleasure to share these images very pleased that you enjoyed them !!
January 31, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Excellent images Nigel, and useful info too – I’ve always been tempted by these lens.
January 31, 2014 at 10:46 am
Hello Aidy 🙂
Thank you, a pleasure to help and share a little more info about this lens , I am going to use it again this year for sure !!! 🙂
January 31, 2014 at 12:20 pm
Love all that texture, Nigel.
February 1, 2014 at 12:55 am