Quick answer
A compact mirror lens for A-mount with a fixed f/8 aperture and screw-drive autofocus. It weighs about 665 g and uses an 82mm filter.
Pros
- Very compact for 500mm
- Autofocus on A-mount
- Light at about 665 g
- Much lighter than conventional 500mm lenses
Cons
- Fixed f/8 aperture
- Donut-shaped out-of-focus highlights
- Minimum focus 4.0 m
Verdict
A compact way to get 500mm. Aperture and bokeh are the compromises.
About this lens
Sony Minolta/Sony AF 500mm F8 Reflex: a telephoto prime lens with a 500mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/8, made for Sony A mount cameras. It brings distant subjects closer for sports, wildlife and events.
Sony Minolta/Sony AF 500mm F8 Reflex specifications
- Brand
- Sony
- Mount
- Sony A
- Focal length
- 500mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/500.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Optical construction
- 7 elements in 5 groups
- Autofocus motor
- screw-drive
- Minimum focus distance
- 4 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.13x
- Filter thread
- 82 mm
- Weight
- 665 g
- Length
- 118 mm
Specification source: dyxum.com
What can you shoot with the Sony Minolta/Sony AF 500mm F8 Reflex?
- Casual wildlife and moon shots
- Travel telephoto at low weight
- Experimenting with donut bokeh
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 500mm | 4.1° | 5° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 750mm | 2.7° | 3.3° |
Frequently asked questions
Can the aperture on the Minolta/Sony 500mm F8 Reflex be changed?
No. The aperture is fixed at f/8, so exposure is controlled with shutter speed and ISO.
Why do out-of-focus highlights look like rings?
A mirror lens has a central obstruction, so blurred bright points appear as doughnut shapes.
Does the 500mm F8 Reflex autofocus?
Yes, on A-mount bodies with a screw-drive motor. The lens has no focus motor of its own.
Alternatives for Sony A from other brands
All Sony A lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
