Photo: pointnshoot from Castro Valley, California (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Quick answer
The Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat is a super telephoto mirror lens covering 600mm at f/8.0 for the M42 mount. Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
About this lens
This 600mm f/8 manual-focus mirror telephoto lens from Vivitar fits M42 mount cameras. Its catadioptric design keeps a long focal length compact and light.
Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat specifications
What can you shoot with the Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat?
At 600mm this is a super telephoto mirror, which typically suits:
- Wildlife and birds
- Motorsport and field sports
- Distant subjects and the moon
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 (adapted mount, so sensor size depends on your camera). Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 600mm | 3.4° | 4.1° |
| APS-C | 1.5x | 900mm | 2.3° | 2.8° |
| Micro Four Thirds | 2.0x | 1200mm | 1.7° | 2.1° |
Frequently asked questions
What mount does the Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat use?
It uses the M42 mount, so it fits M42 cameras directly and can be used on other systems through a mount adapter.
What is the focal length of the Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat?
It is a fixed 600mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/8.0. That makes it a super telephoto lens.
Is the Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat a prime or a zoom lens?
It is a prime lens with a fixed 600mm focal length. Primes usually open wider than zooms; this one opens to f/8.0.
What is the Vivitar 600mm f/8 Solid Cat equivalent on a crop sensor?
On APS-C (1.5x crop) it frames like 900mm on full frame, with a 2.3° horizontal and 2.8° diagonal field of view. On Micro Four Thirds (2x crop) it frames like 1200mm on full frame, with a 1.7° horizontal and 2.1° diagonal field of view. These figures are calculated from the focal length and crop factor.
