Huntington Beach, CA—Kenko Tokina Co. released the sales date of the Tokina SZ Super Tele 500mm F8 Reflex MF mirror lens. Sales will commence on February 18, 2022.
Furthermore, along with the debut of the SZX Super Tele 400mm f/8 Reflex MF lens, the SZ series offers a range of products with specific features and situational advantages.
Tokina mirror lenses are telephoto lenses that incorporate a combination of three lenses silvered on the outside of the glass. As a result, they reflect light back and forth between the ends of the lens. In addition, the structure folds the light, cutting the tube length in half.
Consequently, the construction makes the physical size of the lens around a third of the size of a conventional lens. The construction allows for a lightweight body because the mirrors are much lighter than the optical glass.
Tokina SZ Super Tele 500mm F8 Reflex MF
The 500mm super telephoto lens adopts a catadioptric type optical design with a constant f/8 aperture. Moreover, “the lens offers a compact alternative to standard telephoto lenses as more and more photographers are looking for easy-to-carry gear,” the company announced.
The lens engineers kept in mind active travel photographers who capture outdoor landscapes as well as wildlife. Subsequently, the 500mm F8 Reflex MF is a compact and lightweight mirror lens for use with high-tech mirrorless cameras. It weighs in at 10.9 ounces.
Further, the elements inside the lens are coated with multilayer antireflection coatings for effective light intake. This permits photographers to use increased shutter speeds in low-light conditions. The mirrored surfaces of the lens elements also incorporate a high-reflectivity silvered coating and a protective antioxidant layer on the back side for durability.
For macro shooting, the lens provides a minimum focusing distance of 5.6 feet with 1:2.86 magnification. It also achieves a donut-shaped, smooth bokeh effect. Other features include metal construction and a textured focus ring. 
In addition, the lens adopts a T-mount standard (pitch 0.75mm, thread 42mm). As a result, photographers can attach the lens to any camera by using mount adapters. In fact, its mount system supports six camera mounts, including four mounts for mirrorless cameras.
The Tokina SZ Super Tele 500mm f/8 Reflex MF has a suggested retail price of $399.
