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Model history (2)

Specification

Source of data

• Own research.

From the Modern Photography magazine (1979) and the Popular Photography magazine (1979)

The new Spiratone MIRROR MINITEL is only 4 3/4" long, weighs almost a pound less and accepts rear-mounting filters. In fact, the three most commonly used ones, yellow, skylight and neutral density 4X are included in the price, as is a custom case (easily saving you $75 over what you'd have to spend for accessories right there).

From the Modern Photography magazine (1979)

After many years of selling the Sigma-Spiratone 500mm Ultratel, with its dual correcting lens, Spiratone is now offering this new, compact mirror lens with screw-in, rear-mounting filters, including a two-stop neutral density for outdoor shooting with fast films. Compared with its predecessor, the new lens is compact indeed - less than half as long as the Ultratel. It also weighs considerably less than the older lens - 580 g. (21 oz.) against 860 g. (31 oz.).

Spiratone has long been a staunch supporter of the simple T-thread for adapting lenses, and this one is no exception with adapters available for almost every SLR. Of course, with no diaphragm or aperture keying to worry about in a mirror optic the T-thread is a logical choice.

This lens focuses beyond infinity, in keeping with the recognized need for extra focus adjustment to compensate for use in very hot or cold weather. The front thread is a standard 77mm diameter, so many familiar accessories can be mounted. But with a lens of this focal length, care must be taken to see that any accessories you choose be of very good quality so as not to undermine the fine image quality obtainable.

The tripod bracket is attached to the stationary part of the lens barrel. which makes it difficult to rotate the camera body for vertical pictures. This must be done by loosening the locking screws on the T-adapter.

From the Modern Photography magazine (September 1978)

Can A Yashica Tomioka Be A Spiratone 500?

Two years ago we were crowing about the highly compact, high-quality combination of a 500mm f/8 Yashinon DX mirror lens (focusing to 13 ft.!) and an Olympus OM-2, together being only 3 lb. 2 oz., and 7 in. long. For $85, you could adapt the lens, with its Yashica thread mount, to the Olympus body. The run was on, but alas, the lens was discontinued in thread mount, and it is really not suitable for alteration in its Contax RTS mount. Contax owners had all the luck while we were frozen out.

We were more than surprised and delighted when we examined the new Spiratone 500mm f/8 Minitel to find, under a slight change in cosmetics, an old familiar mirror face. Sure enough, 'twas our old friend, the Yashinon DX mirror, which Spiratone had evidently obtained from Yashica's source, the subsidiary Tomioka optical factory. While the lens did lose a few frills - rear filter slots and filters plus a sliding lens hood - it gained multicoating and an easy-to-interchange T-mount adapter system, making it child's play to attach it to nearly any SLR. Plus it lost more weight.

The new lens weighs some 4 1/4 oz. less than the old, thanks to the absense of the filter slot, lens hood and custom Olympus mount. However, the front of the Minitel is threaded to accept standard 77mm filters and a lens hood. Additionally, filters can be fitted between the rear of the lens and the camera adapter. Three such filters are furnished: skylight, 4X neutral density and yellow. This lens must certainly be the lightest, most compact, bargain quality super telephoto optic available. Price of the 500mm f/8 Minitel is $300 with camera adapter.

Typical characteristics of mirror (reflex) lenses

• Catadioptric system consisting of curved mirrors and optical glass;
• Much shorter, lighter and less expensive designs than conventional super telephoto lenses;
• Outstanding correction of chromatic aberrations;
• Since the aperture is fixed, neutral density filters are used to obtain a smaller aperture;
• Doughnut-shaped out-of-focus highlights.

From the editor

The same lens was sold under the names REVUENON 1:8.0 f=500mm MIRROR LENS and SP ZIVNON REFLEX 500mm 1:8.

Notes

• Independent-brand lenses were made for 35mm film SLR cameras by companies that competed with the camera manufacturers. Some came from factories that made lenses under their own brand names (Angenieux, Kiron, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina). Many others were national and international marketing organizations (Kalimar, Panagor, Rokunar, Soligor, Starblitz) that bought lenses from anonymous manufacturers. One firm — Vivitar — actually designed its own lenses and accessories, which were then subcontracted to manufacturing firms. Still others were private labels, sold only by specific photo specialty shops (Cambron, Quantaray, Spiratone).

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