500mm f/8.0 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Minolta MD

The Bower 500mm f/8.0 Manual Focus Lens is a catadioptric mirror T-mount lens, precision manufactured in South Korea.  It is delivered in this configuration with a T-mount adapter to fit the Minolta MD system cameras.  The fixed f/8 aperture is not communicated to the camera body, and as such you can only use the lens in "M" manual exposure mode (or "A" aperture-priority mode upon applicable cameras).

Despite this lens' long 500mm focal length, it has a compact 3 x 3.5" size and weighs under 1 pound, making it a bit easier to handle than normal 500mm refractor lenses (it should be used with a tripod or monopod in either case).  It also has a much different rendering of out of focus areas than a normal lens; highlights will be doughnut-shaped rings with more saturation and contrast on the edge of the ring than on the center.

This lens is an ideal candidate for astrophotography use when mounted to a Vixen GP2 Photo Guider (or other motorized equatorial telescope mount).