Tokina Tokina SZ 500mm f/8 Reflex MF Lens (Micro Four Review
The Tokina 500mm f/8 is incredibly small and light, but you pay for it with soft image quality and distracting donut bokeh. It's a niche tool for when size matters more than everything else.
Overview
The Tokina SZ 500mm f/8 Reflex is a weird, niche lens. It's a mirror lens, which means it's super compact for a 500mm, but it comes with some major optical quirks. You're getting a 1000mm equivalent field of view on Micro Four Thirds, all in a package that weighs about as much as a can of soda.
Performance
Look, it's a mirror lens. Image quality is its weak spot, landing in the 9th percentile. You'll get sharp enough center detail in good light, but expect soft edges and the classic donut-shaped bokeh highlights that some people hate. It's manual focus only, and that 1700mm minimum focus distance means you can't get close to anything.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredibly lightweight and compact for a 500mm lens. 86th
- Build quality feels solid for the price (86th percentile). 69th
- Gives you an extreme 1000mm equivalent reach on MFT.
- The fixed f/8 aperture simplifies exposure.
Cons
- Image quality is soft and has distracting donut bokeh. 14th
- Manual focus only, with no stabilization. 14th
- You can't focus on anything closer than 5.5 feet.
- The fixed f/8 aperture is terrible in low light.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Super Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 500 |
| Focal Length Max | 500 |
| Elements | 7 |
| Groups | 7 |
| Coating | Multi-coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | f/8 |
Build
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 72 |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 1700 |
| Max Magnification | 1:2.86 |
Value & Pricing
At $359, it's a tough sell. You're paying for a unique form factor and insane reach, not for optical excellence. For a similar price, you could get a used telephoto zoom with autofocus and much better image quality. This is only worth it if compact size is your absolute top priority and you can live with the major compromises.
vs Competition
Don't compare this to standard lenses. The Panasonic 14-140mm is a far more versatile travel zoom with autofocus and stabilization, but it obviously doesn't reach 500mm. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is in another league for portrait and low-light work. If you need super-telephoto reach on a budget and size is everything, look at used Olympus 75-300mm zooms instead. They're bigger, but they'll take a much better picture.
| Spec | Tokina Tokina SZ 500mm f/8 Reflex MF Lens (Micro Four | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Viltrox VILTROX 25mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Lens for Fuji X Mount, | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Nikon Nikon S-Line Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II Lens (Nikon Z) | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 500mm | 55mm | 25mm | 24mm | 24-70mm | 17-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/8 | f/1.4 | f/1.7 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Nikon Z | Fujifilm X | Canon RF | Nikon Z | Sony E Mount |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | true | false |
| Weight (g) | 309 | 281 | 400 | 269 | 676 | 544 |
| AF Type | - | STM | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Super Telephoto | - | - | Zoom | Zoom | Zoom |
Verdict
Only buy this if you're a Micro Four Thirds shooter who desperately needs the smallest possible 1000mm-equivalent lens and you understand its severe optical limitations. It's a novelty or a backpacking lens for distant landscapes in bright sun. For virtually everyone else, a used telephoto zoom is a smarter choice.