MTO-500, 500/8 Mirror Lens, M39 or M42 Mount

Description

The Russian MTO-500 is a classic sample of Soviet-era engineering and workmanship. It is a 500 mm telephoto mirror lens based on the design of a known Soviet engineer Maksutov. “MTO” stands for “Maksutov’s Tele Ob’ektiv”. This is the original, early MTO-500 design, with the barrel made of brass. Later versions of this lens were much lighter and somewhat smaller, they came is vinyl cases, but this MTO-500 weighs 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) and comes in an instrument-type wooden case.

Lens Specification:

• Focal length:  500 mm
• Aperture:  1:8 (fixed, this design does not allow for variable aperture)
• Field of coverage: 5 deg
• Focusing: 4 m – Infinity (the lenses of this design may focus past infinity, this is to compensate for thermal expansion)
• Filter size: M77x0.75 (4 filters are included)
• Optical registration (back focus): 45.2 +/- 0.02 mm
• Mount:  M39x1 Zenit SLR Mount (can be used with all M42 SLRs with the included adapter)
• Dimensions: Max diameter: 100mm (4″), Length: 165mm (6.5″)
• Weight:  1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) without case
• The glass is coated; the barrel is finished in tough black enamel

This MTO-500 was made in 1966. It is in excellent condition, the barrel shows very little (if any) use. The glass is clear and clean. The focusing is smooth.

You will need a sturdy tripod to shoot with this lens.

Included:

• MTO-500 Lens
• Four filters (Light Yellow/Green, Orange, Red, 4x Neutral Grey)
• Wooden Case

The lens is shown mounted on a Zenit camera (not included). This MTO-500 can be used with any 39 mm mount Zenit (models Zenit, Zenit-S, Zenit-3, Kristall, Zenit-3M, early Zenit-E). With a 39/42 mm adapter (included in this set) the lens can be used with any M42 mount camera.