In article <31A40202.3A42@ix.netcom.com>, dennisa9@ix.netcom.com says...
> [.....] However, I have successfully use a 500mm /f8 mirror
>lens handheld with fast film, though not when large enlargements were
>necessary. I think you might find it adequate for up to 4x5 or so, but
>don't bother trying to publish the results. The sharpness does suffer.

Ah, mirrors get such a bad rap, I guess because most of them are not
particularly good (or worse), and they are harder to use than they would
appear to be. I have had very sharp-looking full-bleed 8.5"x11" magazine covers published from K64 chromes shot with the older version 500mm f8
Nikkor mirror, which is excellent. Tabloid-size reproductions of mine
have been made shot using Tri-X with the 500mm plus TC200 (not a great combination, though the 500mm Nikkor is excellent with the TC14/14B converter). The trick is to hand-hold (!!) the mirror with fast film in
good light (the image moves in the finder, but apparently more slowly
than the same rig would vibrate on a poorly damped tripod (count most
tripods in that catagory), or use a tripod that is not extended, and
is damped with added weights - with camera mirror up.
Hope This Helps