On Tue, 10 Nov 1998 00:56:41 -0800, "Jeffrey A. Hawkins" wrote:

>Can anyone recommend a 400+ telephoto with top notch optical quality that
>doesn't weigh 20 Kg or more. The mirror lenses seem like the right track, but
>none of the small ones are made by reputable brands.

I gather from your other posts that you use Nikon...
If so, you are in luck! (;-) The older-version Nikkor
500mm f8 (preferably multi-coated...) is a first-rate
mirror - so good that it is still excellent on the
TC14/14B converter! (Image quality of the 500 is
about equal to the big ED lenses used wide open...)
Other options: the Nikkor 400mm f5.6 + TC14/14B/14C,
or the Nikkor 300mm f4 on the above, or TC300/301,
if you are adventurous...;-)

>Do 400, 500, 600 mm lenses have to be huge to be good?

No - see above... ('course, the trade-off, not
unexpectedly, is speed...).