Tokina SZ-Pro TO1-SZX300S 300mm

A shockingly tiny 300mm lens that's a total blast for deliberate, sunny-day shooting with awesome donut bokeh. It's a manual-focus-only toy with mediocre optics, and you're either already in love with that idea or you should run far away.

What surprised us is how usable this thing actually is on a modern mirrorless body. The 270-degree focus throw sounds like a chore, but combined with focus peaking on a Sony or Fuji body, it's actually a very zen, deliberate way to shoot. Optical quality isn't going to win any awards; it's in the bottom quarter of lenses we've tested, so don't expect clinical sharpness. But it gives you that classic, soft, dreamy mirror lens look, and Tokina nailed the bokeh. The donut rings are actually complete circles instead of the ugly C-shapes you get on cheap mirrors, which is a genuinely nice touch for a lens at this price.

Your main alternatives aren't other mirror lenses, they're just conventional telephotos that crush this Tokina in versatility. The Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 for APS-C is a spectacular do-it-all zoom with stabilization and a bright aperture, but it's much bigger and doesn't reach 300mm. If you actually need 300mm, a used DSLR-era telephoto with an adapter will run circles around this lens optically and give you autofocus, but again, you're carrying a bazooka. The Tokina only wins on the sheer joy of fitting a super-tele in a coat pocket. It's a one-trick pony, but the trick is cool.

Pricing for this lens is a total mess, varying by $36,651 across vendors, so someone is clearly smoking something. The real-world price should be around $300 to $400, and at that level, it's a fun toy lens. Paying anything close to five figures for this would be an actual crime. If you can find it at a sane price from a normal camera store and you know what you're getting into, it's a decent deal for the unique size.

The Tokina SZ 300mmPRO Reflex is a weird, wonderful little lens for the right person, and a frustrating experience for everyone else. It's a mirror lens, which means it's freakishly small and light for a 300mm focal length, but you trade away autofocus, any kind of weather sealing, and a fixed, dim f/7.1 aperture. The one thing to know is this: if you want a super-telephoto that fits in a jacket pocket and you're shooting a mirrorless camera with good focus peaking, this is a blast. If you want a practical, sharp, do-it-all telephoto, keep scrolling.

If you're looking for a first telephoto lens, sports, or anything in less than broad daylight, this isn't it. Go get a used standard telephoto zoom with autofocus and stabilization instead. This lens will just frustrate you with blurry shots and missed moments.

Don't buy this as your primary telephoto lens. It's not that. This is a specialty lens for people who know exactly what a catadioptric lens is and crave the unique, dreamy rendering and donut bokeh in a hilariously small package. It's a creative tool, a conversation starter, and a genuinely fun way to snipe photos without carrying a massive setup. If you want one lens to do everything, this is a terrible choice. If you want to add a quirky, compact super-tele to your kit for casual fun, you'll have a hard time finding anything smaller.