BM Premium SLY500 500mm
The 500-1000mm f/8 reach, combined with an included 2X teleconverter, provides extreme telephoto framing on full-frame Canon RF bodies for a very low entry price. Its multi-coated optics with one ED element help control flare, and the 1080g build includes a tripod mount and weather sealing for basic outdoor use. This manual-focus lens is best for budget-conscious wildlife or moon photographers who use a tripod and can work within its fixed f/8 aperture and 33-foot minimum focus distance.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong stabilization (83rd percentile) 83rd
- Strong versatility (72nd percentile) 72nd
Cons
- Below average optical (4th percentile)
- Below average user sentiment (6th percentile)
- Below average af (13th percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q1 202460/100
Mixed reviews: one buyer praises value and manual focus learning, another reports a lens defect, and a third has an adapter compatibility issue.
- Excellent value for price compared to expensive alternatives; teaches manual lens use.
- White blur/defect in center of lens, making lens unusable for wildlife photography.
- Included adapter does not fit buyer's camera, requiring assistance.
- Q3 202380/100
Buyers praised value and image quality for the price, but noted manual focus challenges and compatibility issues.
- Great value for the price, delivering excellent results for night and moon photography.
- Manual focus requires practice; blurry photos often due to user error, not lens defect.
- Incompatible with some cameras, leading to returns; specific compatibility check needed.
- Positive seller experience; easy returns and willingness to buy again.
- Q1 202233/100
Buyers reported usability issues with the lens not being recognized by the camera, manual focus shake, and loose adapter attachment.
- Camera does not recognize lens; must use manual mode, no auto functionality.
- Manual focus causes camera shake unless using a solid tripod.
- Adapter and lens do not fit tightly together, causing setup difficulty.
- After company support, learning manual settings enabled picture capture.
Based on 22 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 500 |
| Focal Length Max | 1000 |
| Elements | 4 |
| Groups | 4 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | multi-coated |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/8 |
| Min Aperture | f/8 |
| Constant | Yes |
Build
| Mount | Canon RF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 1.1 kg / 2.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 500 |
vs Competition
| Spec | BM Premium SLY500 500mm | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Sony G SELP28135G.SYX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 500-1000mm | 17-70mm | 17-28mm | 16-28mm | 12-60mm | 28-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Mount | Canon RF | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 1080 | 544 | 450 | 450 | 320 | 420 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | RXD | Stepping Motor | Stepping AF Motor | linear motor | SSM |
| Lens Type | telephoto | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BM Premium SLY500 500mm | 12.8 | 50.5 | 42 | 56.8 | 4 | 52.1 | 5.5 | 71.5 | 63.6 | 83.4 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.7 | 87.3 | 69.6 | 85.9 | 91 | 84.5 | 63.5 | 89.3 | 85.1 | 83.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87.4 | 87.3 | 75.9 | 85.9 | 88 | 84.5 | 90.8 | 67.3 | 68.8 | 37.8 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Compare | 87.4 | 87.3 | 75.9 | 77.8 | 97.2 | 84.5 | 75.8 | 68 | 62.7 | 37.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98.1 | 87.3 | 84.6 | 51.9 | 91 | 84.5 | 44.3 | 93.1 | 67.8 | 83.4 |
| Sony G SELP28135G.SYX Compare | 94.4 | 78.4 | 77.7 | 34.1 | 88 | 67.1 | 63.5 | 92.4 | 55.7 | 93.4 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
