| Author: | | New Member Registered: January, 2023 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: June 2, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | 20 blades make the difference in bokeh! | | Cons: | on the heavy-side... but you can live with it... | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 5
Value: 8
Camera Used: Pentax K-70
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The lens is nice and well-built, the 20 blades make a huge difference and in the right conditions, produce an incredibly fascinatig Bokeh with perfect ball-shaped-highlights...
The cons are basically the bothering flares which occur when the sun shines somehow creating a layer of "gold-yellow" which kind of ruin the pictures...
The lens is heavy and didn't fit for street photography. For portraits is this lens in full-frame ratio probably a very good choice, for small-format it's also nice... but not for events since in this case the people would move to fast to get focussed perfectly.
This is for me a chill-out-lens, goof for flowers and sunsets kind of situations, static objects and pleasant vibes.
I would recommend going out and use only this lens without any other, in order to "understand" it and be part of the Soviet flare it gives.
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2016 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: July 7, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Contrast, Amazing Colour and bokeh, Build like a tank, Preset F | | Cons: | Handling, Weight | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Nex-7
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Nice lens, but too weight. Photos is amazing. Handling is ok, but pentax have much better handleing.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 3 | | Review Date: April 5, 2015 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Amazing bokeh, sharp enough for portraits at 2.8, great atmospheric perspective | | Cons: | Absolutely terrible handling (silver version), very low contrast, unbalanced weight distribution | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 3
Value: 10
Camera Used: GX20, K3, MZ-30, some Zeniths
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Got it from a friend as a set of lens blocks and rings in a plastic bag.
After assembling, fine-tuning and using it for a week, I realised that this is a very specific lens.
First, it's quite unbalanced on both K3 and GX20 (it has most of it's weight in the fromt lens block).
Second, I got a 39mm version with a 39-42mm adapter ring, so it does not fix tightly and reliably on the camera.
Last, I was quite unimpressed with it's macro with macro-rings (due to low resolution). Jupiter-37 is much better at this.
But I've found a couple of scenes where no lens I've used can beat this one:
-Golden hour portraits (contrast distribution makes this lens sharp enough for portraits and the atmosphere perspective and "golden rays" make the pictures quite live and volumetric, despite it's 135mm'ness)
-Portraits in the forest (color cast from surroundings are easily correctable with this lens and the background bokeh is amazing)
As on film, it's great for color slide, but not so good for BW - not enough contrast to preserve borders in high key, resulting in detail loss and not so good for low key (the pictures nave not got enough contrast).
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 191
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 19, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Euhm.. BOKEH | | Cons: | Euhm.. somewhat heavy, min focus distance | |
It's my favorite 135mm's which I also tend to use with extension rings as a sort-of macro.. I own both a 11A and 11-2 (m42 mount), in end results they are the same (imho), great bokeh, superb handling (though the 11-2 has to be lubricated because it has a bit stiff focusing especially in colder weather).
It is sharp yet not harshly sharp.. hard to explain but that's what I like to most about this lens with of course the creamy background and round bokeh even stoppen down... I'll let some pics do the important bits of a review:
Left is 11A, right is 11-2:
Tair glasses by margreetz, on Flickr
Left is 11-2, right is 11A:
Tair compare by margreetz, on Flickr
not sure if I used extension ring here:
tair 11a - houtpantserjuffer portret by margreetz, on Flickr
mushroom:
vliegenzwam by margreetz, on Flickr
wedding:
van elkaar genieten by margreetz, on Flickr
dog:
donder by margreetz, on Flickr
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 30
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 4, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $12.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I bought this when they were still doorstops with no residual value - very few had latched onto the great heritage of Russian glass and the jewels to be found in the FSU and even in the West, where these things were exported to, and disregarded by 'serious' photographers. More fool them.
Anyway, what isn't immediately obvious, is there's a T2 mounting ring on this and you can take off half of it and fit a Pentax K ring in its place, thus obviating the need for an adapter every time you want to mount this on the camera.
Reading the other reviews, I concur completely with them - it's heavy, but it's optically very good.
Horrors, this was taken on a Canon 10D, but do not despair, the others were Pentax...
Tair 11A Sea of Cars by Lensosaurus, on Flickr
Back to Pentax K10D...
Tair 11A Bee on dandelion by Lensosaurus, on Flickr
And a 100% crop of that
Tair 11A 100pc crop by Lensosaurus, on Flickr
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Posts: 586 | | Review Date: December 23, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $255.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, contrast, color tone... and BOKEH! | | Cons: | Heavy, yet it means well made as well | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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If you're into bokeh and 135mm lenses, then this is a lens for you, period. 
It's sharp and contrast, renders beautiful colors almost like SMC's, so it's just perfect.
Got mine from Russia, complete set with filters and case. It's well worth the 40 days of waiting  | | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 120
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 20, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Balance, sharpness, bokeh, neutral colors | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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The factory focusing screen is not the best one for manual glass. While using the Tair 11A, the lens focus perfectly with the factory screen even on the Kx. At the first beep while moving to infinity, the image pops into focus!
Bought mine nth hand from a small repair shop in Kolkata. It was cosmetically excellent. I had it re-greased though.
Heavy and thus beautifully balanced this preset lens has a bokeh like none other. Very neutral colours and excellent contrast. I like the preset ring as it shows the DOF so clearly. In extreme contrast situations it shall show PF, but overall it's CA is much better controlled than old Takumar or even manual Pentax Glass. The micro-contrast, could be better- but then a DA* 300mm spoils you rotten.
Now for some images:
28 nov 12 kx tair 11a boy 1 by ariban, on Flickr
11 dec 12 tair tourist and boat by ariban, on Flickr
11 dec 12 tair chacha by ariban, on Flickr
11 dec 12 fisherman by ariban, on Flickr
2 december 2012 kx tair 11 A f4 cactus by ariban, on Flickr
28 nov 12 leaves tair 11a kx by ariban, on Flickr
10 dec 12 digha beachside duo tair 11 A by ariban, on Flickr
11 dec 12 sadhu digha tair by ariban, on Flickr
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Klaipeda Posts: 77 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223 | | Review Date: November 6, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $220.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great IQ and Bokeh, easy to use, really neat colors | | Cons: | None so far. | |
I bought this lens after I saw its 20-blade aperture. However, it has become the one I use the most of my (now) five 135mm lenses. It is just perfect. The quality of the photos is similar to the SMC Takumar 85mm f1.9. The bokeh is just the best I have seen. The lens is pre-set, that is, one ring is set to the desired F, then focus wide open, then use the other f ring to stop down to the desired (set) F. You can observe the depth of field also and make any corrections if you want. It is just outstanding. I use it mostly in AV priority with my K5. I do recommend this lens. The problems is the time it takes to come from Eastern Europe. The price is OK, trying to go up, but stays ok. I will post some photos later on.
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Mr Lincoln by Palenquero, on Flickr
Blue Bokeh by Palenquero, on Flickr
Just Another Rose by Palenquero, on Flickr
Condesa de Castilla by Palenquero, on Flickr
Rosa Rosada by Palenquero, on Flickr
Rose Madder by Palenquero, on Flickr
Rosa Leaves by Palenquero, on Flickr
Carriage by Palenquero, on Flickr
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 60 | | Review Date: September 23, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Construction, killer look, character, 20-blade iris | | Cons: | Weight | |
When reading this, please bear in mind that this review is nothing more than my opinion about one sample of a lens. I’m nothing of a scientist. I don’t play with test sharts and other static « prepared » subjects. When I want to try a lens, I usually have a walk and take pictures of things and places I know, adding some homeshooting if needed.
This Tair-11A is a « preset » lens, which means : two aperture rings. The first has click-stops, but is only a limiter for the second one, which turns gently without any click to open or close the 20-blade iris. Select a f-stop with the first ring, and play with the second one to open or stop down quicky to the preset aperture. Once used to the system, it’s pretty cool.
This tele lens is heavy, built like a tank, suggesting it would be nice in army colours ! Its rear end is large enough to be solidly mounted with the M42 to P-K adaptor on a DSLR, which is a good point too. My sample is near mint and everything is smoothly working, but I don’t use it very often. It’s a little too big and heavy to travel with.
Nevertheless, I sometimes enjoy using this 135 mm prime during parties with family or friends, for discrete portrait shooting when people talk, smile, laugh… while having a drink. Of course, pictures are not often very sharp in such conditions, but there’s a gentle warmness over them.
Bottom line :
- Good portrait lens for those who like doing this with a 135mm prime (=200mm with APS-C sensors). Pleasant OOF rendition.
- For other purposes and for good sharpness, you’d probably need to stop down at f5.6 or f8.0 to increase the DOF and select shutter speeds of 1/250s and faster ; which means high iso settings in poor light conditions. | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450 | | Review Date: April 6, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $125.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellent sharpness in general, wonderful bokeh, pleasant heft, 20 aperture blades(!), has a certain "cool factor" | | Cons: | Build quality not 100%, heavy, pre-set aperture can be annoying if you're not used to it | |
I really enjoyed using this lens. Wide open it's acceptably sharp and it gets very sharp stopping down. Bokeh is incredible at all aperture settings thanks to the 20 aperture blades (perfectly circular). It's heavy, and the build quality isn't great (both copies I've used had a bit of a rattle), but it gets the job done and then some. A wonderful portrait lens, and one I would still own if not for the K135/2.5.
| | | | | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: Israel Posts: 124 | | Review Date: January 9, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | build, rendering, price | | Cons: | weight, flare resistance | |
Found this Soviet M42 lens w/o caps, but in great optical and physical condition in a used photo equipment store. Looks and built like an artillery shell The aperture has 20 blades which help retain circular OOF highlits. It closes down smoothly - there are no clicks, but you can preset the minimum with a second ring. Focusing is smooth (worse than my 50mm Super Tak, but beats most other lenses) and precise, thanks to the long throw, wide and comfortable focus ring. There is a built in retractable hood (see pics) which helps fight flare somewhat.
At F/2.8 the sharpness is acceptable in the center, but corners are softish (not a problem, considering primary uses for this lens). Sharp from ~f/4 and very sharp starting at ~f/5.6. Sharpness is somewhat uneven - there's a softer area right in the center. Extreme corners reach max sharpness by f/8. CAs are lower than moderate, but flare resistance is weak (no multicoating?).
The rendering is very "portrait-friendly", highly flattering for female portraits. Here's an example (F/4 IIRC) with on-camera flash pointed at the ceiling:
Conclusion: If you have enough space (or shoot outdoors) to use a 135mm as a long portrait prime, this is a very nice option. QC is known to be somewhat of a lottery, so try before you buy.
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