Opinions on Meyer-Optik Orester 135?

[Sp12]

It's a 135mm F2.8 lens, M42 mount, film era. I intend to use it on an EOS camera via an adapter. I've read great things about it's bokeh (it has a 15-bladed aperture) as well as it's use on portraits (supposedly has good contrast on skintones). I plan to use it on a FF body.

I have no major qualms about manual focus/aperture, and can get the lens for ~50-70$.

How do you think it compares with a Canon 135mm w/ Softfocus (~250)? How about a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (200$)?

I'm especially interested if anyone has any personal experience with this lense or the softfocus. I've looked at picture samples and the primes are ahead, but I'm undecided on which lens to get for my portrait/short telephoto needs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[yhelothar]

lol I see you're getting hooked onto the M42 MF market.
A quick googling shows that it uses the same design as Zeiss back in the day and the sample shots look great.

Check out http://forum.manualfocus.org/ for just about anything you'd want to know about MF lenses.

 

[Sp12]

Great link, thanks!

I've been basically amazed by the optical quality as well old-school metallic construction -- not to mention the price on these old lenses. Definitely a road worth venturing down.

 

[yhelothar]

Great link, thanks!

I've been basically amazed by the optical quality as well old-school metallic construction -- not to mention the price on these old lenses. Definitely a road worth venturing down.

Indeed! That's what sold me to a collection of these lenses. Optically, most are comparable to modern counterparts, construction is way better, and way cheaper. Just no autofocus.