Canon EF 135MM F2.8 softfocus protrait lens - any opinions?

[Mikesht]

I take a lot of portraits, and I like a soft focus shots, women seems to like it a lot. It makes a dreamy- romantic portraits. I usually acheave that by filters or Photoshop. But here is a guy on E-bay selling this lens, it has 2 modes- normal 135mm and soft focus. I have 2 questions:

1 Did anyone use this lens and how is it?
2 Will it work with my Canon 10D (old mount etc...)

Thank you guys in advance!

[DAMphyne]

I've never used that lens, but it's kind of long for use in a studio, unless you have a lot of depth. It seems that you're going to be far away from your subject to get a good head and shoulders portrait.
I bought a 100mm 2.0 lens to use for portraits and wish I had opted for the 85mm length. I used a 100mm with 35mm and I loved it, but the added focal length keeps me too far from my model.
As to the soft focus mode for the lens, I really can't add any comments as I've never used one, but I have used soft filters on the 100mm and like the results.
There are also some Great Actions for softening available, I use one called "The Move", and my clients love the effect.

[Motorsports Photo]

I remember reading about this lens some time ago. The author thought the lens was only any good at the sharpest "soft" setting.

Of course your customers might like it softer than most others, who knows.

-Pete

[WestFalcon]

I have the lens and I like it but with the 10D, it seems like you are a mile away in portraits. Its fast and a good buy but the 85 1.8 is better for portraits.

[Mikesht]

I have the lens and I like it but with the 10D, it seems like you are a mile away in portraits. Its fast and a good buy but the 85 1.8 is better for portraits.

Thank you everybody who responded!
WestFalcon, can you show any examples of sharp and soft pictures produced with this lens?
Thanks again!

[WestFalcon]

I haven't posted pictures in a long time but give me several days and I'll try to show you a picture at all 3 settings.

[msvadi]

It's my primary shooting lens :) I like it a lot. It's an EOS mount lens, so there is no problem putting it on a 10D. However, it's an old design lens, so AF is kind of noisy.

Soft focus: 3 settings: 0, 1, 2. "0" turns the soft focus off and the lens is quite sharp. 1 and 2 give you lesser and higher degree of soft focus. Softness also depends on the aperture.

What I particularly like about its soft focus effect is the glowing highlights. Sometimes the glow is stronger, sometimes weaker, it depends on the light. I see this kind of glow in the classic soft focus pictures (works by David Hamilton, Robert Farber and others). I don't know if diffusing filter can produce it, but I don't think it's too easy to create in photoshop. below some examples:


f/2.8, soft focus level 1 (because of f/2.8 the soft focus effect is quite strong here):

http://img.photosight.ru/2004/06/08/514796.jpg

f/2.8, soft focus level 2 (maximum soft focus effect)

http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/500/302040510_007.jpg?4666

without soft focus (but with some camera shake blur instead ;) ):

http://newton-i.usefilm.com/1/8/2/4/1824/467139-large.jpg

for more pictures, check this thread http://photography-on-the.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=228416#228416 all pictures posted there were taken with 135mm with disabled soft focus.