Production
1958 – 1995
Country
USSR
Optical
4 elements in 3 groups
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Tair 11A 135mm f/2.8
M42 or M39 (interchangeable mount)
Overview
The Tair 11A 135mm f/2.8 is the Soviet telephoto portrait lens with 20 aperture blades. That's right — 20 blades, creating the most perfectly circular aperture ever mass-produced. This technical showpiece delivers extraordinarily smooth bokeh that photographers obsess over. It's the ultimate Soviet bokeh lens.
Verdict: The bokeh monster. 20 aperture blades create the smoothest background blur you've ever seen. For bokeh-obsessed portrait photographers, nothing else compares.
Optical Character
Bokeh
The lens is capable of producing pleasant, circular bokeh even at its widest apertures thanks to the 20-blade diaphragm. The background separation and 'creamy' bokeh quality are considered excellent.
Color
The lens is known for delivering excellent, vivid colors that can compete with modern lenses. The color rendering is described as accurate and neutral.
Sharpness wide open
The lens delivers satisfactory sharpness even at the maximum aperture of f/2.8, with the sharpest performance around f/5.6-f/8. The center sharpness is very good, with the corners improving as the aperture is stopped down.
Contrast
The lens has very good contrast, with the contrast improving as the aperture is stopped down. The contrast is described as satisfactory, even at the widest aperture.
Community Insights
What people love
- 20 aperture blades — nothing else like it
- Perfect circular bokeh
- Great portraits
- Affordable for what it does
What people dislike
- Heavy
- Soviet QC varies
- Not the sharpest
- Preset aperture awkward
Pro Tips
- 20 blades are the whole point — verify
- Perfect portrait bokeh
- Accept the weight
Sample Photos
Sources (4)
vintagelensesforvideo-
https://www.vintagelensesforvideo.com/tair-11a-135mm-f2-8-lens-test-video/
unknown-
https://www.harthphotography.com/blog/tair-11a-135mm-f2-8-lens-gear-review-part1
unknown-
https://en.fotografmania.com/tair-11a-135mm-f2-8-review/
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The Tair 11A 135mm f/2.8 is the Soviet telephoto portrait lens with 20 aperture blades. That's right — 20 blades, creating the most perfectly circular aperture ever mass-produced. This technical showpiece delivers extraordinarily smooth bokeh that photographers obsess over. It's the ultimate Soviet bokeh lens.