[Brightcolours]

The defocus control is only supposed to influence the character of the bokeh, so its effect should subtle. You can however get extreme effects, making photos look hazy, its soft focus look which I do not particularly like. It will not influence the price much.... What will influence the price is the low production numbers, the glass and the lens' weight. It is beautifully built in metal, and any replacement lens will not be built this nicely.



Price-wise it is only like 300$ more than the Canon EF 135mm f2 L USM, and that lens is built in much higher numbers.



Example of what the DC can do (smooth bokeh) at a sensible setting:

http://joshjonesphoto.blogspot.com/2010/08/nikon-135mm-f2-dc-lens-review-ferrari.html



Examples of what the DC can cause at less sensible settings:

http://joshjonesphoto.blogspot.com/2010/08/nikon-135mm-f2-dc-lens-review-ferrari.html



I think it is a nice lens, especially in its build quality and sharpness. Any replacement lens will be more expensive. So if you are after a portrait lens with a nice narrow field of view (I am supposing you have a FF camera?), I see no reason not to go for this really rather nice lens.

And I agree with you in the focal length choice, I do prefer to look of 135mm vs 85mm on FF (or 85mm vs 50/60mm on APS-C).