Sears Lens Club

**mattb123** · 12-23-2013, 10:26 AM

This is a stitch of three vertical images from my K-3 and Sears 135/2.8 Macro.
I was in the mood for shooting with primes on my ski excursion yesterday and when I left the house it was clear and calm so I figured it would be a good day for it.
It was a beautiful day, but things got a little more dramatic than I was expecting, which is usually visually nice. I just had to be a little more careful changing lenses than I was expecting. Hopefully I didn't get any snow in the camera!
The 135 was a perfect length to compress this scene a bit, and stitching a few together gave me just a little more context.

**jeffshaddix** · 12-23-2013, 11:35 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

This is a stitch of three vertical images from my K-3 and Sears 135/2.8 Macro.
I was in the mood for shooting with primes on my ski excursion yesterday and when I left the house it was clear and calm so I figured it would be a good day for it.
It was a beautiful day, but things got a little more dramatic than I was expecting, which is usually visually nice. I just had to be a little more careful changing lenses than I was expecting. Hopefully I didn't get any snow in the camera!
The 135 was a perfect length to compress this scene a bit, and stitching a few together gave me just a little more context.

Stunning capture Matt, what a great locale - and nice ambiance from the weather to boot. Of course with the Sears 135/2.8 "macro" you can always add ambiance by moving the lens into "the zone".

**mattb123** · 12-24-2013, 09:18 AM

Originally posted by jeffshaddix

Stunning capture Matt, what a great locale - and nice ambiance from the weather to boot. Of course with the Sears 135/2.8 "macro" you can always add ambiance by moving the lens into "the zone".

Thanks! I hate the zone personally. I tried it a couple of times and have never switched it back.

Sagitta · 12-25-2013, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by mattb123

Thanks! I hate the zone personally. I tried it a couple of times and have never switched it back.

The 135mm 'zone' is kind of useless unless you want glowy coins or flowers.

The 70-210mm's 'zone' however is a different story altogether, 'cause you can use it at 70mm, allowing limited portraiture with the thing.

pentaxk10duser · 12-29-2013, 09:51 PM

Here are a few pictures I took with my Sears mod no 202. 7370000 80-200mm 4.0 that has a macro ring . no tc.added, just the lens

Sagitta · 01-16-2014, 06:43 AM - **1 Like**

Snagged this one the other day.

Auto Sears 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 @f/4.5, 28mm (I think), 1/800 of a second, ISO 250

nms_photog · 01-20-2014, 11:53 PM

Sears 135mm f2.8 Macro KR-A

Love the lens, especially the A setting. Although admittedly........haven't found a good use for the Macro glow as of yet that I so admire in several examples here. Here 1st are a few are of an accident scene I was shooting at and later sold to local law enforcement and media outlets (no I don't chase them, just happened right outside in front of my house and naturally grabbed the camera).

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

View Picture EXIF

nms_photog · 01-21-2014, 12:03 AM - **1 Like**

And a couple portraits

Nikonshooter · 01-25-2014, 02:03 AM

Originally posted by Sagitta

Snagged this one the other day.

Auto Sears 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 @f/4.5, 28mm (I think), 1/800 of a second, ISO 250

Love this!

Pixel-8 · 01-28-2014, 03:25 PM

Got Crabs?? Auto Sears 55mm 1.4

Pixel-8 · 01-28-2014, 04:04 PM

Auto Sears 55mm 1.4 again (Pentax K-7).

ChristianRock · 01-29-2014, 09:42 AM

Is that Auto Sears 55 1.8 a rebranded Pentax K or Takumar 55 1.8? Or is it their own design?

Pixel-8 · 01-29-2014, 11:43 AM

Actually its the Auto Sears 55mm 1.4 (M42 screw mount). Edited to fix my error. I believe this lens is same as Mamiya 55/1.4. The lens produces very accurate colors on the K7. It's a very heavy lens with all metal construction. Not multicoated. For an even better (technically) Sears branded 50 try to find the Sears 50/1.4 MC in K mount. I believe its a Planar clone and it is better wide open than the Auto Sears 55/1.4.

Sagitta · 01-29-2014, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

Is that Auto Sears 55 1.8 a rebranded Pentax K or Takumar 55 1.8? Or is it their own design?

As far as I know, all Sears lenses are rebranded lenses from other manufacturers. I know Mamiya, Chinon, Ricoh and Tokina all made Sears lenses at some point or another.

Generally speaking, Sears stuff tends to be decent quality (with a few outliers of course ranging from dog-bad to amazing). I've managed to collect a number of their stuff and I can't honestly say I have any truly bad Sears lenses when you factor in they're all 25+ years old and were never designed with modern DSLRs in mind.

**Pepe Guitarra** · 01-29-2014, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by Sagitta

... I've managed to collect a number of their stuff and I can't honestly say I have any truly bad Sears lenses when you factor in they're all 25+ years old and were never designed with modern DSLRs in mind.

I have a large collection of Sears, of all types. The one I cherish the most is the one that looks like the Takumars (not easy to find). I do have their 50/2.8 macro, that is just a great lens to walk around. I have the 50/1.4 (M42) and I think someone said Tamioka, I will check, I have the 50/1.4 Chinon, and the Chinon-Tamioka (not the same thing), and will compare.

12-29-2013, 09:51 PM	#395
pentaxk10duser Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kentucky Photos: Albums Posts: 165	Here are a few pictures I took with my Sears mod no 202. 7370000 80-200mm 4.0 that has a macro ring . no tc.added, just the lens Last edited by pentaxk10duser; 03-20-2014 at 12:25 PM.

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12-23-2013, 10:26 AM	#391
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	This is a stitch of three vertical images from my K-3 and Sears 135/2.8 Macro. I was in the mood for shooting with primes on my ski excursion yesterday and when I left the house it was clear and calm so I figured it would be a good day for it. It was a beautiful day, but things got a little more dramatic than I was expecting, which is usually visually nice. I just had to be a little more careful changing lenses than I was expecting. Hopefully I didn't get any snow in the camera! The 135 was a perfect length to compress this scene a bit, and stitching a few together gave me just a little more context.

12-23-2013, 11:35 PM	#392
jeffshaddix Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,473	Originally posted by mattb123 This is a stitch of three vertical images from my K-3 and Sears 135/2.8 Macro. I was in the mood for shooting with primes on my ski excursion yesterday and when I left the house it was clear and calm so I figured it would be a good day for it. It was a beautiful day, but things got a little more dramatic than I was expecting, which is usually visually nice. I just had to be a little more careful changing lenses than I was expecting. Hopefully I didn't get any snow in the camera! The 135 was a perfect length to compress this scene a bit, and stitching a few together gave me just a little more context. Stunning capture Matt, what a great locale - and nice ambiance from the weather to boot. Of course with the Sears 135/2.8 "macro" you can always add ambiance by moving the lens into "the zone".

12-24-2013, 09:18 AM	#393
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Originally posted by jeffshaddix Stunning capture Matt, what a great locale - and nice ambiance from the weather to boot. Of course with the Sears 135/2.8 "macro" you can always add ambiance by moving the lens into "the zone". Thanks! I hate the zone personally. I tried it a couple of times and have never switched it back.

12-25-2013, 10:04 PM	#394
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Originally posted by mattb123 Thanks! I hate the zone personally. I tried it a couple of times and have never switched it back. The 135mm 'zone' is kind of useless unless you want glowy coins or flowers. The 70-210mm's 'zone' however is a different story altogether, 'cause you can use it at 70mm, allowing limited portraiture with the thing.

01-16-2014, 06:43 AM - 1 Like	#396
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Snagged this one the other day. Auto Sears 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 @f/4.5, 28mm (I think), 1/800 of a second, ISO 250

01-25-2014, 02:03 AM	#399
Nikonshooter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 118	Originally posted by Sagitta Snagged this one the other day. Auto Sears 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 @f/4.5, 28mm (I think), 1/800 of a second, ISO 250 Love this!

01-29-2014, 09:42 AM	#402
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Is that Auto Sears 55 1.8 a rebranded Pentax K or Takumar 55 1.8? Or is it their own design?

01-29-2014, 11:43 AM	#403
Pixel-8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 265	Actually its the Auto Sears 55mm 1.4 (M42 screw mount). Edited to fix my error. I believe this lens is same as Mamiya 55/1.4. The lens produces very accurate colors on the K7. It's a very heavy lens with all metal construction. Not multicoated. For an even better (technically) Sears branded 50 try to find the Sears 50/1.4 MC in K mount. I believe its a Planar clone and it is better wide open than the Auto Sears 55/1.4.

01-29-2014, 11:54 AM	#404
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Originally posted by ChristianRock Is that Auto Sears 55 1.8 a rebranded Pentax K or Takumar 55 1.8? Or is it their own design? As far as I know, all Sears lenses are rebranded lenses from other manufacturers. I know Mamiya, Chinon, Ricoh and Tokina all made Sears lenses at some point or another. Generally speaking, Sears stuff tends to be decent quality (with a few outliers of course ranging from dog-bad to amazing). I've managed to collect a number of their stuff and I can't honestly say I have any truly bad Sears lenses when you factor in they're all 25+ years old and were never designed with modern DSLRs in mind.

01-29-2014, 12:04 PM	#405
Pepe Guitarra Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,223	Originally posted by Sagitta ... I've managed to collect a number of their stuff and I can't honestly say I have any truly bad Sears lenses when you factor in they're all 25+ years old and were never designed with modern DSLRs in mind. I have a large collection of Sears, of all types. The one I cherish the most is the one that looks like the Takumars (not easy to find). I do have their 50/2.8 macro, that is just a great lens to walk around. I have the 50/1.4 (M42) and I think someone said Tamioka, I will check, I have the 50/1.4 Chinon, and the Chinon-Tamioka (not the same thing), and will compare.