The Sears KS Super II SR 2000 is quickly becoming one of my favorite 35 mm cameras. When my grandma gave me the camera, along with a handful of expired film rolls from the 1980s, I was so excited. Usually when people give me old cameras, they are typically Polaroids or box cameras (which I’m not complaining because I love them both… I just have so many of them now). But a heavy duty metal frame 35 mm manual focus film camera with a 50mm f/2.0 lens in excellent condition? That’s a dream camera for any film photographer. I don’t think the camera was ever even used!
I also just posted a video about the KS Super II on my YouTube channel if you’d prefer to watch rather than read. :) You can check it out here!
HISTORY
The KS Super II was originally produced in the early 1980s and was released under the Sears brand by Ricoh. It’s also known as the Ricoh XR-7 camera. That version is probably a little bit easier to find out in the wild, since the Sears version was somewhat short-lived. Because it was released by Sears, it was made to be more marketable to the average consumer. It’s a 35 mm SLR camera and has interchangeable lenses. It’s meant for beginner/intermediate photographers but can easily be enjoyed by amateur, semi-professional and professional photographers!
LENS
The camera uses a Pentax K-mount so you have lots of options for lenses. Personally, a 50mm lens is usually my preference for 35mm film cameras. They are typically nice and compact for traveling but also create dreamy, surreal images because of their slightly zoomed-in field of view. If you prefer images that more closely resemble what the human eye sees, a 35 mm lens might be a better option. Zoom lenses are also a great option for any camera because they are more versatile, but they are usually much larger and more difficult to travel with or carry around.
My camera has the 50mm f/2.0 lens. I’m unsure of the brand of the lens because it just says “Lens Japan”. This was probably the kit lens that was sold with the camera so is likely a Ricoh lens or was created as an OEM lens by a Japanese manufacturer specifically for Sears or Ricoh.
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MAIN SETTINGS
One of the things I love most about this camera is that it has an Aperture Priority or Auto setting. You can set the aperture and it will automatically set the correct shutter speed. This setting makes it a lot easier to use than a fully manual 35 mm cameras. You don’t need to constantly worry about light meters or managing multiple settings at once. Aperture Priority is something I look for in every camera I buy. As a wedding photographer, it’s an absolute necessity for me because it allows me to shoot much quicker and allows for less errors when shooting film. This means less money wasted on film that doesn’t turn out!
The KS Super II is pretty limited overall but is made to be incredibly easy to use for both beginners and professionals. The main settings are “L”, “A” and “X”. The “L” is a lock setting that prevents the shutter from accidentally engaging. It also protects the battery from being drained. So basically, you just use this setting when you aren’t using the camera. The “A” is the Aperture Priority setting I mentioned above. The “X” setting is for using a mounted flash. It will set the shutter speed to around 1/125th of a second to create nicely exposed flash images.
The camera also has a self-timer button, exposure compensation adjustment, ISO setting, tripod mount, and manual film advance. Unfortunately, there is no option for multiple exposure, though you can always press the film rewind button and wind the film back a turn or turn and a half to overlap your images. It’s difficult to get images that are perfectly overlapped though. I’ve included a few examples below.
(expired film)
BODY
The body is likely made from a metal alloy which is sturdy and durable. It doesn’t feel super heavy though, which is really nice for traveling. One of my favorite 35 mm cameras, the Nikon FE2, feels similar when holding it and reminds me a lot of the KS Super II. As a full-time photographer who travels a lot and shoots a lot of weddings, it’s not uncommon for me to drop a camera (oops…). The KS Super II feels strong enough to withstand a few spills, which is so important to me. It’s definitely not a fragile camera!
It also just has that retro, vintage 80s film camera look with the all-black body and clean edges. It’s perfect for walking around town with friends or slinging over your shoulder for a day at the park. It looks cute on a shelf too!
PROS
Easy to Use, Beginner-Friendly settings like “Aperture Priority”
Sturdy, Metal Alloy Body
Decently Sharp Lens Options like the 50 mm f/2.0 Lens
Great for Travel
Has that Classic 80s 35 mm Film Camera Vibe
CONS
Limited Settings - No Fully Manual Option
No Dedicated Option for Multiple Exposures (Though You Can Press the Film Rewind Button and Manually Overlap Frames)
Manual Film Advance (Personally, I like Manual Film Advance because it Reminds Me that I’m Using a Film Camera!)
BATTERY
The KS Super II uses two 1.5V LR44/SR44 batteries, or you can use one CR-1/3N lithium battery. The shutter will still decompress without a battery, but the light meter will not function. These batteries can be difficult to find, but I haven’t had trouble picking them up on Amazon.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve shot 3 rolls so far with the KS Super II and I absolutely love it so far. While I prefer my Nikon FE2 because of it’s multiple exposure option, I still see myself bringing this camera out of adventures every once in a while. I’d definitely recommend this camera for beginner film photographers because it’s a great way to get used to the functionality of a film camera without it being too overwhelming. If you see one of these at a thrift store, grab it! It’s likely that it still works because these cameras were made to last. However, always be sure to check the battery compartment for corrosion. In many cases, you can clean corrosion off but in some cases, it will make the camera non-operational and might not be fixable.
Two of the rolls I’ve shot have been expired, so I’ve really only shot one roll that fully showcases the capabilities of the camera. I still need to try out the flash setting and the self-timer, so that will be on my to-do list for next time. :) I think the imagers are decently sharp, though maybe not quite as spectacular as the images I can get with my Nikon FE2.
I’ve included tons of sample photos below so you can decide if this camera is for you!
WHERE TO BUY
Camera Body
CAMERA LENS
WHERE TO BUY THE RICOH XR-7 (IF YOU’D PREFER THE ORIGINAL VERSION)
35 MM FILM RECOMMENDATIONS
(You can also check out my blog post about Unique Film Stocks for 35 mm Cameras here or my Top 5 Favorite Color Films for 35 mm Cameras here.)
Kodak Pro Image 100 35 mm Film
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If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my Amazon storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
