Sears Sears 28mm f2.8 Heritage

Overview

The Sears 28mm f2.8 is a rebadged third-party wide-angle lens sold under the Sears house brand during the 1970s, a common practice where retailers marketed lenses made by established Japanese optical manufacturers under their own name. According to one reviewer, the lens (labeled 'Auto-Sears-MC') was likely made by Cosina, and their example was purchased with a camera and other lenses in the mid-1970s. It was made in Japan and available in M42 screwmount as well as PK mount variants (model numbers 199.730610 in M42 and 199.730310 in PK). Reviewers describe it as solidly built, 'built like a tank,' with smooth focusing. It has no established nicknames or cult following; it is regarded as a competent, affordable budget lens rather than a legendary optic. People appreciate it primarily for its value and mechanical quality rather than any standout optical signature.

Verdict: The Sears 28mm f2.8 is a solidly built, affordable vintage wide-angle for photographers who want a durable, smooth-focusing lens without a premium price. It won't win awards for optical character and shows softness and CA wide open, but stopped down to f5.6-f8 it delivers sharp, accurate images. It's best suited for budget-conscious adapters and collectors who value build quality and value over standout rendering.

Optical Character

Bokeh

Rated moderately (around 6-7) with no descriptive detail provided.

Color

Renders colors accurately.

Sharpness wide open

Soft wide open at f2.8 but sharp when stopped down, especially f5.6-f8 and remaining good through f11.

Flare resistance

Flare is handled well.

Contrast

Contrast is handled well.

Community Insights

What people love

Solid, tank-like build quality that feels durable and well-made
Smooth focusing action that feels great in use
Excellent value for the low price point (average around $37.50)
Accurate color rendering with well-controlled contrast and flare
Good sharpness when stopped down to f5.6-f8

What people dislike

Softness wide open at f2.8
Very noticeable chromatic aberration, particularly evident on the Pentax K-3 III
Optics described as 'not great' or merely 'OK' by some reviewers
Aperture blades can become stuck due to oil (though this is cleanable)

Pro Tips

Stop down to f5.6-f8 for the sharpest results across the frame
Avoid relying on f2.8 for critical sharpness as it is soft wide open
If the aperture is sticky, cleaning the oil from the blades is reportedly easy and restores snappy operation
Be aware of chromatic aberration when shooting high-contrast edges on digital bodies

Sources (1)

Web-grounded synthesissecondary

The Sears 28mm f2.8 is a rebadged third-party wide-angle lens sold under the Sears house brand during the 1970s, a common practice where retailers marketed lenses made by established Japanese optical manufacturers under their own name. According to one reviewer, the lens (labeled 'Auto-Sears-MC') was likely made by Cosina, and their example was purchased with a camera and other lenses in the mid-1970s. It was made in Japan and available in M42 screwmount as well as PK mount variants (model numbers 199.730610 in M42 and 199.730310 in PK). Reviewers describe it as solidly built, 'built like a tank,' with smooth focusing. It has no established nicknames or cult following; it is regarded as a competent, affordable budget lens rather than a legendary optic. People appreciate it primarily for its value and mechanical quality rather than any standout optical signature.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/sears-28mm-f28.html