Sears Sears 50mm f1.7 Heritage

Overview

The Sears 50mm f/1.7 was a rebadged standard prime sold under the Sears house brand, a common practice in the 1970s-80s when American retailers like Sears commissioned Japanese optics manufacturers to produce lenses under their own name. The reviews sampled here cover the Pentax K-mount version of the 'Auto Sears MC 50mm F1.7,' though the same optical design was distributed across multiple mounts. As a 'nifty fifty' of the era, it was a budget-friendly, all-purpose standard lens made in Japan and featuring multi-coating ('MC'). Its cult following, as evidenced by the reviews, stems almost entirely from its exceptional value: reviewers repeatedly praise it as a cheap, capable performer, with an average street price under $20 and a perfect 10 value rating. One reviewer humorously invoked a Frank Zappa lyric ('Is that a real Poncho or a Sears Poncho?'), questioning whether a Sears-branded lens could be 'real,' and concluded it was 'a nice little lens.' No established community nickname beyond the generic 'nifty fifty' category is evidenced. The manufacturer of this specific copy is unknown from the reviews.

Verdict: A budget standard fifty that punches well above its bargain-bin price. The Sears 50mm f/1.7 is ideal for the value-conscious shooter who wants a sharp, lightweight lens for close-ups and portraits. Reviewers unanimously recommend it, praising its sharpness and unbeatable value, while noting occasional wide-open softness on distant subjects.

Optical Character

Bokeh

Rated well overall (community average 9.0), though individual opinions varied between scores of 7 and 9.

Sharpness wide open

Very sharp for close-ups and portraits (center sharpness ~9.2 average), with one reviewer initially finding softness wide open on distant subjects later attributed to user error.

Community Insights

What people love

Outstanding value for money, with a perfect 10 value rating and an average price under $20
Very sharp for close-up and portrait work
Light, compact, and easy to use
Pleasing bokeh (community average 9.0)
Good build quality and low price highlighted specifically by reviewers

What people dislike

At least one reviewer found their copy very soft wide open on distant/landscape subjects (later attributed to user error)
One reviewer cited size and weight as cons
Bokeh was rated lower (7) by one reviewer despite the higher community average

Pro Tips

Excels at close-ups and portraits, so favor it for near-subject work
Take care with focusing on distant/landscape subjects, as apparent softness may be user error rather than a lens fault
Given the very low cost, it's a low-risk way to get a capable standard prime

Sources (1)

Web-grounded synthesissecondary

The Sears 50mm f/1.7 was a rebadged standard prime sold under the Sears house brand, a common practice in the 1970s-80s when American retailers like Sears commissioned Japanese optics manufacturers to produce lenses under their own name. The reviews sampled here cover the Pentax K-mount version of the 'Auto Sears MC 50mm F1.7,' though the same optical design was distributed across multiple mounts. As a 'nifty fifty' of the era, it was a budget-friendly, all-purpose standard lens made in Japan and featuring multi-coating ('MC'). Its cult following, as evidenced by the reviews, stems almost entirely from its exceptional value: reviewers repeatedly praise it as a cheap, capable performer, with an average street price under $20 and a perfect 10 value rating. One reviewer humorously invoked a Frank Zappa lyric ('Is that a real Poncho or a Sears Poncho?'), questioning whether a Sears-branded lens could be 'real,' and concluded it was 'a nice little lens.' No established community nickname beyond the generic 'nifty fifty' category is evidenced. The manufacturer of this specific copy is unknown from the reviews.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/articles/influential-gear/auto-sears-mc-50mm-f17-lens.htmlhttps://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/auto-sears-50mm-f1-7-mc-k-mount.html