Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

Speaking from the "inside". I imported private label lenses from Japan to the USA in the '70s/80's. The lenses made for retail chains like Sears/Kmart, etc. typically were a bit lower quality than the lenses put under the Ritz name, etc. And this was lower than my Osawa brand name. We were in the "quality for the value" market - good lenses, good quality optics, good build quality for a considerably lower price than the camera brands and a bit lower price but comparable to the quality of the Tamron, Sigma, etc. of the time. -

General advice - don't waste much time or money on trying to adapt one to any modern camera. If an old manual aperture Nikon or other camera brand lens or a manual aperture Tamron/Tokina/Sigma/etc. lens is too expensive to play with, choose a different sand box to play in.

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

I Bought a Sears Brand One from a Now Closed Sears Store Out here in Suburban Santa Monica California in May of 89 when I Was Buying my Pentax SF-1N at another Store, The Lens I Bought was a 35/70 Zoom Lens for my Other Two Film Pentax Cameras, the K1000 & A3000.

The Sears Lens Focal Quality was Good, But Not Really Sharp! but was Right for my A3000 I Bought in May of 86, it Was an A Series Lens for that Pentax Model that Used A Series Lens.

Myself would Like to Find a Pentax D.S.L.R. Body & a Adapter so I Can Use that Pentax Mount Lens & another Indie 28mm A Series I Got in Late 87 + the Pentax Brand 28/80 Auto Focus Lens from my Old SF-1 Lens.

If Anybody has Ideas for her, I'd Like to Know Myself?

74images

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

That was an Issue with the Off Brand Lenses.

When I got my 1st 35mm, it was a Pentax K1000 with a 50mm F 2.8 Lens that Came with the Camera that was in October 1980.

My Next Lens Came in July of 84 the Opening Day of the 1984 Olympics here in L.A. at that Time, it was an Off Brand 80-200mm Lens, its Quality was Fair.

The Next Lens was a Replacement, it was also an 80-200 Zoom Lens, but an A Series Lens for both my Pentax K1000 & Newly A3000 I got 2 Months Before that Used the A Series Lens, it Too was A Fair Quality Lens.

In Late 87 Just Before Xmas I Bought an Mail Order Pentax Mount A Series Lens, an Indie from a Camera Store in Brooklyn N.Y. it's Quality was Fair, but the 28mm Lens I couldn't Use a Rubber Lens Shade Cover Due to the Obstacle of the Lens Shade causing Problems with my Photos with it Being on that Lens.

In May of 89, when I was Shopping for my Pentax SF-1N Camera, (My 1st Auto Focus Camera!) I found a 35/70 Zoom Lens, A Sears Brand at a Now Defunct Sears Store here in Suburban Santa Monica California, Like the 28mm Lens, I also Could Not Use a Rubber Lens Shade when the Zoom was Set at 28mm.

It also was a Pentax Mount A Series Lens for My A3000, as well for my Pentax K1000, it's Quality was Not Up to Par!

I Still have the Lenses, but my A3000 was Damaged During the Northridge Earthquake in January 94, the Ring Mount was Damaged, but Never Repaired, I can Only Use it for my K1000, but Not in the A Mode & My SF 1N Wouldn't Accept Any Non Autofocus Lenses, Pentax Brand, or Indies, cause it Would Lock & you couldn't get Off, You'd have to Send it to a Pentax Repair Center & Pay a Franklin to Get it Removed, I Made that Mistake my 1st Night that I had My SF-1N, the Next Morning I Took it to the Pentax Service Center that was in the San Fernando Valley here in L.A. I was Lucky & Pentax didn't Charge me but Gave Me a Stern Warning Not to Put Non Auto Focus Lenses on my SF-1N.

I can Only Use it for my K1000 I Received in October 1980, Along with the 28mm I also Received in Xmas of 87 & the 80-200 Zoom Lens.

Bottom Line...

I Made Mistakes in the 80's when I Bought Indie Lenses for my Pentax Film Cameras & the Sharpness Quality Sucked, I was Young, in My 20's (I'm 59 Today!) & Had to Learn the Hard Way!

74images

BebuLamar

If you get a Pentax DSLR you wouldn't need an adapter to use them.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

forget the sears lens, it's a lost cause. the focal lens does not work with newer cameras.

74images Loc: Los Angeles, California

What about the Two Manual Focus Indie Lenses that I Own & I Bought for the Manual Focus Pentax Cameras, they Don't have an Adapter for Pentax DSLR Cameras?

74images

BebuLamar

You can use Pentax K mount lenses (or third party lenses in the same mount) made since 1975 on current Pentax DSLR without an adapter. Similar with Nikon. Minolta (now Sony) and Canon changed the lens mount when they made auto focus camera.