Sears KS Super

The SOmewhat Super KS

The KS Super is a K mount camera that was a re branded Ricoh XR-6 but with minor differences. The camera is still the very slick all black design, the only difference being that the Ricoh logo on the front is now blank, the XR-6 logo is replaced with KS Super, and the chrome ring around the shutter speed dial is now all black. This makes the KS Super very unassuming with no logos and a ‘blend in’ all black design, very discrete. Consisting of mostly plastic, it still has a solid weight and feel. The camera requires two LR44 batteries, which go in a compartment on the underside of the camera. The KS Super will not work without batteries on any mode or setting, it’s a completely electric camera so bring along a couple spare batteries.

The viewfinder of the KS Super is average for the time but with one exception. Inside of the microprism ring, the split image focusing area cuts across diagonal not horizontal. On the right hand side of the viewfinder, there is a meter system that consists of 4 led lights. You have the plus sign (+) and minus sign (-), over and under exposure lights, and between them a circle light that lets you know your exposure is correct. This circle indicator also blinks when the cameras shutter speed selection is too slow to hand hold. Below that you have a flash ready light, for a dedicated Sears flash unit.

The KS Super is an aperture priority camera with somewhat minimal controls. On the top, right hand side of the camera you have a standard winding lever and frame counter. The shutter button is to the left of that and has a threaded shutter release; it also triggers the meter if half pressed. The main on/off and shutter selection is on a dial around the shutter button. The choices you have are L (lock/off), A (aperture priority), X (flash sync), and B (bulb). All modes are self explanatory, but within the aperture priority mode, the camera is capable of 1 second to 1/500th of a second shutter speeds. On top of the prism, you have a somewhat standard hot shoe. The hot shoe has an extra contact for use with a dedicated Sears #8025 flash. With this flash, you can keep the camera in the aperture priority ‘A’ setting and get a flash ready signal in the viewfinder. Normal hot shoe flashes will work and you even have a PC sync on the front of the camera body, but with these types of flashes, you will need to set the camera on the flash sync ‘X’ setting. On the top left side of the camera, you have a standard rewind crank in which you pull up to release the camera back. Around the crank you have an ASA dial, which you need to pull up to set, that goes from 12 to 3200. The dial also has a handy exposure compensation function built in where you turn the dial without pulling, and you can set the compensation +2 and -2 in 1/3 stops. There is also a self timer button next to the ASA dial labeled SELF. This sets a 10 second timer with a corresponding blinking red light on the front of the camera.

THE SPECS AND FEATURES

Shutter Speeds - Bulb, Auto (controlled by camera for 1 second to 1/500th), X flash sync speed

Aperture - dependent on lens

Meter Type - TTL, center weighted

Shutter - electronic, vertical travel, metal

ASA - 12 to 3200 (+2 and -2 compensation in 1/3 stops)

Lens - Pentax K mount

Flash Option - PC socket or hot shoe (with flash ready pin, light in viewfinder)

• with the Sears # 8025 dedicated AUTO/Thyristor electronic flash, the camera can be left in ‘A’

• all other flashes set camera to ‘X’

Batteries - 2 LR44 batteries, no mechanical option

Film Type - 35mm

Other Notable Features - 10 sec self timer, optional motor drive

The Experience

I’ll be honest, I did not stumble across this camera in any natural or meaningful way. I found a Sears K mount lens at a thrift store, and never owning a K mount camera, I looked for some of the cheapest camera bodies I could find. This was among the few I was able to pick up at a decent price, and I did not have high hopes. One of the sayings I heard a long time ago was when you bought a set of tires they’d throw in a Sears zoom lens. Granted some of those lenses are bad, but if exploring vintage film cameras has taught me anything, it’s that everyone is quick to hate. I will say that I was initially one of those people, but nowadays I try to differentiate between what is objectively bad and what just has a bad rap. That being said, Sears never really made a camera. They licensed and re branded cameras left and right for decades, most being name brand and quality cameras. That being said…I still did not have much hope. This camera body was dirt cheap and had minimal controls. I was expecting to have to do a complete overhaul or end up having a camera that was junk. It ended up being neither of those. Much to my surprise, it was in decent working order. The mirror had a bit of trouble staying up at first, but after a bit of lighter fluid and some oil, it was working great.

Don’t get me wrong, the KS Super is not special by any means, I wouldn’t even say super, but it has just the right amount of automation and manual control to be used in most situations. I ended up really enjoying every time I went out using the KS Super. Being aperture priority, you have control of the depth of field and can even influence the shutter speed in a way with different apertures. The dead simple metering system was great indoors and out, the very different diagonal split image viewfinder, and the easy over/under exposure compensation made this a fast pick up and go camera but with just the right amount of manual control. I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone. It has a common Pentax K mount, and even the stock Sears lenses worked above any expectation I had. The KS Super changed my outlook on all the department store brand cameras and the way I look at a camera brand in general. Don’t let other people tell you a camera is junk or not worth it. Research and come to a conclusion on your own, and you may find a camera that surprises you.