Review of the Sears KS Super II SR 2000 35 mm Film Camera with Sample Photos in Cape Charles, Virginia

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

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 SR 2000 camera. 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.

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

  1. Easy to Use, Beginner-Friendly settings like “Aperture Priority”

  2. Sturdy, Metal Alloy Body

  3. Decently Sharp Lens Options like the 50 mm f/2.0 Lens

  4. Great for Travel

  5. Has that Classic 80s 35 mm Film Camera Vibe

CONS

  1. Limited Settings - No Fully Manual Option

  2. No Dedicated Option for Multiple Exposures (Though You Can Press the Film Rewind Button and Manually Overlap Frames)

  3. 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

Etsy

eBay

CAMERA LENS

eBay

Etsy

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 Gold 200 35 mm Film

Kodak Portra 160 35 mm Film

Kodak Portra 400 35 mm Film

Kodak Pro Image 100 35 mm Film


If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

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


Lomography LomoChrome Metropolis 120 Film Review | Sample Photos with a Holga GCFN Toy Camera in Lisbon, Portugal!

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

Happy New Year! It’s 2025, can you believe it? I was chatting with a friend the other day and realized, that means it’s been five years since the infamous 2020. That revelation makes my insides hurt, but if I think about all of the things I’ve accomplished and survived since then, it makes a lot more sense. It’s never a good idea to look at the big picture, especially when it comes to all of the catastrophes of the world. I’ve learned that life is a little less overwhelming if you just focus on the day to day.

I have a lot of travel plans this year, but also I’ve been feeling a strong urge to be cozy in my house. Maybe it’s the fact that we have a new puppy, or maybe it’s because I’m turning 36 in February and I’m just getting old, or maybe it’s just pure exhaustion from the last five years, but traveling just sounds like a bit much at the moment. I know I’ll plan a trip for my birthday, but for now, I’m going to enjoy these snowstorms and my crazy little puppy, and spend my days catching up on blogging and editing.

I’ve been meaning to share these images from my trip to Portugal for a while because I find Lomography’s LomoChrome Metropolis to be a very unique film stock. I don’t typically go for film that is desaturated in any way, just because I prefer either bright color or black and white. But I have an affinity for Lomography’s LomoChrome film and I’m particularly obsessed with the LomoChrome Purple film. I like the LomoChrome Turquoise as well, but the purple film holds a special place in my heart. I found that the LomoChrome Metropolis actually scans similarly to the LomoChrome Purple. And by that I mean, the film scans I made at my house with my Epson V750 Pro Scanner didn’t look too different than the scans I get with LomoChrome Purple. I find that Metropolis images have a slight purple undertone, which makes me think that it’s the same film as the purple, but just a little less saturated. The Metropolis film also tends to run a little cheaper than the purple film, so if you’re interested in just testing out one of these funky films without breaking the bank, Metropolis is probably your best bet. You’ll find that samples of this film range from golden to greenish to purple-y blue tones, but that’s kind of the fun of this film. You can really adjust the tones during or after scanning to fit your personal style. You can either make it more vintage by embracing the desaturated vibes, or you can add warmth or coolness if you want a different undertone. It’s really a fun film though and I’ll definitely be shooting more of it in the future! For these images, I used a Holga GCFN (my favorite camera in the world). You can read more about the Holga GCFN on my blog here. Or you can watch my full review of the camera on my YouTube channel here! All of these photographs were taken in Lisbon, Portugal and the majority were taken in Jerónimos Monastery, a stunning late Gothic style monastery by the waterfront.

The Metropolis film comes in 35 mm or 120 formats. I just recently finished up a disposable 35 mm camera with Metropolis preloaded inside. You can pick one up on Amazon if you find a disposable camera more approachable. I always love shooting with disposable cameras. There is a special retro vibe that you get with disposable cameras that is just impossihle to replicate.

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

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

WHERE TO BUY:

Lomography LomoChrome Metropolis 120 film

Amazon

Adorama

eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Metropolis 35 mm film

Amazon

Adorama

eBay

Lomography LomoChrome Metropolis Disposable 35 mm Camera

Amazon

Adorama

Holga 120 GCFN Camera (read more about the Holga GCFN on my blog here!)

Amazon

eBay

KEH Camera

Here is a roll of 120 LomoChrome Metropolis that I shot with my Holga GCFN in Portugal!

Shooting Kodak Ektar 100 with a Holga GCFN in Portugal!

(By using the links and/or codes in this blog post it supports Myles Katherine Photography. We may get a small kick back by you doing so.)

I’ve been forcing myself to step outside my box and try out some new film stocks lately. I tend to stick with Lomography film or Kodak Portra 400 and Kodak Gold 200, but Kodak Ektar 100 is one of those films I always hear about but just never got around to trying. I decided to take a roll with me to Portugal and test it with my Holga GCFN. After getting my film back and scanning it, I’ve definitely learned a few things about it. It has an overall blue undertone, that particularly shows up if you’re shooting in lower light (like a cloudy day or shadowed setting). It definitely favors bright lighting and sunshine. The next time I shoot with it, I’ll be sure to take it with me to the beach on a sunny day. However, the blue undertones add a nice moodiness that is unlike any other film I’ve shot with. It has a dreary graininess that is endearing and calming in a way. In general though, it’s a good rule of thumb to shoot in bright light with any film under 200 ISO. Sometimes, I forget what kind of film I put in my Holga so I end up being surprised by the results. Next time I load my Holga, I’m planning to tape a piece of paper on the back of my camera with the film stock I put inside just so I don’t forget!

I also posted a YouTube video about shooting with Ektar 100 with the Holga in Portugal, so if you’d like to see the making behind these photos, make sure to give my video a watch here!

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.

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

WHERE TO BUY:

Kodak Ektar 100 - 120 film

Amazon

Adorama

eBay

Kodak Ektar 100 - 35 mm film

Amazon

Adorama

eBay

Holga 120 GCFN Camera (read more about the Holga GCFN on my blog here!)

Amazon

eBay

KEH Camera