Pentax K1000

The LX was the Best 35mm film camera when it came out, it out preformed the top cameras from Nikon and Canon, but it didn't have the lenses to back it up.

why bother with film? Who can wait to see the pictures now a day?

The only reason to shoot film today is because you like shooting film. And that's a very good reason.

I'm mildly intrigued by your post - I wonder what was measured back in those days to give an insight into what was the "best" system SLR? The LX was certainly a fine camera, but to be blunt, for the classic camera collector who just enjoys shooting film occasionally, it hasn't quite stood the test of time. I have thought of buying one several times, but I've always been put off by interwebby reports about sticky shutter syndrome.

But isn't it funny that you quote the modern idea that "Pentax didn't have enough lenses" compared to CaNikon. I don't think it's a valid point today, and even less back in the days of the LX.

I seriously think that the K1000 is top contender for the BEST Pentax film camera ever, even though I've never had one - my old Pentax film camera experience culminates in buying an ESII, and then having it CLA'd. Stick an SMC Takumar 50/1.4 on it, and it's just a work of art.

Back when the LX came out in 1980 Pentax was going for a part of the pro photographer, just as Canon tried with the F 1 in 1987, the LX cameras spec's out preformed the top Nikon F3 of the day and blew away the Canon F 1, but just like Canon, Pentax did not have the pro lens line to backup the camera. Due to that lack of Pro lenses, the LX and Canon F 1 both failed to bring in the pro photographer, it's also the reason why there was never an update to the LX or F 1.

Nikon held that pro market until the Canon EOS system came out in 1987 and slowly started to take a part of the pros. EOS = 'End of Slump' as Canon's USA's management called it. Then there was 'Eat Our S___' by others (not me).

I'm a long term Nikon shooter but I did have an LX to use for a couple of years and I shoot Pentax 645.

I did attend a fancy dinner Canon put on when they introduced the F 1, I was not impressed with the camera. The F1 required a battery pack that held 8 AA batteries when using the Servo EE Finder/Meter and other finders were large and heavy compared to the LX system. The LX showed that a pro camera did not have to be large and Nikon's F4 was smaller than the F3, not sue if that's due to the LX.

K1000 was and still is the most popular manual exposure camera, schools still use them to teach photography as the students can't cheat and use an auto mode. That camera just keeps working, even after 40+ years. The competition tried to come out with their own K1000 type camera, but they all added more features than the K1000 and failed to sell.

I just checked ebay and clean K1000's with 50mm 2.0 lenses are selling for up to $140.00 with many sold for over $100.00. Pentax switched to plastic top and bottom plates, but they look real good and are hard to notice the change. The cameras with Metal plates have a screw in battery cover, the plastic ones have a 1/3 turn bayonet battery cover.

As far as I'm concerned, the K1000 is the most classic film SLR everr. This is because instructors teaching basic photography seemed to recommend it far more than any other. This was because it was the cheapest, usable SLR you could buy and complete the course. It has everything you need and nothing extra for just about anything.

RedFox88 said:

Your iPhone is a good backup camera, honestly. Much better than a old manual focus film camera.

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He never even said he had an Iphone lol, and no it really isn't. I could give you a whole number of reasons why a 35mm "full frame" film camera is much better but I very much doubt you'd listen.

nofumble said:

why bother with film? Who can wait to see the pictures now a day?

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Anyone who doesn't feel the need for instant gratification, in fact delayed gratification is often much nicer, you forget what you shot and then often get a nice surprise when the film is developed. Of course you can shoot a reel of film and develop it on the same day quite easily if you need to.

Toilet Roll said:

I feel a bit spoiled with all the features and ease of use new cameras these days have so been looking at the Pentax from various sites recomending it as a great first film camera.

My camera bag has plenty of space for one more body I can carry around and I was thinking, wouldn't a film camera be the perfect back up since its all mechanical apart from a tiny cell battery for metering? I mean, sometimes things can look better with real film grain (another reason Im interested) and Im looking forward to just going back to basics.

I have owned a film camera before but not an interchangeable lens SLR and would like some advice on what to look for when buying a K1000 in good condition and what first lens you recommend.

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I recently bought an ME Super, and it really is a great little camera which is fun to shoot, I'd highly recommend looking for a well preserved one, there are still plenty about.

Sniff! --the first ever SLR I owned, back when I was a spotty kid. I think I must have tidied my bedroom religiously and washed the dishes for months beforehand, to accrue enough Brownie Points to earn it for my birthday --as we were a poor family.

Member said:

According to a maintenance manual, the K1000 does not have an on/off switch....So when you are not using the camera, you should block all light to the lens and viewfinder...

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Ah yes: Remove lens cap... Take photo... Replace lens cap... I remember the routine well. I was so paranoid about running the battery out that I think the above routine allowed the one it came with to last out my entire time with the camera.

[On an off-topic aside; you ever wonder what happened to things you used to own in the distant past? Thinking about it, I had that K1000 for years. I never sold it or gave it away, or [knowingly] lost it. But, at some point, it just wasn't amongst my possessions any more.]

Mine is safe in the cupboard in the hutch, along with the MX, the KX, and all the lenses.

Actually. Now you come to mention it, I don't even know where the cupboard I used to keep mine in is, any more.

Mind you. It was over 30 years ago.

madra said:

Sniff! --the first ever SLR I owned, back when I was a spotty kid. I think I must have tidied my bedroom religiously and washed the dishes for months beforehand, to accrue enough Brownie Points to earn it for my birthday --as we were a poor family.

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You can pick them up for very little now, I love the size of it and mine works perfectly. The viewfinder is also excellent for the size of the camera, huge and bright, I find focusing easier than on my OM's.

Nyalgy Bubu said:

Nyalgy Bubu said:

According to a maintenance manual, the K1000 does not have an on/off switch....So when you are not using the camera, you should block all light to the lens and viewfinder...

Click to expand...

Ah yes: Remove lens cap... Take photo... Replace lens cap... I remember the routine well. I was so paranoid about running the battery out that I think the above routine allowed the one it came with to last out my entire time with the camera.

[On an off-topic aside; you ever wonder what happened to things you used to own in the distant past? Thinking about it, I had that K1000 for years. I never sold it or gave it away, or [knowingly] lost it. But, at some point, it just wasn't amongst my possessions any more.]

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nofumble said:

why bother with film? Who can wait to see the pictures now a day?

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Just for fun really, image quality will probably not even be as good as my phone or be cheap to get prints/film but thats the point.

I guess its like classic cars vs modern cars, most will use something newish as a daily driver and now and again you take out the old foggie and enjoy its quirks.

On a similar note, I havent yet found one but the prices are better than I expected. Looking for the Asahi and maybe an included lens too.

Better do some research on good places in UK to get film developed by post.

No such thing as a Good, Cheap K1000; Nice, Clean K1000's with 50mm 2.0 have sold on eBay this month for up to $270.00 for a Brown SE in Excellent++ Condition!!! That's more than when it was new!!!

So far this month on eBay, In Only the Last 8 Days, 125 K1000's Have Been SOLD.

10 K1000's with 50mm lens have Sold for over $140.00;

27 have Sold for over $100.00

38 have Sold for over $90.00.

These are Not just listings but these are the actual price they sold for with shipping.

FYI: You can do an 'Advance Search' on eBay to check past listings to see only 'Sold' listings or all past listings, sold and unsold.

K1000 image quality will be just as good as any high end/top of the line 35mm film SLR camera using the same lens.

mandm said:

No such thing as a Good, Cheap K1000; Nice, Clean K1000's with 50mm 2.0 have sold on eBay this month for up to $270.00...

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Blimey!

Maybe you could re-create the feeling of Gadget Envy inferiority from the 1970s by scoring a Zenith E instead? Due to the ravages of time, those are the only 2 models of SLR that I can remember *anyone* I knew possessing, back in those days.

Needless to say, us K1000 owners felt immeasurably superior because we had TTL metering, whereas our Zenith-toting compadres had to take their light readings via a light meter panel set above the lens. Of course, they had the advantage when it came to needing to hammer in nails with your camera!

Oh. And then Zenith trumped us by bringing out that telephoto kit that looked like a sniper rifle. And every teenager wanted one of them --in spite of the fact the lens was slower than actually sitting down and drawing what was in front of you.

Back on topic... I remember that my K1000 had metal panels top and bottom, but definitely said "Pentax" on the pentaprism, rather than 'Asahi Pentax' and equally definitely said "Made in Japan" on it. Yet, according to Wikipedia:

mandm said:

Production of the largely hand assembled camera was moved from Japan, first to Hong Kong in 1978 and then to China in 1990, to keep labor costs down. The "Asahi" name and "AOCo" logo was removed from the pentaprism cover to de-emphasize the company name in keeping with the rest of the "Pentax" line. The meter components changed as Asahi Optical searched for suitable supplies. The metal in the wind shaft was downgraded from steel. Cheaper plastic was substituted for the originally satin-chomed brass top and bottom plates and aluminum and steel film rewind assembly

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Mind you. Wouldn't be the first time Wikipedia got things wrong. Or maybe I had some kind of unusual transitional model?

madra said:

Actually. Now you come to mention it, I don't even know where the cupboard I used to keep mine in is, any more.

Mind you. It was over 30 years ago.

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Cupboards tend not to move much, so probably in the same place.

I posted this a couple of days ago.

Pentax made a production change on the K1000 and the top and bottom plates on the camera were changed from metal to plastic. The plastic looked so good that most people never noticed the change.

How to tell the difference, the Metal top & bottom plates have a Screw In Battery Cap, the Plastic top & bottom plates have a Bayonet 1/3 turn Battery Cap.

The original cameras used a Mercury battery that have been banned for 25+years, they now make a Zinc Air or other types of replacement batteries. If it's a Zinc Air battery, pull off the plastic tap on the battery and wait 10 minutes before putting it in the camera, if you put it in right away the battery will die after only a few days, it needs air to get in the battery to start the chemical process, the plastic tab covers little holes that let air into the battery to start the chemical reaction.

Do the same with hearing aid batteries that have that Tab to remove, wait 10 minutes before putting it in.

absquatulate said:

madra said:

Actually. Now you come to mention it, I don't even know where the cupboard I used to keep mine in is, any more.

Mind you. It was over 30 years ago.

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Cupboards tend not to move much, so probably in the same place.

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my guess is that Madra does not remember when the cupboard was sold or disposed off or left at a previous address.

What do you think ?