HELLLLLLLP! Pentax manual SLR bodies: K1000 vs. KM vs. KX

Forrest Conifer · Jul 1, 2014

I've been shooting on thrift-store point-and-shoots for the past year or so, but I'd like to dive deeper into analog photography so I'm contemplating the purchase of my first SLR. I've narrowed my choices down to an Asahi Pentax K1000, KM or KX. The K1000 is obviously very well-known and respected, but I've heard that the other two are virtually identical and generally can be found at a cheaper price point because of their relative lack of cult-ness.

I'm looking for something that will last me a long while, and I'd prefer to make the right choice the first time around. I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts y'all might have.

Tom1956 · Jul 1, 2014

KX is a fine camera. So is the MX. A K-1000 is a consumer-grade model, no DOF preview.

Chrismat · Jul 1, 2014

The KM does not have the mirror lock up that the KX has and does not show the aperture and the shutter speed information in the viewfinder. Same body, but less frills. It has a depth of field preview and a self timer.

Oren Grad · Jul 1, 2014

The K1000 cult has gotten out of hand. People seem to have forgotten that it was the budget model at the bottom of the full-size K-mount line, which went K1000 - KM - KX - K2 - K2DMD. Later K1000's in its very long production run were more cheaply constructed, too. I'd prefer a KX any day - it has a number of useful additional features, it's not "virtually identical". Assuming comparable mechanical and cosmetic condition, to pay more for a K1000 than for a KM or KX is nuts.

Nuff · Jul 2, 2014

I have settled on MX, small and light body, biggest viewfinder of any pentax SLR. It shows aperture and shutter speeds in viewfinder. DOF preview. But no mirror lockup (which I do not use).

Tom1956 · Jul 2, 2014

Nuff said:
I have settled on MX, small and light body, biggest viewfinder of any pentax SLR. It shows aperture and shutter speeds in viewfinder. DOF preview. But no mirror lockup (which I do not use).

Good choice. And mirror lockup is over-rated, IMO The MX/ME unseated Olympus OM1 as the world's smallest SLR with the bonus of superior Asahi optics.

Dan Daniel · Jul 2, 2014

Forrest Conifer said:
I'm looking for something that will last me a long while, and I'd prefer to make the right choice the first time around. I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts y'all might have.

To be blunt, you are looking at relatively cheap cameras. Most people's attitudes to them is that you buy one, use it until it stops, then move on to the next one.

So I would say the 'right' choice is to buy the first one of any of these models that is working.

Then focus on the lens(es). I would strongly encourage to start with the f/1.7 50mm K or M series. A great lens. The lenses will be usable on any of these bodies so it will be money well spent.

Les Sarile · Jul 2, 2014

I suggest you check out that KX cla'd by the Pentax Man Eric in the classifieds forum. Can't miss it as it has the cobalt blue leather!

Dan Daniel · Jul 2, 2014

Nuff said:
I have settled on MX, small and light body, biggest viewfinder of any pentax SLR. It shows aperture and shutter speeds in viewfinder. DOF preview. But no mirror lockup (which I do not use).

Most MX do have mirror lock-up. It's an unoffical feature. Flick the shutter release with a fingernail- if you hit it right the mirror goes up but no shutter release. Then push the shutter release to fire.
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/bodies/film_M/MX.html
https://www.flickr.com/groups/pentax_mx/discuss/72157622262536275/

Nuff · Jul 2, 2014

Dan Daniel said:
Most MX do have mirror lock-up. It's an unoffical feature. Flick the shutter release with a fingernail- if you hit it right the mirror goes up but no shutter release. Then push the shutter release to fire.
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/bodies/film_M/MX.html
https://www.flickr.com/groups/pentax_mx/discuss/72157622262536275/

It's not a feature, it's a bug that some cameras have it. My one has it about 1% of the time...

Tom1956 · Jul 2, 2014

It's not a bug, nor a feature. My Uncle, then a Honeywell sales rep showec me that trick on the SPF that I bought off him in 1973. Works every time on the Honeywell series cameras. I was not aware it had followed through to the MX. Honeywell lost the Pentax line in 1975 when the K2/KX/KM line came out under the Asahi name.

Pioneer · Jul 2, 2014

They are all darn fine cameras, even the "consumer grade" K1000 which, incidentally, outlasted them all. Depth of Field preview is much over-rated, and if you really need a timer then one can be purchased on Ebay that fits into the threaded shutter. The K1000 has been one of my primary cameras since 1984 and is as capable of producing fine photographs as any 35mm ever built. The amount of money spent on camera gear has never been a very reliable indicator of the quality of photos produced, no matter what some people on these forums would like you to believe.

I tend to prefer the large K series bodies but the MX is a wonderful camera. I am sure you and that camera will record many great memories in the future.

As already mentioned by Dan Daniels, the optics are very nice. I love my M50/1.7 and my M50/2, both of which are very inexpensive but fine lenses. But, if you have a little extra, the M or K 50/1.4 is one of the best 50mm lenses produced by anyone. The build quality is terrific and the performance is wonderful.

Tom1956 · Jul 2, 2014

The K1000 was a very good camera in the earlier years. At some point as I recall, production had moved from Japan to HK and was cheapened in quality...so the tale goes.

pbromaghin · Jul 2, 2014

Whichever one you get, you will not notice the difference after a couple weeks usage. You will love the one you have.

Xmas · Jul 2, 2014

The K1000 had four production sets the first one was made in Ja the build standard dropped in later series but later ones still able to take photos.
A SLR is noisy but offers better visualisation than a direct vision finder
A 1970 Pentax without a meter is still a Pentax.
A separate meter allows better exposure visualisation.
You will need to replace foam on K series camera.

I normally use a direct vision rangefinder my K1000 must feel neglected.

Tom1956 · Jul 2, 2014

My knowledge of the Honeywell Pentax line was as good as my Uncle's, who was a sales rep. In 1975, Asahi took over American distribution, my Uncle was transferred to Atlanta, and my "continuing education" ended. All that said, I would not buy a Pentax camera again now, as much a fan as I once was.
Speaking of the screw-mount line, Pentaxes all had one annoying shortcoming I can't accept and will not accept. The viewfinder was off-center in both directions compared to the film gate. Rated at 92% coverage on the screw-mount line would have been perfect for those shooting Kodachrome/Ektachrome at the time. But it was not even any good for that, because the view was off-center in BOTH directions, and I had banged my head on that truth 1 too many times.
No more Pentaxes for me. It's F2S/Nikkormat for me now, baby--all the way.

Tom1956 · Jul 2, 2014

Xmas said:
The K1000 had four production sets the first one was made in Ja the build standard dropped in later series but later ones still able to take photos.
A SLR is noisy but offers better visualisation than a direct vision finder
A 1970 Pentax without a meter is still a Pentax.
A separate meter allows better exposure visualisation.
You will need to replace foam on K series camera.

I normally use a direct vision rangefinder my K1000 must feel neglected.

The only Pentax sold new with no meter in 1970 was the SL. And foam has to be replaced on every dmn camera since they started using the dastardly stuff--even a Hass.

Xmas · Jul 2, 2014

sorry forgot the 's' in 1970s a S1a from 1961 is ok.

Yes I know about the mirror bumper in a 500c and the dark slide gate.

But if you buy a K1000 you need to replace the foam.

Steve Smith · Jul 2, 2014

Chrismat said:
The KM does not have the mirror lock up that the KX has and does not show the aperture and the shutter speed information in the viewfinder. Same body, but less frills. It has a depth of field preview and a self timer.

However, the KM does have a depth of field preview which I don't think the K1000 has.

I bought a KM for a friend a few years ago. It has everything you could want from a K1000 without the K1000's cult status and matching price tag.

Nuff said:
I have settled on MX, small and light body, biggest viewfinder of any pentax SLR.

I have to agree. I was given an MX a couple of years ago. I was amazed at how small it was and how good the viewfinder was. I wanted to keep it but decided that I had too many camera systems so I gave it and everything else with Pentax K mount I owned to a friend's daughter who was getting into film photography.

Steve.

Chan Tran · Jul 2, 2014

Forrest Conifer said:
I've been shooting on thrift-store point-and-shoots for the past year or so, but I'd like to dive deeper into analog photography so I'm contemplating the purchase of my first SLR. I've narrowed my choices down to an Asahi Pentax K1000, KM or KX. The K1000 is obviously very well-known and respected, but I've heard that the other two are virtually identical and generally can be found at a cheaper price point because of their relative lack of cult-ness.

I'm looking for something that will last me a long while, and I'd prefer to make the right choice the first time around. I'd appreciate any advice or thoughts y'all might have.

It's simple, of the three the KX is best, the KM second and the K1000 is the worst of the bunch. So for the same condition I would certainly pick the KX even if I have to pay more but as the K1000 got the cult status you can get the KX for less so it's the obvious choice.

Forrest Conifer · Jul 2, 2014

Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. I think I'm going to spring for a KX.

GRHazelton · Jul 2, 2014

Oren Grad said:
The K1000 cult has gotten out of hand. People seem to have forgotten that it was the budget model at the bottom of the full-size K-mount line, which went K1000 - KM - KX - K2 - K2DMD. Later K1000's in its very long production run were more cheaply constructed, too. I'd prefer a KX any day - it has a number of useful additional features, it's not "virtually identical". Assuming comparable mechanical and cosmetic condition, to pay more for a K1000 than for a KM or KX is nuts.

Go KX. I have among my Pentax gear a K 1000. Its pretty basic, without DOF preview, mirror lock-up, both features you will at some time want. Also, there's no meter on off switch, the lens cap serves that function. Riiiight! The Judas window showing the f stop set is a nice feature, which the K1000 lacks. Plus the KX is much more likely to appreciate over the year than is a K1000. The main virtue of the K1000 is that it was cheap, fairly rugged, and made the student do some thinking. IMHO it would NOT serve as the basis for a proper photo kit.

John Koehrer · Jul 2, 2014

Pick one. They're all the same chassis, film advance and shutter. The KX uses Silicon Photo diodes(SPD) for meter cells,

Forrest Conifer · Jul 2, 2014

Forrest Conifer said:
Thanks for the thoughts, everyone. I think I'm going to spring for a KX.

Bought it. Hooray! Thanks, everyone.

DREW WILEY · Jul 3, 2014

The K's were Pentax's el-cheapo line. I gave a little MX to my nephew for his extreme-weather climbing expeditions in the arctic, Andes, and
Himalayas. As long as the meter battery was kept warm, it performed superbly, and he got all those cool shots his sponsors (like North Face)
wanted for their ads, plus bagged several feature articles and covers in the climbing magazines. A fancier electronic camera would have failed, as most modern digital gear (he learned that lesson the hard way, as did certain other extreme-weather climbers I knew). I prefer the Nikon F-series myself; but the MX is wonderfully compact. The probably with any old camera is if rubber gasket material needs replacement. My very first personal camera was an early Honeywell Pentax; and it's unbelivable how much hell I put that thing thru in the mtns. When it's shutter speeds finally started losing accuracy, I had moved on to 4x5 anyway.

HELLLLLLLP! Pentax manual SLR bodies: K1000 vs. KM vs. KX

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