K1000 survey

[eddie gunks]

got one! i still use it. my wife learned on it also. i have owed it for 25 years!

eddie

 

[Mike Wilde]

never owned, but frequent user

These were the cameras owned by my high school camera club some 20 or more years ago. In my 3 years involved with the club, I recall that we probably put 1200 feet of bulk loaded film though them every year. I believe that they were in use for another 10 years. Built like a tank, and it delivers the images. Makes the shooter do a bit of work in thier own head too.

I currently run the Minolta verison of this camera - SRT101.

 

[MenacingTourist]

I own one of these. My grandfather bought it for a trip to Hawaii and never used it again. Actually I haven't used it either but it is being used by a high school photo student who I loaned it out to.

 

[Steve Roberts]

Bought one new for 89 of our English pounds back in about 1980.
Soon got fed up with the lack of DOF preview facility and permanently on meter so upgraded to a KX, which I still have.

Steve

 

[dmr]

I learned much of what I know with a Spotmatic. Does that count?

Actually, I "upgraded" from the Spotmatic. My major gripe was that it was clumsy to change lenses, and I had the normal, the 135, and a 28mm Vivitar. I got the K1000 with the intent of getting a 135 and a 28.

However (yeah, go figure) the first extra lens I got for the K1000 was a 28-135 zoom. Almost a moot point. Later I got the Sigma 18mm ultrawide as well.

 

[waynecrider]

Makes the shooter do a bit of work in their own head too.

That's another thing that I like about it. You have to use your noggin instead of rely on electronics. Also like the small lenses.

Too bad Pentax didn't make a rangefinder out of it. That would have been sweet.

If anyone looks to pick one up, get the first version, not the later China made model.

 

[Kilgallb]

I use it a lot. Mainly, because I do not worry about it being stolen.

I own one and would actually cry if it was stolen.

Last July, I dropped the front half of the protective case while standing on the street photographing the end of the Tour de France. When I looked down, it was gone.

Yes, I cried!!

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Traded an old accordian for one and the world of music rejoyced.

 

[marsbars]

Would love to own one but got into nikon gear and don't need one. Was bidding on one on ebay and lost out when the price went into the stratosphere. So ended up with a Nikormat FTN and lens for half the price of what the K1000's were going for. Now I own 2 FTN's, an F2 and F3. But rest assured if I ever stumble on one that the price is right I will get it just for the shutter clack.

 

[braxus]

I never owned this camera, but I did own a VW Bug. I used the K1000 in high school. It was the first 35mm camera I really got to use while there. I own the bigger brother to it- the Pentax 6x7. They both operate the same right down to the light meter. Because I liked the K1000, I bought Canon's version the FTb. But even it isnt as easy to meter like the K1000. If I wasn't using Canon's, I may of considered the Pentax. Problem is my eyes aren't what they used to be and I need autofocus these days to make sure I get the shot.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I got my start in photography with one in high school in the 70's. I bought a used one in the '80's and still have it but haven't used it for years.

 

[waynecrider]

I never owned this camera, but I did own a VW Bug. I used the K1000 in high school. It was the first 35mm camera I really got to use while there. I own the bigger brother to it- the Pentax 6x7. They both operate the same right down to the light meter. Because I liked the K1000, I bought Canon's version the FTb. But even it isnt as easy to meter like the K1000. If I wasn't using Canon's, I may of considered the Pentax. Problem is my eyes aren't what they used to be and I need autofocus these days to make sure I get the shot.

I carry a FTbn with a 28mm on it loaded with color with my K with a 50mm on it loaded with Delta 400 or Fp4. My third camera yet to be cla'd for carry is a Nikkormat FT3 with a 19mm. Their all nice cameras but the K is the one that accompanies me. I like the screen better then the FTbn.

 

[Kobin]

Speaking of which...I'm looking for an SLR for someone on an extremely compressed budget, AND I was just given a Sigma Zoom-Epsilon 28-70 macro lens. The body cap says Pentax K and Ricoh something, so I think the lens would mate with the K1000, right? (It's bayonet-mount, not threaded).

I don't run into $10-20 yard sales like that unfortunately...I get the dogs that end up not working on eBay.

Yep, the Penatx K mount was used for the Richo too. Today's Phoenix and Vivitar cameras have the K mount.

K.

PS:

Hey out there, why not upload some Pentax K100 images you guys?

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Old bike.

Took this shot last fall with my K1000.Neopan 400,scanned.

 

[George Losse]

I voted on the "I used to own one side", but I found the body for it this weekend as I was cleaning. So I guess I still do own one. I haven't shot with it in a very long time, at least 15 years maybe more. It was the screw mount body, I know I sold off the new body with the other mount system.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

K1000 shots

Here are a couple of photos I caught with the Pentax K1000 a couple of years ago. A real work horse that is extremely easy to manage and work with. It is what I learned with, and I still own it, along with one extra body. I do, however, these days use a Pentax KX as main 35mm camera.

- Thomas

 

[darinwc]

I tried one once.. but I couldnt figure out how to turn off the shutter sound like on my powershot.

 

[MMfoto]

Thomas, those photos are beautiful, I'll take a wild guess and say Tri-x Pyrocat HD? But it's probably silly to try and guess. KX's are the best camera Pentax made, IMHO.

Never had a K1000, but lots of Spotmatics and a MX. In fact I just came home with a new black SP yesterday.

 

[naeroscatu]

good deal

following up on my post few days ago just to say I was stunned when I found yesterday a 50mm/ F2 Pentax SMC lens at a second hand store for $10.00. Excellent condition. I put this on to my K1000 and switched the 50mm/F1.7 on my KX. Sweet

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I have never owned one, I found that the MX had features that were important to me so that is the direction I went. Obviously a great camera, and one that I used to recommend to beginners, but I think that the cult of the K1000 was kind of making the prices a little high for my taste. Seems that you can get a Minolta SRT series, or a KX, or an Olympus OM1 for less money. Of course, that may have changed, since I haven't priced them in over a year.

Edit: right now an OM1N with 50/1.8 is about $50 cheaper than a K1000 with 50/1.7 on KEH both in ex condition. For that I would go with the OM1N. No offense to the K1000, but all this love has made the prices kind of high for my taste.

 

[waynecrider]

I have never owned one, I found that the MX had features that were important to me so that is the direction I went. Obviously a great camera, and one that I used to recommend to beginners, but I think that the cult of the K1000 was kind of making the prices a little high for my taste. Seems that you can get a Minolta SRT series, or a KX, or an Olympus OM1 for less money. Of course, that may have changed, since I haven't priced them in over a year.

Edit: right now an OM1N with 50/1.8 is about $50 cheaper than a K1000 with 50/1.7 on KEH both in ex condition. For that I would go with the OM1N. No offense to the K1000, but all this love has made the prices kind of high for my taste.

Yea I could not figure that out myself. In fact the prices for a 24mm F2.8 SMC in exc cond seems high at $275, but that's only because they can be fully used on the new digital cameras.

 

[nyoung]

Bought and used about two dozen of them over 13 years running a high school photo class. Had a bad run of luck with the 50/2 lenses in the late 90s. The focusing helicals (plastic) would break. This was on the lenses without the chrome ring around the objective. Bought my last one at yard sale for $35 with a 50/2 (old style) and a Vivitar 2000 flash. Ebayed the camera and lens for $45 and kept the flash as my profit. As good as they were, and they make as good a picture as you could want, Pentax never made anything to compae to Nikon for the three Fs - fit, finish and feel.

 

[benjiboy]

I have never actually owned one, and I don't know if it counts in your survey, but in camera stores I have worked in I have sold hundreds of them, selling them was easy because I really believed they were a great no nonsense camera capable of first class results at a very reasonable price.

 

[Kilgallb]

I first owned a Spotamatic II which met its end when I fell in a creek. I replaced the body with a K1000 and used the original screw mount 50 mm for a few years. Yeah, no auto and I had to stop down to meter.

Then I lost that camera on a mountaineering weekend.

So I replaced the camera with a K1000 and a K mount 50 mm lens. This is what I have now. When I got the complete outfit, I immediatley learned the K1000 does not have depth of field preview. OUCH, should have bought a MX.

I still use the K1000 with several old screw mount lenses, which of course gives me depth of field preview.

 

[papagene]

For 35mm I have a couple of Pentax ME Supers. When I worked in photo retail for ten years I sold many K1000s to young photography students. I still think it is one of the best cameras to learn photography.

gene