K1000 survey

[waynecrider]

Just to see how many of us have actually owned this model. Got to love the simplicity. Reminds me of the old V'dub's.

 

[removed account4]

i have one and still use it ..

 

[naeroscatu]

I have one and love it. still use it.

 

[jmdavis]

I own one and it is one of my favorite 35mm. It or a Rangefinder are my first 35mm choices for most things.


Mike

 

[noseoil]

I have one I've never used. Got it from my dad and he didn't run but a few rolls through it. tim

 

[melmoth]

I took up photography about three years ago. About two years ago, I bought a pentax k1000 with a 50mm and a 28 mm lens off ebay for just over 80 dollars.
It is an ideal camera to learn from. It is economic, robust and it's exposure meter system is a terrific educational tool. The lens are fine. I use it a lot. Mainly, because I do not worry about it being stolen. I have other more expensive cameras which I probably treat with too much respect. This has at times inhibited my photo taking.
I would recommend the k1000 whole heartily to anyone taking up photography or parachuting into the wilderness - If you want. mel.

 

[dmr]

This has been my main camera for over 20 years now (sorry, RFF folks).

It has very few shortcomings, actually, and is extremely reliable.

The RF has become my choice for most low-light or available light work, but the K1000 is what I grab most of the time for most shooting.

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

I have one and use it. I also own and drive an old VW.

D.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I own two of them, and I use them as back-ups. I prefer the Pentax KX for most of the work, because it has the lazy man's DOF preview.
I really like Pentax lenses, sharp, good 'out-of-focus' look, and handles contrast very nicely. I don't see any reason to get anything more sophisticated. It does what it's supposed to do, open shutter, let light onto film, close shutter. And it does it VERY reliably. I've only ever had them jamb up twice. Once the mirror stayed up when it was -35*F (fricken cold), and once because I have managed to twist a cable release on too tightly and a little screw holding the shutter release in place came off... Both times external factors. I would recommend this camera to anyone.
- Thomas

 

[laverdure]

I also drive and own an old VW. I at one point owned three k1000s. Two worked. Now I have one. It would get more use, I suppose, except lately I've found its metering system to be too dang high-tech.

 

[David Brown]

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

 

[MattKing]

I've never owned one - where do I vote?

Matt

 

[Zathras]

Just to see how many of us have actually owned this model. Got to love the simplicity. Reminds me of the old V'dub's.

I've never had a K1000, but I still use my Spotmatics on a regular basis. Never had a need to "upgrade" to something newer. I do wish I still had my old '67 bug though, that was a fun old car.

Mike Sullivan

 

[Jerry Thirsty]

I own two, which I still use occasionally to make sure they don't gum up. It was the early 90s, eBay and internet photo forums were nowhere to be found, and all I knew about SLRs was that all the photo mags referred to the K1000 as the most popular beginners camera. So I got one when I went off to college.

 

[proslambanomenos]

just bought one in mint condition at the thrift store for $20. nice to have a classic old beater that i can keep in the car at all times without worrying about theft or damage.

beauty in simplicity

 

[John Bragg]

just bought one in mint condition at the thrift store for $20. nice to have a classic old beater that i can keep in the car at all times without worrying about theft or damage.

beauty in simplicity

My god you are so lucky !!!! Here in the UK they still hold a good price, even on Ebay....

 

[snegron]

It was my first SLR! I regret having given it away several years ago. I have actually been considering buying one just for nostalgic purposes, but it wouldn't be the same. I can't get my original one back because I gave it to an exgirlfriend who hates me. Passionaltly hates me.

 

[Kobin]

Here's one from the K (1000, that is):

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[ricksplace]

I had one. My son has it now and uses it regularly. I used it as a back up to my MEsupers. The K1000 is pretty much bullet proof. I wonder how many were built?

 

[winger]

I sold my K1000, but I still use a pre-spotmatic screwmount Pentax. Talk about simplicity. And it still works.

 

[waynecrider]

I also drive and own an old VW. I at one point owned three k1000s. Two worked. Now I have one. It would get more use, I suppose, except lately I've found its metering system to be too dang high-tech.

Do like I just did and yank that dam battery out!

I always want to pick this camera up and use it and I can't figure out why. Maybe it's that dam fine sounding shutter clack or more likely the lenses. Anyways, I getting over that DOF preview shit and am having more fun without it.

How bout some pictures. Mine are in FL and I'm in AZ so I can't help there.

 

[BradS]

Yep...





I don't think I've ever actuallyused this one.
You can click on the image to read about it and see more photos.

 

[jake1]

It's funny, I just picked up a K1000 at a yard sale last week, for a whopping 10 bucks. This also included the flash and a light meter. I've already run some film through it and can't wait to see the results. I also own a SP1000 that is almost identical, except for the screw mount lens. Great little cameras. Can't beat the price.

 

[Murray@uptowngallery]

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.

 

[Anscojohn]

I owned an SP1000--the screw thread version. It was my "good" camera to use instead of my Practikas. Now I have a couple of Zenits.
Anscojohn, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA