Pentax K1000

[Chan Tran]

How does the K1000 cpmpare to the Nikon FM?:confused:

Checking an ad from Adorama in Pop Photo Magazine Jan 1981 the FM body was 169.95 and the K1000 body was 94.95.

 

[markaudacity]

It works reasonably well but most if not all other Pentax manual cameras are better I think.

And that's why it's the perfect first camera. The more features the tool you learn on has, the fewer skills you build and the more you rely on the machine instead of your own observation and judgment.

A beginner's tool should be completely unforgiving, so as not to hide flaws in technique.


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[GRHazelton]

And that's why it's the perfect first camera. The more features the tool you learn on has, the fewer skills you build and the more you rely on the machine instead of your own observation and judgment.

A beginner's tool should be completely unforgiving, so as not to hide flaws in technique.


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How would DOF preview, center weighted metering, and a switch for the meter hide flaws in technique? Might be nice to have viewfinder diopter adjustment so the beginner could see the image clearly, ya think??

 

[markaudacity]

Diopter adjustment, sure. The rest don't help a student understand proper exposure, handholding, or basic composition.

For it to be an excellent beginner's tool, it has to be spartan. No features not critical to exposing film correctly.


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[Prof_Pixel]

Pentax sold slip-on diopter lenses. They also sold a K-mount to old style screw mount Pentax lenses adapter that I found very useful with my old Pentax lenses.

 

[frank]

It's an entry level camera without bells and whistles. Sure it could have been built with the features mentioned, but then it would have been more expensive. It's kind of like the VW beetle of that era. I don't understand why people want to diss it.

I've spent the last couple of days in hospital on intravenous, eating nothing but ice chips. My room mate complains about the quality of every meal delivered to his bed. See the parallels? Some people aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

 

[Pioneer]

get better frank. best or worst is always in the eye of the beholder so there is never a right answer.

i love my K1000 and would not be without it but I am currently wrapping up my 3 Nikons and preparing them for sale. good cameras with far more features than the K1000, just not my cup of tea.

 

[Xmas]

Hi Dan I'm with you on Frank better soon Frank.

Lots of people wish for the moon and wonder why others like sandwiches made with cheese onion and tomatoes.

One guy always had the same packed lunch at work.

His wife made the sandwiches and we were sad until he said it was his favourite and she would have done fancy if he asked.

 

[frank]

Thanks! I'd love a cheese, onion, and tomato sandwich anytime.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

If you say the K1000 isn't the worst Pentax manual camera then you have to name at least 1 Pentax that is worse than the K1000.

I reject the premise that there has to be a 'worst' Pentax. There may be a Pentax with the least features, but that doesn't make it the worst. Maybe this is a language issue. To me, saying something is the worst implies there are a series of bad items and one of those bad items is the worst. There is not a series of bad Pentax cameras, therefore there is not a worst Pentax.

It is like looking at 20 beautiful girls and asking which is the ugliest.

 

[BradS]

Pentax detached from Honeywell in 1975. It's been just a name ever since, with no relation or similarity to the Honeywell Pentax, which was a very respectable brand; even enjoyed "professional status" throughout its existence. The KM/KX/K2 were essentially 1-year fails. The ME/MX in 1976 beat Olympus at its own game. The K-1000 came out for the masses a bit later, and basically was a market success for Asahi, and lasted a long time till the market was saturated and the technology changed. In the end, Asahi survived its mistake of detaching from Honeywell.
Boring camera though.

Huh? This is not accurate at all.

Honeywell was only an importer for gear sold in the US. Honeywell had nothing to do with the design and manufacture of the cameras.

 

[Les Sarile]

My Uncle worked for Honeywell. It's accurate; I lived it, and it is first-hand testimony. At that time counting backwards to the war, the Japanese products were entirely at the dictate, standard, and specification of their American importers as branded. Indeed, a Honeywell Pentax is a far superior camera to the same, branded Asahi. There was a standard there, a specification that had to be met. The Honeywells were a better camera, made by Asahi's better people to stricter standards. That wasn't propaganda. Cadillacs were made by GM's better people and better specs. Nobody disputes that, so why the other?

Please refer to these -> http://www.aohc.it/_old/slr01e.html & http://www.aohc.it/_old/slr02e.html
Asahi designed and manufactured while Sears, Heilland then Honeywell imported into USA.

 

[Les Sarile]

Thank you. The context of this thread I perceived to be the 70's-80's. And dating back to 1964. The heyday of Honeywell Pentax. After the split-off it was an entirely different ball game. The Honeywell Pentaxes were of unquestionable quality. As far as I know Honeywell has enjoyed a very respectable reputation.

The thread just stated "the worst Pentax manual camera" which of course can go back to the beginning and all the way to the last Pentax manual focus which would be the P series in the late 80s.

 

[Xmas]

Thank you. The context of this thread I perceived to be the 70's-80's. And dating back to 1964. The heyday of Honeywell Pentax. After the split-off it was an entirely different ball game. The Honeywell Pentaxes were of unquestionable quality. As far as I know Honeywell has enjoyed a very respectable reputation.

Well my S1a was not a Honeywell but was a super little camera.

 

[cuthbert]

The K1000 is K mount version of the Spotmatic F, it became popular with students as it is all manual which was or is required for some introduction classes. At this point I think it has obtain a sort of cult status and is overpriced. The KX, KM, P3, Chinon CM4 all very good entry level K bodies.

I have a K1000, I don't remember the last time I use it. If I am shooting non AF K mount I will use a SF1 in manual or aperture mode.

No, the SPF has DOF preview, self timer and shutter lock, so it's between the KM and the KX in terms of features, take a KX and install the lightmeter of a KM and you get a K mounted SPF.

But a K1000 cannot show depth of field at all, either—something one accepts in a rangefinder, but which is completely at odds with an SLR so frequently touted as ideal for student photographers. You may or may not have a need to use a DOF preview for your imaging, but you should know how to use it. It's an overrated and over priced camera given prices currently paid.

I think the main problem is that the upgraded K1000, the KM was in production for just three years and most of the people don't know its existance, if you die to have a DOF preview that's the camera you need, it does have all the qualities of the K1000 plus a little more.

Pentax detached from Honeywell in 1975. It's been just a name ever since, with no relation or similarity to the Honeywell Pentax, which was a very respectable brand; even enjoyed "professional status" throughout its existence. The KM/KX/K2 were essentially 1-year fails. The ME/MX in 1976 beat Olympus at its own game. The K-1000 came out for the masses a bit later, and basically was a market success for Asahi, and lasted a long time till the market was saturated and the technology changed. In the end, Asahi survived its mistake of detaching from Honeywell.
Boring camera though.

This post is so wrong to so many level.

Do you realise that Honeywell NEVER made camera but they were the EXCLUSIVE importers in the US until 1975? That's the reason why they are called Honeywell Pentax, the rest of the World had Asahi Pentax and the quality is the same, I have camera of both "brands" and I can confirm that.

The K line remained in production for at least three years and they were SOLD by Honeywell as well, I have a 1976 Honeywell catalogue to prove that, just at that time they were not the sole importers anymore so they couldn't brand the cameras Honeywell, and their lifespan was cut short because of the Olympus accident that prompted Pentax to release small cameras following the trend of that era: the M series, that were highly successful, not as well built as the K series but nothing is better built than a Pentax K, besides the "real" professional cameras (LX, Canon F-1 and Nikon F2).

Finally Pentax released its first pro camera, the LX, five years after the split with Honeywell and it's of course so superior to any H branded cameras that there's no point for me to discuss it any further.

 

[BradS]

My Uncle worked for Honeywell. It's accurate; I lived it, and it is first-hand testimony. At that time counting backwards to the war, the Japanese products were entirely at the dictate, standard, and specification of their American importers as branded. Indeed, a Honeywell Pentax is a far superior camera to the same, branded Asahi. There was a standard there, a specification that had to be met. The Honeywells were a better camera, made by Asahi's better people to stricter standards. That wasn't propaganda. Cadillacs were made by GM's better people and better specs. Nobody disputes that, so why the other?

I don't doubt that your uncle told you this and maybe he even believed it but, it is totally false. The differences between the Asahi and the corresponding Honeywell branded model were completely cosmetic. This is well documented and easily verified. As for Cadillacs being built by GM's better people...also rubbish.

 

[Too old to care]

I have two 35 mm cameras that I use regularly and that I bought new. Neither has DOF preview, both use springs and gears to operate the shutter, and both have a simple light meter. They both feel well made and seem to run forever with very little care. Granted one has a better lens, but not that much better. I will not get rid of either, first because I always wanted the Leica M6 that I bought new in 1998, and the K1000 that I bought new in 1986 to replace my worn out Spotmatic.

 

[cuthbert]

I have two 35 mm cameras that I use regularly and that I bought new. Neither has DOF preview, both use springs and gears to operate the shutter, and both have a simple light meter. They both feel well made and seem to run forever with very little care. Granted one has a better lens, but not that much better. I will not get rid of either, first because I always wanted the Leica M6 that I bought new in 1998, and the K1000 that I bought new in 1986 to replace my worn out Spotmatic.

If you are not satisfied with the M 50mm f2 (I assume that's the lens your K1000 came with) try to get a K50mm f1.4 that has nothing to envy to a Summicron.

 

[Too old to care]

If you are not satisfied with the M 50mm f2 (I assume that's the lens your K1000 came with) try to get a K50mm f1.4 that has nothing to envy to a Summicron.

Actually I have two 1.4 Pentax lens, a K and KA version. My point was not the quality of the lens, but that the K1000 is not that much behind the Leica. I use both, but if I had to do it again, I would have not bought the Leica.

 

[LarryP]

to the OP do you feel the k1000 is inferior to the sp500 ? If so, why?

 

[Xmas]

Actually I have two 1.4 Pentax lens, a K and KA version. My point was not the quality of the lens, but that the K1000 is not that much behind the Leica. I use both, but if I had to do it again, I would have not bought the Leica.

I sold both my M6 still got both K1000, and a few M2.

 

[BradS]

to the OP do you feel the k1000 is inferior to the sp500 ? If so, why?

yeah...and what about the spotmatic SL, and the Asahi Pentax S2 ?

 

[John Koehrer]

:munch:

This thread is a chuckle, almost like a "what's the best/worst Leica"

And you ain't gonna convince nobody they're wrong.

 

[AgX]

For those that don't like the lack of viewfinder DOF in the K1000 how often do you use that instead of the Dof lens markings or DOF charts?

I find that view-of-DOF feature very informative for composing, unless one is obsolutely shure on the effect, by much experience with different lenses and situations.

I consider it a obligatory feature at a learner-camera.


Nonwithstanding the above, I own und use SLR's that lack that feature (as T-70).

 

[Roger Cole]

I agree about DOF preview.

Now why Pentax refused to include exposure memory lock in their AE cameras for so long is a huge mystery. Even my LX lacks it, an absolutely glaring omission in an otherwise superb camera. The metering is probably the very best in camera meter of the pre-matrix days but it still needs it IMHO leading me to shoot on manual more often than I otherwise would and, worse, to sometimes forget to change back to AE and overlook the too-easily-overlooked manual flag in the finder, ruining some subsequent shots.


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