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Scanogram · 06-02-2015, 05:21 PM

Hi all, new guy here (sorry I've been lurking for a while).

I came across this camera that is mechanically identical to the K1000 except it has a self timer like the KM. The meter is different in that it has 3 LED's in the viewfinder, a green LED indicating good exposure and a red LED above and below showing + and -.

It came with a Helios 44-K-4 58mm lens. Any thoughts on where it was made and by whom?

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**ChrisPlatt** · 06-02-2015, 05:48 PM

As you may know in its final years of production the Pentax K1000 was manufactured in China.
Rumor has it that after production ceased the original tooling was left behind and used by the Chinese to produce various SLR models.
If the camera body pictured is one of these it is probably the most "K1000-like" clone I have seen...

Chris

K David · 06-02-2015, 05:56 PM

Do you have photos of the back, bottom, and insides?

I won't lie, if I saw that in a store I'd get my credit card.

I suspect Chris' idea is correct and that it was a post-K1000 production run body made from the tooling. The KM, when it was produced, used the same basic parts as the K1000, so adding a self timer in later wouldn't be hard for a production facility.

tvdtvdtvd · 06-02-2015, 07:41 PM

Curious there isn't a badge of any sort. Is there any identifying features on the camera at all, (serial #, Made In China etc).

stevebrot · 06-02-2015, 07:43 PM

Originally posted by Scanogram

The meter is different in that it has 3 LED's in the viewfinder, a green LED indicating good exposure and a red LED above and below showing + and -.

What you describe sounds familiar, though its heritage would not be traced to the K1000. IIRC, these were Asahi/Pentax prototypes for a LED-driven manual exposure display such as in the MX. As noted above, photographs of the bottom, top, and camera interior would be helpful. It would also be nice to see the battery holder (1 vs. 2 cells)

Steve

stevebrot · 06-02-2015, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by K David

I suspect Chris' idea is correct and that it was a post-K1000 production run body made from the tooling.

I thought the Chinese K1000 were primarily plastic top/bottom plates. The camera above is definitely metal.

Steve

**pentaxus** · 06-02-2015, 09:05 PM

I want one.

Scanogram · 06-03-2015, 04:36 AM

Here's some more pictures. It does have all metal covers and uses 2 batteries.

K David · 06-03-2015, 10:26 AM

Well, fascinating. That's not a battery chamber housing I've seen on a Pentax before, but the internals look like a K. And the light meter sounds like an MG or MV.

I'm guessing that you either have a between-line prototype, a pre-production body of some sort, or a really off-brand Chinese make using the old Pentax tooling and the light meters found in the Nikon FM10, Chinon, and other modern manual-focus SLRs being made in China still today.

stevebrot · 06-03-2015, 12:11 PM

Originally posted by K David

And the light meter sounds like an MG or MV.

Except that both those models are Av only. The heritage here is definitely K-series, though highly unlikely to be K1000 IMHO. Both the top and bottom plates are obviously custom pressings. A full top view would be real nice, but that one is still missing. There have been a few other similar no-name prototypes with known provenance posted on this site, though finding the threads might be difficult.

Steve

**Baard-Einar** · 06-03-2015, 12:40 PM - **1 Like**

The K1000 was tools were sold to China and sold in the chinese market as MINGCA MC K1000. It was sold in large quantities but not often seen outside China.

Picture from Bosses really nice site Pentax K 1975-1997 - www.pentax-slr.com

Scanogram · 06-03-2015, 12:51 PM

Here's a view of the top. Also with top cover removed and a regular K1000 for reference.

LesDMess · 06-03-2015, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

The K1000 was tools were sold to China and sold in the chinese market as MINGCA MC K1000. It was sold in large quantities but not often seen outside China.

Picture from Bosses really nice site Pentax K 1975-1997 - www.pentax-slr.com

Thanks for the link!

Scanogram · 06-03-2015, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

The K1000 was tools were sold to China and sold in the chinese market as MINGCA MC K1000. It was sold in large quantities but not often seen outside China.

Picture from Bosses really nice site Pentax K 1975-1997 - www.pentax-slr.com

From looking at the Mingca, it looks like my camera came out of the same factory.

**ChrisPlatt** · 06-03-2015, 01:39 PM

IMO it's quite obviously based on the Pentax K1000 - the resemblance is uncanny.
I have seen photos of the "Mingca MC K1000" before, but always in black paint.

FWIW many manual exposure cameras from the 1980's onward used a
3 LED meter readout powered by two 1.5V 44/76/357 button batteries.

Chris

06-02-2015, 05:48 PM	#2
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,700	As you may know in its final years of production the Pentax K1000 was manufactured in China. Rumor has it that after production ceased the original tooling was left behind and used by the Chinese to produce various SLR models. If the camera body pictured is one of these it is probably the most "K1000-like" clone I have seen... Chris Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 06-02-2015 at 06:03 PM.

06-02-2015, 07:43 PM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Scanogram The meter is different in that it has 3 LED's in the viewfinder, a green LED indicating good exposure and a red LED above and below showing + and -. What you describe sounds familiar, though its heritage would not be traced to the K1000. IIRC, these were Asahi/Pentax prototypes for a LED-driven manual exposure display such as in the MX. As noted above, photographs of the bottom, top, and camera interior would be helpful. It would also be nice to see the battery holder (1 vs. 2 cells) Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 06-02-2015 at 07:48 PM.

06-03-2015, 12:40 PM - 1 Like	#11
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	The K1000 was tools were sold to China and sold in the chinese market as MINGCA MC K1000. It was sold in large quantities but not often seen outside China. Picture from Bosses really nice site Pentax K 1975-1997 - www.pentax-slr.com Attached Images

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06-02-2015, 05:56 PM	#3
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Do you have photos of the back, bottom, and insides? I won't lie, if I saw that in a store I'd get my credit card. I suspect Chris' idea is correct and that it was a post-K1000 production run body made from the tooling. The KM, when it was produced, used the same basic parts as the K1000, so adding a self timer in later wouldn't be hard for a production facility.

06-02-2015, 07:41 PM	#4
tvdtvdtvd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,665	Curious there isn't a badge of any sort. Is there any identifying features on the camera at all, (serial #, Made In China etc).

06-02-2015, 07:45 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by K David I suspect Chris' idea is correct and that it was a post-K1000 production run body made from the tooling. I thought the Chinese K1000 were primarily plastic top/bottom plates. The camera above is definitely metal. Steve

06-02-2015, 09:05 PM	#7
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,320	I want one.

06-03-2015, 10:26 AM	#9
K David Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,437	Well, fascinating. That's not a battery chamber housing I've seen on a Pentax before, but the internals look like a K. And the light meter sounds like an MG or MV. I'm guessing that you either have a between-line prototype, a pre-production body of some sort, or a really off-brand Chinese make using the old Pentax tooling and the light meters found in the Nikon FM10, Chinon, and other modern manual-focus SLRs being made in China still today.

06-03-2015, 12:11 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by K David And the light meter sounds like an MG or MV. Except that both those models are Av only. The heritage here is definitely K-series, though highly unlikely to be K1000 IMHO. Both the top and bottom plates are obviously custom pressings. A full top view would be real nice, but that one is still missing. There have been a few other similar no-name prototypes with known provenance posted on this site, though finding the threads might be difficult. Steve

06-03-2015, 01:06 PM	#13
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Originally posted by Baard-Einar The K1000 was tools were sold to China and sold in the chinese market as MINGCA MC K1000. It was sold in large quantities but not often seen outside China. Picture from Bosses really nice site Pentax K 1975-1997 - www.pentax-slr.com Thanks for the link!

06-03-2015, 01:15 PM	#14
Scanogram New Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 21 Original Poster	Originally posted by Baard-Einar The K1000 was tools were sold to China and sold in the chinese market as MINGCA MC K1000. It was sold in large quantities but not often seen outside China. Picture from Bosses really nice site Pentax K 1975-1997 - www.pentax-slr.com From looking at the Mingca, it looks like my camera came out of the same factory.

06-03-2015, 01:39 PM	#15
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,700	IMO it's quite obviously based on the Pentax K1000 - the resemblance is uncanny. I have seen photos of the "Mingca MC K1000" before, but always in black paint. FWIW many manual exposure cameras from the 1980's onward used a 3 LED meter readout powered by two 1.5V 44/76/357 button batteries. Chris

No Name K1000

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