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Pentax K1000

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45 148,486 Wed April 12, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $60.50 8.70
Pentax K1000

Pentax K1000
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Pentax K1000
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Pentax K1000
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Description:
The iconic Pentax K1000 was Pentax's classic intro level film SLR, which gained a very high popularity among photography students due to its rugged build and low price.

The original K1000 was basically a KM without depth of field preview and self-timer. The K1000 became very successful and was produced from 1976 to 1997. The top and bottom plates were changed from metal to plastic in the final production run. In 1997, the ZX-M replaced the K1000 as Pentax's intro-level manual offering.

The main variants are the K1000 (black leather, microprism focusing aid) and the later K1000 SE (black or brown leather and with a split image focusing screen or a combination microprism/split image screen).

K1000
Year introduced
1976
Mount
K
Meter range
3 - 18 EV
Meter pattern
c
ISO range
20-3200
DX ISO range
No DX coding
Exposure modes
M, B
Exposure compensation
Not applicable
Exposure memory lock
Not applicable
Shutter speeds (auto)
Not applicable
Shutter speeds (manual)
1 - 1/1000s, B
Shutter speeds (mechanical)
1 - 1/1000s, B
Self timer
No
Mirror lock-up
No
Auto bracketing
Not applicable
Multiple exposures
Yes
Winder
No
Built-in flash
No
TTL flash
No
P-TTL flash
No
Sync speed
1/60s
Flash exposure comp
Not applicable
Autofocus
No
Autofocus sensitivity
Not applicable
Power zoom
No
Viewfinder
0.88x
Viewfinder type
Pentaprism
Diopter correction
No
Exchangeable screen
No
Depth of field preview
No
Image size
24 x 36 mm
Panorama format
No
Battery
S76
Battery grip/pack
No
Size (W x H x D)
143 x 91.5 x 49 mm
Weight
620 g
Price History:



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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 45
New Member

Registered: September, 2014
Posts: 14

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 30, 2014 Recommended | Price: $30.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Build, Design, Price, Simplicity, Feel, Durability
Cons: NOTHING!!!!!!!

Wow, just wow, for a very simple answer, no matter who you are, you should buy this.

Okay, onto the detail. This thing is built like a tank, no matter how hard bang mine or how much I drop it, this camera is a beast. It lasts and lasts and lasts. It is priced cheaply and is such a great beginners camera because there are only three settings, not an endless amount of digital menus like today or things like self timers back then. It feels lovely in hand with a solid metal build and a nice leatherette it feels like a luxury camera.

Anyone and everyone needs this camera, there is a good reason for it being the longest produced SLR ever.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Greensboro,NC
Posts: 503

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: September 14, 2014 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: full manual, rugged, fully mechanical
Cons:

My very first film camera. My dad bought it in the late 70s to use while he was in college. It was used after that to take pretty much every family photo until they got a digital camera in 2004. My dad gave it to me in 2006 when I started taking photography classes. So my rating may be skewed because this camera holds a lot of sentimental value. But lets talk more about the camera.

This camera is full manual, meaning you set all of the settings yourself. This is the best way to learn the relation of shutter speed, aperture, and film speed (iso). I highly suggest that if you are new to photography that you grab one of these and put a few rolls of film through it. You will learn so much and it will help you slow down and really think about the pictures you are taking. I really believe that this camera has helped me become a better photographer overall by not having auto modes and forcing me to learn how to do things the old way. The build quality of this thing is amazing, its heavy and big and feels substantial in your hands. Mine is the all metal version and I love it. It feels like you are holding something of value. Also these cameras were built to last. Mine has taken thousands of photos and hasn't had any work done on it since it was bought in the late 70's. It still has the original light seals and I even have the two lenses that were bought with it and they both work like new as well. The only thing I've changed on it is the batteries and the leather. Its a great camera and every pentaxian should own one.

TLDR This is a great beginner camera for learning on, it's solid and reliable, you should buy one right now.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2013
Location: Barnett MO.
Posts: 2,336
Review Date: October 14, 2013 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: All manual
Cons: nobody cooked up a digital back for it

If you want to learn the basics of speed, aperture and light while enjoying doing it, this is the one for you!! I received mine as a graduation present in 84 and until 09 was still giving it a lot of use. The all manual nature of the camera is the best part!! I learned much about the interactions of shutter, aperture and film speed. And the best part I didn't realize I was learning anything. I never missed a shot because I didn't have an all auto machine gunning rig! It became second nature to set the values then focus then shoot. Add to that amazing workmanship and quality materials make for an almost indestructable machine. Still going strong after almost 30 years in my hands!!!

Yes I gave it a 10! That is what it means to me! And since it was the like the longest in production camera ever, I'm not alone.
Joel
P.S I'm gonna get her and take for a spin.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2012
Posts: 351
Review Date: November 18, 2012 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Heavy, Sturdy, Manual, Simple, Beautiful (even when beaten up a bit) Compact(?)
Cons: Heavy, Manual, Simple

I snagged mine here on the marketplace. I had to get a lens for it (M50/1.7) So that brought the total to $80 excluding film.

I bought this camera to experiment with film and as my first SLR. Film is... interesting. I am not used to not having instant feedback on my shots.

This camera, even being beaten up a bit, still feels very sturdy. Being made out of metal kinda helps...

Being full manual, if I mess up or miss a shot, I have nothing to blame but myself. I like that feeling. It means that I know what needs to improve to mess up less: Me.

Another thing... This camera is beautiful, even with a few dents IMHO.

(Mine is the earlier Japanese made one if anyone wants to know)
   
Senior Member

Registered: November, 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 15, 2012 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Makes you focus on taking photos
Cons: Everything else

I've owned 2 or 3 of these over the years, and have gone through a love-hate-love-hate cycle with them. Yeah, they're heavy. Yeah they don't have a self-timer, DOF preview, or any automatic features.

I think it became clear that this camera is a 10 when a friend of mine was getting into film photography after shooting digital for years. He kept asking if he should get this one or that one, each with more features than the K1000. I sat there and tried to imagine what it would have been like if I had started out on an ME Super or Minolta X-700. I couldn't.

Here's why: it's the matchstick metering. It's the most powerful tool I can imagine to communicate exposure to someone who has used only automatic cameras, or has never used a camera at all. And the careful setting of the aperture and shutter speeds eventually makes certain combinations feel familiar in a way a more automatic camera never could. "Oh, hello 1/60, f/2! Nice to see you again 1/500 f/4!" When the light meter broke on my sister's K1000 she just kept right on shooting, and nailed exposures every time because the camera had made her into a walking LV/EV chart. I'd sometimes ask her how she would set the camera for a particular scene, and then check her setting against the light meter on my Canon Elan 7 (she nailed it every time).

If you're like me and shoot cameras with lots more features, you still feel a sort of irrational pleasure when you pick up a K1000. It's the camera that taught us how to make a picture.

Set aperture.
Set shutter.
Compose.
Click.
   
Senior Member

Registered: May, 2012
Posts: 111

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: May 7, 2012 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Built like a nuclear bunker (made of brass), easy to use (I taught myself at the age of 10), relatively inexpensive, Had a light meter needle in the viewfinder
Cons: expensive to fix (£60 for the light meter)

there's a lot of things I miss about this camera now I have my K-r; the light meter needle, the simple ease of use, the lack of autofocus (honestly, I prefer manual), the brass body… It's a great looking camera.

still took decent photos after 30 years, albeit it did have to get fixed 3 times. all of those times it was my fault though, just not taking enough care.

I really do miss this camera a lot, I wish photography was still like this, where it's not just about pointing a camera at something and pressing a button. Manual focus, film photography, and only 36 photos in a roll. You really did have to compose and work for a shot

To any future buyers, If you want to train someone in photography (in my case, my dad taught me with this one), do buy this camera. You learn proper photography
   
Forum Member

Registered: February, 2011
Location: lower Alabama
Posts: 57
Review Date: February 15, 2011 Recommended | Price: $275.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: best intro to SLR's
Cons: none

Pros best intro to SLR's
Cons none
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) $275 w lens
Years Owned 35 years

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
The light meter in the original K1000 was all that was needed to get a good shot.

Camera Review
Having nothing automatic about it this camera took me from point and shoot to the world of a photo enthusiast. It still works as well as the day I bought it 35 years ago. Shooting and developing my own B&W photos with this rugged camera began a life long hobby of shooting and being told I should go pro. With the right lens I think it could do pro work.

I see some cons that the K1000 did not have a timer. I bought a mechanical one for mine. It was this little metal gadget you wind up, screw into the shutter release, click it on causing a shaft to slowly come down into the shutter button to act as a mechanical remote release. It still works too!

It will go down it history as the camera that launched many a lifetime love of photography. The attached photo is a scan of a print made in 1978 of Middle Bay Light House, Mobile Bay
   
Veteran Member

Registered: July, 2009
Location: 14er Country
Posts: 323
Review Date: November 24, 2010 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Elegant Simplicity.
Cons: None, for what it is.

Pros Elegant Simplicity.
Cons None, for what it is.
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) $35
Years Owned 2

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
If you're looking for features, it's best to look elsewhere. However, when it comes to value and performance, the K1000 is hard to beat.

There are millions and millions of them out there, so it's not hard to find a good deal on them anymore. Watch Craig's List and within a week or two, you'll surely find one under $50.

And I've only ever seen a K1000 fail once, when it was drenched in Strawberry Soda. When it comes to performance, the K1000 will deliver every time, no matter what the conditions are.

Camera Review
I suppose rating this camera a 10 could be a bit controversial, but when I get down to it, a K1000 offers eveyrthing I need to take a picture, no more, no less. That's all I could ever ask of a camera, and thus the 10.

I don't see the lack of bells and whistles as a hinderance, but rather an advantage. The simplicity of this camera is it's biggest virtue. The basic light meter gives me enough information to make a photograph. Granted, it's not a zillion zone matrix meter, and it doesn't even do spot readings. Spending time with it, though, will yield a comfortable enough feeling to know what light is doing to get a shot.

From there, it's all about me. What shutter speed do I want? What aperture? Where do I focus? The camera has simple, quick controls to make these adjustments and that's it. It doesn't get in my way. It doesn't rely on some algorithm that an engineer in a lab dreamt up. It just reacts to my wishes. If the photo fails, it's not the camera's fault. That responsibility lies on the photographer alone.

Simplicity usually means reliability, and so it does with the K1000. The camera can proverbially "take a licking and keep on ticking." Battery failure only means that the light meter no longer functions. The camera will happily keep chugging along operating at all shutter speeds.

In the end, yes, there are other cameras that may be easier to use. But the K1000 is the trusty workhorse that will always be there ready to do it's master's bidding. Is there anything else that can be asked of a camera?
   
Forum Member

Registered: July, 2010
Location: Lubbock, TX
Posts: 59

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 12, 2010 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Solid build, forgiving operability, easy to use
Cons: Spartan controls, no self-timer

Pros Solid build, forgiving operability, easy to use
Cons Spartan controls, no self-timer
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) N/A
Years Owned 5 months
I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
Easy to use for novices and pros alike, well-balanced design

Camera Review
I received my Pentax K1000 in June 2010 as a gift from my uncle, who had owned it since the early 1980s for his high school photography class (he took pictures of me as a child with the very same camera). I had recently gotten interested in film photography so he decided to let me have it, since he has had the intention of immigrating to digital for a while.

It has been stated that the K1000 has been a recommended camera for beginners in photography, and I see the reasoning behind it. Thanks to this camera, I now take the time to compose my photos. It has done a great job in breaking my typical digital age, Generation Y habit of pointing and shooting just for the sake of taking a random picture. I feel that after a while I will be able to quickly focus manually due to the completely manual nature of this camera.

Not having to worry about batteries (except the light meter) is a huge plus. If you want a throwback camera without all the fancy features of today's cameras, this is definitely a camera for you. It's the closest thing I have to a time machine.

Highly recommended. 10/10
   
Junior Member

Registered: May, 2010
Location: Gold Coast, QLD
Posts: 32
Review Date: November 11, 2010 Recommended | Price: $1.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Well built, can be used w/o batteries
Cons: No mirror lockup or DOF preview

Pros Well built, can be used w/o batteries
Cons No mirror lockup or DOF preview
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) 1
Years Owned a week

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
Solidly built body
Has a hot shoe
Familar control layout similar to a Spotmatic
Can use K mount lenses or M42 lenses (with a adaptor)

Camera Review
The Pentax K1000 is one of the best known Pentax SLR's from the 70's and was in production for 20 years.

It's got a solidly built body and feels good to hol and has a shutter that looks a lot like the one in my Spotmatic (made from rubberised silk). The viewfinder is quite bright and easy to see through.

Unlike the Spotmatic, where you had to use the FP or X sync contacts to connect to a external flash, on the K1000 there's a hot shoe on the top which is much more convenient.

Even the location of the controls is similar to the Spotmatic and are perfectly placed for easy operation.

I can use K mount lenses with my K1000 or even M42 lenses can be used with a adaptor.

One thing that I like about it-you can use it without batteries if you don't want to use the meter, or with batteries if you do.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: June, 2009
Location: Utah, Idaho
Posts: 2,396
Review Date: August 25, 2010 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Simple and easy-to-use
Cons: No self-timer

Pros Simple and easy-to-use
Cons No self-timer
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) -
Years Owned ~20

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
These cameras can be found anywhere for next-to-nothing due to their popularity.

Camera Review
This was my first SLR so my review might be a bit biased but I still find this camera a joy to use. When I use this camera everything slows down and I focus on the picture (composition, focus, etc.). Everything is manual so I put more effort into making the photo, yeilding better results.
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2022
Posts: 11
Review Date: April 12, 2023 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Simplicity, build, & reliability
Cons: Price, difficult to read meter in dim light

Pros:

It's a very simple camera, no mirror lockup, no self timer, no automatic features, and a simple light meter. Although it may sound like a negative and it might if you are more experienced and need more from a camera, but it makes for a very reliable and easy to maintain camera that you don't need to think much about when taking pictures. Since they made so many of them and it shares parts with the Spotmatic's spare parts are readily available if needed. Overall it's just a solid easy to use camera that would be a great camera to learn on if it wasn't for the price.

Cons:

Given it's status as the "learning camera" and being hyped up by influencers the price has risen to if not exceeded the price of a KX or MX which are for all intents and purposes, superior cameras in almost every way. This makes it a hard sell in my opinion, but if you can get one for a decent price it's still probably the most reliable Pentax camera available. Only other issue is the light meter is just okay and hard to read at night compared to other Pentax cameras, but it gets the job done.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2018
Posts: 307
Review Date: November 1, 2020 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Rugged, works without a battery
Cons: No Dof Preview, No Split prism

A friend gave me two of these, both in need of some TLC. He had used these since high school and for various photo assignments over the years. I have gotten one working again and am very pleased with the results. The version I'm using is a made in Japan model. The other non-functioning model is a Made in Hong Kong version.

To start, these are rugged, heavy cameras that if maintained, will last. Much like its predecessor the Spotmatic, the K1000 has the match needle metering. In fact it feels identical in my hands. The only complaint other than no Dof preview or no split prism is the meter system on this one underexposes slightly is i need to keep this in mind. If I'm setting up a shot, I use a separate meter to get it spot-on. They also take the old M-42 lenses with a simple adapter. Though you will have to use them stopped down, the results are equally pleasing as the K mount bayonet lenses!

I've already blown through several rolls of film and have no complaints. This camera is a joy to use (if you like old cameras like I do). Its simple and makes sense as it was designed to be the entry level model.

One point I'm surprised about is how expensive these cameras are for what you get. There is defiantly a cult following around them. But if a Dof preview and split prism are a deal breaker, them you can pick up a KM for a very reasonable amount and have all the experience with a little more convenience and affordability.

All said and done, I rated this camera the way I did because it is fun to use, feels substantial in the hand and yields hassle-free good results. I can't ask for more than that!
   
New Member

Registered: October, 2016
Location: Porthtowan
Posts: 17
Review Date: October 24, 2016 Recommended | Price: $160.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Robustness, simplicity, low cost and fully mechanical
Cons: A split-image focussing aid would have helped

Okay, what do I mean by robustness? I mean a strength and reliability that made it suitable for teenagers... it will happily survive a mountaineering trip, a heavy metal gig or a drunken party. The simplicity and low price made it very suitable for absolute beginners. Compared with the slightly later MX it lacked the depth of field preview, self-timer and system accessories. As for the price, it was the only big five camera for under a ton.
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2012
Posts: 22

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 2, 2016 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Built like a tank. Utterly reliable in bad conditions.
Cons:

I bought mine new in 1984 and carried it for a year of student travel in India, Nepal, Burma, and Thailand. It has been as high as 17,000 ft in the Himalayas and a couple of miles underground in the mud of unmapped Eastern U.S. cave systems. It has proven to be completely reliable for 30 years of use.

The K1000 is also a fantastic bargain for students who are learning photography. It is a completely manual SLR which forces the user to really learn the basics of aperture, shutter speed, etc if one wants to get the great shots.
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