[wcurtiss]

I might have to buy a K1000 now...well said!

[noblepa]

I examined my recently acquired K1000 and SP1000 bodies side by side.
The resemblance is remarkable.

Chris

That resemblance is because the K1000 is basically a Spotmatic F, with a bayonet mount and no self-timer and no DOF preview. I believe that many of the internal components are shared.

That means that the basic Spotmatic design, that was introduced in 1964, remained in production until 1997, when the last K1000 was made. Not bad!

I love my Spotmatics, and I recently acquired a K1000.

Paul Noble

[mikemock]

This is an inspiring piece and very true. It have dusted off my K1000 and put a fresh battery in it for a well deserved workout.

[GeneV]

I remember at the end of a relationship 20+ years ago dividing up the photo equipment. My ex picked the K1000 and left me the LX and MX. (She was not so kind about the lenses). That body really does just click with some--pardon the pun.

[Wombat]

You've just ensured the price of K1000s is going to rocket.

This is real passion, beautifully expressed.

[Alliecat]

Pioneer...
Yes, yes, YES!!!!! I love it!!!! My K1000 is the only SLR I've ever had, the one I learned on, and I love it because it's so SIMPLE. An acquaintance recently told me she finally figured out why her new digital camera was turning out "****" pictures for ages. She thought it was her. Turns out some default setting was mis-set. Or something. I never want a camera that is so complicated I don't even know if it's set wrong.
I'm a lonely film user in a digital world. Just found this forum. Wanted to say how much I appreciated your tribute to "the best camera ever made", as another friend called it.
Cheers

[aafuss]

I have a K1000 too and use it often. I often like to mount some of the M42 lenses I have on to it (with a Pentaxc M42 to K mount adaptor that I own).

It's definitely one of the best Pentax SLR's e ver made.

[doskopanda]

I've recently purchased a k1000. Part of the buying reason is i stumbled upon this thread... :3
anyway this is an awesome camera and i love every inch of it. This piece has a soul in it

[Alliecat]

I've recently purchased a k1000. Part of the buying reason is i stumbled upon this thread... :3
anyway this is an awesome camera and i love every inch of it. This piece has a soul in it

Yay Congratulations on your new gem. I see they are still selling on eBay, sometimes... I look at the listings & it makes me happy to see lots of bids... though a bit sad when they aren't that high. When I see K1000s with no bids, I want to buy them & give them good homes...
(Someone should bump this thread every so often, heh heh!)

[Pioneer]

It has been a while but I stopped back to check this thread and just finished reading all these kind words. Thank you very much.

Just a few additional notes, I am (obviously) still using the old K1000. In fact, lately it is getting used quite a bit, I ran through 6 rolls of film just last week. I am re-learning how to develop my own film and the fact that this old camera is so absolutely reliable makes learning the ins and outs of developing much easier since it eliminates one variable.

Interestingly, this is almost like digital. I went out this morning and shot a roll of Legacy Pro 100 black & white film, then developed it this afternoon. Once the film dries by tomorrow morning I'll be scanning it and printing some 4x6's by tomorrow. Of course I still enjoy my digital cameras as well but I tend to agree, if I could own only one 35mm SLR, this would be it.

Again, thanks for the kind thoughts and words. Stay healthy and keep shooting.

[BugsAunt]

Recently went from four K1000 bodies to three. The fourth sacrificed in car accident. Miss it terribly. The K1000 was my first manual and will probably use them as long as I can find film. It is nice to see that there are still lots of film users in the world.

[newpentaxman]

I've been thinking about picking one up just to see what the hub-bub was all about...

[wacrider]

I have three, two of which are parts bodies. It's just something about that claaack when you fire the shutter that I like besides the simple stupid design. Nice viewfinder too. Pricey nowadays for an excellent example.

[builttospill]

I agree they can be a bit pricey. I just sold two of them, but I'll never sell my first SLR acquired, a K1000 still in perfect shape. I don't plan on parting ways with my brown K1000 SE either. They're a classic example of back-to-the-basics simple photography.

[Alliecat]

Haha, I love the shutter clack too -- no wussy little 'beepbeepbeep' here
I must, a little tongue in cheek, defend my camera against the 'stupid' design suggestion -- simple is beautiful!! Stupid, is the tourists I meet here who have these 5-pound supercomputer cameras & they say things like "I don't know how all the functions work, so I just leave it on automatic..." What's the point of the complex functions if you don't know how they work...?
There are always a few on eBay, & often not too pricey, though you have to be careful about the condition they might be in.