Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

johnhilvert · 10-22-2016, 02:32 AM

Check out Watching This Old Pentax Camera Restoration Is Pure Gadget Zen

The insides of a 70s Pentax K-1000 gets an hours-long upgrade edited down to just two and half minutes.

The feeling I get watching the clean out and tweaking of this classic is respect.

The background music (by Grieg?) not so much...

**savoche** · 10-22-2016, 07:13 AM

Nice teaser - when is the feature film released?

Yeah, Grieg, and no, not the best choice as accompanying music, I think.

Originally posted by dcshooter

It actually leaves out several of the steps (lubing, desolder/solder, speed/meter adjustments, seals etc.)

Those are the steps I'd be most interested in seeing. Not that I will ever undertake anything like this, but I find it interesting nonetheless.

GP49 · 10-22-2016, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by johnhilvert

KX-1000 restoration video

It's K1000....lose the "X!"

-longtime K1000 user, and before that, Spotmatic!

aseno · 10-28-2016, 07:24 PM

I wonder what kind of polish they use for the body? Anyone knows. I have 3 bodies that I want to make them shine again.

aseno · 10-30-2016, 06:43 AM

Thanks. I haven't touched Armor All for years. Wouldn't AA make a leatherette slippery? Wonder what that black buff on 1:51 and afterwards in the video is?

Originally posted by dcshooter

Armor All for the leatherette. Metal parts can simply be removed and cleaned in soapy water or can be cleaned with armor all as well.

---------- Post added 10-30-2016 at 06:45 AM ----------

Googled around. Found this useful link

**ChrisPlatt** · 10-30-2016, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by savoche

Not that I will ever undertake anything like this, but I find it interesting nonetheless.

Nor would I, and I did camera repair professionally for awhile.
Instead I'm packing the old K1000 off to the expert tomorrow...

http://pentaxs.com

Chris

**ChrisPlatt** · 10-30-2016, 08:56 AM - **1 Like**

I'm serious too. I get the whole DIY ethic, but I'd rather leave even routine CLA to the professional.

Besides the service manuals, parts supply and purpose-built test equipment (not some smartphone app)
Eric has the irreplaceable experience of forty plus years repairing Pentax cameras.

By supporting him I'm doing my part to ensure that he will continue to be there in future - when you may need him.

Chris

GP49 · 10-30-2016, 11:49 PM

It all looks familiar to me!

My first camera repair was on my early-production Pentax Spotmatic. It had jammed and the cause was a common one, the mirror charge lever dropping off its detent inside the bottom of the camera. I did it with an eyeglass repair kit for the screwdriver, and a pair of tweezers to put the lever back.

The design of the Spotmatic was later revised to make this much less likely, and that carried over to the KX, KM and K1000 which used the same shutter winding and mirror mechanisms.

I later did the same work on that Spotmatic that shows in the K1000 video, but WITH the soldering, meter calibration, shutter tensioning and timing, etc. Among SLRs the Spotmatic and its derivatives such as the K1000 are among the easiest to work on; the pre-Spotmatic Pentaxes are a bit easier. Things got more difficult with the MX because of its compactness and certain features (the rotating shutter speed indicator, for instance); easier again with the ME and its derivatives because the shutter timing became electronic and the Seiko shutter was very reliable and its timing was stable.

I opened up my LX, out of curiosity; but since I bought it right after it had been overhauled by Pentax in Colorado, have not needed to do any actual WORK on it. I did have to re-seal it afterwards!

Unfortunately, I've had two of the Pentax autofocus MZ/ZX models fail. The too-frequent failure is a failed gear in the built-in motor drive. Replacing it takes a LOT of disassembly and you have to source the gear to begin with. Pentax no longer stocks parts for those cameras.

Wild Mark · 10-31-2016, 02:14 AM

Originally posted by dcshooter

Metal parts can simply be removed and cleaned in soapy water or can be cleaned with armor all as well.

I came across this method for cleaning the chrome parts

You Tube

I was amazed with the outcome. Turned a really nasty corroded top cover into a near new finish. Awesome.

**Baard-Einar** · 11-22-2016, 04:24 AM

Originally posted by Wild Mark

I came across this method for cleaning the chrome parts

how to remove rust from chrome faster and easier than coca cola and aluminum foil - YouTube

I was amazed with the outcome. Turned a really nasty corroded top cover into a near new finish. Awesome.

I wounder if this is doable on the top cover of a camera. And the guy also said he was polishing the part for a couple of hours... Seems tedious?

But the result was nice!

Wild Mark · 11-22-2016, 04:30 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Baard-Einar

I wounder if this is doable on the top cover of a camera. And the guy also said he was polishing the part for a couple of hours... Seems tedious?

But the result was nice!

It is :P

Of course you have to dismantle to do the job properly. I have done this and the result is very good.

10-22-2016, 02:32 AM	#1
johnhilvert Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Canberra, ACT Posts: 245	K1000 restoration video Check out Watching This Old Pentax Camera Restoration Is Pure Gadget Zen The insides of a 70s Pentax K-1000 gets an hours-long upgrade edited down to just two and half minutes. The feeling I get watching the clean out and tweaking of this classic is respect. The background music (by Grieg?) not so much...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Photo Restoration	bmeiri	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	2	06-08-2013 02:50 AM
Mx restoration	rares	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	19	08-07-2012 02:42 AM
K1000 restoration info ...	Jean Poitiers	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	7	01-09-2012 02:20 PM
Photo restoration	dhugo3	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	4	01-14-2011 09:16 AM
Video restoration service??	ChipB	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	1	09-09-2008 01:40 PM

10-22-2016, 07:13 AM	#2
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Nice teaser - when is the feature film released? Yeah, Grieg, and no, not the best choice as accompanying music, I think. Originally posted by dcshooter It actually leaves out several of the steps (lubing, desolder/solder, speed/meter adjustments, seals etc.) Those are the steps I'd be most interested in seeing. Not that I will ever undertake anything like this, but I find it interesting nonetheless.

10-22-2016, 07:34 PM	#3
GP49 New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 5	Originally posted by johnhilvert KX-1000 restoration video It's K1000....lose the "X!" -longtime K1000 user, and before that, Spotmatic!

10-28-2016, 07:24 PM	#4
aseno Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 210	I wonder what kind of polish they use for the body? Anyone knows. I have 3 bodies that I want to make them shine again.

10-30-2016, 06:43 AM	#5
aseno Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Albums Posts: 210	Thanks. I haven't touched Armor All for years. Wouldn't AA make a leatherette slippery? Wonder what that black buff on 1:51 and afterwards in the video is? Originally posted by dcshooter Armor All for the leatherette. Metal parts can simply be removed and cleaned in soapy water or can be cleaned with armor all as well. ---------- Post added 10-30-2016 at 06:45 AM ---------- Googled around. Found this useful link

10-30-2016, 06:53 AM	#6
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,701	Originally posted by savoche Not that I will ever undertake anything like this, but I find it interesting nonetheless. Nor would I, and I did camera repair professionally for awhile. Instead I'm packing the old K1000 off to the expert tomorrow... http://pentaxs.com Chris

10-30-2016, 08:56 AM - 1 Like	#7
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,701	I'm serious too. I get the whole DIY ethic, but I'd rather leave even routine CLA to the professional. Besides the service manuals, parts supply and purpose-built test equipment (not some smartphone app) Eric has the irreplaceable experience of forty plus years repairing Pentax cameras. By supporting him I'm doing my part to ensure that he will continue to be there in future - when you may need him. Chris

10-30-2016, 11:49 PM	#8
GP49 New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 5	It all looks familiar to me! My first camera repair was on my early-production Pentax Spotmatic. It had jammed and the cause was a common one, the mirror charge lever dropping off its detent inside the bottom of the camera. I did it with an eyeglass repair kit for the screwdriver, and a pair of tweezers to put the lever back. The design of the Spotmatic was later revised to make this much less likely, and that carried over to the KX, KM and K1000 which used the same shutter winding and mirror mechanisms. I later did the same work on that Spotmatic that shows in the K1000 video, but WITH the soldering, meter calibration, shutter tensioning and timing, etc. Among SLRs the Spotmatic and its derivatives such as the K1000 are among the easiest to work on; the pre-Spotmatic Pentaxes are a bit easier. Things got more difficult with the MX because of its compactness and certain features (the rotating shutter speed indicator, for instance); easier again with the ME and its derivatives because the shutter timing became electronic and the Seiko shutter was very reliable and its timing was stable. I opened up my LX, out of curiosity; but since I bought it right after it had been overhauled by Pentax in Colorado, have not needed to do any actual WORK on it. I did have to re-seal it afterwards! Unfortunately, I've had two of the Pentax autofocus MZ/ZX models fail. The too-frequent failure is a failed gear in the built-in motor drive. Replacing it takes a LOT of disassembly and you have to source the gear to begin with. Pentax no longer stocks parts for those cameras.

11-22-2016, 04:24 AM	#10
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	Originally posted by Wild Mark I came across this method for cleaning the chrome parts how to remove rust from chrome faster and easier than coca cola and aluminum foil - YouTube I was amazed with the outcome. Turned a really nasty corroded top cover into a near new finish. Awesome. I wounder if this is doable on the top cover of a camera. And the guy also said he was polishing the part for a couple of hours... Seems tedious? But the result was nice!

11-22-2016, 04:30 AM - 1 Like	#11
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Originally posted by Baard-Einar I wounder if this is doable on the top cover of a camera. And the guy also said he was polishing the part for a couple of hours... Seems tedious? But the result was nice! It is :P Of course you have to dismantle to do the job properly. I have done this and the result is very good.

K1000 restoration video

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!