What a treasure I had

Ed in GA · 07-28-2007, 10:18 AM

And, at the time, had no idea.

In 1976 I purchased my first SLR.

It was a Pentax K1000.

It came with a 50mm f/2 nomal lens and a really nice leather case.

This one had the following features. It had a Depth of Field preview lever which also served as the self timer and a split screen, cats eye, foucsing screen.

I must have taken 10,000 shots with that camera over the next five years and really enjoyed having and using it.

I sold that camera, along with an MX that I also owned, in 1981 after I had been disheartened over losing two large boxes of slides during short move.

For the last year, I have been watching e-bay to see if I could get my hand on one just like the one I had. So far, I've purchased a couple of the later model K1000s and have used them. but have not been able to find one with the DOF preview and self timer.

I've looked at literally thousands of K1000s in e-bay are there are none to be had like my first one.

If anyone has one of the old ones with the cats eye and DOF lever, I'd sure like to talk to them about buying it.

Sometimes we don't know what treasures we have until long after we've let them go.

Last edited by Ed in GA; 07-28-2007 at 10:29 AM.

**wirrah** · 07-28-2007, 05:29 PM

I don't believe the K1000 ever had a self timer or dof preview. It also only had a single pc synch. I think only the K1000 SE had a split screen.

The KM fits more what you describe, although I'm not sure about the screen.

Anyway, try this site to download the manuals for a comparison, it may be of use.

Pentax Manuals

cheers

Greg

Ed in GA · 07-28-2007, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by wirrah

I don't believe the K1000 ever had a self timer or dof preview. It also only had a single pc synch. I think only the K1000 SE had a split screen.

The KM fits more what you describe, although I'm not sure about the screen.

Anyway, try this site to download the manuals for a comparison, it may be of use.

Pentax Manuals

cheers

Greg

The manual on that site is the same manual that Pentaximaging.com has on their site. Both are 1982 revised additions.

Well, possibly my old mind and memory are failing me. But, I swear I had a K1000 with DOF preview and self timer.

Oh well, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

Ed

Ivan Glisin · 07-28-2007, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by EddyinGA

This one had the following features. It had a Depth of Field preview lever which also served as the self timer and a split screen, cats eye, foucsing screen.

That's MX you are describing. K1000 never had those features. Since you also owned MX I believe you are recalling features of that camera. Perhaps, you should start looking for an MX?

One more prominent difference is in the metering indicator: on K1000 it is a black needle moving smoothly between a "+" and "-" marks as far as I can remember, while MX has a LED indicator lights: green (OK), yellow (+/-0.5EV) and red (+/-1 EV). If you remember lights you are certainly talking about the MX.

BTW, I owned both and although MX is smaller and lighter I liked better the needle and full-frame metering on the K1000 (MX has center-weighted metering).

Ed in GA · 07-28-2007, 07:50 PM

Well Ivan, could be. But I want to think I remember that the guy I bought it from made a comment about it having the DOF preview. But again.....

I like the MX. I bought that one so that I could add a motor drive and bulk film back for it. I was following the MotoX boys around back in those days and taking/selling a lot of photos.

Anyway, as I said, old minds get confused so..........

TomE · 08-04-2007, 01:06 PM

Here is my K1000 SE with the split image and as you can see it doesn't have a timer lever.

Tom

dantuyhoa · 08-07-2007, 11:30 PM

EddyinGA

Could it be a K2 ? K2 came out around that time ( 1976 ) . K2 also had a special model K2DMD which was sold with a databack and K2DMD Motor Drive ( around 1000USD in '76!!! ) based on McBroom's Blue Book

Tom : that is one nice SE !!!

Edit : My book is 95-96 Edition .

Last edited by dantuyhoa; 08-08-2007 at 08:13 AM.

Jonson PL · 12-09-2008, 09:53 PM

Originally posted by ennacac

Here is my K1000 SE with the split image and as you can see it doesn't have a timer lever.

Tom

What a beauty, looks to be in great shape

Nesster · 12-10-2008, 03:27 AM

You likely had a treasure, but it may have been the KX. It has the DOF preview and self timer...

there it is on the left - on the right the 'stripper' model SP1000, which is the screw mount daddy of the K1000. Obviously the K1000 has the horizontal line of the K cameras on its prism housing though.

Here's the KX in a more nostalgic pose:

Stevopedia · 12-10-2008, 03:28 AM

No, it was not an MX, as the depth of field preview on an MX is not activated by a lever. It sounds more like a KM/KX to me.

Wombat · 12-10-2008, 05:15 AM

Originally posted by Ed in GA

And, at the time, had no idea....
Sometimes we don't know what treasures we have until long after we've let them go.

I know the feeling, mate. I bought a Topcon RE2 around 1968-70 and bashed it around the world for years. Stupidly I traded it in some years ago for a telescope that I now hardly use and I still find myself yearning for that camera. My K1000 is close, very close, but it's just not quite the same as that old treasure. You have my sympathies!
I did read somewhere that when the K1000 was manufactured in China several oddities came out from time to time, including a split ring. Yours might have been one of them, perhaps?

J.Scott · 12-10-2008, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by Ed in GA

And, at the time, had no idea.

In 1976 I purchased my first SLR.

It was a Pentax K1000.

It came with a 50mm f/2 normal lens and a really nice leather case.

This one had the following features. It had a Depth of Field preview lever which also served as the self timer and a split screen, cats eye, focusing screen.

When I hear comments like this I always refer to the book, "Asahi Pentax and Pentax SLR 35mm cameras 1952-1989" by Danilo Cecchi.

Pg. 123 describes the K1000 as, "... devoid of all extras considered superfluous. It had no self-timer, depth of field button, the disc for memorizing the film used, nor an FP synchro contact."

"The K1000 was also produced in a slightly modified version, called the K1000 SE. It was characterized by a diamond-embossed rubber casing and a split-image rangefinder at the center of the ground glass screen. Only a small number of K1000 SE cameras were produced."

Perhaps you had the SE version; now that would be special!

vinzer · 12-10-2008, 06:27 AM

Ah, the KM. Hard to find those where I am, so I had to settle for a K1000. I'm not complaining that much, though the split-focus screen and DOF preview would've been nice.

(Still on the lookout for a KM to go my way...)

**Kerrowdown** · 12-10-2008, 12:23 PM

Try an LX it does and has what you need and maybe more available.

**WJW** · 12-10-2008, 03:53 PM

Originally posted by Ed in GA

The manual on that site is the same manual that Pentaximaging.com has on their site. Both are 1982 revised additions.

Well, possibly my old mind and memory are failing me. But, I swear I had a K1000 with DOF preview and self timer.

Oh well, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.

Ed

Another K-Mount with the features you want is the Ricoh XR-1. They often go for very low prices and are pretty nice cameras.

07-28-2007, 10:18 AM	#1
Ed in GA Guest	What a treasure I had And, at the time, had no idea. In 1976 I purchased my first SLR. It was a Pentax K1000. It came with a 50mm f/2 nomal lens and a really nice leather case. This one had the following features. It had a Depth of Field preview lever which also served as the self timer and a split screen, cats eye, foucsing screen. I must have taken 10,000 shots with that camera over the next five years and really enjoyed having and using it. I sold that camera, along with an MX that I also owned, in 1981 after I had been disheartened over losing two large boxes of slides during short move. For the last year, I have been watching e-bay to see if I could get my hand on one just like the one I had. So far, I've purchased a couple of the later model K1000s and have used them. but have not been able to find one with the DOF preview and self timer. I've looked at literally thousands of K1000s in e-bay are there are none to be had like my first one. If anyone has one of the old ones with the cats eye and DOF lever, I'd sure like to talk to them about buying it. Sometimes we don't know what treasures we have until long after we've let them go. Last edited by Ed in GA; 07-28-2007 at 10:29 AM.

07-28-2007, 05:29 PM	#2
wirrah Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lower Hunter, NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 527	KM? I don't believe the K1000 ever had a self timer or dof preview. It also only had a single pc synch. I think only the K1000 SE had a split screen. The KM fits more what you describe, although I'm not sure about the screen. Anyway, try this site to download the manuals for a comparison, it may be of use. Pentax Manuals cheers Greg

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07-28-2007, 06:37 PM	#3
Ed in GA Guest	Originally posted by wirrah I don't believe the K1000 ever had a self timer or dof preview. It also only had a single pc synch. I think only the K1000 SE had a split screen. The KM fits more what you describe, although I'm not sure about the screen. Anyway, try this site to download the manuals for a comparison, it may be of use. Pentax Manuals cheers Greg The manual on that site is the same manual that Pentaximaging.com has on their site. Both are 1982 revised additions. Well, possibly my old mind and memory are failing me. But, I swear I had a K1000 with DOF preview and self timer. Oh well, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. Ed

07-28-2007, 07:08 PM	#4
Ivan Glisin Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgrade Posts: 656	Originally posted by EddyinGA This one had the following features. It had a Depth of Field preview lever which also served as the self timer and a split screen, cats eye, foucsing screen. That's MX you are describing. K1000 never had those features. Since you also owned MX I believe you are recalling features of that camera. Perhaps, you should start looking for an MX? One more prominent difference is in the metering indicator: on K1000 it is a black needle moving smoothly between a "+" and "-" marks as far as I can remember, while MX has a LED indicator lights: green (OK), yellow (+/-0.5EV) and red (+/-1 EV). If you remember lights you are certainly talking about the MX. BTW, I owned both and although MX is smaller and lighter I liked better the needle and full-frame metering on the K1000 (MX has center-weighted metering).

07-28-2007, 07:50 PM	#5
Ed in GA Guest	Well Ivan, could be. But I want to think I remember that the guy I bought it from made a comment about it having the DOF preview. But again..... I like the MX. I bought that one so that I could add a motor drive and bulk film back for it. I was following the MotoX boys around back in those days and taking/selling a lot of photos. Anyway, as I said, old minds get confused so..........

08-04-2007, 01:06 PM	#6
TomE Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 299	Here is my K1000 SE with the split image and as you can see it doesn't have a timer lever. Tom

08-07-2007, 11:30 PM	#7
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245	EddyinGA Could it be a K2 ? K2 came out around that time ( 1976 ) . K2 also had a special model K2DMD which was sold with a databack and K2DMD Motor Drive ( around 1000USD in '76!!! ) based on McBroom's Blue Book Tom : that is one nice SE !!! Edit : My book is 95-96 Edition . Last edited by dantuyhoa; 08-08-2007 at 08:13 AM.

12-09-2008, 09:53 PM	#8
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Originally posted by ennacac Here is my K1000 SE with the split image and as you can see it doesn't have a timer lever. Tom What a beauty, looks to be in great shape

12-10-2008, 03:27 AM	#9
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	You likely had a treasure, but it may have been the KX. It has the DOF preview and self timer... there it is on the left - on the right the 'stripper' model SP1000, which is the screw mount daddy of the K1000. Obviously the K1000 has the horizontal line of the K cameras on its prism housing though. Here's the KX in a more nostalgic pose:

12-10-2008, 03:28 AM	#10
Stevopedia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Posts: 273	No, it was not an MX, as the depth of field preview on an MX is not activated by a lever. It sounds more like a KM/KX to me.

12-10-2008, 05:15 AM	#11
Wombat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 901	Originally posted by Ed in GA And, at the time, had no idea.... Sometimes we don't know what treasures we have until long after we've let them go. I know the feeling, mate. I bought a Topcon RE2 around 1968-70 and bashed it around the world for years. Stupidly I traded it in some years ago for a telescope that I now hardly use and I still find myself yearning for that camera. My K1000 is close, very close, but it's just not quite the same as that old treasure. You have my sympathies! I did read somewhere that when the K1000 was manufactured in China several oddities came out from time to time, including a split ring. Yours might have been one of them, perhaps?

12-10-2008, 06:04 AM	#12
J.Scott Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,675	Originally posted by Ed in GA And, at the time, had no idea. In 1976 I purchased my first SLR. It was a Pentax K1000. It came with a 50mm f/2 normal lens and a really nice leather case. This one had the following features. It had a Depth of Field preview lever which also served as the self timer and a split screen, cats eye, focusing screen. When I hear comments like this I always refer to the book, "Asahi Pentax and Pentax SLR 35mm cameras 1952-1989" by Danilo Cecchi. Pg. 123 describes the K1000 as, "... devoid of all extras considered superfluous. It had no self-timer, depth of field button, the disc for memorizing the film used, nor an FP synchro contact." "The K1000 was also produced in a slightly modified version, called the K1000 SE. It was characterized by a diamond-embossed rubber casing and a split-image rangefinder at the center of the ground glass screen. Only a small number of K1000 SE cameras were produced." Perhaps you had the SE version; now that would be special!

12-10-2008, 06:27 AM	#13
vinzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,399	Ah, the KM. Hard to find those where I am, so I had to settle for a K1000. I'm not complaining that much, though the split-focus screen and DOF preview would've been nice. (Still on the lookout for a KM to go my way...)

12-10-2008, 12:23 PM	#14
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,860	Try an LX it does and has what you need and maybe more available.

12-10-2008, 03:53 PM	#15
WJW Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 383	Originally posted by Ed in GA The manual on that site is the same manual that Pentaximaging.com has on their site. Both are 1982 revised additions. Well, possibly my old mind and memory are failing me. But, I swear I had a K1000 with DOF preview and self timer. Oh well, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. Ed Another K-Mount with the features you want is the Ricoh XR-1. They often go for very low prices and are pretty nice cameras.