Who has a K1000?

Matthew Roberts · 06-06-2007, 06:51 PM

That lens looks awfully modern compared to the K1000.

I think this topic has the most replies of any I've ever started.

F-Stop · 06-12-2007, 12:22 AM

It was my first 35mm SLR and I spent hours reading reviews on which camera to buy. Mind you, this was only in 2002 but long before digital SLR's were where they are now or even affordable for me at the time. Ever since I could remember, probably around age 10, I wanted a good camera to really get great pictures and to enjoy as a pastime. I would envy people I saw with SLR's wishing I could capture the same images they could, zoom in and just be creative. I was never impressed with regular 35mm Point and Shoot cameras - either huge vignetting issues or soft focus.

I snagged mine on eBay for ~$80 and it came with the 28mm f/2.8, 49mm f/2, Vivitar 283 flash, UV filter and Pentax Camera bag(well worn and the leather cracked beyond the point where I wouldn't be caught in public with it. It also had the original strap and protective Pentax camera case that screwed into the bottom and the top section came off. The camera was in Mint condition, barely looked used except for a little corrosion due to the case being attached and possible water/moisture in one small section.

I loved learning with this camera as it forced you to take the time to get a great shot or at least try in my case. I wasn't always impressed with the end result, usually only getting 2-3 pictures per roll I was happy with. After shooting a small backyard wedding with Kodak Portra 400NC, which the results were amazing, I stopped using the camera until 2 months ago when I shot photos at a second wedding but just for my own leisure since they had a photographer - it was simply too expensive to keep using as a hobby. That will probably be the last roll I put in the camera since my recent purchase of my K100D. I find now though that I tend to shoot most of my pic's in manual mode with the K100 vs. auto anything - I like control of my image and find I tend to get better shots overall despite the extra time it takes. Auto is nice, depends on what I'm doing. Still photo's I lean toward manual every time.

nathancombs · 07-03-2007, 09:07 AM

I do i LOVE it i think it is a 70's modal i got it for 60$ w/ 50 F1.7 it is my favirt

anomaly · 07-03-2007, 02:58 PM

Got mine last year. My first and only Pentax thus far.

answerdude · 07-08-2007, 07:22 AM

Yep, me too, my second.

The first one I had to pawn to be able to fix my car. I found my second at another pawn shop with a Tamaron 80 to 200, Hoya 28, and Pentax 50 1.4. All for $75! Still use it from time to time. Getting all my darkroom stuff gathered up again to do some real B&W home brewing again. How I miss the smell of stop bath early in the morning.

offertonhatter · 07-09-2007, 02:17 PM

To my shame I never had a K1000, My first SLR was an early 80's Praktica MTL5B which I still have, but at least it had the Pentax M42 thread.....

TomE · 07-09-2007, 07:16 PM

Actually the lens is as old as the K1000, it is a FA* 80-200 2.8 that I got many years ago with my PZ-1!

Originally posted by Matthew Roberts

That lens looks awfully modern compared to the K1000.

I think this topic has the most replies of any I've ever started.

The PIPE · 07-21-2007, 08:02 AM

Dear Fellow Pentax-ians:

The PIPE here...and I've included a recent photo of my pair of Pentaxes...below with this message!

The rare K1000SE to the left in the photo was purchased in 1980 at one of the old, no-longer-in-business 'Claus Gelotte' camera stores in the Boston area, specifically in Quincy, MA, and was my only SLR camera for over a quarter century, before it was joined by my new (June 2007) Pentax K100D digital camera.

I've got the "kit" SMC Pentax 50mm f/2 normal lens, a Sigma 28mm f/2.8 wide angle lens, and a Vivitar Series One 80-210mm "one-touch" telephoto zoom for the K1000...the BODY may be in need of light meter servicing, though...a Sunpak Auto 321 has done the flash illumination duty for my K1000SE for many years.

The K100D already has the 18-55 kit lens and 50-200 DA zoom telephoto in my bag with it, and from what I've been reading here and elsewhere on the Internet, I MAY be getting one of the Pentax 80-320 FA autofocus telephoto zoom lenses in the coming months to further my aviation photography needs.

Well, below is my pair of them...

Yours Sincerely,

The PIPE!

Dave21 · 08-05-2007, 10:27 PM

Count me in.

My first and only Pentax up til now is the K1000. I bought it in '78-'79. My friend Ralph was in 10th grade and got one to use in Photography class in Arizona. I wasn't in photo class (I was in Jr. High) but I liked the black and white photos he was making, so I got a K1000 too.

I took pictures of lizards mostly. Always in black and white. I also took lots of lightning shots with it in black and white. By the time I hit high school, I was hooked on Photo class. I took it all three years of high school. It was a blast!! My teacher at Cabrillo was very cool and taught me tons of useful stuff that I use to this day. Awesome teacher and an AWESOME K1000!

anomaly · 08-06-2007, 05:13 AM

My first and only camera thus far.

PaengBonafe · 08-17-2007, 05:51 AM

i have 2 k1000s..

i use both but am thinking of lending the SE to my younger brother.

shoot mostly B&W with it though

jmbower · 08-17-2007, 10:36 AM

I have a K1000 that was my first real camera. Got it Junior year of high school (1993), used. It is from the late 70's early 80's I'd guess (I was told it's the "better" version in terms of body construction). It came with the 50mm 1.7 I still use today. I am never getting rid of it, it's my go to film camera. I bought a K100d mostly because of how much I love my k1000

Finn · 09-03-2007, 08:03 AM

I have one on the way via ebay -- it happened to be attached to an A 50/1.7, all for $45! I can't wait to take it out, although I have a feeling my wife will give me a certain "look" when I add it to my shelf of other camera bodies that came attached to lenses I was buying. (Right now the shelf consists of a Spotmatic, a SuperProgram, and a ZX-5 with a busted curtain.) I first learned on an old Hasselblad (and my dad's old Gossen Luna-Pro light meter), so I'm excited about returning to my fully manual, mechanical roots, as it were.

JasonS · 09-22-2007, 08:09 AM

I got a K1000 in highschool in the 80's when I was working at a Photo shop. I spent most of my time running a Kodak photo processor. You learn a LOT about composition looking at THOUSANDS of amateur pictures a week.
Later, I met a girl in college that was also working in a photo shop and had a K1000 rig just like mine.
A decade later, that camera became "ours" as when I married her!
Both K1000's documented the honeymoon in Colorado.

I'll always consider the K1000 a VERY special camera.

TonySmash · 10-03-2007, 01:17 PM

I have one! Very newly acquired though, just last week actually. I'm currently a college photo major and for two semesters we're doing film. I own an SF-10 (1989) that my father gave me, and while I love its automatic-everything, I figured I might as well learn how to shoot the real way. So, got me a K1000 off of eBay and while I haven't really had a chance to do much with it yet, I'm hoping it'll serve me well!

06-12-2007, 12:22 AM	#62
F-Stop Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Paradise, Newfoundland, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 303	It was my first 35mm SLR and I spent hours reading reviews on which camera to buy. Mind you, this was only in 2002 but long before digital SLR's were where they are now or even affordable for me at the time. Ever since I could remember, probably around age 10, I wanted a good camera to really get great pictures and to enjoy as a pastime. I would envy people I saw with SLR's wishing I could capture the same images they could, zoom in and just be creative. I was never impressed with regular 35mm Point and Shoot cameras - either huge vignetting issues or soft focus. I snagged mine on eBay for ~$80 and it came with the 28mm f/2.8, 49mm f/2, Vivitar 283 flash, UV filter and Pentax Camera bag(well worn and the leather cracked beyond the point where I wouldn't be caught in public with it. It also had the original strap and protective Pentax camera case that screwed into the bottom and the top section came off. The camera was in Mint condition, barely looked used except for a little corrosion due to the case being attached and possible water/moisture in one small section. I loved learning with this camera as it forced you to take the time to get a great shot or at least try in my case. I wasn't always impressed with the end result, usually only getting 2-3 pictures per roll I was happy with. After shooting a small backyard wedding with Kodak Portra 400NC, which the results were amazing, I stopped using the camera until 2 months ago when I shot photos at a second wedding but just for my own leisure since they had a photographer - it was simply too expensive to keep using as a hobby. That will probably be the last roll I put in the camera since my recent purchase of my K100D. I find now though that I tend to shoot most of my pic's in manual mode with the K100 vs. auto anything - I like control of my image and find I tend to get better shots overall despite the extra time it takes. Auto is nice, depends on what I'm doing. Still photo's I lean toward manual every time. Last edited by F-Stop; 06-12-2007 at 12:29 AM.

07-21-2007, 08:02 AM	#68
The PIPE Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Weymouth, MA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 29	Here's MY pair of Pentaxes...new AND veteran! Dear Fellow Pentax-ians: The PIPE here...and I've included a recent photo of my pair of Pentaxes...below with this message! The rare K1000SE to the left in the photo was purchased in 1980 at one of the old, no-longer-in-business 'Claus Gelotte' camera stores in the Boston area, specifically in Quincy, MA, and was my only SLR camera for over a quarter century, before it was joined by my new (June 2007) Pentax K100D digital camera. I've got the "kit" SMC Pentax 50mm f/2 normal lens, a Sigma 28mm f/2.8 wide angle lens, and a Vivitar Series One 80-210mm "one-touch" telephoto zoom for the K1000...the BODY may be in need of light meter servicing, though...a Sunpak Auto 321 has done the flash illumination duty for my K1000SE for many years. The K100D already has the 18-55 kit lens and 50-200 DA zoom telephoto in my bag with it, and from what I've been reading here and elsewhere on the Internet, I MAY be getting one of the Pentax 80-320 FA autofocus telephoto zoom lenses in the coming months to further my aviation photography needs. Well, below is my pair of them... Yours Sincerely, The PIPE! Attached Images

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06-06-2007, 06:51 PM	#61
Matthew Roberts Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bertram Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 584 Original Poster	That lens looks awfully modern compared to the K1000. I think this topic has the most replies of any I've ever started.

07-03-2007, 09:07 AM	#63
nathancombs Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Waysboro va Photos: Gallery Posts: 517	I do i LOVE it i think it is a 70's modal i got it for 60$ w/ 50 F1.7 it is my favirt

07-03-2007, 02:58 PM	#64
anomaly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 264	Got mine last year. My first and only Pentax thus far.

07-08-2007, 07:22 AM	#65
answerdude New Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 13	Yep, me too, my second. The first one I had to pawn to be able to fix my car. I found my second at another pawn shop with a Tamaron 80 to 200, Hoya 28, and Pentax 50 1.4. All for $75! Still use it from time to time. Getting all my darkroom stuff gathered up again to do some real B&W home brewing again. How I miss the smell of stop bath early in the morning.

07-09-2007, 02:17 PM	#66
offertonhatter Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North West UK Posts: 390	To my shame I never had a K1000, My first SLR was an early 80's Praktica MTL5B which I still have, but at least it had the Pentax M42 thread.....

07-09-2007, 07:16 PM	#67
TomE Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 299	Actually the lens is as old as the K1000, it is a FA* 80-200 2.8 that I got many years ago with my PZ-1! Originally posted by Matthew Roberts That lens looks awfully modern compared to the K1000. I think this topic has the most replies of any I've ever started.

08-05-2007, 10:27 PM	#69
Dave21 New Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: JAPAN Posts: 14	Count me in. My first and only Pentax up til now is the K1000. I bought it in '78-'79. My friend Ralph was in 10th grade and got one to use in Photography class in Arizona. I wasn't in photo class (I was in Jr. High) but I liked the black and white photos he was making, so I got a K1000 too. I took pictures of lizards mostly. Always in black and white. I also took lots of lightning shots with it in black and white. By the time I hit high school, I was hooked on Photo class. I took it all three years of high school. It was a blast!! My teacher at Cabrillo was very cool and taught me tons of useful stuff that I use to this day. Awesome teacher and an AWESOME K1000!

08-06-2007, 05:13 AM	#70
anomaly Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 264	My first and only camera thus far.

08-17-2007, 05:51 AM	#71
PaengBonafe Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 122	i have 2 k1000s.. i use both but am thinking of lending the SE to my younger brother. shoot mostly B&W with it though

08-17-2007, 10:36 AM	#72
jmbower Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 159	I have a K1000 that was my first real camera. Got it Junior year of high school (1993), used. It is from the late 70's early 80's I'd guess (I was told it's the "better" version in terms of body construction). It came with the 50mm 1.7 I still use today. I am never getting rid of it, it's my go to film camera. I bought a K100d mostly because of how much I love my k1000

09-03-2007, 08:03 AM	#73
Finn Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Phoenix Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,056	I have one on the way via ebay -- it happened to be attached to an A 50/1.7, all for $45! I can't wait to take it out, although I have a feeling my wife will give me a certain "look" when I add it to my shelf of other camera bodies that came attached to lenses I was buying. (Right now the shelf consists of a Spotmatic, a SuperProgram, and a ZX-5 with a busted curtain.) I first learned on an old Hasselblad (and my dad's old Gossen Luna-Pro light meter), so I'm excited about returning to my fully manual, mechanical roots, as it were.

09-22-2007, 08:09 AM	#74
JasonS Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Omaha Posts: 74	I got a K1000 in highschool in the 80's when I was working at a Photo shop. I spent most of my time running a Kodak photo processor. You learn a LOT about composition looking at THOUSANDS of amateur pictures a week. Later, I met a girl in college that was also working in a photo shop and had a K1000 rig just like mine. A decade later, that camera became "ours" as when I married her! Both K1000's documented the honeymoon in Colorado. I'll always consider the K1000 a VERY special camera.

10-03-2007, 01:17 PM	#75
TonySmash Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1	I have one! Very newly acquired though, just last week actually. I'm currently a college photo major and for two semesters we're doing film. I own an SF-10 (1989) that my father gave me, and while I love its automatic-everything, I figured I might as well learn how to shoot the real way. So, got me a K1000 off of eBay and while I haven't really had a chance to do much with it yet, I'm hoping it'll serve me well!