[hjoseph7]

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Just purchased a Pentax K1000 from eBay for $41 in very good condition. What lens do you recommend, I was thinking the 50mm f1.7 to start ?

[Rimfiredude]

I am selling a K1000 SE 98% condition with a 1.7M lens on eBay as we speak. What a coincidence.
I also have a listing for a list for a mint 1.7M on right now. Mint Pentax 50mm F1 7M Lens for Film Amp Digital | eBay

[Lenscap]

I have three copies of the M 50/1.7, and they are uniformly excellent. If I was going to have one lens, it would be a 50. I don't think you'll regret mounting a 1.7. Happy shooting!

[AquaDome]

The M-50/f2 is the most common, cheapest, and is a good lens
The M-50/f1.7 and K-55/1.8 are even better.
You probably don't need f1.4 or 1.2, but they are available for more money.

[Cuthbert]

Pentax K 55 mm f2.0 or 1.8 of course!

That's the RIGHT lens for the K1000.

[hjoseph7]

I am selling a K1000 SE 98% condition with a 1.7M lens on eBay as we speak. What a coincidence.
I also have a listing for a list for a mint 1.7M on right now. Mint Pentax 50mm F1 7M Lens for Film Amp Digital | eBay

I'll take a look Rim...

---------- Post added 12-09-14 at 02:02 PM ----------

Actually this same camera sat in my bag for 8 years, but I only used it on the job. Our job let us take the equipment home. Which consisted of 2 Pentax k1000s, one was special edition. Some Norman lamps, 2 Norman power packs and tripods. I want to see what this camera does In the real world.

[Wolfeye]

Well, the suggestions for a 50mm lens are good, but some detail needs added. There are three basic lens choices, a 50mm, a 28/35mm or a zoom lens. No doubt about it, the 50mm 1.7 is a great lens. For a few dollars more you can get a 50mm 1.4 which is slightly better. If you plan to do landscapes, or maybe street-style shooting, a wide angle might be best. Then there's the zoom option. Pentax has made some decent zooms over the years as you may know. Also some stinkers. There's a great lens database here on this site, why not take a peek there and see what works for you?

[Dangermouse]

M 50mm f1.7
M (or K) 28mm f3.5
M or K 135mm f3.5 or M 80-200mm f4

That should get you started for not a lot of money.

If yours was one of the very first K1000s (made in Japan, there are plenty of recognition guides around) then the kit lens would have been the 55mm f2, which was only offered with that camera. It's optically identical to the K 55mm f1.8 but with internal baffles to make the maximum aperture slightly smaller.

[johnha]

Pentax K 55 mm f2.0 or 1.8 of course!

That's the RIGHT lens for the K1000.

Depends on the camera:
AoCo Pentax K1000 - K 55mm f/2
Pentax K1000 - M 50mm f/2

Although the M50/1.7 is the best starting point.

[Dangermouse]

Mine has an AoCo triangle above "Asahi Pentax" but came with an M50/2. I think it must have been from one of the first batches made after production went to Hong Kong.

The final plastic-plated ones came with A-series lenses, judging by the handful I've seen for sale. Not that I'd pick an A 50mm for a camera which requires use of the aperture ring though, those plastic rings are nothing like as precise and easy to turn as the metal ones.

[Lenscap]

M 50mm f1.7
M (or K) 28mm f3.5
M or K 135mm f3.5 or M 80-200mm f4

I have all of these lenses in M series (except my 28 is a 2.8, which seems to be less desirable). These lenses and a K1000 would make up a kit that would excel for nearly all the photography I do. I'm growing especially fond of that 200/4.

[hks_kansei]

The final plastic-plated ones came with A-series lenses, judging by the handful I've seen for sale. Not that I'd pick an A 50mm for a camera which requires use of the aperture ring though, those plastic rings are nothing like as precise and easy to turn as the metal ones.

True,
But if the OP also has a Pentax DSLR I would recommend trying to get as many A series lenses as possible over the M series, as the A versions are much more user friendly on a DSLR.
Film cameras it doesn't really make a difference.


as for the recommended lens for a K1000, as said above, it depends what you want to shoot, but I would always recommend a 50mm as a good all rounder.
I have 3 K mount 50s, an A-f2, an A-f1.7 and an M-f1.4
And I did also have an M-f4macro for a while.

Of them all, the 1.7 I find is the best all rounder in terms of quality and price. The 1.4 is certainly a better lens, but it costs a decent amount more than a 1.7.

In saying that, the f2 is still a nice lens, and often available very cheaply.

[ChristianRock]

Killer lens setup for cheap:

SMC-M 50 1.7 or 1.4
SMC-M 75-150 f4 or SMC-A 70-210 f4
Rikenon XR 28 2.8 or Auto Sears 28 2.8

[Cuthbert]

Depends on the camera:
AoCo Pentax K1000 - K 55mm f/2
Pentax K1000 - M 50mm f/2

Although the M50/1.7 is the best starting point.

The K remained in production for a long time, while the K lenses were discontinued in the early 80s as far as I remember, it's naturally that when the introduction of the M series the AoCo (made in HK) received the M50 mm f2.0 or f1.7 ( also the SE had that lens as standard:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentax-K1000-SE-Special-Edition-Sales-Sheet-Page-197...item3ce9386790
) while in the 80s the last HK series received the A lens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Asahi-Pentax-K-1000-Camera-w-Pentax-Takumar-Lenses-/...item5415f3fb1d

Still, the magnification of the viewfinder remained the same and it was thought to give a "natural size" image with a 55 mm, not 50mm lens, so the K 55mm would be the right choice even for more recent models....and from an aesthetic point of view M and A lenses look too tiny for the K1000.

---------- Post added 12-09-14 at 04:04 PM ----------

Killer lens setup for cheap:

SMC-M 50 1.7 or 1.4
SMC-M 75-150 f4 or SMC-A 70-210 f4
Rikenon XR 28 2.8 or Auto Sears 28 2.8

If we have to add non Pentax lenses to the list the Soviet Helios 44K.4 is another excellent choice, as well as Porst 55mm f1.4, Rikenon, Cosinon, Revuenon etc...

[hjoseph7]

Is there a good 35-70mm out there ? It'll be great not to have to multiply those numbers by 1.5 !