Upgrading from K1000

sonygoup · 10-09-2017, 10:26 PM

So I got a k1000 shots find everything works great I dirtied the focus screen but I got a replacement from a awesome user on here. But I think it's time to get something smaller and lighter. However in the same K mount lens would nice as I have two lenses already.

What would you guys recommend as a replacement was looking at the ME SUPER. SUPER PROGRAM and other small form factor K mount cameras.

sbc · 10-10-2017, 02:59 AM

My favorite is the Pentax Super A aka Super Program.

**TomB_tx** · 10-10-2017, 03:12 AM - **1 Like**

MX - all manual like K1000, but very small, also rugged and capable

pathdoc · 10-10-2017, 03:47 AM

Another vote for the MX. The ME Super and Super Program have their advantages, but those disappear very fast when the battery power does. The MX, like the K1000, is all-mechanical and will keep going without batteries and even after the circuit board for the light meter dies. (You will be stuck with some other means of determining exposure, of course, but you can still take pictures.) And its basic control scheme (for shutter, aperture, ISO selection) is exactly like that of the K1000, so you should feel right at home.

**ChrisPlatt** · 10-10-2017, 04:50 AM

The MX is a bit smaller, has some more advanced features but like your K1000 offers manual exposure only.
The ME Super and Super Program you mentioned as well as some other Pentax models also offer autoexposure.

FWIW I got my wife a Pentax MX as an upgrade to her K1000, however she still preferred her K1000.

Chris

ripper2860 · 10-10-2017, 09:07 AM

Another vote for the MX. Smaller and lighter with a wonderfully big and bright viewfinder!

aoeu · 10-10-2017, 09:20 AM

Here is my suggestion: ZX-L or similar.

Every lens and every flash just work. The main complaint is that the batteries aren't cheap but nothing in the film world is free. I have the battery grip mostly because my hands are large.

My other film cameras are an MX which I really like for all the reasons mentioned above, an LX which I find somewhat pretentious, and a K2DMD with the ASA ring issue that Eric couldn't fix.

**aslyfox** · 10-10-2017, 11:22 AM

this link leads to info about how different Pentax Camera bodies work with various Pentax lenses

The Pentax Camera Lens Compatibility Chart

here is a link to different Pentax film bodies

http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxCameraComparison.html

perhaps that info could be of interest to the original poster

Xmas · 10-10-2017, 11:38 AM

There is nothing on a K1000 to stop you taking good photos!

leekil · 10-10-2017, 12:43 PM

I like the Super Program, but that's what I'm used to. I use the automatic exposure features it has, both involving and not involving the A-series lenses. I personally don't feel that the battery-less shutter operation of the MX is a big feature, since I rarely am in a situation where I run out of batteries and can estimate the exposure. The larger viewfinder sounds nice, and I have been tempted by an MX in the past, but have so far resisted since I have other Pentax cameras I can use.

**ChrisPlatt** · 10-10-2017, 02:53 PM

I agree the battery-dependence issue may be a bit overblown.
I can't recall any of my film camera failing due to dead batteries.
Of course I always carry spares.

Unlike digital cameras, batteries in film cameras with electronic shutters
typically last quite a long time, many months in most cases.

That said I do prefer cameras with mechanical shutters and minimal electronics,
mainly for their simpler operation and long-term repairability.

Chris

LesDMess · 10-10-2017, 05:11 PM

Upgrade, smaller and lighter, mention ME Super and Super Program . . .

All of these are smaller and lighter except for the LX which is smaller but maybe about the same weight depending on which version of K1000 and which version viewfinder on the LX.

The MX is an upgrade as far as metering cel, largest viewfinder among all (regardless of brand) fixed prism manual SLRs and has motor and film back options.

The ME Super has aperture priority.

The Ricoh XR7 has aperture priority and conventional control layout. Here is an ad for it.

The LX has TTL flash, aperture priority, interchangeable viewfinders and has sync to top shutter speed + bulb mode, available when batteries die.

**c.perkins** · 10-10-2017, 05:15 PM

I also wanted an "upgrade" to my K1000 for film.
Chose the Super Program.
Been using it in "auto" mode with "auto" lenses.
An upgrade to me is going from full manual to auto.
I am enjoying the Super and also the K1000 and the K7 and the K5IIS.
They all have there areas of interest.
Enjoy them

Clarence

nickthetasmaniac · 10-11-2017, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by aoeu

... an LX which I find somewhat pretentious....

How does a camera become 'pretentious'?

Lord Lucan · 10-11-2017, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac

How does a camera become 'pretentious'?

By having tried to challenge Nikon's and Canon's dominance in the professional market? Or is it the owner being pretentious by owning one? (I'm guilty)

Maybe these days it is pretentious to use film at all, in which case all film cameras are pretentious. But 99.9% of onlookers would not know the difference between an LX and a Spotmatic, and 99.8% would even notice the difference between a K-1 and a Spotmatic.

10-09-2017, 10:26 PM	#1
sonygoup New Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Caribbean Sea Posts: 19	Upgrading from K1000 So I got a k1000 shots find everything works great I dirtied the focus screen but I got a replacement from a awesome user on here. But I think it's time to get something smaller and lighter. However in the same K mount lens would nice as I have two lenses already. What would you guys recommend as a replacement was looking at the ME SUPER. SUPER PROGRAM and other small form factor K mount cameras.

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10-10-2017, 02:59 AM	#2
sbc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Photos: Albums Posts: 357	My favorite is the Pentax Super A aka Super Program.

10-10-2017, 03:12 AM - 1 Like	#3
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	MX - all manual like K1000, but very small, also rugged and capable

10-10-2017, 03:47 AM	#4
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Another vote for the MX. The ME Super and Super Program have their advantages, but those disappear very fast when the battery power does. The MX, like the K1000, is all-mechanical and will keep going without batteries and even after the circuit board for the light meter dies. (You will be stuck with some other means of determining exposure, of course, but you can still take pictures.) And its basic control scheme (for shutter, aperture, ISO selection) is exactly like that of the K1000, so you should feel right at home.

10-10-2017, 04:50 AM	#5
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	The MX is a bit smaller, has some more advanced features but like your K1000 offers manual exposure only. The ME Super and Super Program you mentioned as well as some other Pentax models also offer autoexposure. FWIW I got my wife a Pentax MX as an upgrade to her K1000, however she still preferred her K1000. Chris

10-10-2017, 09:07 AM	#6
ripper2860 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 890	Another vote for the MX. Smaller and lighter with a wonderfully big and bright viewfinder!

10-10-2017, 09:20 AM	#7
aoeu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 496	Here is my suggestion: ZX-L or similar. Every lens and every flash just work. The main complaint is that the batteries aren't cheap but nothing in the film world is free. I have the battery grip mostly because my hands are large. My other film cameras are an MX which I really like for all the reasons mentioned above, an LX which I find somewhat pretentious, and a K2DMD with the ASA ring issue that Eric couldn't fix.

10-10-2017, 11:22 AM	#8
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,581	this link leads to info about how different Pentax Camera bodies work with various Pentax lenses The Pentax Camera Lens Compatibility Chart here is a link to different Pentax film bodies http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxCameraComparison.html perhaps that info could be of interest to the original poster

10-10-2017, 11:38 AM	#9
Xmas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 617	There is nothing on a K1000 to stop you taking good photos!

10-10-2017, 12:43 PM	#10
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I like the Super Program, but that's what I'm used to. I use the automatic exposure features it has, both involving and not involving the A-series lenses. I personally don't feel that the battery-less shutter operation of the MX is a big feature, since I rarely am in a situation where I run out of batteries and can estimate the exposure. The larger viewfinder sounds nice, and I have been tempted by an MX in the past, but have so far resisted since I have other Pentax cameras I can use.

10-10-2017, 02:53 PM	#11
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,694	I agree the battery-dependence issue may be a bit overblown. I can't recall any of my film camera failing due to dead batteries. Of course I always carry spares. Unlike digital cameras, batteries in film cameras with electronic shutters typically last quite a long time, many months in most cases. That said I do prefer cameras with mechanical shutters and minimal electronics, mainly for their simpler operation and long-term repairability. Chris

10-10-2017, 05:11 PM	#12
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Upgrade, smaller and lighter, mention ME Super and Super Program . . . All of these are smaller and lighter except for the LX which is smaller but maybe about the same weight depending on which version of K1000 and which version viewfinder on the LX. The MX is an upgrade as far as metering cel, largest viewfinder among all (regardless of brand) fixed prism manual SLRs and has motor and film back options. The ME Super has aperture priority. The Ricoh XR7 has aperture priority and conventional control layout. Here is an ad for it. The LX has TTL flash, aperture priority, interchangeable viewfinders and has sync to top shutter speed + bulb mode, available when batteries die.

10-10-2017, 05:15 PM	#13
c.perkins Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: New Lisbon, WI. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 515	I also wanted an "upgrade" to my K1000 for film. Chose the Super Program. Been using it in "auto" mode with "auto" lenses. An upgrade to me is going from full manual to auto. I am enjoying the Super and also the K1000 and the K7 and the K5IIS. They all have there areas of interest. Enjoy them Clarence

10-11-2017, 01:16 AM	#14
nickthetasmaniac Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,361	Originally posted by aoeu ... an LX which I find somewhat pretentious.... How does a camera become 'pretentious'?

10-11-2017, 04:25 AM	#15
Lord Lucan Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: South Wales Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,963	Originally posted by nickthetasmaniac How does a camera become 'pretentious'? By having tried to challenge Nikon's and Canon's dominance in the professional market? Or is it the owner being pretentious by owning one? (I'm guilty) Maybe these days it is pretentious to use film at all, in which case all film cameras are pretentious. But 99.9% of onlookers would not know the difference between an LX and a Spotmatic, and 99.8% would even notice the difference between a K-1 and a Spotmatic.