Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Shenloanne · 03-03-2019, 03:58 AM

Hi all,.
Hoping you can help me out here. I've had a K1000 languishing in the attic for years. Wanted to see if I could identify its age.

K1000 | edf | Emmanuel Diver | Flickr
K1000 | edf | Emmanuel Diver | Flickr

Its full metal. Has AHOC I think on the prism housing but no made in marks. The 50mm f2 lens is made in Taiwan though.

Any thoughts?

**TwoUptons** · 03-03-2019, 08:05 AM

Mine looks the same but has a 73xx serial number.

I bought it new in 1982...

-Eric

**c.a.m** · 03-03-2019, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by Shenloanne

Hoping you can help me out here. I've had a K1000 languishing in the attic for years. Wanted to see if I could identify its age.

This should help: K1000 Serial Number Database - PentaxForums.com

Your camera might have had a sticker on the bottom saying 'Japan'.

- Craig

**monochrome** · 03-03-2019, 08:56 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Shenloanne

Hi all,.
Hoping you can help me out here. I've had a K1000 languishing in the attic for years. Wanted to see if I could identify its age.

K1000 | edf | Emmanuel Diver | Flickr
K1000 | edf | Emmanuel Diver | Flickr

Its full metal. Has AHOC I think on the prism housing but no made in marks. The 50mm f2 lens is made in Taiwan though.

Any thoughts?

The serial numbers on K1000’s (and basically all Pentax products) are not sequential, so dating them is an art. There are internet attempts to date them and the Serial Number Database here can be helpful. We’ll never know precisely when they were made. K1000 production moved to Hong Kong in 1978 and China in 1990. There might have been 2500 K1000SE's made in Japan, first with black diamond pattern leatherette and then with brown smooth leatherette.

I have three K1000’s. Note the serial number sequences:

7541851 Made in Japan, so before 1978
7811806 an earlier SE (no HK sticker, probably removed, bump) probably made after 1978

6220172 a later SE, Hong Kong (no bump, stamped HK bottom) certainly made after 1978

Wikipedia has a good record of the K1000 history here: Pentax K1000 - Wikipedia
The citations at the bottom are also useful

Last edited by monochrome; 03-03-2019 at 09:21 AM.

Shenloanne · 03-03-2019, 01:43 PM

Going by the serial number spreadsheet.... I'm convinced its a 78 Hong Kong one. The serial starts 64 and the ones on the spreadsheet seem to be identified from there.

Resale value with the corresponding 50mm f2 lens anybody? EBay is wildly fluctuated.

**monochrome** · 03-03-2019, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by Shenloanne

Going by the serial number spreadsheet.... I'm convinced its a 78 Hong Kong one. The serial starts 64 and the ones on the spreadsheet seem to be identified from there.

Resale value with the corresponding 50mm f2 lens anybody? EBay is wildly fluctuated.

K1000’s are rich on eBay. Look at the Completed Listings, list it BIN with Make Offer and if it doesn’t sell relist it a different way.

leekil · 03-03-2019, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by Shenloanne

Going by the serial number spreadsheet....

Is "the spreadsheet" the PDF of the pre-2012 data? Is there a way to get a spreadsheet (or PDF) of the newer serial number data?

Shenloanne · 03-04-2019, 03:23 AM

Yes that's the one I looked on.

**Baard-Einar** · 03-14-2019, 02:36 AM

There are mulitple threads discussing the K1000 and where it is made. It is sometimes really hard to tell if it is made in Japan or Hong Kong as well. There are a list of traits to look for. Good luck!

03-03-2019, 03:58 AM	#1
Shenloanne Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 99	K1000 identification Hi all,. Hoping you can help me out here. I've had a K1000 languishing in the attic for years. Wanted to see if I could identify its age. K1000 \| edf \| Emmanuel Diver \| Flickr K1000 \| edf \| Emmanuel Diver \| Flickr Its full metal. Has AHOC I think on the prism housing but no made in marks. The 50mm f2 lens is made in Taiwan though. Any thoughts?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Haze Identification - FA43?	mattm	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	7	02-02-2019 05:12 AM
Mystery Lens Mount Identification?	Marcus Rowland	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	9	09-14-2017 12:28 PM
Nature Flower identification....?	Knock	Post Your Photos!	5	09-07-2017 08:47 PM
Help with K1000 lens and accessory identification?	2112	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	02-14-2011 01:58 PM
Help: lens mount identification, interchangeable mount identification	m88k	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	1	08-28-2010 06:20 PM

03-03-2019, 08:05 AM	#2
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,227	Mine looks the same but has a 73xx serial number. I bought it new in 1982... -Eric

03-03-2019, 08:30 AM	#3
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,194	Originally posted by Shenloanne Hoping you can help me out here. I've had a K1000 languishing in the attic for years. Wanted to see if I could identify its age. This should help: K1000 Serial Number Database - PentaxForums.com Your camera might have had a sticker on the bottom saying 'Japan'. - Craig

03-03-2019, 08:56 AM - 1 Like	#4
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Shenloanne Hi all,. Hoping you can help me out here. I've had a K1000 languishing in the attic for years. Wanted to see if I could identify its age. K1000 \| edf \| Emmanuel Diver \| Flickr K1000 \| edf \| Emmanuel Diver \| Flickr Its full metal. Has AHOC I think on the prism housing but no made in marks. The 50mm f2 lens is made in Taiwan though. Any thoughts? The serial numbers on K1000’s (and basically all Pentax products) are not sequential, so dating them is an art. There are internet attempts to date them and the Serial Number Database here can be helpful. We’ll never know precisely when they were made. K1000 production moved to Hong Kong in 1978 and China in 1990. There might have been 2500 K1000SE's made in Japan, first with black diamond pattern leatherette and then with brown smooth leatherette. I have three K1000’s. Note the serial number sequences: 7541851 Made in Japan, so before 1978 7811806 an earlier SE (no HK sticker, probably removed, bump) probably made after 1978 6220172 a later SE, Hong Kong (no bump, stamped HK bottom) certainly made after 1978 Wikipedia has a good record of the K1000 history here: Pentax K1000 - Wikipedia The citations at the bottom are also useful Last edited by monochrome; 03-03-2019 at 09:21 AM.

03-03-2019, 01:43 PM	#5
Shenloanne Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 99 Original Poster	Going by the serial number spreadsheet.... I'm convinced its a 78 Hong Kong one. The serial starts 64 and the ones on the spreadsheet seem to be identified from there. Resale value with the corresponding 50mm f2 lens anybody? EBay is wildly fluctuated.

03-03-2019, 01:46 PM	#6
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Shenloanne Going by the serial number spreadsheet.... I'm convinced its a 78 Hong Kong one. The serial starts 64 and the ones on the spreadsheet seem to be identified from there. Resale value with the corresponding 50mm f2 lens anybody? EBay is wildly fluctuated. K1000’s are rich on eBay. Look at the Completed Listings, list it BIN with Make Offer and if it doesn’t sell relist it a different way.

03-03-2019, 02:20 PM	#7
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by Shenloanne Going by the serial number spreadsheet.... Is "the spreadsheet" the PDF of the pre-2012 data? Is there a way to get a spreadsheet (or PDF) of the newer serial number data?

03-04-2019, 03:23 AM	#8
Shenloanne Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 99 Original Poster	Yes that's the one I looked on.

03-14-2019, 02:36 AM	#9
Baard-Einar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 964	There are mulitple threads discussing the K1000 and where it is made. It is sometimes really hard to tell if it is made in Japan or Hong Kong as well. There are a list of traits to look for. Good luck!

K1000 identification

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!