Problems with k1000

Hello,

This is my first time on a forum, and I'm extremely new to photography - I apologise in advance if this is in the wrong place, or if I say anything that doesn't make sense - you may be as ruthless and condescending as you wish

I have a fabulous ASAHI Pentax K1000, that has treated me so well since I bought it a few weeks ago. I've been using the 50mm SMC Pentax-A 1:2 lens that came with the camera and I've had no problems, you can see some photos here if you're interested: (http://stphn-smth.tumblr.com/)

HOWEVER, yesterday I purchased a $9 lens from an antique store who seemed to know absolutely nothing about cameras and couldn't tell me if it was functional... It's a 35~70mm SMC Pentax-A 1:4 lens, it appeared to have no damage at first. I did notice that the auto-aperture-lever-thingy on the back of the lens was slightly bent BUT my k1000 is obviously fully manual, so I assumed this wouldn't matter? (maybe I'm wrong there)... in fact I tested each individual aperture stop and the lens seemed to open just fine at each.

I excitedly attach my brand new bargain of a lens, wind up the film, go to release the shutter AND.. nothing. No sign of that beautiful *CLUNK* my camera usually lets out. The film has definitely advanced the whole way, and I push the button in several times but I just can't seem to get it to release. Scared that somehow this dodgy lens has broken my camera, I quickly attach the 50mm lens again, and it works fine.

So obviously something is wrong with this lens, I'm just too much of a newbie to understand. Either I'm doing something wrong, or this piece of junk probably was worth $9. Either way, I'm sure one of you well experienced photographers can help a newbie out.

Thanks heaps for your time,

Stephen

The lens you bought is actually an excellent performer and I've used several of them over the years.

Second hand ones can suffer from very slack focusing/zooming but that wouldn't affect your camera. The bent aperture lever is probably to blame, preventing the shutter release cycle in some way. You could try straightening the lever, but if that doesn't work a repair would likely be far more than the lens is worth.

Hope that helps!

I bought that lens and it suffers, as John says, with a slack focus ring which completely turned me off it so never really played with it.

Just wanted to say I was raised on Mono Film because that was what my Dad was set up for developing.

Your pictures are great, really think you have an eye so hopefully you'll stick around. Nice one

Thanks mate, the focusing/zooming seems fine, and I'm glad I bought a decent lens. I thought that might be the case, so I'll try straightening it out and see how it goes.

Thanks for the kind words dude, It's great to see so many people into film, especially mono. And I'm always interested to hear why people still use it. I really had no reason to buy a film camera, I just wanted to try my hand at photography and DSLRs are so expensive - also I have a pretty good deal at the photo store next to my café, I make them free coffee and they give me free developing so I'm pretty lucky in that sense.

Thanks for the support anywho, will let y'all know how I go with straightening (and hopefully not snapping) the lever.

Stephen

I wish someone would call me 'Dude' -- maybe I'm too OLD and not 'Streetwise' but I HAVE been in photography since 1951 ---

That 35-70mm has become my favorite lens in recent months, although on a DSLR it becomes around 50-105mm which suits me just fine.

There are some good pictures on your website, keep it up.

(happy to oblige)

Pete, you're one cool K10d weilding dude!