Some thoughts on the K1000

I always said I wouldn't get a K1000 because it was over-hyped and over-priced. Last year I was given one, which I then got serviced. On the whole, I rather like it; solid, simple, unfussy. In fact I like it more than I thought I would. My only gripes are (a) no shutter lock. I keep getting frames of the inside of my camera bag. (b) no DOF preview. It won't supplant my love of the MX, but it is not as dire as I thought it would be (and is surprisingly easy to focus even without a split screen). I have a couple if KMs I rarely use, mainly because the film advance on one of the them (my original one) is a bit rough. I think I'll send it off for a service and try using it a bit more.

K.

The K1000 uses a horizontally running rubberised silk focal plane shutter, and these are susceptible to slowing with age. If you don't wind on before you put the camera in the bag it will help preserve the longevity of the shutter and also avoid those blank exposures. The same would apply to the MX as regards shutter care.

The vertically running metal shutters are not so vulnerable, and of course once everything became motorised then we had no choice anyway.

I know, terrible habit from my ME Super days when I would take a photo and automatically wind on. Of course, the never-ready case stopped accidental exposures. It is a hard habit to break though (and believe me I have tried). Muscle memory is both a wonderful thing and sometimes a pain (says the person who keeps beeping his new motorcycle's horn because the button is where the indicators were on the old one...).

My first camera was a K1000 and I loved it, it caused me to be a Pentaxophile. Every camera I have had since has been a Pentax product along with all my lenses. You cannot beat them.

I'm a similar story only my first proper camera was an ME Super. I almost defected to Canon but the K10D came out just in time to save me from that error.

When I first met my wife she told me of her Pentax K1000 that had been stolen. I got her another.
At the time I was a Nikon user. I kind of looked down my nose at her barebones K1000 camera.
Later I tried Ricoh and then Pentax K-mount cameras. Today I use KM, KX and K2DMD models.

Chris

I still have my k1000 that I purchased from a Comet closing down sale in Armley Road, Leeds, back in 1986 I think, have the receipt too. Couldn't resist as half price £45 IIRC, bought as a backup to my ME Super - first SLR for me.
One thing not mentioned is that the meter will be on all the time draining the battery if you Don't cover the lens, and possibly the eye piece VF I think? The KX I have only activates the metering when the winder is slightly opened, it clicks slightly, a far better setup IMHO.

I have used my grandmother's K1000 I think and the lack of a shutter lock is a major annoyance - I have to resist winding after each shot to leave it ready and then remember to wind for the next shot. A real pain.

only reading this have i realised there is no shutter lock!

The K1000 is much maligned, but seldom bettered really. The ME series are good, until the battery goes and you have no spare. Then there is the winding problem with them.

The KM is essentially a K1000 with a couple of extra features. It came out before the K1000 which is a stripped down version of the KM. It never gained the "iconic" status of the K1000, however, and as a result are much cheaper to buy second hand. It also has the advantage of only being made for a few years so you don't have to try and work out which version it is!

I too swore I'd never own one but I too recently bought a K1000.
I'm just waiting for it to return from service by Eric Hendrickson.

Never say never!

Chris