Pentax K1000 Overview

The Pentax K1000 was introduced in 1976 and remained in production until 1997. Approximately three million (more) units were sold. Production moved from Japan to Hong Kong in 1978 and then to China in 1990. To keep labor costs low, Chinese cameras were manufactured using several cheaper components. Chinese K1000s can be recognized by the absence of the “Asahi” name and logo on the pentaprism cover. Better to avoid non-Asahi cameras.

What you get with a K1000 is a fully manual camera with a microprism spot focus aid. Exposure control is determined by a battery-operated integral light meter that employs an open aperture system in the center of the needle. Shutter speeds range from 1 to 1/1000 of a second, along with Bulb and an X-sync flash at 1 / 60th of a second.

The K1000 accepts all Pentax K bayonet mount (introduced 1975) and KA mount (introduced 1983) manual focus lenses, and any rear K lens with a separate aperture ring is essential. In addition, there are a large number of independently manufactured Pentax compatible lenses available.

The following is a list of third-party 35mm manual SLR cameras with equivalent specifications, which are commonly available and generally less expensive. In other words, these cameras are fully manual, with open aperture metering and a shutter speed range of 1 to 1 / 000th of a second. In many cases, alternative cameras have additional features and a higher specification. This list is not exhaustive.

Canyon

The FTb has almost identical characteristics but for partial metering (an area that corresponds to 12% of the center of the viewfinder). In addition, it has an automatic timer and mirror lock. The FTb-N camera added a shutter speed indicator in the viewfinder. The lens mount is Canon’s FD bayonet fitting.

Fujica

The ST705 and ST705w exceeded the K1000 specifications and benefit from a faster and more sensitive silicone photocell metering system, a brighter viewfinder with the addition of a slit image rangefinder, a maximum speed of 1/1500 sec . timer and depth of field preview. It is also smaller and lighter.

The ST801 resembles the ST705 / w but also has a maximum speed of 1/2000 sec, and the viewfinder matches the LED-like light metering information, rather than a needle pointer.

The lens mount is Fujica’s variant in the M42 thread setting and requires auto-Fujinon lenses for open aperture measurement.

Minolta

The SR-T101 (and its SR successors) is specified similarly to the K1000, but has the added benefit of matrix metering, which is briefly a system that uses two separate measurement cells, located in different parts of the pentaprism, and That measures light. falling into different parts of the viewfinder screen to provide a reading that takes into account the contrast in a scene. It also has a viewfinder that displays shutter speed, mirror lockup, depth of field preview, and self-timer. The lens mount is a Minolta “MC” bayonet (with meter attached).

Pentax

The KM is the same as the K1000 in all respects, except that it benefits from the added features of a self-timer and depth of field preview.

The Spotmatic F was the predecessor to the KM, and is similar in all respects, except that the lens mount is an M42 thread fit, which requires SMC Takumar lenses or third-party equivalents.

Praktica

Praktica produced an astonishing number of cameras with slightly different specifications, but I think the closest counterpart to the K1000 was the LLC. The lenses use the M42 screw mount.

Yashica

The FX-2, FX-3 / FX-7 and FX-3 / FX-7 super models fit the K1000 profile, and later models employ LED viewfinder screens instead of a phosphor stylus. Like Fujicas, the measurement is done using a faster and more sensitive silicone photocell. These cameras have a reputation for reliability. Their durable metal chassis with plastic outer shell makes them lighter and smaller than the K1000. The lens mount is a Contax / Yashica bayonet.

Other Yashica alternatives include Contax’s cloned FR and FX-1, with their electronically controlled shutters and viewfinder aperture and shutter speed displays; but these models are not very common.

Conclusions

The critical appeal of the K1000 lies not so much in the camera body, but in its lens mount system and the consequent availability of easy lenses. This is not to say that the cost / availability of other lens systems is problematic; sometimes it may take a little more effort to find them.

The open aperture measurement employed by the K1000 is not an essential feature: it is simply pleasant to use. Stop measurement cameras (eg, the lens aperture must be closed while taking a light reading) are equally suitable for students or any other user. In fact, most of the alternative cameras listed above are also capable of stopping the measurement.

When stop measurement camera bodies are also considered alternatives to the K1000, the list of suitable candidates becomes even larger. More than that, many stop metering cameras date back to an earlier time when the use of common M42 screw mount lens fitting became widespread.

In terms of lens design, older lenses tend to be heavier and less compact. The flip side is that the newer lenses can be much less robust, due to their reliance on plastic components.

In conclusion, I am not a huge fan of the K1000 because it is very basic, and if I were looking for a camera that would meet the requirements of a study course, the K1000 would be quite low on my list of possibilities. When relative costs are taken into account, I find it ridiculous that the K1000 could sell for twice the prices of its top stable companion, the KM.