I have a kid in a high school photography class using film cameras. The teacher recommended that a Pentax K-1000 would be a solid choice for him and what he will need. The light meter needs to work, and a basic Pentax lens is good. I am watching eBay, but I am trying not to wait for auction plus shipping, as he transferred into the class during the second week of classes.
Anybody got one collecting dust somewhere?
I might have an S2, which is a few years older. No through the lens metering, it's got an external meter on top. Is that too old?
Oh, man. The best value SLR back in the seventies. Strong competitor to the expensive Nikon F in those days. I had a K-1000 (still do, somewhere in the attic) with a couple extra lenses. I loaned mine to my niece for a photography class when she was in college back in the nineties. When I got it back it was a mess. If I could find it, it'd need a full rebuild. (Then I gave her a new one when she graduated in '96 ... undoubtedly a newer version). It's a great film camera. Good luck finding one.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Keith, I will have my wife ask the teacher. What would you want for it?
Let me check with mom, it'll be at her place. Not expensive if it's going to a good home.
Does the Pentax S2 have a light meter? Ref: https://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-s2-h2.html
The other issue is how there used to be mercury batteries used in cameras that are no longer available so you either use a zinc-air battery that doesn't last very long, you have a meter that reads off, or you get pricey battery adapters.
I am going to assume that the teacher wants students to have a camera with an in-built light meter but no real automation beyond that light meter. There are a lot of options out there besides a K1000 to get there. I'm not against the K1000 but they seem to be overpriced for what they offer.
Something like this would interest me given the above requirements; Sears KS 1000 w/ 4 lenses kit for $100 on ebay
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
Thanks for the link. The teacher was warning against some of the knock-offs, and I don't have time to learn, but if someone has experience and can say something is good, I am all for it. I don't want to spend a lot, but I also don't want to leave him in a lurch. I don't mind spending a little more for surety.
14 hours to go on a goodwill one, but...
I'm honestly thinking about building a Sears kit like that one. The camera is a Ricoh XR1 with a Sears badge on it. The 50mm f1.7 is a Ricoh 50mm, I think from the P series, which seems like pretty decent glass. The rest of it is gravy. Uses a Pentax K-mount. Mechanical shutter so if the electronics onboard are somehow bad you just lack a light meter.
This is an era of cameras that I've gravitated to; 35mm, manual focus, manual film advance, and I'm knee-deep in Pentax k-mount glass.
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
That is very good info. I will ask the teacher about Ricoh, also. Thank you
I'm sitting on my California King bed right now with my 40 y/o good-as-new K-1000 lovingly stored directly below me...I would literally open fire on anyone trying to take it from me.
Edit - That was a little dark...how about this "I've gotten many great shots with my K-1000 so I'm reluctant to let it go"
In reply to pres589 (djronnebaum) :
S2 does not have through the lens metering. Mine has a light meter that rides on top of the flash foot. I used that thing for years, it was pretty effective. Just not convenient. Shooting Kodachrome 64 in dim light does wonders for a steady hand :)
Camera was my father's, I think he may have purchased it in Japan and it might have been his first. It went across Russia on the trans-Siberian railway in the late 60's - it's been around. He gave it to me when I was in my teens and I shot everywhere from the highlands of Papua New Guinea to Australia to Europe with it.
But no integrated light meter :)
We used the K1000 back in high school, and I was gifted one by Dan Shields a few years ago. The light meter didn't work so I had the camera serviced. (True tip: If you take a K1000 camping, you can use it to hammer in tent stakes.)
In reply to Keith Tanner :
That's super cool about getting the camera from your dad.
There are a number of those sorts of light meters out there today and they seem pretty useful, even with cameras that do provide a built-in light meter.
Dad may have my old K1000 from high school. I'll check with him this weekend.
We had 2 at one time. Dad had his with a 300mm zoom and doubler. We got some great shots resting it across the roof of a rental Lincoln Town car, sitting across the causeway of a shuttle launch.
I'm no help, but we do have my wife's K-1000 that I just had serviced by Garry's. I'm back pretty heavy into film, so not wanting to part with it at this point. I've seen K-1000 outfits for sale in vintage camera stores for around $270, which feels like a lot to me.
So unless you find a deal imo the K1000 is way over hyped leading to ridiculously high prices for what it is.
So alternatives that are great, will be better priced with the same functionality, Fujia ST605/ST801 (M42 lens), Olympus OM1/OM1MD/OM1n (OM mount lens), Pentax Spotmatic (M42 lens), any of the Nikkormat FT series (Nikon F mount). I bought a Fujica ST605 with three lens and a bag for $44. I have two OM1s that I bought for $60-$80 with no lens. My local camera shop has a Nikkormat with no lens for $60. If you want, I can check the camera store tomorrow and see what they have.
When banging around with a K1000 in high school, I never figured that one day they'd be collectible.
But it also works: simple, durable, takes a good photo. The light meter is genius.
Most of my stick time is with the original, standard K1000. The K1000 SE adds a split-image focus screen. That's what I have in my Canon A-1 and, yeah, that focus setup is just faster to use–especially since I no longer have my high school vision.
It's a more complicated camera, but I still love my A-1. It offers automatic settings–totally revolutionary for its time–yet still features manual focus.
Plus, isn't that just a good-looking camera?
Since it's more complicated than a K1000, I'd buy one from a trusted source.
It's interesting to use film in a learning scenario. You don't get that immediate feedback that you do with a digital. You definitely have that constraint of the number of shots which is good discipline, but I do have to wonder if the student won't learn as quickly as they would with a digital.
I'm not talking about the artistic quality of the end result and the effects of grain and saturation etc, but the mechanics of learning to shoot and work with the camera's settings. You can talk about depth of field, but it's hard to replace shooting the same picture over and over with different f stops and seeing the result instantly when it comes to learning.
Unless we're dealing with someone who already has a good handle and wants the look of film specifically.
I have a Pentax ME Super that I got along with some lenses that I wanted. I'd be willing to part with it if it meets the specs you are looking for. I have not tested it with film. It seems functional, but likely needs a good cleaning.
In reply to AAZCD-Jon (Forum Supporter) :
That looks pretty nice, what would you want for it? I just missed out on the Goodwill K1000 on eBay. I was too slow getting a meeting wrapped up by less than a minute.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
Thank you very much for that other list of options. I will start looking at availability of those, as well. I will PM you my phone number.
My dad was a high school photography teacher. When they went digital and shut down the lab I remember hucking boxes and boxes of K1000s, lenses, and cases in the trash. They were the go to camera - cheap, reliable, and 100% manual.
I found this on Goodwill:
Asahi Pentax K1000 Film Camera With 50mm & 200mm Lenses, Flash
And this one:
Pentax K1000 Film Camera W/ Accessories (Works)
And this one on the Salvation Army site:
Asahi Pentax K1000 Film Camera w/ Kiron 70-150mm f/4 Macro 1:4 Lens
matthewmcl said:In reply to AAZCD-Jon (Forum Supporter) :
That looks pretty nice, what would you want for it? I just missed out on the Goodwill K1000 on eBay. I was too slow getting a meeting wrapped up by less than a minute.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
Thank you very much for that other list of options. I will start looking at availability of those, as well. I will PM you my phone number.
I can box it up and ship it today. Let me know where to send it. Call it a late New Years Game gift or $20 shipped if you want to pay. As-is, no guarantee, but I'd rather have it used than sitting in my cabinet.
Message sent.
AAZCD-Jon (Forum Supporter) said:matthewmcl said:In reply to AAZCD-Jon (Forum Supporter) :
That looks pretty nice, what would you want for it? I just missed out on the Goodwill K1000 on eBay. I was too slow getting a meeting wrapped up by less than a minute.
In reply to 93EXCivic :
Thank you very much for that other list of options. I will start looking at availability of those, as well. I will PM you my phone number.
I can box it up and ship it today. Let me know where to send it. Call it a late New Years Game gift or $20 shipped if you want to pay. As-is, no guarantee, but I'd rather have it used than sitting in my cabinet.
Message sent.
Wow, cool, thank you! PM replied
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