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The Ak-47 of the camera world. Accept no substitute. Why did they stop making them? I've just ordered my second (after tragically destroying my first). Because they're completely mechanical, they're perfect for astronomy (real astrophotography, with 35mm film; none of this CCD bullsh*t).
[url] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_K1000 [/url]
The Pentax K1000 (originally marked the Asahi Pentax K1000) is an interchangeable lens, 35 mm film, single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, manufactured by Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. from 1976 to 1997, originally in Japan. It uses a horizontal travel, rubberized silk cloth focal plane shutter with a speed range of 1/1000 second to 1 second, along with Bulb and a flash X-sync of 1/60 second. It is 91.4 millimetres tall, 143 mm wide, and 48 mm deep, and weighs 620 grams. The body was finished in black leather with chrome trim only, although early production Pentax K1000 SE bodies had brown leather with chrome trim.
The introductory US list price for the K1000 body with SMC Pentax 55 mm f/2 lens was $299.50. In 1983, a K1000 with SMC Pentax-M 50 mm f/2 lens listed for $220; in 1988, the body only was $210, but $290 with SMC Pentax-A 50 mm f/2; in 1993, the body only was $263. The body was priced at $315 in 1994 and remained there until discontinued. Note that SLRs usually sold for 30 to 40 percent below list price.
The K1000 is the simplest member of Asahi Optical's Pentax K-series SLRs, whose other members are the Pentax K2, KM, and KX, all introduced in 1975, and the K2 DMD (1976). All have the same basic body design, but with differing feature levels, internal electronics, and external controls and cosmetics.
The K1000's extraordinary longevity makes it a historically significant camera. The K1000's inexpensive simplicity was a great virtue and earned it an unrivaled popularity as a basic but sturdy workhorse. The Pentax K1000 eventually sold over three million units.
I have one sitting on my shelf that has not been used in a couple of years, girlfriend used it for the first year of her photography degreee.
She absolutely loved using it 😀
Ha, damn, I would've bought it! Mine cost £70 on Ebay and I really don't know if it's in good nick.
Never had a K1000 but have had an MX for decades, shame it gets no use now. Still all mechanical but better metering and aperture port, interchangeable focus screens, winder and motor drives, bulk back and other gadgets available. Wish someone made a digital back for it, for retro cool points.
none of this CCD bullsh*
CCD? How very retro.
I love pentax kit - got a few bodies etc - am selling a P30 if anyone wants it?
paul
My first SLR was a Pentax, the Spotmatic, in its day '66 way ahead of the field, then later Nikon came along and then Canon. They I believe used metal leaf vertical focal plane shutter that enable flash sync beyond 60th of a second which was a bit of a drag with that horizontal rubber silk affair.
I can't remember the exact history of how it was that Pentax lost their way, but I've had Nikon ever since, got a fairly good Nikon f4s sitting in a billingham bag collecting dust if anyone could give me a good reason and a sensible offer to give it a good working home..
but I've had Nikon ever since, got a fairly good Nikon f4s sitting in a billingham bag collecting dust
Olympus OM4-Ti for me, but the same dusty Billingham bag...
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5106053912_72c313b098.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartie_c/5106053912/ ]295/365[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stuartie_c/ ]stuartie_c[/url], on Flickr
Could never bear to part with it.
Surely teh practika tl 1000 is the ak47 of cameras? First made 50 years ago or something, still works fine today, does everything you need from a camera and is very reliable even under extreme conditions.
I have one 🙂
TJ,
What is teh correct spelling of teh definite article in English?
😉
My camera history
Zenith EM
Pentax K1000
Pentax ME Super
Cannon EOS650
Surely the Zenith is the AK-47 of SLR's ? I had a Zenith, then the K1000, then an OM-10, then a Nikkormat etc etc......
😳
My dad had a K1000 - I learned to take pictures with it. Loved the straight forwardness of it.
S'okay TJ,
It's what makes your posts that extra wee bit speshul.
Camera History...
VN Plate Camera
MicroPress (UK version of Speed Graphic)
Zeis Super Ikonta 2 1/4 square rangefinder
Contax
YashicaMat 2 1/4 Twin lens reflex
Pentax Spotmatic SLR
Rollie Cord
Rollieflex
Rollie WideAngle (best press camera of all time)
Mamiyaflex
Sinar P studio monrail
Hasselblad 500c
Hasselblad SWC
Nikon f4s
Nikon d70
Lumix wotsit
Iphone 3g
Iphone 4.
How the mighty fall...
Reckon the Zenith is the T34 tank of cameras! 😆
Have an Olympic edition of that and a K1000 which is my main camera. Love em both for the simplicity and effectiveness.
My first SLR was nearly a K1000, but a hard summer working on a farm allowed me to splash out on an MX, which I still have.
They are indeed indestructible. And christ knows i've tried!! We all had them as design students due to being able to cart them around, throw them at each other while drunk, and use them for household repairs when there wasn't a hammer handy
Mine is presently sat atop a tripod in the spare room. Next to my broken Lomo! Just because it looks retro and I love it! My daughter knocked it over last week. Not that that'll make any difference to it. Might get some film for it....