Pentax K1000 (1976-1997)

Pentax K1000 (1976-1997)

#434

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

K1000 is a 35mm film SLR camera made by Pentax and produced between 1976–97. Its design descends from the original Spotmatic series of screw-mount SLRs introduced in the 1960s.

An affordable camera for the amateur photographer, it was a fully mechanical, manual camera designed without any program modes. It survived much longer than originally intended and became the archetypal "student's camera." The K1000 was equipped with all features required for manual photography: a TTL metering system, wide-ranging shutter speeds from 1/1000 to 1 s, and the ability to use all the available K-mount lenses made by Pentax and licensees such as Ricoh and Cosina. The K1000 omitted some features found on more advanced models, such as depth-of-field preview, self-timer, and separate meter on/off switch.

Despite its great popularity and longevity of the same basic design, Pentax finally ceased production of the K1000 after more than 20 years in 1997.

The K series evolved from the classic Spotmatic SP 1000, in fact the K1000 itself is essentially a Spotmatic with a bayonet rather than M42×1 screw mount.

Source: camerapedia


Specifications

Lens release: lever on the right lower side of the lens mount, slide downward and turn the lens counter clockwise, when mounting the lens the red marks of the lens and the camera must be aligned
Focusing: manual front focusing, via Fresnel matte screen, ring and scale window on the lens
Shutter: horizontally traveling, rubberized silk focal plane, speeds: 1/1000–1 s +B; setting: speed dial knob on the top plate
Shutter release: on the top plate, with cable release socket
Cocking lever: also winds the film, short stroke, retractable, on the right of the top plate
Frame counter: additive type, auto-reset, window on the cocking lever
Viewfinder: eye level SLR pentaprism, needle index of exposure meter visible in it
Exposure meter: full frame averaging TTL metering with built-in coupled match-needle meter ASA range: 20–3200, setting: ring and window on the speed dial, lift and turn
Exposure setting: manual, turn the speed dial or aperture ring until the needle aligned to the center of the index, in the finder
Rewind: folding crank on the top plate, turns when winding
Rewind release: a button on the bottom plate
Flash PC socket: left lower front side of the camera, w/ removable lid, X-Sync. 1/60, red X mark on the speed dial
Hot-shoe
Self-timer: none
Back cover: hinged, opens by lifting the re-wind lever
Tripod socket: 1/4 in
Strap lugs
Battery: 1.5 V LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver oxide (only for exposure meter)
Battery chamber: on the bottom plate
Attention: leave the lens cap on when you are not using the camera, there is no on-off switch for the exposure meter, so it works continuously

Source: camerapedia


Model

Serial number 7868338


Reference sites

camerapedia

Manual

English manual


Batteries

2 LR44 batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Exakta HS-10 (1989-1990)

Exakta HS-10 (1989-1990)

#411

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

In the 1980s the import company Miranda Foto Video GmbH in Nürnberg, Germany has sold a line of Exakta HS cameras, built by Cosina in Japan. They all have the Pentax K lens mount.
This import company was owned by Heinrich Mandermann, an important WestGerman foto and video trader. He had an agreement with Pentacon Dresden - the company in which Ihagee had disappeared - in 1981/82 with Pentacon to use the name Exakta for five years, paying DM 50.000 per annum. Mandermann bought the whole of Pentacon around 1990 when this company went bankrupt during the unification of Germany.

Source: ihagee.org

It's a Cosina-built Pentax-K mount 35mm SLR that was produced around 1989-90. Also known as Cosina CT1EX. Hardly a classic in any definition, but it's a solid, no-frills PK camera.

Source: photo.net


Specifications

This camera is an evolution of the CT1 Super. Under a design (a little) more modern, one however finds all specificities of his elder:   Powerful mechanical shutter and reassuring (functions without battery at all speeds) simple control of the exposuresby 3 diodes green or reds in the viewfinder, Universalité of the mounting Pentax K which authorizes the use of a very wide range of lenses to satisfy most demanding.

The metal roller-blind shutter with vertical run allows speeds of the second the 1/2000. It is synchronized to the 1/125.

The standard lens delivered with the camera was Cosinon 1: 2 F = 50mm

(specs from Cosina CT1ex)

Source: collection-appareils.fr

Introduced in 1988.
It was also sold under the name Vivitar V335

Technical info

Lens mount: Pentax K (PK)

Shutter: 1/2000s to 1s + B

Light meter: Through the lens, center weighted (ISO 25 - 1600)

Battery: Two 1.5v SR44 (Only for the light meter)

Flash: Hot shoe (sync 1/125 sec)

Weight: 420g

Takes standard 135 film

24×36 mm negative size.

Viewfinder:

Good viewfinder which is big and bright.

The focus aid system is a little smaller then I have seen on many other cameras.

However this is nothing I found to be a problem.

Info:

Left side have three led lights for the light meter.

Two red lights which are formed like a plus, minus and one green round led in the middle.

Focus aid:

Split screen and Microprism

Shutter type:

Focal plane

Vertical metal blade.

All mechanical.

Build quality:

Much of the exterior is plastic and some sort of rubber but the interior body is metal.

So it's still has a quite rugged feel and good build quality.

But the exterior can not take much physical abuse.

Look, feel and sound:

Simple but I quite like the look.

The overall feel of the camera is still fairly good despite all the plastic but some things do look and feel a bit cheap.

Buttons and dials also has a nice feel.

This is however a noisy one which is common with fully mechanical SLRs.

But this is not one of the better in that category.

Usability:

This is not that old camera so no surprise that this is still a very usable one for today's use.

But everything feel to be in its right place.

This is also a small camera but things don't feel so squeezed together.

The light meter is sensitive and works good.

Conclusion:

A great camera for those that looking for a all mechanical camera which is still very small and lightweight.

Is usually found very cheap today and it has what you need but nothing else.

However maybe not the best looker in a camera collection.

The 1/2000 shutter is very nice plus but I would liked to have seen a self-timer.

Mostly so you didn't have to use a cable release every time you use a shutter speed which need a tripod.

This also lacks any mirror lock or equivalent but the vibrations from the shutter and mirror are not that bad.

Thumbs up:

Build quality

Reliable

All mechanical

1/2000 shutter

Small and lightweight

Thumbs down:

Plastic exterior

No self-timer

Noisy

(from Cosina CT1ex)

Source: /blog.bkspicture.com

Model

Serial number 80308187


Reference sites

collection-appareils.fr

ihagee.org

photo.net


Manual




Batteries

2 LR44 batteries

Film

Fujucolor C200/36

Pictures taken with this machine

Exakta HS-10 sample 1

Exakta HS-10 sample 2

Exakta HS-10 sample 3

Videos