I’m not exactly sure when film photography started to become popular again (though I like to think that in 2015 I was ahead of the game). All I know is that when I was a college student, I loved going to thrift stores and antique markets around SF to hunt for vintage photography gear.
On one of these hunts (January 23, 2015 to be exact) I purchased my very first film camera ever – the Pentax K1000. I picked up this camera and a handful of lenses for a grand total of $56 (a steal by today’s standards)!
I shot a roll shortly after purchasing, but then set it on a shelf where it collected dust for the next 6 or 7 years. In 2022, I decided if I wanted to learn how to shoot film, then I actually had to do something about it (click here to read the full story). At this point I had collected quite a few film cameras, but I reached for the one that started it all and got to work.
While I don’t claim to be a film camera expert, I do want to share my thoughts about this camera. In this post, I’ll share my Pentax K1000 review, some of my pros and cons, and a little bit about my experience with this camera.
Pentax K1000 Review
Pros
Simple Interface
The Pentax K1000 is a 35mm SLR (single-lens reflex) film camera with an ultra simple layout.
Looking at the body, you don’t see a lot of bells and whistles. The camera is built pretty simply which makes it great for beginners!
It’s main external buttons or controls are:
- Rewind knob – releases the film so you can rewind it after the roll has been shot
- Speed knob – allows you to adjust your ASA/ISO and shutter speed settings
- Release button – the magic button that opens the camera’s shutter, allowing you to take a photo
- Counter dial – displays the number of shots you have left on a roll
- Wind lever – advances the film, allowing you to take another shot
That’s it!
Easy to Use
What I love about this film camera is that it is easy to use. With just a few simple buttons and a lens, there really isn’t much to fuss over on this camera.
When I first picked up this camera, I was brand new to film photography (translated – I didn’t know what the heck I was doing). I didn’t want (or need, rather) a camera with all the bells and whistles. That would have felt too overwhelming.
Because this camera was so easy to use, I was able to focus on the shot I was taking instead of figuring out what all the buttons were meant for.
Sturdy (But Not Too Heavy)
With an almost all-metal body, the Pentax K1000 is a sturdy camera. It can hold it’s own and handle the occasional bump without getting damaged.
Even with the metal body, thought, the camera is by no means heavy (not compared to say, the Nikon F2 – I love it, but boy, is that thing heavy!). I walked around many a day with my Pentax hanging off my shoulder on a strap and never once felt like it was weighing me down.
Other Notable Features
A few other features this camera has that I think are worth mentioning are the built in meter, hot shoe, and tripod socket.
The Pentax K1000 is a mechanical camera meaning that it does not require batteries to operate. That being said, the camera can hold a single 1.5V alkaline battery (or equivalent) which is required to use the built in light meter. The one on my camera was broken, so I never used it, but this does seem to be a huge perk of this camera, and one I probably could have benefitted from, especially when I was just starting out.
The hot shoe is also a fun feature and allows you to use the camera with an external flash or other compatible accessory. I didn’t experiment too much with this feature either at the time, but again, it’s a really nice feature to have.
The tripod socket on the bottom of the camera allows you to mount the camera to – you guessed it – a tripod. This feature is great if you want to take self portraits or stabilize the camera in low light situations or for long exposures.
Cons
The only con I found with the Pentax K1000 is that I outgrew it pretty quickly. Like I mentioned earlier, this camera is very simple when it comes to the features offered. After a few months of consistent use, I started noticing that I wanted a camera with more features and stronger capabilities. I wanted to feel challenged, even if that challenge was simply learning a new system.
So, I graduated to a competitor camera, the Canon AE-1 Program. While this camera has many similarities to the Pentax K1000, it’s added features gave me exactly what I was looking for. It took me further than I had gone before and allowed me to push the boundaries of what I had tried up until that point. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll save those thoughts for another time.
Looking back, the Pentax K1000 turned out to be the best starter camera I could have asked for! It’s simple design and easy-to-use features gave me the confidence that allowed me to ease my way into film photography.
The Pentax K1000 was not just my first film camera, but it was also the camera that introduced me to the world of film and, for that, it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Have you ever shot with a Pentax K1000 or, are you looking to purchase one? I hope you found this Pentax K1000 review helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or share this post with a friend.
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