Is the Pentax K1000 Really the Best Student Camera?
Pentax K1000 overview The Pentax K1000 was introduced in 1976 and remained in production until 1997. An estimated three million (plus) units were sold. Production moved from Japan to Hong Kong in 1978, and then to China in 1990. To keep labour costs low, the Chinese cameras were made using a number of cheaper components. Chinese K1000s can be recognised by the absence of the "Asahi" name and logo on the pentaprism cover. The non-Asahi cameras are best avoided. What you get with a K1000 is a completely manual camera with a micro-prism spot focusing aid. Exposure control is determined via a battery-powered integral light meter that employs an open aperture, centre-the-needle system. Shutter speeds range from 1 to 1/1000th seconds, along with Bulb and a flash X-sync at 1/60th second. The K1000 accepts all manual focus lenses with the Pentax K bayonet mount (introduced in 1975), and K-A mount (introduced in 1983), and essential any subsequent K lenses with a sep...