20 Most Recent Pentax K1000 35mm SLR Camera Questions & Answers

Question edited for clarity. All questions need full 'make model (what it is)'. I took a wild guess from 'K1000'. :>D Question moved from Firearm Optics, to Make Model category. 1979 - 1982 https://www.google.com/search?q=pentax+k1000+serial+number+dating ..

It's broken. The K1000 will automatically advance the counter to the end of your roll. Removing the film and closing the back should reset it. If it's not doing that, it's broken.

Are you sure the film is attached to the take-up spool ?

it is not unknown for film developing sites to with hold good photos so take another practice roll and have it developed somewhere else That will prove either the camera or the developer

Does it not close or does it not lock? If it does not lock it may be the light seals are obstructing the door. If it will close but not lock open the camera, pull up the rewind knob, see if the release slider is operating.

If you are talking about the rewinder, it should screw on. If that does not work you will need to remove the top plate. If you have some issues doing that it would be better to have it serviced. Besides, these are quite old cameras thus it may well need a CLA as well.

Questions: is the flash fully seated on the hot shoe, are the batteries in the flash good, finally does the flash fire on another camera. My K1000 would not fire any flash on the hotshoe nor using the PC plug it needed a CLA.

Without film in the camera it may well read before zero, my K1000, K1000Se, and K2 do that. Press the film rewind button, maybe that will release it for you. For camera repairs look to: Eric Hendrickson: http://www.pentaxs.com/index.html

Is there film in the camera? If so it may be at the end of the roll and thus when advancing the film it jammed. Rewind the film then see if the lever and shutter operate. If not then a CLA is needed.

The K1000 were designed to use Mercury batteries. After those were banned in the USA folks moved to other types of batteries as in Alkaline, those start out strong, then fade fast. This change in voltage causes errant light meter readings. Batteries I use in my K1000, K1000 SE, and K2 are Silver Oxide 357/303 1.55 volt 0% Hg, by Energizer. Use any brand you want.

You will need an external shutter release that locks. Connect the shutter release, then on the camera set the shutter dial to B (bulb). With the shutter release cable fire the camera and lock the plunger, or hold it down. Using a shutter release cable you are less likely to cause camera shake. Of course have the camera on a tripod or something steady.

Search "K1000 battery cover" on eBay and you'll see several listed. Hope that helps, BAX

The image is directed by the lens to a mirror then to a prism then to the viewfinder. The mirror flips up when you take a picture so the image can reach the film behind it. If the lens is ok it is possible that the mirror is very dirty or not returning completely to the proper position after a picture is taken. If the mirror is dirty you should have it professionally cleaned because it is a very light weight metal mirror and VERY EASILY SCRATCHED. If you have another lens then mount it and see if it is also blurry and cannot be focused. A few cameras like certain Olympus models have a mirror lock up option which you use after focusing the image while the camera is on a tripod. This gets rid of the slight vibration caused by the mirror swinging up out of the way while taking. a picture. If all else fails you might consider taking it to a good camera shop if you can find one. Digital cameras are getting better and better but there are still things film cameras can do that most digitals cannot. Long exposures in "Bulb" mode and multiple exposures are among these. Also each brand of film has it's own Artistic color expression such as Afgachrome vs. Kodachrome.

The Pentax K-1000 film camera doesn't have a pop-up flash.

Many possible causes. First is that the battery is in upside down. Next you should remove the bottom cover 3 screws and the bottom cover. You can then remove the battery compartment and check for battery leakage corrosion on the wire on the bottom. If the corrosion is too bad it will wick up the wire to the top circuit board. You would have to remove the front and top covers to replace the wire. the least likely cause would be the failure of the photocell that turns on the meter. finally, if the camera has been impacted the meter may be broken. Without a battery the needle should rest In the middle of the scale (half way between top and bottom, in the cut out). If, when you put in the battery and the needle goes either to the top or bottom and stays there, and stays there no matter what setting, it is a sign the meter is broken.

usually on the bottom

The problem usually comes about when the focussing ring comes loose. Step 1 remove the 1.front round name ring 2. filter ring. this will expose three screws that hole the focus ring in place. reset the focussing to infinity on your viewfinder then set the ring to the infinity mark and retighten. If the helicoid has come apart then take the mount ring out, aperture ring out, and remove the two focus guides. turn the core out, set the fine thread back until it is almost against the ring directly behind it. make sure that it has at least one and one half turns. then engage the helicoid back. refit the focussing core into the lens and refit the two guides.reassemble the lens and revert to step one to reset the lens.

PENTAX ASAHI K1000 1000 1000 35mm SLR FILM CAMERA WITH LENS COMBO Try this link. Gopakumar Gopalan Google

In theory, yes. You'd have to strip out the film mechanism, then design, build, and install the electronics. Kodak spent millions of dollars in research and development doing just that to convert some Canon and Nikon film SLRs to digital, then sold those cameras for more than $10,000 dollars apiece. In practice, it would be much easier and much, much cheaper to just buy a new digital camera.

Perhaps this manual can help you? Found it online. http://www.pentax-manuals.com/markroberts/k1000_man.pdf