Life goes on, even after the discontinuation of
the Pentax K-1000
 For
more than two decades, photo instructors in
high schools and colleges across the United States told their students that
they must own a manually controlled single lens reflex as a
prerequisite to taking the class. I've seen the course requirement sheets. Often they
specify Pentax K-1000 - sometimes even suggesting that no other camera will do.
It's understandable that
instructors recommended the Pentax K-1000, because it was an ideal camera
for students to learn the essentials of film-based photography.
It will probably be several years before the word filters out to the farthest corner that
Pentax discontinued the K-1000 in 1997 and there are no more to be had. For now, specialty
dealers must do two things:
- Advise students (and instructors) that the K-1000 no longer exists - without being
regarded as liars or bait-and-switch specialists.
- Stock, suggest and sell at least one reasonable alternative.
For the first part, take the portion of your Pentax catalog - or a trade paper
announcement - which announced the discontinuation and put it in a small plastic frame
near your SLR display.
Then make a check list of the features found (and not found) in the K-1000:
- shutter speeds from 1 to 1/1000th second
- manual focus
- match needle exposure system
- manual wind and rewind
- interchangeable lenses using the most common bayonet lens mount
- no self-timer
- accepts cable release
- price under $250
At this time, the
appropriate replacement is the
Promaster 2500PX.
At this point, all the
K-1000s out there are at least 10 years old. Used ones still bring a
relatively high price because they are so versatile.
| Pentax K-1000 |
Promaster 2500PX |
|
 |
| shutter speeds from 1 to 1/1,000th second, B |
1 to 1/2,000th second, B |
| manual focus |
yes |
| match needle exposure system |
diode |
| manual wind and rewind |
yes |
| interchangeable lenses with K mount |
yes |
| hot shoe
connection for electronic flash |
hot shoe connection,
also has PC connection for studio-type flash |
| double-exposure
possible but not easy |
double-exposure prevention can be overridden for creative effects |
| no self-timer |
has self-timer |
| accepts cable release |
yes |
| street price under $250 |
under $160 |
|
