Arbitrarium
Well-known
I've recently been seeing Pentax K1000s regularly selling for over £100 which I think is ludicrous.
I know they're considered 'the student camera' but are people really so lazy that they'll go for the first option suggested to them regardless of price? Spotmatics can still be had for under £30, and it's basically the exact same camera.
Did some celebrity appear with one somewhere?
I know they're considered 'the student camera' but are people really so lazy that they'll go for the first option suggested to them regardless of price? Spotmatics can still be had for under £30, and it's basically the exact same camera.
Did some celebrity appear with one somewhere?
x-ray
Veteran
I've seen several very clean ones for $30 recently including the 50 f2. They're very capable cameras.
nukecoke
⚛Yashica
I think K1000 is one of the hyped models among bloggers who in general hype about film photography/ gears.
The most hyped models are different in different countries. For instance in China Minolta X700 and Canon AE-1 are the most hyped film SLR, meanwhile nobody cares about the wonderful Pentax cameras. I don't think it's the same case in the West.
I got lucky and bought my Pentax ME with two lenses for USD 36 on the Swedish version of eBay. Love the camera.
The most hyped models are different in different countries. For instance in China Minolta X700 and Canon AE-1 are the most hyped film SLR, meanwhile nobody cares about the wonderful Pentax cameras. I don't think it's the same case in the West.
I got lucky and bought my Pentax ME with two lenses for USD 36 on the Swedish version of eBay. Love the camera.
ian_watts
Ian Watts
What's ludicrous about it? Presumably the price is a reflection of supply and demand. £100 – the cost of a 20 rolls of Tr-X or a dozen rolls of Portra 400 – for a perfectly capable camera (that presumably once sold new for more than this) seems reasonable to me. It's not as if the camera is made of cardboard.
HHPhoto
Well-known
There are indeed huge differences between countries.
For example in Germany the Pentax K1000 is "almost unknown". If I remember right, it even wasn't officially sold here.
The Pentax MX and ME have been much more popular here.
But in general the German market has always been more oriented to Canon, Nikon and Minolta.
AFAIK in Germany the "per capita spend amount of money for photo gear" have been the second highest worldwide. Only in Japan the photographers are buying more or more expensive photo gear.
Cheers, Jan
I would think the models you saw got for that price were in extremely good condition...and well worth it.
JoeLopez
Well-known
Agreed.
I've sold off most of my film cameras and settled on three shooters. The K1000 is one of the few cameras out there I'm still interested in buying to shoot.
It's ludicrous because apart from not being the best 35mm camera on the market at the time it wasn't even the best Pentax. I'm not arguing about the basic premise of supply and demand. But I also think it's ridiculous that it's so sought after when it's such a basic model lacking in features other models have for less money. Perhaps if the metering was more robust I might be more forgiving but honestly I think they are the most overrated Japanese camera of all time.
Cheers
Brett
Sought after because it was popular in its time and it still is good. And you are so offended by such a small amount of money? Believe it or not, many people do not geek out on the internet figuring out the history of every camera manufacturer. They simply ask what would be a good camera and go buy it. The K1000 is a classic even if there are better camera for less money. And yes, I have seen a famous person using it. So... I'm sure this has a little to do with its new found popularity.
Why would I be offended? I don't see what the fuss is about, and yes I think it is overrated. If people want to pay the prices it fetches that's their problem, not mine. There are more important things in this world to get offended about than what people want to pay for a 1970s camera. Aren't there?
retinax
Well-known
Let's just be happy that this takes some demand and thus price pressure away from other cameras. Maybe people stir the hype on purpose for this reason? We should all join in! 
Well I had never thought about it like that, but actually, you may have a point.Let's just be happy that this takes some demand and thus price pressure away from other cameras. Maybe people stir the hype on purpose for this reason? We should all join in!
ian_watts
Ian Watts
I still don't get why it's "ludicrous" or "ridiculous". Maybe the fact it's a more basic model is what makes it more appealing? We are talking about a hundred quid, the price of a couple of Holgas or so. It's hardly people going mental territory.
We may have to agree to disagree. I actually bought one several years ago when I found it quite cheaply, locally, even though I was not looking for or needing, at the time, another 35mm SLR. But I wanted to see what it was about this model that made it so popular and in such demand. Admittedly, they have a decently bright viewfinder, and good focus screen, and (if it works) the open aperture metering is a step forwards from most of the Spotmatic models. I also found it to be the most uninspiring and unengaging camera I've ever used. If I had to nominate an automotive equivalent it would be a Mitsubishi Magna. I did not enjoy using it.
If you think it's the best thing since sliced bread, more power to you. But it does not invalidate my opinion of the models merits (or rather, lack thereof).
Cheers,
Brett
We do not think it is great, but it was many people's first camera... and some people buy them for that reason alone.
and then...
http://www.x17online.com/2016/04/ky...a_sweatpants_camel_toe_shopping_photos_042516
and then...
http://www.x17online.com/2016/04/ky...a_sweatpants_camel_toe_shopping_photos_042516
ian_watts
Ian Watts
I don't actually have an opinion on whether it is any good – I've never used one and don't particularly like SLRs – I just don't understand what is ludicrous about paying a hundred quid for one.
css9450
Veteran
They sold for around $100 brand new, with lens. The K1000 was my first camera, well, the first of my very own. It came from Bass Camera in Chicago. Somewhere, I still have the receipt.
My family wound up owning several of them. All but one eventually had meters that died (mine being the exception). I liked the meter but I prefer meters with needles over LEDs any day. Your preferences may vary.
Missing on the K1000 is one important feature, in my opinion: a self timer. Need to do a long exposure and don't have a cable release? Use the self timer. But you can't on the K1000.
The Spotmatic uses a mercury battery, doesn't it?
My family wound up owning several of them. All but one eventually had meters that died (mine being the exception). I liked the meter but I prefer meters with needles over LEDs any day. Your preferences may vary.
Missing on the K1000 is one important feature, in my opinion: a self timer. Need to do a long exposure and don't have a cable release? Use the self timer. But you can't on the K1000.
The Spotmatic uses a mercury battery, doesn't it?
Arbitrarium
Well-known
The camera sold for 21 years... maybe $100 originally, but more later on. From wikipedia:
"The introductory US list price for the K1000 body with SMC Pentax 55 mm f/2 lens was $299.50. In 1983, a K1000 with SMC Pentax-M 50 mm f/2 lens listed for $220; in 1988, the body only was $210, but $290 with SMC Pentax-A 50 mm f/2; in 1993, the body only was $263. The body was priced at $315 in 1994 and remained there until discontinued. Note that SLRs usually sold for 30 to 40 percent below list price."
Arbitrarium
Well-known
It does, but they've got a bridge circuit so a modern battery works fine with no adjustments needed.