Would You Buy a Digital Pentax K1000?

[Roger Hicks]

While mychoice for a simple all-mechanical camera would be a plain prismed Nikon F, yes, I would use an equivalent digital version, and in fact I do when I use my M8.

The M8 is a great little camera. While the 'cats and kids' Leicaphiles quibble about IQ and crop factor and debate the best way to remove fingerprint smudges from black paint bodies, I suggest you actually try using one. You'll love it.

I agree completely with everything except the last sentence (highlighted). I fear that for a distressing number of people, cats and kids (and possibly even fingerprints, though I think you made that one up) are central to their photography, regardless of what camera they use: Leica, FSU, OM...

Cheers,

R.

 

[wgerrard]

If you believe Erwin Puts, AF is not as accurate as MF. I'm not sure about that (phase detection AF is very accurate indeed) but AF on small digicams is terrible, often picking the wrong subject or hunting around.

I'm beginning to like AF a lot, at least with my my new DSLR. Focus is intimately tied to each individual's vision, so opinions about AF will vary. In my case, wearing eyeglasses, I find AF is almost always faster and better than manual focus. I compose, let AF do its thing, and shoot. With manual focus, what I see through the VF varies in clarity as I move the lens of my eyeglasses. The notion of putting the camera to my eye and smoothly and rapidly focusing has never worked for me.

 

[tenter10]

exactly what is a pentax digital k1000 how does it differ to all the other digital gear?

 

[TXForester]

Many, many users kinda already do this... I really don't see the difference between what the OP is describing and using legacy glass that doesn't autofocus on a digital camera.

I think it is different.

Would you buy a digital -- SLR or RF -- that allowed you to set aperture and shutter speed and forced you to focus manually?

I'm assuming that forced to focus manually means the camera is set up to focus manually. Meaning a larger, brighter viewfinder with and appropriate screen for manual focus.

Using legacy glass on a dSLR isn't the same. Even with a new screen for manual focus, they don't work that well. Especially true if you don't have good eyesight.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Stop splitting hairs, guys. You know what the OP means.
The answer for me is an enthusiastic yes.

Chris

 

[tenter10]

film and its demise

film and its demise

What pushed be back into film is the lack of manual control and usability on digital cameras.

Going back to metal and glass, all manual, even mechanical shutters, has been a true joy to me.

I love film and the process but most of all I love using those wonderful cameras.

I know that film won't be around too much longer (for all practicality) but I hate to think about throwing the vintage cameras away.

My wish would be to have a full-frame digital sensor that would load into a 35mm camera.

🙂 I think we are worrying too much about film going,while theres a india ,indonesia vietnam etc there will be film still around I know from my families in Vietnam, they do not have digital in their villages but they have a local film outlet I imagine the same for the backblocks of a lot of asian countries. jack

 

[tenter10]

digital k1000/ film k1000

digital k1000/ film k1000

🙂Hello are we talking about the pentax film manual SLR or the digital K1000 various people gave the old manual SLR a good review.🙂

 

[Doug]

🙂Hello are we talking about the pentax film manual SLR or the digital K1000 various people gave the old manual SLR a good review.🙂

There is no actual Pentax digital K1000; that just the "what if" of this thread, based on the film camera of that name. There has been a (digital) K10D and a K100D however.

 

[tenter10]

There is no actual Pentax digital K1000; that just the "what if" of this thread, based on the film camera of that name. There has been a (digital) K10D and a K100D however.

thanks mate I was in the dark, I think if you can turn a dial and push a lever to load why the expense of digital. They look awkward,heavy and to download you need modern shops u

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I'd love a sub-$1000 interchangeable lens camera with:
- full-frame sensor (choice of B&W-only* or color versions would be cool)
- RAW files only (like film)
- pellicle mirror
- manual focus with split screen viewfinder
- aperture ring on lenses, shutter speed dial on top
- wi-fi or bluetooth type connection for downloading files
- nikon F or Leica type footprint (i.e. - no huge camera bodies PLEASE)

Things I don't need or want in this camera:
- lcd screen (see what you shot when you get home and download... like film)
- jpeg conversion
- art filters
- auto bracketing
- pretty much anything else 'automatic' that's tries to take over for my brain

*See discussion of the B&W sensor idea at TheOnlinePhotographer.com this past week.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Stop splitting hairs, guys. You know what the OP means.
The answer for me is an enthusiastic yes.

(OP):

Would you buy a digital -- SLR or RF -- that allowed you to set aperture and shutter speed and forced you to focus manually? And did nothing else? (Let's assume it produces RAW files, since conversion to JPEG is a frill, right?)

No histogram? No LCD? No battery level indicator? No shot indicator? No USB connectivity? No file numbering options? No time setting? Nothing else?

That would be a very unenthusiastic yes for me.

 

[wgerrard]

No battery level indicator? ?

No. Just a little wooden crank you turn to charge the thing.

And only a serial port. No USB or firewire. Download that stuff one byte at a time into your Commodore 64.

😉

Almost everything folks say they would want in such a camera they can get from contemporary digitals if they just ignore features or turn things off.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

lol - fair enough. At least it'll bring a bit of the "analog" pain closer to "digital" pain.

 

[ully]

No, but I may buy the Q.

 

[NickTrop]

This or any other classic camera fitted with an APSC sensor that's an otherwise exact replica of any classic film camera would probably: 1. sell, 2. cost a laughably preposterous amount of money for what it does. 3. Mostly be a novelty/nostalgia item

... like the M8 and the M9.

It would mostly be an expensive novelty item that offers no discernible benefit as a photographic too over much, much cheaper mass produced APSC DSLRs...

... like the M8 and M9.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

No, but I may buy the Q.

I handled it for a few minutes. Quite minute. But I think it would make a good "just in case" carry-all-the-time camera.

 

[Roger Hicks]

This or any other classic camera fitted with an APSC sensor that's an otherwise exact replica of any classic film camera would probably: 1. sell, 2. cost a laughably preposterous amount of money for what it does. 3. Mostly be a novelty/nostalgia item

... like the M8 and the M9.

It would mostly be an expensive novelty item that offers no discernible benefit as a photographic too over much, much cheaper mass produced APSC DSLRs...

... like the M8 and M9.

Dear Nick,

Apart from small size and simple controls, with very little there that isn't needed, and the ability to use legacy lenses.

I agree there are plenty of fantasists here, especially when it comes to prices, but among the fantasists are those who believe that as long as the manufacturers graciously give you access to a few nominally manual options among the endless menu-driven options, you can compare idiot-proofed disposable consumer electronics with reasonably durable cameras that are designed to be used by people who actually understand shutter speed, focus and aperture.

Cheers,

R.

 

[shadowfox]

Yes.
I'll buy *any* full-frame digital camera that cost as much as a K1000.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

There's this one.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

I'd love a sub-$1000 interchangeable lens camera with:
- full-frame sensor (choice of B&W-only* or color versions would be cool)
- RAW files only (like film)
- pellicle mirror
- manual focus with split screen viewfinder
- aperture ring on lenses, shutter speed dial on top
- wi-fi or bluetooth type connection for downloading files
- nikon F or Leica type footprint (i.e. - no huge camera bodies PLEASE)

Things I don't need or want in this camera:
- lcd screen (see what you shot when you get home and download... like film)
- jpeg conversion
- art filters
- auto bracketing
- pretty much anything else 'automatic' that's tries to take over for my brain

*See discussion of the B&W sensor idea at TheOnlinePhotographer.com this past week.

I almost forgot... I'd like it to have a match-needle meter in the viewfinder. 🙂