We all know the Pentax K1000 - a wildly popular camera that has been the favourite of film photography beginners and student for a few decades. It is popular because it is basic, and provides a great platform for learning about the fundamentals of film photography.
Released in 1976, the K1000 was actually a cut-down version of the Pentax KM, released 1 year earlier.
While there are a lot of K1000 models around, they tend to have been well used with scuffs and scratches to match.
If you are considering a K1000 then we strongly recommend that you pause for a moment, and look at the KM.
At a glance, the cameras are virtually identical. They both:
- Have the same sized body
- Take the same lenses
- Have the same shutter speed range
- Take the same film
- Have the same exposure system (a viewfinder needle)
However, the KM has a number of benefits which we think are really useful.
1. The KM has a self-timer.
OK, so some people don't use them, but personally we love perching our camera on a flat surface and waiting for the clockwork self-timer to countdown while we all pose.
2. The KM has depth-of-field preview
If you are not familiar with this function, in a nutshell this allows you to see what parts of your image (e.g. background, foreground) are in focus or blurred before you take your shot. We all love a blurred background for portraits, and this lever lets you check before taking the photo.
3. The KM has a film memo dial
Ever forgotten what film is in your camera ? We certainly have. The KM has a simple dial (on the top left of the camera) that you turn to remind yourself what film is in your camera. You can set it to colour or black-and-white, and also set the number of shots on your film. It doesn't actually change any camera settings - it simply tells you what film you inserted.
4. All metal construction
In later years Pentax moved production of the K1000 away from Japan. In doing this they also replaced some metal parts with plastic. While this produced a slightly lighter camera, we do prefer the all-metal, Japanese made construction of the KM.
Finally, don't just take our word for it - do a web search on 'Pentax K1000 vs KM' - the opinions are unanimous.
Let's be clear - none of these extra features add complexity to the camera, or make taking photos any harder. There simply isn't any reason why NOT having them is any benefit whatsoever. So, take a good hard look at the Pentax KM !