Pentax K1000
Manufactured between 1976 and 1997, the Pentax K1000 was technically obsolete the minute it was produced. With nowhere near the functionality of a digital camera, the Pentax K1000 is still revered by many as the camera to learn photography on. This is akin to learning animation by hand drawing versus a computer program. Though it lacks features of today’s Pentax digital cameras, it offers the basics needed to create beautiful photographs without the fuss of too many buttons and options from which to choose, which often confuse and overwhelm those learning to take great photos.

Camera Features
It might be easier to say what this camera lacked instead of the features it did possess. For those that wanted to buy a Pentax K1000 camera, the interchangeability of lenses drew them to the purchase. The camera could operate without batteries, only requiring them for use with the light metering information system, which was used through the viewfinder.

The Pentax K1000 was an all-metal and mechanically controlled design. It had a manual SLR focus with manual exposure control. Basically, with those two features you could create a great shot, though certain customizations were impossible. What you didn’t get with the Pentax K1000 camera were video options, a self timer a depth of field preview, a mirror lockup, interchangeable focusing screens, motor drive options, or auto exposure.

Pentax K1000 Camera Accessories
If you went to get a Pentax K1000 camera for sale back in the late 70s, the most common accessory you would find would be lens options. This actually made the camera quite popular, and many digital camera users still wish it were easy to exchange lenses on their cameras. Besides lenses, getting a Pentax K1000 camera case was essential, in order to properly protect the lens and viewfinder from scratches, dirt and dust.

Overall Impression
Though lacking in many features and high end functions of today’s digital cameras, the Pentax K1000 is still looked up at by many. High school photography teachers look for cheap Pentax K1000 cameras to review basic photography with their students. Many people will prefer to move straight to a digital camera when learning photography, though in order to learn how and why cameras act the way they do, using a fully manual and mechanical camera such as the Pentax K1000 is always preferable.

If you want to buy a used Pentax K1000, a quick review of camera websites, or even auction websites, will allow you to get your hands on this workhorse of a camera. Don’t expect professional grade photos to come of it, though you can expect to learn how a camera operates at it most basic level.