My Pentax K1000 experience.

[jgredline]

My Pentax K1000 experience.
For those of you who do not know, this is a 100% fully manual Camera? I will tell you that this has been both frustrating, exciting and extremely enjoyable? First, I had my daughter put the film in?Easy right? Well, the next day I went out to shoot a roll of film as I was anxious to see my results. I figured it would take me all about an hour to do?Well, strangely, I found my self being extremely picky about what I was going to shoot?I mean, I sat there and really thought about my composition. After 4 days, I finally shot the roll?I took off to CVS with great anticipation on seeing what I had?.Left the roll and for the one hour service and took off?Well shortly afterward, I went back to pick up my photos and the girl at the counter tells me???You brought me a blank roll?? I said oh..OK, Well it turns out that my daughter did not install the roll right, so NADA?I was bummed???sigh?? None the less, a friend of mine who shoots Canon (??yuk??) loaded it up for me and this time everytime I went to advance the film, I noticed the dial on the left turned also?Yea, it works?Well, Again it took me another 4 days to shoot the roll and this time, when I went to rewind the film, I heard something ??snap??? I opened up the cover and the film broke???AAARRRRGGGG?? Did not know that the little button on the bottom releases the film???sigh???OK Third time has to be the charm right? Well, another roll went in and this time I was going to shoot sunsets and get it done in a day?(By the way, shooting film can get expensive) All the while this was going on, I went on an EEEKKKBAY buying spree with Manual focus prime lenses? I have bought an 28mm F/2.0, 50mm F/2.0, 90mm F/2.8, and a few more on the way?.By the way, they are so inexpensive?The most I have spent for a lens was 40 bucks and the lens is like new?Anyway, I finally got some photos???YEA?? and while not perfect, I am more than happy with what I have?

The first is my son Daniel The next two are sunsets. Surprisingly, I actually got the exposer almost right? What are your thoughts on this nearly 40 year old camera..By the way, NO PP done..They are as they came out.








The next three I took at roughly the same times, but with a DSLR...Interesting difference....

[reverberation]

The plethora of question marks in your post is a little confusing for me, however I think you will love this camera. The look of certain types of film can be duplicated via a photoshop plugin, and digital negatives can be printed on photographic paper, but the cost is prohibitive. Film is actually cheap and easy for the look and quality of the print.

[jgredline]

Now that is interesting. Where did all the ? come from? Hmmm.

[Xia_Ke]

...this is a 100% fully manual Camera? I will tell you that this has been both frustrating, exciting and extremely enjoyable? ...Well, the next day I went out to shoot a roll of film as I was anxious to see my results. I figured it would take me all about an hour to do?Well, strangely, I found my self being extremely picky about what I was going to shoot?I mean, I sat there and really thought about my composition. After 4 days, I finally shot the roll...

Don't fight it! Slowing down and giving more thought to your photos is a good thing, whether shooting film or digital! I loaded up some film on Monday and went out for a 3 hour hike planning to take lots of photos. Back when I was shooting digital, I would have probably shot like 200 frames. This outting, I shot 7! Didn't even finish a roll of 120. Great to see you finally got a roll to work out for you. Hopefully you keep it up. What did you end up shooting for film? Did you end up shopping for any B&W developing supplies while on Ebay?

[jgredline]

Don't fight it! Slowing down and giving more thought to your photos is a good thing, whether shooting film or digital! I loaded up some film on Monday and went out for a 3 hour hike planning to take lots of photos. Back when I was shooting digital, I would have probably shot like 200 frames. This outting, I shot 7! Didn't even finish a roll of 120. Great to see you finally got a roll to work out for you. Hopefully you keep it up. What did you end up shooting for film? Did you end up shopping for any B&W developing supplies while on Ebay?

Actually, I am hooked...This is so much fun and so cool. This past week, i have left my DSLRs at home for the most part. For film I bought some cheapo .99 cents stuff, while I learn. However, I did by a second body and so I have loaded one up with Black and White Kodak professional and the other still has some cheap film. :/ but feel I will be ready for some good stuff soon.

[Xia_Ke]

Sweet, got another one, hook, line, and sinker!

What's the B&W film you're refering to? That C-41 B&W?

[jgredline]

Xia
The film I bought is Kodak Professional BW400CN.
It is the only thing CVS had. It was $11.00 bucks for 24 exp.

[Xia_Ke]

$11 for a 24 exp. roll?!?!?! Please tell me you are kidding

[jgredline]

Nope, I take it I got robbed?...Man I go from super cheap, to getting robbed.

[Xia_Ke]

Robbed would almost be an understatement at that price. Adorama has the 24 exp. rolls for $3.80 and B&H has them for only $3.49

[jgredline]

Yea, I just saw that...''sigh'' Well, I will be ordering a pack tomorrow when B$H is open again. I new I was paying allot when I saw the price compared to the other film, but I am going on a day trip tomorrow and really wanted the B&W film for the trip.

[Xia_Ke]

Why don't you just get some traditional B&W along with some developer and fixer?

[jgredline]

Yep, very soon, very soon ...Funny thing. I just bought a new DSLR Pentax K20D and have used it twice only compared to my film camera every single day....It is incredibly fulfilling and exciting.

[Xia_Ke]

Yep, it's a whole other ballgame from digital. Gotta love the anticipation leading up to seeing how your film turned out. Wait until you develop your first roll and, dare I say it, you first print! It's not for everyone but, it is a very rewarding process.

[w_keen]

I grew up using my dad's K1000. That was the first camera I used and really enjoyed using it. I now have a Spotmatic F which I love using. The only problem is that the built in light meter is broken so I use a lot of guess work to gauge the aperture to use. The film broke on me once as well when I was at the end of the roll and advancing the roll to the next frame just tore the film right out of the canister. I use the camera more for B&W, the latest was using an 800 speed film which came out great. I really would want to get the light meter fixed but don't want to spend big bucks on that.

[jgredline]

w_keen
Welcome to the forum...You will meet a bunch of great folks here..As far as your light meter, it may be cheaper to buy another used Spotmatic on e bay..They are not very expensive and sometimes folks are selling them for parts only...
I am shooting only black and white now...It is simply beautiful...

[w_keen]

Thanks Javier

I've never bought anything from ebay. Is it reliable? I fear I may end up with another spotmatic with a broken light meter. Mine didn't come broken, but not sure for whatever reason, it just freaked out one day and stopped working. It's not the battery. I'll shoot with it some more this spring/summer. I may just continue to use 800s, I just love the grain.

[Xia_Ke]

w_keen, Ebay can be a great place to get cameras, you just need to cover your bases. Every camera I have ever bought came from Ebay. I usually start by checking a seller's feedback to see how reliable they are. If I have any doubt, I may ask the seller a question about the item as I've found you can tell a lot about a person by the reply they give. If all looks good, I will pay through Paypal with a credit card. This way should there be a problem in the end, then I have a couple methods in which to try and get my money back. That said, I haven't had any problems yet. Another option is to purchase from a used gear seller such as www.keh.com or www.adorama.com . I checked KEH and they have one in EXC condition for $133 and EXC from them is basically mint anywhere else.

[jgredline]

w_keen, Ebay can be a great place to get cameras, you just need to cover your bases. Every camera I have ever bought came from Ebay. I usually start by checking a seller's feedback to see how reliable they are. If I have any doubt, I may ask the seller a question about the item as I've found you can tell a lot about a person by the reply they give. If all looks good, I will pay through Paypal with a credit card. This way should there be a problem in the end, then I have a couple methods in which to try and get my money back. That said, I haven't had any problems yet. Another option is to purchase from a used gear seller such as www.keh.com or www.adorama.com . I checked KEH and they have one in EXC condition for $133 and EXC from them is basically mint anywhere else.

Great advice, I have nothing to add.

[w_keen]

Thanks guys, good advice. I was planning a trip to Singapore this year to get some gear (part of my visit home trip). There are several used camera stores there where I can hold the gear in my hand and handle them before purchasing. But ebay would surely have a wider range of choice.

[Xia_Ke]

Thanks guys, good advice. I was planning a trip to Singapore this year to get some gear (part of my visit home trip). There are several used camera stores there where I can hold the gear in my hand and handle them before purchasing. But ebay would surely have a wider range of choice.

Ebay will definitely have a wider range. One thing to keep in mind though is that buying from KEH or Adorama includes a small warranty. Also, since you're purchasing from a store, you are eligible to purchase Mack used equipment warranties to protect you for the long run.

[jgredline]

Shot these with Kodak film BW400 professional and Pentax K1OOO

[Greg McCary]

I think you are ready for an M series Leica.

[Xia_Ke]

Looking good Javier. A couple of shots are a bit on the gray side though. Have you looked into picking up any filters at all? Get a chance to shoot any of that Tri-X yet?

[jgredline]

Aaron,
I do have a roll of Tri x their right now. I am looking forward to seeing the results. As far as filters go, I was thinking of a red and yellow one. Since I have pretty much settled on two lenses, a
28 f/2.8 and 50 f/2.0, I am not set to buy the filters.