Asahi Pentax K1000, SLR with 50mm f/2 Lens

The Pentax K1000 is one of the most recognisable 35mm film cameras ever made, and there's a good reason it has remained a favourite for generations.

It's simple, reliable in design and refreshingly straightforward to use.

Originally introduced in 1976, the K1000 became a popular choice for photography students and beginners because it teaches you the fundamentals without unnecessary distractions.

There's no automatic exposure mode doing the thinking for you. Instead, you choose your shutter speed, set your aperture and focus the lens yourself.

The built-in light meter helps guide your exposure, making it a particularly rewarding camera for anyone wanting to understand how photography really works.

This example comes with an SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/2 lens, a versatile everyday focal length that's well suited to portraits, street photography, travel and general photography.

The 50mm lens gives a natural-looking perspective, while its f/2 maximum aperture offers flexibility for shooting in different lighting conditions and experimenting with background blur.

One of the nicest things about the K1000 is its mechanical shutter. Unlike many electronically controlled film cameras, it can still take photographs without a battery. The battery is only needed to operate the light meter.

With its classic silver and black finish, tactile controls and uncomplicated design, the Pentax K1000 offers a wonderfully hands-on way to enjoy film photography.

A great camera to learn with, and one that's equally enjoyable to return to after years of shooting.

Best for

Learning manual photography, everyday shooting, street photography, portraits, travel, photography students and anyone wanting a traditional 35mm film camera.

What to expect

The Pentax K1000 is a fully manual camera, so you'll set the shutter speed, aperture and focus yourself.

The built-in light meter provides a helpful guide when choosing your exposure settings.

The included 50mm f/2 lens is a versatile starting point, with a natural field of view that works across a wide range of subjects.

You'll advance the film manually after each photograph and rewind it once the roll is finished.

Because the shutter is mechanical, the camera can operate without a battery, although you'll need one if you want to use the light meter.

It accepts standard 35mm film, including colour negative, black and white and slide film.

Developing

The Pentax K1000 uses standard 35mm film.

Colour negative film is typically processed using C-41 chemistry, while traditional black and white film requires black and white processing.

Slide film can also be used and is generally developed using E-6 chemistry.

Once developed, your negatives can be scanned to digital files or used to create photographic prints.