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Pentax Spotmatic & K1000 - Review & Comparison
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- čas přidán 1. 09. 2020
- In this video, I compare two iconic old Pentax SLR cameras - the Spotmatic from 1964 and the K1000 that came out in 1976. These are almost identical, exept for the mount. Or are they? Find out more now!
Also watch my full review of the Pentax Spotmatic:
• Pentax Spotmatic SP100...
In case you like to read - instead of only watching videos - visit my blog:
tomscameras.wordpress.com
Music:
Soul and Mind - E's Jammy Jams
(Part of CZcams Audio Library)
Your videos are a work of Art, Tom. Love your photographs ... the black and white images you captured whilst wandering around Cologne with your Pentax MX are awesome !
Thanks for your wisdom and generous spirit in sharing your skill and knowledge of Photography.
Am returning to 35mm in my retirement years and still have my old Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II.( which I purchased when I was astudent at Wellington Teachers College in 1974)
Freed up the mirror, put an adapted battery in ... and hey presto ! Happy Days wandering and capturing the beautiful Autumn light in Aotearoa NZ in and around the Manawatu.
Hi Brent, many thanks for your nice feedback ! I still totally love the Spotmatics and I am happy to hear that yours still works well and your having some fun enjoying analog photography again! Many regards to NZ! Those landscapes must be awesome, I only know them from videos and pictures yet!
I'm glad I'm not alone in the universe. I have both cameras and prefer them over anything else. I started out with the Spotmatic, and it was my main film camera until switching to digital. I acquired the K1000 from a family member. I've recently started using film again and glad I have them both. They're great cameras no matter what anyone else says.
You are so right! :)
I have my father's Pentax k1000. The light meter in mind is no longer accurate but I just use Sunny 16 or a light meter app on my phone.
Hi, thanks for the nice video. Fortunately the K1000 takes the very cheap LR44 batteries. Br, Eeli from Finland
I got my first Spotmatic in 1972 as a teenager after working all summer to afford it. It was a used camera, and came with a 28mm off-brand lens, the 50mm Pentax lens, and an off-brand 135mm telephoto. That was the standard "system" back then if you added a flash unit. I remember that we used to argue about which was better, the Honeywell Pentax or the Asahi Pentax, not realizing that the only difference was the name badge, and that Honeywell was just the U.S. importer.
The Spotmatic was "the" camera for the serious amateur back then, and before the Olympus OM series came out, was prized for its relatively small size, especially when compared to a pro-level Nikon. The fact that Ringo Starr of the Beatles was shown using it in a movie the year it came out certainly didn't hurt its popularity either. The neat thing about the Spotmatic, especially for a kid on a limited budget, was that you would typically buy the camera with a Pentax normal lens, which was fast and tack-sharp. Then you could buy additional M42 lenses, which we just called "screw mount", at just about any price point you wanted. There was a mail-order seller of lenses and accessories back then called Spiratone, and they would sell you a 400mm f6.3 telephoto with a pre-set aperture, complete with hood for $29.95 USD. I shot some great sports photos from up in the bleachers with that lens before anyone would let me onto the sidelines.
As for the K1000, I can confirm that the story about it being a school camera is true. I worked part-time at a camera shop near to a state university famous for its art school. It required each student to have a 35mm interchangeable lens camera, but it had to be fully manual. The school suggested the K-1000, and in the second week after the start of classes we'd sell about 50 of them. You could tell you were about to make a sale because a college kid would walk in with a bewildered look on their face, clutching a piece of paper given them by the instructor with "K1000" written on it and a list of accessories.
It's a bit funny that the "student camera" reputation led to the K1000 being held in contempt by "serious" photographers, which was never the case with the Spotmatic. The lack of a meter switch was an issue, and we "repaired" dozens of K1000's for students by simply replacing the battery.
Hi Tom! Yes even today you often see old SLR sets where the body comes with the correct brand 50mm lens and then off-brand 28 / 135 lenses. Or, if it is a bit newer, then there's often an off-brand tele zoom lens instead of the 135.
Funny story about Honeywell vs. Asahi. But yes, there was no world-wide internet community to help inform everyone. I remember once that I got a photocopy of a big Nikon book from a friend's father back in the early 1990s, and that was a TREASURE of extremely precious information for me!
Damn you deserve more subscribers. Great review and comparison. Keep it up
Well, many thanks !!! I'm working on it ;)
I like the Takumar lenses that came on the Spotmatics more than the K-mount lenses. They are so well built and feel so good in the hand. The 8-element Super-Takumar 50mm F1.4 is legendary for it's bokeh and still commands a premium price. There are many other great ones as well.
I know there is of course also really great K-mount glass but somehow I never really got into it. And yes some Takumar lenses are just legends! :)
I feel the same, with M42 Tak and supertak, lenses even not professional are often great and very well built. With
PK, it's another story, there are clearly 2 distinct groups, the what we call today "kit/amateur lenses" and the "premium/pro", plastic vs metal, SMC vs single coating, simplified optical designs ...
It's very similar to Canon FD and EF lenses, FD lenses are always great and more often excellent even zooms (e.g. 35-105 f1:3.5) with EF it's clearly different EF vs EF-L are not the same at all.
And except maybe with Olympus/Zuiko lenses, it's the same game with all major brands.
Really nice review Thomas ! I enjoy watching them and totally agree. Your Spotmatic review is very nice. I love the Takumar lenses. I had a very nice example of a K1000 for almost 20yrs that I just sold on this year. I had originally bought it to get into the K mount system having used a Spotmatic my whole life. However, even today, my Spotmatic is still my mainstay camera, and since also getting an MX and KX, I prefer those cameras much more than the K1000. The K1000 just was not getting used enough. Spotmatic is still being used just as much 39 years later. Pentax is the only camera system I have (or need) aside from one rangefinder, and I really love them.
Great work with the videos. All the best !
Kaj
Sweden
Thanks Kaj for your feedback. I'm still such a fan of the Spotmatic. Pentax got it all so right back in 1964, it's crazy! But of course, there are many many other great Pentax cameras that came after the Spotmatic, even though I reckon none of those had that same impact on the camera market anymore!
Thanks Tom. I take your point about the lack of positive lightmeter switch on the K1000 - my favourite Spotmatic F is the same. It's become second nature to put the lens cap on after a shot now so it doesn't bother me. I've also invested in some of those lens caps that attach to the camera strap lug with a little cord. Haven't ever had a problem, but yes, I'd much prefer to have a switch.
Keep the videos coming - always enjoyable!
Yes, as with so many "annoying" characteristics in cameras, it's often just a matter of getting used and accept them! Maybe I'm a bit more sensitive here because I have so many different cameras and constantly use another one. Good idea to use those lens caps that attach to the camera strap!
Love it Tom! I still have my very first camera that I received as a youth in 1985... are you ready? It's a PENTAX K1000! Love it! When I shoot episodes in my home office you can see it in the background. I plan on taking it out to do some photography with in in 2021.
Oh yes, I can see it in your videos! How cool is that as a first camera! Are you still using it occasionally?
@@tomscameras I just took it out for the first time in over 10 years about 6 months ago. I plan on getting some more film for it soon (out right now) and taking it out for a spin. :) How about you? Do you use yours much?
Fantastic video!!! Extremely informative!!!
Many thanks! 🙏
Wish I still had my Spotmatic, birthday present in 1968. Such an easy camera to use, and great Takumar lenses.
I guess we all regret having parted with a piece of our greatest gear at some time, but then you just can't keep it all ...!
It was required for us to buy the Pentax K-1000. 1988 Queensborough Community College. I still love this camera! Its solid and a good size and all manual if that is what you want its a good choice.
Excellent video. I like both of these cameras. However, the Spotmatic camera and lenses feel better in my hands (smoother and more comfortable).
I very much enjoy your channel. Thank you.
Thanks you very much for your comment! And yes: I also still prefer the Spotmatic. A friend just very recently tried to lure me with his Pentax KX collection. Now the KX is the same chassis and body as the K1000, but it adds a lot of useful features. And still, I will rather grab my Spotmatic … the good thing about Pentax K cameras though is the somewhat bigger choice of lenses. Especially thinking of 28mm f/2’s or the like … you won’t get those (at least original Pentax ones) for M42 at all.
Ha! I just bought 4x K100, 3x from Japan and 1x from China. And the lower quality level is significant. They were all pretty dirty and some torn off a lot, but all worked fine so far. I think this stash was also from a photography class, because they were so many and came all with the 50mm f/2.
After repairing and refereshing these and selling the ones I don’t want to use, I just shot my first roll and I got all your critics.
The always working light meter is annoying. I found it also hard to focus because there is not split sprism, but only a microorganisms circle white is easy to overlook.
But so far the camera is very straightforward, looks nice, and is comparatively lightweight.
The first roll is already shot. 😊 I am excited about the results.
Wow, four of the same cameras, that's quite a haul you got! From my observation of Chinese photography and optical products, the quality level of the 1990s and early 2000s was very different (much lower) than it is today. And Pentax shifted their production back then to lower production cost ... so it makes sense the cameras made in China back then really felt cheaper!
Informed and level presentation, not over-hyping the K1000 as many do. Glad the KM was mentioned, it's usually forgotten, but to be clear, the K1000 _was_ the KM with some features removed to cut cost, including the self timer and mirror lock-up. The KM was even closer to that Spotmatic. The original K's (K2, KX, KM) were short-lived, replaced by the M's, but the KM was salvaged as the K1000 to make use of the tooling.
Yes, you are absolutely right, the K1000 actually more equals the no-frills-base-model SP1000 from the Spotmatic series.
By now everyone only remembers the K1000 because it was in production for so long ... and it was hyped for decades already :)
I hope I'll be also trying the much smaller and very nice Pentax MX (and also the ME) some time soon!
KM doesn't have mirror lock up.
@@wayneandrews3128 You are right, I meant the depth of field preview. As I understand, these are the "unnecessary" KM features that were removed to turn it into the K1000 :-
Depth of Field pre-view
Self-timer
Focal plane flash PC socket
Film type reminder on rewind hub
The K1000 did not add anything to the KM's features. If I have still missed anything I'd be interested to hear it.
Although the KM and K1000 were very very similar, they occupied different marketing positions in their times, although sales of them did briefly over-lap. The KM was simply the cheapest of the three original K cameras (with K2 & KX). It was of the same style which was the style of the time - from a small distance the K's all looked the same (as did many cameras of other brands).
But that early 1970's look fell out of fashion in favour of "smallness" and the three original K's were quickly replaced by the M-Series from 1976 onwards, except that the KM was re-launced as the K1000, aimed at buyers who were simply looking for the cheapest "big-brand" SLR they could buy, and who were oblivious to fashion, technology, or did not care about those things anyway. In this new role the K1000 survived for 21 more years by which time it was what we would now call retro. In fact even the KM was out-of-date the day it was introduced - a Spotmatic with a K-mount, its slow CdS meter being technical old-hat already by 1975.
The K2 was also given a makeover and replaced by the K2 DMD, and survived until 1980 as a professional camera until the LX replaced it. Professionals are less concerned about fashion and smallness, and the massive Nikon F2 and Canon F1 were the yardsticks for them at the time.
THnx a lot for making this video. The only film camera I hae right now is a Zenit 11 and I'm considering getting the Spotmatic as my next
Thanks for your feedback! As the Spotmatic has the same M42 mount as the Zenit 11, it will be a great addition! Did you also watch my Spotmatic video?
czcams.com/video/2kyWhEW1pTY/video.html
@@tomscameras I will watch your Spotmatic video tonight :)
@@tomscameras Update: I bought the SP1000 today :)
I have to admit I favor the mechanics of the Spotmatic over the K-1000. Most of the Spotmatics have a self-timer, whereas the K-1000s absolutely do not (unless you can find the shutter release self-timer accessory).
My Favorite K-1000 is the Japanese SE model, due to its split ring focusing screen. My next project is probably to have one [split ring focusing screen] installed into my Spotmatic, as I always used my SE with an M-42 mount adapter for exclusive Takumar M-42 lenses.
Since I no longer have that K-1000 SE (unfortunately), I'll have to rebuild my M-42 system for my newly acquired K-1000/ K-1000 SE cameras.
I'm thinking of moving over from the SP and SP 1000 models to the SP F, due to its slightly more advanced body that retains the M-42 mount. An all black body would be really nice. This all gets really expensive, having to service and CLA each new body. One must choose wisely which cameras to spend the money on, as the hundreds of dollars spent add up quickly.
I have a Canon F-1 New system and will be receiving the body back shortly from a recent servicing and CLA. The Pentax is still probably my favorite camera, but the Canons really make it hard to pull away from them; Canons are such user friendly and excellent cameras. However, the completely manual and simple interface of the Pentax cameras always keep me coming back to them time and again. (I keep a strong and durable strap on them in case I have to swing it as a weapon or tug on it when someone with sticky fingers thinks they need it more than I do. 😆
This was a great video. Very unbiased and straightforward.
Thanks for your detailed comment and feedback! And you are so right, you have to choose wisely, not only because of purchase cost, but also because by now many of these cameras do need a professional CLA service. Which is to be expected after so many years!
I agree that a black Spotmatic F is an utter beauty of a camera!! 😍
Myself, I'm currently using Olympus OM-1's as my main system. One of the reasons actually is that there's a very good domestic OM specialist. But I still love my Spotmatics and I am sure I'll come back to using it some more in the future again.
To be fair, there are the Pentax K-X and K2 which are much better equipped than the K1000. Then there's also the great compact MX and ME models. Any of these are great cameras, but you just can't have them all ...
Exactly the video I was looking for thank you so much for sharing. I was suggested the k1000 but ended up buying the Spotmatic hopefully I made the right decision
I hope you found a good one and wish you a lot of fun with it!
Spotmatic, one of the greatest cameras of all time ♥️
I couldn't agree more!
It is a fine camera. The spotmatics were much better quality build than the K versions.
Very nice review!
Thanks a lot!
Great video!! Thanks :)
Thanks for your feedback!
I have a Spotmatic my son has the K1000.
Classic cameras
Yes they are timeless! Enjoy them!
The K1000 is one of the best cameras ever made.
I won’t argue with you! But so is the Spotmatic! 🤩
Great Video. My experience (years) is that the later manufactured (Hong Kong) K1000's suffered some build quality issues.
I never had one of these late K1000's, so many thanks for your info!
On the other hand, some of the older K1000's are now about 45 years old ... so some might be in need of a service by now, whereas most cameras from the 1990s are still just running fine as their lubricants are not as old yet.
My two Spotmatic's (also the one from this video) by now also need a service as the 1/1000s doesn't work well anymore. But then again, *if* you invest in a service, then you want the best quality variant to start with ...
I have one of the Hong Kong made to k1000's. Belonged to my father. The only problem mine has had is that the light meter is no longer accurate. Other than that everything else work and the original light seal still do their job.
Sorry my error it was advised to get this camera, it was required to have a 35mm and most of us chose this one. I didn' t know about the Spotmatic, this is nice too!
Nice story! And also nice to hear that you still love your camera!
The SP1000 basically is just one variation of the well-known Spotmatic ... I think that's why the name "SP1000" is much less known these days than the K1000.
I have a k1000 and Pentax SV, both beautiful cameras, not a bad word to say about either from me
Yes, I don't want to be too critical towards the K1000. It's a great camera. The Pentax SV is also a wonderful classic!
@@tomscameras the SV does have the edge on glassware being an m42 mount camera, but for general photography I'd say the k1000 with a 50mm holds it's own against any other slr system
Hi there is a Pentax KX, same with K1000 but wit a stop down (DOF preview) button. Im going to buy it + M42 adapter to use my M42 zeiss Pancolar. So i need to use “stop down” mode to metering. I just want to question does the Stop down button on Pentax K work on M42 lens with adapter ?
The mechanism for stopping down is completely different. It's a push-button mechanism for M42 while it is a lever for Pentax K.
However, most M42 lenses have an A/M switch, A meaning auto-stopdown aperture and M locks to manual aperture, i.e. the lens is always stopped down to the selected aperture value. In this mode you could use the metering on your Pentax KX then!
@@tomscameras Thanks alot !
Hi, I’m looking for my first film camera… Pentax K1000 is in my shortlist. May I know in case the light meter is not working, what can we do? Thanks and have a nice day.😊
Hi there! Please note I am the worst camera mechanic on this planet. So I can't offer a lot of advice when it comes to fixing old SLR bodies :)
But there are a few possibilities why a light meter fails, after all those years. Often there is corrosion in the battery chamber, that can happen if you leave in the battery for too long and don't use it up. Open the battery chamber and you see if it's corroded.
Also, there might be a bad connection in the wiring (unscrew the bottom plate and check the wiring that runs to the battery chamber). If that is the case it can be fixed by renewing the soldering connection.
It is also possible that the light meter cell itself is bad, in that case you'd need a replacement from a donor camera ... but I guess that's not too common with K1000's, given that they were made well into the 1990s and are thus rather young compared to many other mechanical SLR bodies.
Happy hunting!
Thanks Tom good review.
I'm still torn on which manual model Pentax film camera to add to my stable of pentax gear.
I dont own any M mount lenses yet so everything Is K or A with my digital K-3.
So I guess I should stay with the K system because I cannot use the M lenses (if im correct) without an adapter?
So which K body? K1000 KM KX?
Which was the most reliable to use? I learned photography on the K1000 in the early 90's so im partial to that body, however if the features of the other K series are better than a upgrade is logical.
Any advice will help me decide.
Good video thank you.
Hey there! K and M lenses are 100% identical in terms of mount, the M just means it’s (usually) a more compact lens design but there are no compatibility issues whatsoever! So the K series bodies that you mention are all perfect candidates and I would select the KX if you want the most sophisticated user and viewfinder interface. But also have a look at the Pentax ME Super! It’s super compact, offers aperture priority automatic exposure and it is still easy to find a nice and perfectly working one. I still didn’t do a video about that camera even though I regularly use mine! The Pentax MX might also suit you. I have a video about that one. Happy camera hunting!
@@tomscameras i should have said M42 sorry about that
@@tomscameras thank you for the speedy response blessings and aloha
What are those 4 cameras in the background on the shelves
I had to check back myself, some cameras from my collection: top left Olympus OM-2n, top right Revue ML (that’s a rebranded Praktica), bottom left a Soviet Zenit 122 and bottom right Praktica FX2.
Love the spotmatics classic camera I have a number of takumar lenee see s too gorgeous things
Yes the Spotmatic ranks also very highly on my top-forever list of cameras :)
I have, a Pentax K 1000 , myself. The only thing is the door release & Film rewind crank, isn't Working. Other wise, it's in Great shape.
These cameras are bricks yes! It's amazing how many of them still work well after so many years and without any repairs.
The Spotmatic feels more solid than the K1000. The shutter sound on the K1000 sounds clunky compared to the Spotmatic. I would choose a Spotmatic any day over the K1000. To me, the K1000 feels like a cheap build compared to the K1000.
I also love the Spotmatic much more but I have to say that my copy of the K1000 doesn't feel cheap or clunky. I wonder if you maybe have got one of the later series K1000's that have a lower quality finish ...?
Walking around without the lens cap on K1000 may not be enough to drain the battery but keeping a cap in your pocket is probably no a bad idea.
You are right! I think it doesn’t matter if you don’t put on the cap during a photo walk but you maybe should not store the camera on your shelf next to the window for a longer time. Still I definitely do prefer cameras where the electric circuit can be really switched off!
@@tomscameras Agreed! Love my Spotmatics!
is m42 mount better than k mount?
K Mount was more modern in it’s day. And it is still used today by Pentax DSLR‘s with AF. But M42 is also a huge system with millions of interesting lenses on the used market from many different manufacturers. I don’t think there’s a „better“ or „worse“ there.
@tomscameras Is spotmatic can use a pk mount lense ?
@@osvaldoardiles2244
No.
On the other hand, a K-mount body (like the K1000) can use an m42 lens with an adaptor.
The only advantage of a screw mount over a bayonet mount is that it is cheaper to make.
@@tomscameras My opinion is that the K-mount (the release) is weak or cheap feeling (compared to different manufacturers lens mounts). The M-42 feels more solid. It might take a few more seconds to mount/dismount the lenses, but it's a fair tradeoff I think.
Plus, there's so many Takumar and other manufacturers of M-42 lenses that it Trumps the K-mount. I think the needle tilts a little in favor of the M-42 in this regard.
I think the K1000 as "entry level" camera was probably the best choice at its time, it's a nearly identical clone of the Spotmatic and originaly the Spotmatic was not and entry level camera, it's price with the 55mm f1:2 or the 50mm f1:1.8 in today's money is +- 2500-3000€.
Therefore, for an amateur, this camera was a bargain. it's price in today's money is +- 1500€ when the MX is 2500€.
At the time, the K1000 surely was an excellent choice, you are right. Today, it's a bit funny: The KM and KX are almost the same as the K1000, but they are both better equipped. The KM adds a self timer over the K1000, and the KM has a very different viewfinder interface that includes the display of shutter time and aperture. But everyone's still looking for K1000's instead, so in 2022, K1000 prices tend to be higher even than the KM or KX.
Of course, there's also the Pentax MX and ME series, which are much smaller and feel maybe a bit more modern than the K series bodies. But many photographers will maybe still prefer the K series cause they seem to be a bit more rugged and also especially the MX can be a bit fiddly in use.
The Spotmatric F with open aperture metering is by far a better camera than the K1000 imho. I think the k1000 is overpriced and overated especially the later one that was made in China with plastic parts. The one you have there is an original made in Japan version wich is fine obviously. If you are into Pentax K get an original 35mm Pentax KX :)
Yes, the Pentax KX and also KM are better deals than the K1000 just because no one seems to know about those.
I got a Pentax MX by now ... you can see it in one of my newer videos (mid 2023). At begin it felt a bit fiddly in my hands, but I'm slowly falling in love with it. I do like that it's compact (nice to carry around) and also I love the huge viewfinder!
Great camera until the Chinese got their grubby paws on it. Then it was a piece of junk.
Pentax wanted to cut cost … but yes the quality of Chinese manufacturers in the 1990s was often very bad, oh yes!
They‘ve come a long way since then quality-wise, but today there’s no analog SLR in production anymore … not even in Russia!
Nice video and very cool jazz! Thanks! A Pentax Fan!
Many thanks! :)