Pentax K1000 / K1000 SE
The Pentax K1000 might be one of the most famous 35mm SLR cameras ever made. First introduced in 1976, the K1000 had a production run lasting until 1997, during which over 3 million K1000 cameras are reported to have sold. The history of the K1000 arguably began a year earlier, in 1975, when Asahi Pentax released their K2, KM and KX cameras. These three models embodied Asahi Pentax's departure from the success of their vaunted Spotmatic line of cameras and introduced the Pentax K mount. This new lens mount was a bayonet-style mount instead of the previous thread-in M42 mount used by the Spotmatics. The 35mm SLR market was gaining much popularity during the mid 1970s and was changing rapidly from year to year. Perhaps influenced by the popularity of the Olympus OM-1 (released in 1972) Pentax quickly began to move from their first three K models to the smaller and more compact M series cameras such as the ME (1976), MX (1976) and ME Super (1979). But before they completed this shift they borrowed the KM's design, removed several features and marketed it as the K1000 (the number referencing the 1/1000 top shutter speed). In this sense, Asahi Pentax wanted as good of a camera to put on the market for as low of a price as they could achieve. Little did they know just how successful this camera would become.
A big part of the success of the K1000 was probably due to its simplicity, which both lowered production (and retail) costs but also made the camera incredibly user friendly. The K1000 is very straightforward to learn and operate. There are hardly any features to wade through. The K1000 has no self-timer, no depth of field preview, no multiple exposure switch, no mirror lock-up, no automatic exposure modes. The only element of interchangeable components it has is the lens - there is no provision for changing the prism, focusing screen, or for attaching a motor drive. But instead of the lack of features being a limitation, the K1000 truly celebrates its simplicity. This simplicity also helps make the K1000 incredibly rugged and reliable. We see K1000 cameras that are half a century old at this point and work as well as the day they came out of the factory. Additionally, their simplicity makes the K1000 an easy camera to service and repair and the incredibly long production run they enjoyed means there is no shortage of spare parts out there.
In terms of features the K1000 does have there is a built-in CdS light meter (powered by a single SR44 or V76 1.5 volt battery). And that is about it! This is mildly tongue-in-cheek because the K1000 actually embodied a number of technological innovations such as full aperture TTL metering, instant return mirror, automatic frame counter reset, and multi-ratcheted wind lever that were noteworthy for their time but have since become ubiquitous in camera design.
As noted earlier, the K1000 accepts Pentax K-mount lenses. It is fully compatible with both PK-M and PK-A lenses and can even accept the later AF lenses (though autofocus is not possible of course). This massive lens selection is one of the other big selling points for the K1000. When you buy one of these cameras you are getting a true lifetime camera that opens you into a huge library of lenses. Now you can perhaps see just why the K1000 is considered by many to be the student camera.
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