Ask anyone who took a darkroom class in the 80s or 90s what camera they used, and there's a good chance it was a K1000. Asahi launched it in 1976 as a Spotmatic F with the new K bayonet mount, leaving out the self-timer, depth-of-field preview and film reminder dial to keep the cost down. What's left is a mechanical cloth shutter from 1 s to 1/1000 s and a CdS match-needle meter. The camera won't set exposure for you, so you have to learn it, which is why universities and even high schools put it on their kit lists. Production moved from Japan to Hong Kong in 1978 and to China in 1990, and it ran until 1997, with over three million sold. Early bodies say Asahi on the prism. The Chinese ones from the 90s have plastic top and bottom plates and weigh 525 g against 620 g for a Japanese body.
The variants
The K1000 SE has a split-image rangefinder with a microprism ring on the focusing screen, and early SEs came with brown or Black Diamond leatherette. Later bodies swapped the Asahi name for Pentax, and the Chinese-made run from 1990 has plastic top and bottom plates and a black plastic speed dial.
The meter has no on/off switch and drains its cell whenever the lens cap is off, so plenty of bodies turn up with a flat battery and a meter that looks dead. The needle is also slow to respond, even by 1976 standards, so give it a moment before you judge it.
Buying guide
We'd buy the K1000 titled tested with Pentax's SMC 50mm f/2 at $158 delivered, or spend $236 on one titled CLA'd and resealed with a 50mm. There are at least 224 for sale, nearly all in the US and Canada, and most kits ask $150–250 delivered, with the lens doing most of the pricing. The shutter is mechanical, so it fires without a battery, and the 1.5 V SR44, LR44 or 357 button cell only runs the meter. The meter has no off switch, so a dead needle is often only a flat cell. In a back-open photo, look for a flat cloth curtain with no wrinkles or pinholes and door foam that isn't sticky. Skip the seller at 94.7% feedback.
$82.59est. delivered
The lowest delivered K1000 titled tested and working, a body-only SE with the split-image focusing screen, at $83. You'll need a K-mount lens, and the title says to read the description, so do that first.
Pentax K1000 SE 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Only Tested Working No Lens Read
$158.35est. delivered
Titled tested working, with Pentax's own SMC 50mm f/2, near the bottom of the band at $158 delivered. That's the lens most people learn on, so it's ready for a first roll once you add a meter cell.
Pentax K1000 35mm SLR Camera w/ SMC Pentax 50mm f/2 Prime Lens - Tested Working
$235.70est. delivered
Titled CLA'd and resealed, with a 50mm f/2, at $236 delivered, inside the band. That covers the shutter and the door foam, but the title doesn't say tested, so ask for a video firing 1 s and 1/1000.
GORGEOUS CLAed/Resealed! Asahi Pentax K1000 35mm SLR Camera w/50mm f/2 Lens
$256.84est. delivered
An SE in the brown leatherette early SEs came with, titled tested, with a 50mm f/2, at $257 delivered. Another brown SE here asks $195, but without a test claim.
RARE Pentax K1000 SE Brown 35mm SLR Film Camera With 50mm F1:2 Lens - Tested
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$82.59est. delivered
$66.63 + $15.96 shipping
Buy It Now$66.63
Good buy
SE, body only, titled tested working. Ships from Canada.
Seller: c_ertman
99.7% positive
Used$158.35est. delivered
$140.18 + $18.17 shipping
Buy It Now$140.18
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested working, with an SMC Pentax 50mm f/2. Ships from Canada.
Seller: kbot09
100% positive
Serviced$235.70est. delivered
$220.00 + $15.70 shipping
Buy It Now$220.00
Good buy
Titled CLA'd and resealed, with a 50mm f/2. No test claim.
Seller: silvervintagephoto
99.9% positive
Used$256.84est. delivered
$249.99 + $6.85 shipping
Buy It Now$249.99
Good buy
Brown SE with a 50mm f/2, titled tested.
Seller: pomskyman
99.9% positive
Used$92.52est. delivered
$85.00 + $7.52 shipping
Buy It Now$85.00
Our take
Titled tested, with an Albinar 80-200mm zoom instead of a 50mm.
Seller: nathru7741
100% positive
Used$194.95delivered
$194.95 · free shipping
Buy It Now$194.95
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Brown SE with a 50mm. The title says to read the description, so look for a disclosed fault.
Seller: retromediaverse
100% positive
![Pentax K1000 Chrome 35mm Film Camera w/ 50mm f2 Lens [EXC]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-iYAAeSwC7lqtWQO/s-l500.jpg)
Used$361.00est. delivered
$339.95 + $21.05 shipping
Buy It Now$339.95
Our take
Dealer grade EXC, chrome, with a 50mm f/2. The top ask here, about $110 over the band.
Seller: victorycamera
99.6% positive
Used$100.00est. delivered
$90.00 + $10.00 shipping
Buy It Now$90.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller feedback is 94.7%. Comes with a 28-70mm zoom and no test claim.
Seller: lowal_7846
94.7% positive
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