This Pentax K1000 needs some disassembly to repair the light meter. This video is a good basic repair walk through showing how to remove the top and bottom covers.
I have one of these. The light meter is broken, and I can see a dead bug in the viewfinder. Shame you don't show the actual repair otherwise very informative, thanks
I will replace the battery and if it doesn't work, well, it will go into my historical camera archive. It worked before I changed the roll of film and then it sat for almost a year without use, so, I am hoping the battery died.
Can't tell you how many things I have fixed just by taking them apart and finding something broken. One thing I was not able to fix was a dishwasher timer with 16 sets of points all stacked and crimped together. Happy to see you back.
Good fixing! I've seen that sort of camera damage before, corroded battery related. I have a classic 35mm Konica with a highly rated lens awaiting repair, in fact. So your former Air Force brother, did he take pictures while serving? Anything cool? Has he scanned any negatives, and made them available for viewing? I would be interested in seeing them. Especially 50's and 60's era. Here in SoCal where I live, I look for vintage negatives and slides at estate sales. Some finds from that era have been spectacular!
Most things my brother photographed were classified and he doesn't have that stuff. He photographed a lot of stuff from the belly of a C130. He also had the gruesome task of photographing crash sites and body parts. After his time in the Air Force he worked for Goodyear Aerospace for a while doing high speed film photography of chicken carcasses fired at cockpit windshields at mach 2! Fun stuff. :)
I have a k1000 and also a Kodak brownie camera that takes 620 film. Film Photography Project does actually sell respooled 120 film for 620 cameras and they also manufacture and their own 620 spools. The light meter needle in my Pentax moves but it's not accurate. I had severely underexposed roll of film and I did make sure the film speed selector matched the the film I was using.
Really enjoyed this video. Your channel has always been one of my favourites since you did the "Hack a week" project. I did enjoy the motorcycle builds. I particularly liked the electronics and arduino stuff. And the musical instrument restores and the loom ones. Well almost all of your videos really. Best wishes for the coming year. I did 6th grade in the US in 75-6 and I also have a Pentax K and an MX still up in the loft.
Love this video. Went to my usual camera repair guy and told him the issue and he said there's no point in fixing the light meter. Which I was super deflated about. But my Pentax K1000 was given to me by my uncle when I was the same age as him when he started film photography when he bought the camera in the 80s. I wouldn't feel confident to take it apart like you have here but wondering how I can repair it so I can start using it again !
I just find the possibility of fixing it intriguing. I have my dad's k1000 and I don't mind using a light meter app with it. I occasionally use a few older manual cameras that don't have any built-in meters at all.
nice, I just picked up a K1000 for $30 and was hoping to fix the light meter. Funny that you're in Asheville, I lived there for 15 years. My buddy Micah Mackenzie is a photographer there, wonder if you know him. Take care
Very helpful video, thank you. I do kind of wish you had checked the battery holder wires first, as that was my problem as well. Oh well, it was a learning experience. 🙂
Thanks for this video, the light meter on my KM isn’t working, I’ll start by opening the bottom, it looks less scary there. What camera, lens and microphone do you record your videos with? It’s all so clear!
I have an Spotmatic SP too, it works well except the light meter, it only reads well at the bulb position, i can adjust the needle with the aperture ring, but when i change the speeds it goes down, any idea or sugestion? Thanks in advance.
Wow, nice video. I got the cheap and easy fix by just taking off the bottom and soldering the broken lead back on & UV glue just to make sure. It was a 20 minute fix. thanks
Well believe it and no, it's not scratched. I'm on a learning curve here. I realized a better way to remove it after this work. Sometimes that's how learning new things works. There's not a lot of documentation out there on these but since then I found this: pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/servicemanuals.htm
The K1000, as you say, is a great workhorse. No frills or gimmicks. I have 3 of those, and my Pentax prime lenses are amongst the best I've used. Still a good bargain camera in 2023, but they're creeping up in price, soooo....................................
Welcome Back Kotter🥸
I have one of these. The light meter is broken, and I can see a dead bug in the viewfinder. Shame you don't show the actual repair otherwise very informative, thanks
I will replace the battery and if it doesn't work, well, it will go into my historical camera archive. It worked before I changed the roll of film and then it sat for almost a year without use, so, I am hoping the battery died.
Can't tell you how many things I have fixed just by taking them apart and finding something broken. One thing I was not able to fix was a dishwasher timer with 16 sets of points all stacked and crimped together. Happy to see you back.
Whaasat? I have a K1000!
Good fixing! I've seen that sort of camera damage before, corroded battery related. I have a classic 35mm Konica with a highly rated lens awaiting repair, in fact. So your former Air Force brother, did he take pictures while serving? Anything cool? Has he scanned any negatives, and made them available for viewing? I would be interested in seeing them. Especially 50's and 60's era. Here in SoCal where I live, I look for vintage negatives and slides at estate sales. Some finds from that era have been spectacular!
Most things my brother photographed were classified and he doesn't have that stuff. He photographed a lot of stuff from the belly of a C130. He also had the gruesome task of photographing crash sites and body parts. After his time in the Air Force he worked for Goodyear Aerospace for a while doing high speed film photography of chicken carcasses fired at cockpit windshields at mach 2! Fun stuff. :)
I have a k1000 and also a Kodak brownie camera that takes 620 film. Film Photography Project does actually sell respooled 120 film for 620 cameras and they also manufacture and their own 620 spools. The light meter needle in my Pentax moves but it's not accurate. I had severely underexposed roll of film and I did make sure the film speed selector matched the the film I was using.
Not all K1000 shutter speed retaining screws are left handed. early made in Japan versions are right handed like the Spotmatic F.
Yes I'm finding that tings changed as they progressed through the models.
Still looking forward to more rocket videos Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty.
Spring 24
Really enjoyed this video. Your channel has always been one of my favourites since you did the "Hack a week" project. I did enjoy the motorcycle builds. I particularly liked the electronics and arduino stuff. And the musical instrument restores and the loom ones. Well almost all of your videos really. Best wishes for the coming year. I did 6th grade in the US in 75-6 and I also have a Pentax K and an MX still up in the loft.
Awesome! Thank you!
Love this video. Went to my usual camera repair guy and told him the issue and he said there's no point in fixing the light meter. Which I was super deflated about. But my Pentax K1000 was given to me by my uncle when I was the same age as him when he started film photography when he bought the camera in the 80s. I wouldn't feel confident to take it apart like you have here but wondering how I can repair it so I can start using it again !
I just find the possibility of fixing it intriguing. I have my dad's k1000 and I don't mind using a light meter app with it. I occasionally use a few older manual cameras that don't have any built-in meters at all.
If you have not fixed it yet, look up Romping Bronco on UA-cam. He specializes in fixing the k1000 and has pricing for this kind of stuff.
nice, I just picked up a K1000 for $30 and was hoping to fix the light meter. Funny that you're in Asheville, I lived there for 15 years. My buddy Micah Mackenzie is a photographer there, wonder if you know him. Take care
Very helpful video, thank you.
I do kind of wish you had checked the battery holder wires first, as that was my problem as well.
Oh well, it was a learning experience. 🙂
You don’t need to remove the 3 tiny grub screws from the frame counter cover just loosen them.
Yes I realized that afterwards.
Thanks for this video, the light meter on my KM isn’t working, I’ll start by opening the bottom, it looks less scary there.
What camera, lens and microphone do you record your videos with? It’s all so clear!
I have an Spotmatic SP too, it works well except the light meter, it only reads well at the bulb position, i can adjust the needle with the aperture ring, but when i change the speeds it goes down, any idea or sugestion? Thanks in advance.
Wow, nice video. I got the cheap and easy fix by just taking off the bottom and soldering the broken lead back on & UV glue just to make sure. It was a 20 minute fix. thanks
I hear a roaster 🐓 crowing in the background! You must be out in Farm 🚜 country!!!
Thanks for the vid. Found it informative on a light meter problem that I'm having with a k1000.
Thanks for the video, I am trying to fix the light meter on my conon AE-1.
welcome back my friend. Always interesting, always educational .
Nice to see more videos! Old photography is interesting, so can't wait to see more! Happy new year, Dean!
If I did this, I would end up with parts left over.
Missed you, hope you get inspired to do some motorcycle stuff again in the future
Glad to have you back on you tube again, you were missed.
Useful video, thanks.
Thank you so much
You're most welcome
Hi hackaweek..! Your video has served me a lot. Thank you very much. I can repair my camera K1000 pentax. Nice to me you. Carlos from argentina
You are welcome.
The whole point of me watching this was the repair for a light meter and you completely skip over the whole actual repair lol
It's the wire at the battery. It simply needed to be replaced and reconnected to the holder.
Can’t believe how you forced off the pentaprism. The focusing screen must be scratched.
Well believe it and no, it's not scratched. I'm on a learning curve here. I realized a better way to remove it after this work. Sometimes that's how learning new things works. There's not a lot of documentation out there on these but since then I found this:
pentax-manuals.com/manuals/service/servicemanuals.htm
What a coincidence, the same wire had snapped off on mine too. I couldn't find the black wire to pull back through the camera though.
It's a common problem with the K1000.
I have one of this camera 📸
Glad to see you back. Take care.
Awesome welcome back!
Good to see you agaqin and good to see that your covering the vintage film and cameras.
Thanks for watching. I love film cameras!
Great to see you back !
Thanks again 👍
Is the resto-euro channel gone? I cannot find it.
Yes. I closed the biz...
The K1000, as you say, is a great workhorse. No frills or gimmicks.
I have 3 of those, and my Pentax prime lenses are amongst the best I've used.
Still a good bargain camera in 2023, but they're creeping up in price, soooo....................................