k1000 tips & tricks with 400TX and 400CN?

Hey all - I grabbed myself a K1000 and some Kodak 400TX and 400CN.

 

Can anyone offer some user tips with the K1000 and maybe in relation to the

film I'll be shooting? I'm not so concerned about the 400CN as I'll be

dropping that off at a local color-lab for processing but, the TX is going

back to Kodak for processing and enlargements. How does the K1000 impress upon

this film? Any typical exposure issues, etc?

 

As always, thanks in advance for your help.

Just remember to set the ASA on your light meter to 400.

 

If you haven't used a manual camera for a while, that can be an easy one to forget.

Might be an idea to slightly overepose negativ film by setting a lower ASA/ISO, here around 320 instead of 400 for *most* lighting situations?

Of course with dia film the opposite would be true

Thanks guys - I've been shooting regularly with my Olympus OM-4Ti so this should be fun. I'll scan some negatives when I get home tonight.

 

I bought the 400CN so I can get a quick idea as to how this camera shoots. I've only ever owned Olympus 35mm rigs but, since I have a nice collection of FF Pentax glass these days I thought it might be fun (and cheap) to shoot with an all-metal Pentax legend..

 

How accurate is the meter on the K1000? Or will it be a 'shoot and see'?

 

I also, through a goof on my part, grabbed a mint OM-10 this week. I could have sworn it said OM-1 - Oh well, I'll likely ebay that sucker. I've been looking for a mint copy of the OM-1 for a long while now, was me first camera.

You could practice the K1000 mirror lockup technique. Take the film out of your camera, activate the shutter with film advance lever, and give the (here's the bit that takes practice) shutter release a light rap with the end of your index finger. Too light on the shutter nothing happens, too heavy on the shutter and BOTH mirror and shutter activate, just right is when the mirror flips up and the shutter doesn't release. With a bit of practice, you'll get it right every time. Seems to be good for landsacpes when you are using a tripod.

My K10D lives in 2sec delay, I shoot landscape often - That IS a useful tip. Thanks.

The K1000 should meter spot on. It is a solid, reliable camera - built like a tank (as far as

SLRs go anyway...).

 

I've been known to flick the shutter release on my Spotmatics from time to time myself...

 

BTW, you don't run your own T-Max?

Nope - No T-Max, or any film processing. Though, I have contemplated using a coffee

solution.. After gaining arthritis in my hands at 25 from chemical absorption, I'm a little

shy of anything these days, especially caustics. Essentially, I'd love to have a darkwoom,

and I even have the space but, I don't have the need really. I have done bw processing

when I was younger, a somewhat typical bath-tub operation but it worked..

 

;) darkwoom

 

By the way, here's a scan - OM-4Ti, Zuiko 28mm (Kodak Royal 200 ISO) I don't recall the

other particulars but, I kept a pad with me most everywhere I went. This shot is from

about 1997 - abouts? My cousin had filmed the 'in-depth behind the scenes' of all what

goes on at this joint.. I call this shot, "Manscape"<div></div>

Here?s a tip for checking DOF.

 

(It should work with the K1000 - it used to work with ME super but I cannot remember with the K1000.)

 

To do a DOF check, after you have focussed , press the lens release button (front of body), and start to unhitch the lens. As you do this the apperture blades will stop down to whatever f stop you have set.

 

Try it. Put the lens to say F11. And as you unmount the lens look through the viewfinder, it goes all dark etc as happens with DOF preview.

 

I usually keep a hand on the lens when I do this, duh!

 

Have fun.

 

The meter in the K1000 is totally cool, centre weighted and accurate enough for negative film.

 

When I first saw a K1000 I could not dream of needing anything else in a camera. How things have changed -

 

Have fun - all the best

 

John

I've been known to hurl a camera at a subject simply because they won't focus properly... NOT true!

 

not for me at least. I've been shooting landscape for so long that nothing surprises me. No! I mean that - everything happens so slowly that NOTHING surprises me.. Or, maybe that's what I like? I have no clue. I just press the button when I see something I like.

 

I'm kind of like a smoker, I always have a light :)

<i>"When I first saw a K1000 I could not dream of needing anything else in a camera."</i><br><br>

 

That's kinda funny to me. I started with a Spotmatic. I never wanted to DOWNGRADE to a K1000, which really was just a Spotmatic with a K-mount but lost the self timer and DoF preview. Bayonet lust never brought me that far...