This step by step guide will show you how easy it is to load film into the Pentax K1000. Every step is covered to make sure you will be successful on your film photography journey!
The Pentax K1000 uses 35mm film that comes spooled up in a light tight canister. 35mm film canisters will commonly have 24 or 36 exposures per roll.
Two of the largest brands of color film you will find will be made by Kodak or Fujifilm. There are not very many film options left, so expect limited choices.
There are various types of film that can be used such as:
Black Black & White White
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Film
Color Film
Transparency, Slide Film
Cost for rolls of film will vary by type, with transparency being the most expensive.
Recommended Film Speed
For a beginner photographer, I would recommend getting a 400 speed film. This will be fast enough to capture sharp photos in shade or indoors.
For excellent image quality, get a slower film, like a 100 ISO film. This will have less noticeable grain for sharper photos. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to shoot inside or in cloudy conditions without the use of a flash.
Loading Film into a Pentax K1000
Time needed: 1 minute.
When you load film into the K1000, make sure to keep the film canister out of direct sunlight. A bright light has the possibility to fog the first few frames of a roll.
Open the Film Door
Open the film door by pulling up on the film rewind crank. It will pop open.
Load the 35mm Film Cartridge
Insert the 35mm film cartridge while the film rewind knob is still raised. Once the cartridge is in the camera, push the rewind lever down to hold the cartridge in place.
Thread the Film Leader into the Take-up Spool
Thread the film leader into the take-up spool. Get it as deep as possible otherwise, it could come out when you try to wind the film.
Hold the Film Cartridge and Advance the Film
With one hand, hold the film cartridge in place. With the other, wind the film with the film advance lever. Watch to make sure the film is being held in place by the take-up spool.
If the film leader comes out of the take-up spool, thread it back in and try again. You will need to press the shutter button so that you can use the film advance lever again.
Close the Film Door
Once the film is properly on the take-up spool, you can close the film door.
Set the Correct ISO on the ASA Dial
Set the film speed on the ASA dial. This is done by pulling up on the shutter speed dial and rotating it to the correct ASA. The film will be labeled with ISO, which is the same as ASA.
Wind and Press the Shutter Until the Film Counter is at 0
Finally, press the shutter release button and wind film until the film counter is at 0. When you use the film advance lever, you should see the rewind knob spin.
Once you’re done shooting your roll of film, here is a guide on how to rewind and remove film from the Pentax K1000. Film development, choosing a photo lab, and digitizing negatives into high resolution images is covered.
If you have any issues along the way, check the official Asahi Pentax K1000 manual from Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. (Pentax).
