Fun and Cheap Pentax K1000 Lenses

The Pentax K1000 uses manual focus K-mount lenses.

Pentax started using the K-mount in 1975. It is still being used today on DSLRs like the Pentax K-1 Mark II.

Compatible lenses will have an aperture ring.

The focus is on lenses with the best value. Many are under $100.

My go to recommendations:

1. SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.7 - General photography, street, portraits.
2. SMC Pentax-M 28mm f2.8 - Landscapes, architecture, groups, street.
3. SMC Pentax-A 135mm f2.8 - Portraits.

I don’t recommend vintage zoom. They weren’t optically as good as the primes. Plus, they are more likely to have condition problems like fungus, haze, and dried helicoid grease are common.

Pentax-M vs Pentax-A

Pentax-M are the earlier versions. They can be smaller and more compact. Optically, they are the same or have slightly worse coatings.

Pentax-A lenses are capable of shutter and aperture priority modes. That makes them a better choice if you also want to use them on a DSLR.

I like Pentax-M lenses because they should be less expensive. The K1000 is a fully manual camera. I don’t see the point in paying for features that can’t be used.

Red Flags 🚩🚩🚩

When buying used, there are a handful of things to watch out for.

1. The seller has at least a 30 day return policy.
2. They specialize in camera gear. They will know how to check for fungus, haze, and aperture problems.
3. There is no visible sand or grit on the lens.

Once you receive your lens, check it right away.

• Are the optics clear?
• Is the aperture snappy?
• Do the focus and aperture rings turn smoothly?
• Does it smell like cigarettes?

For more detailed information check the manual. PDF scans are avaialble from the Internet Archive (Archive.org) and Butkus.org.

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50mm Lenes

When new, the K1000 could be bought with a bundled “kit lens.” After all, what good is a your first camera without a lens?

These are by far and away the most common lenses, which make them the best values. You should have no problem finding a good deal.

SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7

• The “classic” experience.
• Unbeatable value.
• The lens is light, small, and compact.
• 49mm filter threads.

50mm is my favorite focal length. Out of the many choices, the 50mm f1.7 is the one I would recommend.

It has good enough optical qualities, especially for film, and doubly so if you’re shooting black and white. If a vintage look is what your after, this was one of the most used lenses.

The K1000 is still a popular recommendation for film students. Lots of work has been created with this combo.

The Pentax-A version is also good.

The 50mm f/2 shown in the price list above is smaller and should be a little cheaper.

SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4

• Easier to focus in low light.
• Better optical coatings that reduce flare and chromatic aberrations.
• Easy to find.
• Kinda heavy.

I’m not a fan of 50mm f1.4 lenses. I think they’re too heavy and a thin depth of field quickly gets boring.

Plenty of people disagree with me. Many consider this the best lens for the K1000.

The large aperture is going to be an advantage in low light. The viewfinder will two-thirds of a stop of light brighter.

That’s always helpful indoors. It will also allow you to squeeze out a little more shooting during golden hour.

SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2

It’s a big, heavy, expensive, and blazingly fast lens.

Like all the other “halo” lenses, it was made to show off. It’s an enormous and eye-catching chunk of glass.

Prices for copies of the lens are in line with a manual focus Nikon F-mount 50mm f1.2 or Canon FD 50mm f1.2.

Keep in mind that you can adapt the lens to a mirrorless system with an adapter for less than $20. Focus peaking and other focusing aids make manually focusing easier than with the K1000.

Wide Angles

SMC Pentax-M 28mm f/2.8

• Great combination with a 50mm lens.
• Many copies are available.
• Well corrected for barrel distortion.

The SMC Pentax-M 28mm f/2.8 isn’t the best option. The reality is, many people may not consider it a wide angle lens. However, it is a whole lot more affordable when compared to any wider option.

There is an abundance of wider focal lengths to consider, but they are either significantly higher priced or third-party alternatives have noticeable amounts of barrel distortion. On top of that, it is easy to see chromatic aberrations and other optical problems in third-party lenses for the Pentax K1000.

More Options

• SMC Pentax-M 20mm f/4
• SMC Pentax-M 28mm f/2
• SMC Pentax 18mm f/3.5
• SMC Pentax 24mm f/2.8

Portrait & Telephoto Lenses

SMC Pentax-A 135mm f/2.5

• 85mm substitute.
• Excellent value.
• Relatively inexpensive.

85mm focal length lenses weren’t as commonly used as they are currently compared to when the K1000 was released in 1976. On account of being more affordable, 100mm and 135mm focal lengths were more frequently used.

More Alternatives

There is an abundance of telephoto lenses to pick from. Focal lengths longer than 135mm and 85mm lenses will be expensive.

• SMC Pentax 85mm f/1.8
• SMC Pentax 85mm f/2.2 Soft
• SMC Pentax 105mm f/2.8
• SMC Pentax 120mm f/2.8

Zooms

Before the introduction of autofocus, in the 1980s, there were a small number of lenses made by third-party manufacturers that performed better than what Pentax was offering.

A large number of the best performers were released with the Vivitar brand name. Zooms with the Vivitar Series 1 branding are going to have the best optics you can expect to see from a vintage zoom lens.

Sadly, finding a lens for the Pentax K1000 in useable condition can be quite difficult. In addition to that, no vintage zooms offer noteworthy performance. If you find a copy available that is inexpensive enough, it might be worth picking up.

Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm f/2.8-3.5

More Options

Here are several more options that you can consider if you really want a zoom lens for your K1000. None of them are going to be amazing, and you would likely be better off using a couple of primes.

• SMC Pentax 85-210mm f/3.5
• Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f/3.5
• SMC Pentax 45-125mm f/4

Macro Lenses

Macro lens options for the Pentax K1000 suffer from availability problems. The available supply of Pentax K mount choices is tiny, which increases prices higher than you’ll pay for comparable Nikon F mount or Canon FD mount lenses.

SMC Pentax 100mm f/4 Macro

• Ideal focal length for 1x magnification.
• Widely available.
• Mediocre value.

A few people online have experienced balsam separation of the front doublet. This is troubling because even a little separation will expand gradually and make it unusable. If you see any signs of balsam separation, avoid that lens and keep shopping.

Vivitar 55mm f/2.8 Macro

• The second best vintage macro lens I’ve used.
• An outstanding lens for close-up photography.
• Can achieve life-size magnification without needing an extension tube.

My favorite vintage macro lens I’ve used, the 90mm Vivitar, was manufactured with a variety of camera mounts. However, it’s tough to find a copy that’s got a Pentax K mount.

The Vivitar 55mm is my second favorite vintange macro lens for the Pentax K1000. Take into account that it does have a shorter working distance when compared to the 90mm. It is good for table top and close-up photography, but it is not the best choice if you want to take macro images at life-sized magnification.

Both Vivitar macros were built by Komine and were sold under various different brand names. If you decide to look for a copy also search under the Panagor, Elicar, Quantaray, Spiratone, and Rokunar brand names.

There is a Vivitar 90mm Macro Review and a Vivitar 55mm Macro Review.

For taking photos at life-sized magnification, 90mm-105mm focal lengths are going to be the most desirable option. You’ll have a large enough working distance to allow the use of flash, while staying away from excessive weight and excessive costs that come with longer focal lengths.