How to Successfully Load Film into the Pentax K1000

The Pentax K1000 uses 35mm film.

For best results, use fresh film that has not expired. Do not load the camera in direct sunlight.

If this is your first time using the K1000, make sure the shutter fires. A battery is not required to make the shutter fire.

The light meter needs a SR44, AG13, or LR44 battery to work.

If you need a lens I have a guide on fun and cheap Pentax K1000 lenses

Film Compatibility

The most common 35mm film has 24 or 36 exposures per roll.

The largest brands are Kodak, Fujifilm, and Illford.

There are not many film stocks left, but you still have a choice of:

• Black & White
• Color
• Slide

Cost for rolls of film will vary by type.

Black and white is the cheapest. It’s also the easiest to develop yourself.

Color is more expensive. Kodak Porta is the most expensive color film.

Slide or transparency film is the most expensive and hardest to use.

Recommended Film Speed

For a beginner, I would recommend a 400 ISO speed Color or B&W film.

If you want the best image quality, choose an ISO 100 film or slower. They will have less noticeable grain. 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

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.

1. Open the Film Door

   Open the film door by pulling up on the film rewind crank. It will pop open.

   

2. 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.

   

3. 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.

   

4. 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.

   

5. Close the Film Door

   Once the film is properly on the take-up spool, you can close the film door.

   

6. 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.

   

7. 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, here’s more K1000 info, and check the official Asahi Pentax K1000 manual.