This camera was retrieved lately from my "bonebed" of dead "parts" cameras.
After working on it for awhile and giving up on it again, a thought passed my mind for a quick fix of the mirror and shutter linkage... and it worked!

So l loaded it up with some asa 200 print film and took it with me to the Sculpture Park. When my little English camera ran out of film I walked the park again with the Pentax.
I used two lenses.
First I shot with the Pentax 35 - 80 zoom pictured. It is made for autofocus cameras, but also supports manual focus bodies. It is lightweight and smooth in function. I paid 10.00 for it in a browse box at the last camera show.
Then I switched to the Chinon f:1.7 / 50mm lens pictured. I acquired it with some junk camera in auction. The lens surfaces were all badly contaminated with fungus. I cleaned out what I could, but could not clean all of it. But the remaining damage does not seem to be fatal, lens performed just fine today.

Few classic cameras rival the Pentax K1000 in terms of popularity and durability. And it forces you to rely on skills and instincts, rather than "features."

Please click on thumbnail images to see enlarged.
All images are ©2011 E.J.Kowalski.