Produced from 1976 until 1997, the K1000 had the longest production run of all Pentax 35mm camera models. While featuring the bayonet mount introduced in 1975, it was the last of the Spotmatic cameras begun in 1964. As a low cost, entry level camera, the K1000 was the best selling camera of all times.

Based on the Spotmatic F (1974-74), the K1000 is an economy version of the KM (1975-77) without the timer or depth of field preview. It was manufactured in Japan until 1978 when assembly was moved to Hong Kong. After 1990 the camera was made in the People's Republic of China. There were several minor variations externally and internally through its production run. The earliest examples featured the Asahi Optical Company's "AOCo" logo and word "Asahi" on the front of pentaprism housing which disappeared aound 1980. As production continued, plastic components were substituted for metal ones. An example is the base and cover plates of the last models were plastic instead of metal. This meant a late K1000 is slightly lighter than an earlier one. Because of the material differences, the PRC-manufactured K1000 cameras are reputed not to be of the same quality as the earlier cameras.

The camera shown is of late Hong Kong production. It is shown with the Taiwanese-made SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/2.0 inclued with the camera. Both were purchased new for under $100 (U.S.) at a K-Mart store.