BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Traditional Film Photography

How to set the camera when taking pictures indoors

To love this question, log in above
June 28, 2008

The Pentax K1000 was made by Asahi Optical Company of Japan. It was first marketed 1976 under the Asahi name. The camera was acquired by the Pentax Corporation of Japan. Latter sold in North America as Honeywell Pentax.

This is a sturdy – all – metal 35mm SLR. The camera can operate completely manually (without the aid of its built-in light meter exposure control system. However inside the camera is a small SR44 or LR44 or S76 or A76 (watch hearing-aid type) battery that likely must be replaced.

As cameras go, this model is a good one but its automation is quite basic. Additionally, the camera shutter uses clock-works not unlike a pocket watch. I would suggest that the shutter, while operative is likely no longer accurate due to the fact that the clock-work escape movement requires oil at bearing points which has likely all dried up.

While this camera has a light meter exposure system, it is too primitive to help in a flash saturation. In other words, for flash you are on-your-own.

To operate with flash you must have the shutter speed set to a speed that synchronizes the shutter opening. On the shutter speed dial is a symbol of a lightning bolt. I can’t recall exactly but likely this symbol is opposite the 1/60 of a second shutter speed. For flash you must set this speed or slower. At this speed the film see all of the flash. At other higher speeds the film only sees a partial or no flash.

For flash setting you need to know the Guide Number for you flash:
Look it up in the manual or – discover your self - Set the camera at 1/60 sec. Place a trial subject 10 feet from the camera. Shoot a series of pictures at every f/number available on the camera lens. Have the subject hold a placard so after developing the pictures; you can identify what f/number was used for a specific frame.

After the prints come back: Select the best image. Multiply the f/number on the placard by 10. This is your guide number example f/11 = 11 x 10 = 110.

Future shots: Compose shot – estimate camera-to-subject distance. Divide guide number by distance to calculate f/number to use. Example: Subject 14 feet away – guide number 110 thus 110 ÷ 14 = 7.8 this is the f/number to set your camera. It has no f/7.8 so round to nearest that would be f/8. Thus for this situation the exposure is 1/60 second @ f/8 (for subject 14 feet distant).

My suggestion is: Put this camera on a self or dominate it to a local museum. Likely they will find a great spot for it next to the Civil War medical Instrument Exhibit.

Good luck,

Alan Marcus (marginal technical gobbledygook)
ammarcus@earthlink.net

To love this comment, log in above
June 28, 2008

Thank you for your wealth of knowledge on the camera. I really do love using this old camera, it takes great pictures outdoors. I figured I was doing something wrong inside. I forgot about setting the distance. I will try what you suggested and hopefully I will have better luck with my shots. I know that in this day and age this camera should be extinct, but I really do like it!!! Thanks again for your help.

Sincerely,
Debbie M.

To love this comment, log in above
June 28, 2008