niptate

I picked up a K1000 on Facebook Marketplace. The light meter only works when I'm using Pentax-A lenses. I've tried it with Pentax-M lenses as well as third-party lenses, and the light meter does not work. Any suggestions?

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

Can't help with your issue, but if you haven't already done so, check out the Pentax Users' Forum. If there isn't anything already posted, you could ask your question there. Good luck!

https://www.pentaxforums.com/articles/

tramsey Loc: Texas

Another Pentax user form https://www.dpreview.com/forums/1036

niptate

Will do. Thanks.

BebuLamar

The lens shouldn't make a difference. When you say it doesn't work where the meter needle is pointing at?

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Check for hidden batteries... my old Minolta i7000 had one... Factory service only [Bull]. Check info on that wonderful simple day's camera where you could change everything while viewing the screen with one eye and using your fingertips to adjust speed, f stop, and focus,

Yep one battery:
https://www.techwalla.com/articles/what-kind-of-battery-does-a-pentax-k1000-use

BebuLamar

No the Pentax K1000 has no hidden battery. It doesn't even have a meter on/off switch. You use the lens cap to turn the meter off.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

That doesn’t make sense - there are no electrical contacts in the K1000 mount. Are you mounting the lens with it set at A? Maybe the aperture is wide open when you mount it and the meter is indicating extreme overexposure. Be sure the lens is not set to A and adjust the aperture and shutter speed to the conditions ( 1/film speed and f16 - f5.6 ) to see if the meter is responsive.

Stan

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

check the battery. on the bottom of the camera, next to the tripod receptacle, there is a slotted covered circle. the battery is hidden in there. i know this because i used the k1000 prior to going digital and still have it amid my "homage to old technology."

BebuLamar

The OP said it worked with A lens. Which makes no sense because if you have the problem with battery it wouldn't work with any lens.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Strange, I have a Pentax K1000 film camera (or did you mean K-100D Pentax Digital?), and K2 DMD film camera. As others have said, your problem as you describe it does not make sense or seem possible. In the past I have owned several Pentax K-mount film cameras, KM, K2DMD, K1000SE, ME Super, MX, and the meters all work fine with K, M, A series lenses. The the K1000 is totally manual, no AE or AF. If you take a A or FA Pentax lens off the "A" setting it functions in stop down mode and the viewfinder gets darker as you stop down, but the meter is synched and will work anyway. not sure what happens if the diaphragm lever in the mirror box gets damaged. Should possibly not worked with any lens I might think. A mystery there.

But if you do in fact have a digital Pentax K-100D (I do, but I had mine converted for Infrared photography), leave the lens setting on the "A" or it will drive you nuts. Like most digital cameras, change F-stops by the camera body and not the click stops on the lens, for K and M lenses it will meter but will be tricky. Again if you have a digital Pentax there is a menu setting you need for using most legacy or vintage lenses. Go to the last item in the Custom Setting and change the setting from 1 to 2. That allows the use of a click stop ring lens to meter and stop down when the shutter is tripped. You seem to have a mystery going. What Pentax K-mount lenses do you own and have tried? Did one come with the camera and could it be damaged? Could you post photos of your camera (including the mirror box / lens mount with the lens off, and lens (rears)? You can PM me with images or further questions. - Mike

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I don’t have a camera where I can’t do that and I can add ISO and EC.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

The OP’s spell correct may well have changed K10D to K1000. If that is the case, my comments above aren’t relevant.

Stan

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

The K-1000 has an auto index ring that must couple to the lens installed in order to calculate the exposure at different f stops. If the lens you are using does not have this ability, you will not get a light meter. Check to make sure the lens you are using has this.