Pentax K1000 35mm SLR - advice please

[Quaint]

During a recent attic clearout, my mother found a couple of boxes of stuff from my Grandpa's house, cleared when he died 6 years ago. In one of these, she found a Pentax K1000 SLR, complete with 3 different lenses (a wide angle, a 50mm and a long-ish zoom - no details as I'm just going by what Mum has told me) and various accessories. She's going to give me the lot to do with as I please, and I'm minded to have a play with it, as long as the thing actually works...

My main question is this: I'm aware it's possible to get 35mm film still, but what about processing? Is it possible to have 35mm negatives scanned at a high resolution, to generate images which I can then edit and print as I see fit? I've not used a 35mm camera since about 1995, so I am hardly current on this front!

I use a D70s as my main camera, but have fond memories of learning all about the theory of photography using my Dad's old Kodak Retinette when I was 11 or so - so this old SLR would strictly be for fun and/or nostalgia purposes, not heavy use.

Anyway - advice, useful resources or insults welcomed.

[beano500]

I think your PH "handle" is how I would feel.

To be honest I am quite envious of the people on here who get down to it and use a good piece of silver halide to get artistic. Have thought a couple of times of picking up an old FM/FE/F-something body.

But then again - it'd be a passing fad and the digital body would come out again. Thus leaving the whole thought and image of going retro quite..... well "quaint"!!

Put it on display somewhere if you have a space, or tuck it away for your ancestors - it'll be an antique in another 70 years (20 if you sell it to a Yank...)

But that's just me - bah humbug!!

[VxDuncan]

I learnt on one years ago, it's still upstairs. Has a sticker saying it was serviced in 1976 - the year I was born! Manual everything, the battery was always flat on the light meter (which isn't very good in low light from what I remember). I used to carry a piece of paper than told you which exposure to use according to the weather and tme of year! Brilliant. Got me an A-Level in art (photography) it did.

If you need any help give us a shout, but there isn't much to explain!

[SamHH]

Quaint said:

My main question is this: I'm aware it's possible to get 35mm film still, but what about processing?

Loads of places process film.

Quaint said:

Is it possible to have 35mm negatives scanned at a high resolution, to generate images which I can then edit and print as I see fit?

Yes, here for example:

http://www.peak-imaging.com/htmls/process_and_scan...

Or you can buy a scanner and do it yourself.

[Simpo Two]

You could either keep it as a memento (it doesn't take up much space), or sell it on eBay. Basic 35mm film SLRs do have a market amongst photography students. With body and three lenses - £70 maybe?

[racing green]

Seems an long way around doing what your D70 does in two minutes.Still I would buy one roll - no point wasting any more if it doesn't work - and have a go. It might drive you mad having to wait for the photos and you won't know what you have taken till they come back. There is a certain old fashioned feel to that and it can be fun, but don't take stuff your passionate about or if you do take back up pics on your digital slr. I still have my K2, ME Super and MZ5N and have often wondered about having a play. Thats the trouble with digital, it sucks you in with its easiness and control. Let your photographic hair down and have a play, you'll only loose a few quid and it might make you think differently.

[cbcbcb]

You could put some infra-red film in it, just so you can do something which you can't easily do with digital

[Quaint]

Thanks for the replies, chaps - I shall get hold of a roll of film and have a play, if only to see if the thing works as it should. I can see that it's basically a longwinded way of doing what a digital SLR does anyway, so maybe my interest is merely driven by nostalgia!

I also like the idea of trying infra-red photography; I always liked the effect but really can't be doing with the challenge of getting my D70 to do the job.

[beano500]

Quaint said:

I also like the idea of trying infra-red photography; I always liked the effect but really can't be doing with the challenge of getting my D70 to do the job.

That would definintely be good fun, but you might be surprised that the D70 filtration isn't that sophisticated and with a filter you can get some good results! I can't get anything nearly as good with my D2x and the same IR filters as I did on my (standard - not bdised!) D70.

[tog]

VxDuncan said:

I used to carry a piece of paper than told you which exposure to use according to the weather and tme of year!

The sunny-16 rule. In sunny weather, set the aperture to f/16 and the shutter speed to approximately the film speed. Should be fine for colour neg film, might want to bracket a bit with slides.

[Quaint]

beano500 said:

Quaint said:

I also like the idea of trying infra-red photography; I always liked the effect but really can't be doing with the challenge of getting my D70 to do the job.

That would definintely be good fun, but you might be surprised that the D70 filtration isn't that sophisticated and with a filter you can get some good results! I can't get anything nearly as good with my D2x and the same IR filters as I did on my (standard - not bdised!) D70.

Interesting... I shall have to take a look at that.

In the meantime, I see that Ilford still do an IR-sensitive black-and-white film (SFX-200), so I'll get some of that and a red filter, and see what happens...