Film cameras
Pentax K1000 battery
1 × 1.5V alkaline button cell
The Pentax K1000 uses one LR44 alkaline or SR44 silver-oxide button cell for the CdS meter only. The shutter is fully mechanical — the camera works without a battery. Cap the lens when storing; the meter can drain a live cell.
How to replace it
| Compartment | Battery chamber on the camera base / bottom plate |
|---|---|
| How to open | Open the meter battery cover; insert one LR44 / SR44-class button cell matching polarity. |
| Orientation | Follow polarity marks |
| Low battery indicator | Meter needle becomes unreliable or dead when the cell is exhausted |
| Notes | Mechanical shutter and film advance work without a battery. Cap the lens when storing — the meter circuit can drain a live cell. |
| Access | Tool-free |
Important
- Battery powers the light meter only — the shutter is fully mechanical and works without a cell.
- One LR44 (alkaline) or SR44 (silver oxide) button cell — not a 6V 4LR44 / PX28 stack and not a PX625 mercury cell.
- Always-on meter drain: use a lens cap when the camera sits unused with a cell installed.
- Keep button cells away from children.
Sources
Helpful for this device
Optional tools for opening, testing or charging — separate from the battery answer.
- Fluke 101 Digital Multimeter
Accurate open-circuit voltage and basic electrical checks
- Klein Tools MM400 Multimeter
General DC voltage checks including battery terminals
- Digital multimeter
Measure open-circuit voltage and general electronics checks
New battery but still not working?
A fresh 1 × LR44 should restore Pentax K1000 if the battery was the problem. Work through the checks below before replacing the device.
- Check orientation
Confirm the cell is seated correctly: Follow polarity marks
- Check the battery type
This device needs 1 × LR44 (alkaline). Rechargeable cells are not supported for this device. Same size does not always mean the same battery.
- Check known model-specific issues
Battery powers the light meter only — the shutter is fully mechanical and works without a cell. One LR44 (alkaline) or SR44 (silver oxide) button cell — not a 6V 4LR44 / PX28 stack and not a PX625 mercury cell. Always-on meter drain: use a lens cap when the camera sits unused with a cell installed.
- Confirm the battery itself
For most coin cells, fitting a known-good fresh cell of the correct code is simpler than capacity testing.
- Still not responding?
If a correct, fresh battery installed properly does not restore the device, the fault may be elsewhere — the device may need service or replacement.