Help! I can't get my camera open!!!?

Question

It's an Asahi Pentax K1000. I pressed to button at the very bottom and it still won't open. I have an assignment due soon and I have no idea how to get this camera open! Help anyone!

Answer 1

If you have shot a roll of film, press the button on the bottom and rewind the film back into the cassette before opening the camera.

To open the camera, pull up on the rewind crank, and the back should pop open.

To load film. Drop the 35mm cassette into the  left compartment. I like to bend the leader of the film about a 1/2 inch from the end. This helps it stay on the take up spool. Thread the end of the film onto the take up spool. There will be slots on the take up spool that you put the end of the film in. Make sure the film is aligned across the camera. Gently push on the film to make sure it is engaging the sprocket gears that are on the right side of the camera. Depress the shutter and wind the film on the takeup spool. 1 or 2 winds should be sufficient to get the film started. Close the camera back, and then click the shutter and advance the film until the film counter hits 1.

After shooting the roll of film, the film must be rewound back into the film cassette. Look at the bottom of the camera. There should be a little button there. Push it in. On the top of the camera, open the fold out crank on the left side. Wind the film back into the cassette.

Answer 2

Relax!  Help is here:

Simply pull up gently on the film rewind k**b (the thing on the top left side as you look down on the camera).

It will rise about 1/2 inch, then apply a little more pressure and the back should pop open.

That button the bottom - btw - is what you use to release the film once you've shot the roll.  Press and hold it in while you're rewinding the film before you reopen the camera to take it out.