Debate: Should I use original factory parts or third party for a vintage Pentax K1000?

I've got a Pentax K1000 on my bench right now that needs a new shutter curtain. I could either hunt down an original Pentax part from a donor camera on eBay for around $40, or I could go with the third party kit from a supplier in Ohio for $25. I went with the third party option last week, and honestly the fit was a bit off, took me an extra 2 hours to shim it. What do you guys lean towards for these old cameras, original or aftermarket parts?

2 comments

2 Comments

jones.grace1mo ago

Original factory parts always fit better in my experience.

lindaw291mo ago

And that's basically how it goes with everything now. People think they're smarter than the engineers who designed the thing. I noticed this pattern with phone chargers too. Everyone buys cheap cables off Amazon and then wonders why their phone charges slow or stops working after a month. Same with car parts, same with kitchen appliances, same with pretty much anything that has moving parts. The original stuff was tested and approved for a reason. Nobody wants to pay the extra upfront cost but they'll gladly waste money replacing cheap garbage every few months.