Pentax ME super metering question

[Blooze]

I've put the first two rolls of film through one of my old Pentax cameras to check it out, ME Super. Both rolls were Arista Premium shot at 400 using the in-camera metering. A yellow #8 filter was used on and off through both rolls. Both rolls were developed in ID-11 (the first for 9 minutes at 72F which was room temp, the 2nd for 10 minutes at 68F), Ilfostop for 20-30 seconds, Ilford rapid fixer for 4 minutes (checked time to clear and doubled it), Ilford method rinse 5,10,20,30, 40, 50 inversions with filtered water, and a final rinse for 4 minutes in filtered water with one drop of LFS. I inverted for the first 10 seconds of each developing cycle, then 3 inversions every minute after that. Same with the stop and fixer.

Anyway, the negatives on both rolls look to me to be underexposed. Lots of clear, especially on dark scenes. Filter didn't seem to make any difference. Now that I look back at my notes most of the shots at f/16 and f/11 were getting auto shutter speeds of 1/500 and 1/1000 with the filter on. The ones without a filter were always the same or higher. I checked it against my Pentax MX and Luna Pro SBC (reflective) and for the same f-stop it was always a stop faster on the shutter speed. So the MX would read f/11 at 1/500 on a clear blue sky while the ME would be 1/1000 (both set to 400asa). With the asa moved to 200, then it matched the MX and Luna. I plan on sending it off for a CLA this fall, but in the meantime would it be worth trying the ME set at half the films box speed, then developing it at box speed? Just thinking of a way to use the camera meter.

FWIW, I've not had the Luna meter checked, but in reflective mode it matches both of my Nikon dslr's matrix metering dead on, and it matches the Pentax MX and a Canon AE-1's metering as well.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I like using the ME for walk around shooting.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Sure, set the ISO to whatever gives you the results you want.

In the meantime, drop an email to Eric Hendrickson and describe what is happening. He might know what is happening right away. And he's the guy to go to for an overhaul. He's done two ME Supers for me and they work/feel great-
http://pentaxs.com/

 

[nikon_sam]

First check your battery, then check that the exposure compensation dial is set to 1x
Most of the time when I use a Yellow filter I don't compensate for it...

If you want you can set the compensation dial to 2x to allow twice as much light to hit the film...

 

[Blooze]

Batteries are new and I made sure to clean the contacts well. Comp dial is set to 1X as well. I made sure and rotated the ASA and compensation dial well to clean up the contacts a bit. Both seem to affect the meter accordingly when adjusted. I think the meter is just off a stop or so.

 

[reiki_]

Funny seeing this topic as I was about to ask the same question. Metering on my new ME Super seems to be continuously underexposing more than any camera I've had to this day. I will also try giving it a stop more light but it it's pretty incovenient there are no 1/3 incremental stops, just full ones.

I'll trade it in if it doesn't work out.

 

[Blooze]

Funny seeing this topic as I was about to ask the same question. Metering on my new ME Super seems to be continuously underexposing more than any camera I've had to this day. I will also try giving it a stop more light but it it's pretty incovenient there are no 1/3 incremental stops, just full ones.

I'll trade it in if it doesn't work out.

I think I confirmed mine, at least subjectively, using a method proposed by Jon Goodman I'll link to below. It definitely checked a a stop under. I'm just going to set the ASA at half of the box speed to start with then develop at the times for box speed on the next roll. Hopefully that will take care of it till I can get a CLA done. I'm keeping mine if for sentimental value if nothing else. My Grandfather gave it to me when I was 10 or 11 years old.

Jon's trusty meter check: http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=1501232

 

[jan.smely]

The same for me and my ME Super! I've already noticed somewhere in the forums somebody making the remark about the ME Super's meter being too sensitive. I've developed first two rolls from my camera (recently bought) and both are 1 stop underexposed. It was one negative film (too clear) and one slide film Fomapan R100 (too dark).

When I compared the meter of the ME Super with the one of my Pentax KX (silicon meter, should be very precise), there is exactly 1-stop difference between them. The next time I will definitely use the compensation dial set to 2x.

 

[Red Robin]

ME Super

ME Super

My Super P is still working great but these little guys are starting to get on in years now. Might the electronics of some of them just be getting to the point where a replacement or two is in order? Mine gets lite use these days but remains on my "user" list/shelf. Several years ago I put these kind of bodies at the bottom of the list as I went to more manual camera use. Sometimes I do "slip" off the wagon and grab a Program type as I breeze out the door. Never have developed an affinity for the so-called Auto focus. An added bonus with these gems is the glass that often sells at rock-bottom prices. I suppose that in the end its all good! Buy more film.

 

[unixrevolution]

Dad had a Pentax ME Super, purchased just before I was born in 1982, that was underexposing badly for decades...the camera shop said it was a dead computer and wanted $150 to fix it. Dad gave it to me to play with in 2009, and I ground the EV comp dial back and forth a few dozen times. Cleared it up to within a stop. A trip to Eric finally fixed it for good.

It's in my bag now 🙂