farlymac
PF McFarland
Today, the FedEx delivered a package with a Pentax ME Super, 1.7/50, 2/50, AF200T flash, various loose items (filters and such), and a Nikkor 2.8/24 in the bubble case (the only reason I bid on the bunch), all for much less than the 24mm alone retails for.
Everything looked good (the 24mm needs lube really bad, as it squeals), but the mirror was up on the ME Super, and the winder was jammed. I figured it was just dead batteries, so I loaded a fresh pair, got the lights, but no action. Tried the slap-into-palm trick, and that didn't work. Opened up the bottom, and no amount of lever manipulation would help. I could get the shutter to wind and trip, though it tripped on it's own when the winding lever was let go.
I knew how these particular camera were prone to hang-up, and after digging a little farther, found out you had to physically move the shutter blades to finish the stroke. I tried that, and nothing happened.
Then I came across Margaret Mak's article at KyPhoto on the subject, and found I wasn't pushing far enough on the shutter blades. Mind you, I was really leery about messing around with it as they are just very thin plastic. But I gave it one more try, and down came the mirror!
I was so happy. Closed up the bottom of the camera, put the batteries back in, wound the film advance, pushed the shutter button, and nothing.
Back to opening up the bottom again, pushing levers, re-reading Margaret's article. Even tried the self timer to see if cycling that would kick things in gear. But I've come to the conclusion that it really needs a thorough cleaning, as what seems to be the current problem now is just plainly the shutter is stuck. You can hear something click at the proper time the self timer would release the shutter, so I'm pretty sure the action is intact, and not the dreaded broken tab on top of the shutter release stack.
I may try spritzing it with Ronsonal, to see if that loosens things up. I'm not really enthused about the prospect of opening up an electronically controlled SLR, what with all the wires that would have to be unsoldered, and all the little parts that can go flying anywhere. It's not a camera I'm all that enamored with either, so maybe I'll just give it away, and sell the lenses.
Anyhow, those are just some of the things that can go wrong with a Pentax ME Super.
PF
Everything looked good (the 24mm needs lube really bad, as it squeals), but the mirror was up on the ME Super, and the winder was jammed. I figured it was just dead batteries, so I loaded a fresh pair, got the lights, but no action. Tried the slap-into-palm trick, and that didn't work. Opened up the bottom, and no amount of lever manipulation would help. I could get the shutter to wind and trip, though it tripped on it's own when the winding lever was let go.
I knew how these particular camera were prone to hang-up, and after digging a little farther, found out you had to physically move the shutter blades to finish the stroke. I tried that, and nothing happened.
Then I came across Margaret Mak's article at KyPhoto on the subject, and found I wasn't pushing far enough on the shutter blades. Mind you, I was really leery about messing around with it as they are just very thin plastic. But I gave it one more try, and down came the mirror!
I was so happy. Closed up the bottom of the camera, put the batteries back in, wound the film advance, pushed the shutter button, and nothing.
Back to opening up the bottom again, pushing levers, re-reading Margaret's article. Even tried the self timer to see if cycling that would kick things in gear. But I've come to the conclusion that it really needs a thorough cleaning, as what seems to be the current problem now is just plainly the shutter is stuck. You can hear something click at the proper time the self timer would release the shutter, so I'm pretty sure the action is intact, and not the dreaded broken tab on top of the shutter release stack.
I may try spritzing it with Ronsonal, to see if that loosens things up. I'm not really enthused about the prospect of opening up an electronically controlled SLR, what with all the wires that would have to be unsoldered, and all the little parts that can go flying anywhere. It's not a camera I'm all that enamored with either, so maybe I'll just give it away, and sell the lenses.
Anyhow, those are just some of the things that can go wrong with a Pentax ME Super.
PF
I really like mine. Tiny with a huge viewfinder. I think it's smaller than an M...
bobby_novatron
Photon Collector
A completely underrated and unloved classic. It's a tiny yet full-featured SLR, I am quite fond of mine.
I sincerely hope you get yours working -- it's a gem of a camera!
I sincerely hope you get yours working -- it's a gem of a camera!
lynnb
Veteran
I'm surprised you're not enamored with it, it's Pentax's answer to the OM and they did a good job. It lets you play with nice (and comparatively cheap) K-mount Takumars. I like mine, a charity store find, but prefer the OMs.
mcfingon
Western Australia
I tried lubricating the mirror latch lever as in that KYPHOTO article and had some success. When I tested the ME Super on film I found I was getting a lot of mirror or shutter shock that was lessening sharpness. I then got back a Pentax MX that I had owned in 1983 and found there wasn't as much mirror and shutter shock in that one, but it also had shutter jamming problems. So it seems widespread with old Pentaxes. I would recommend getting an MX that has been fixed properly if you want to use the lenses on that platform. I find the 50/1.7 to be an excellent lens. I think deteriorated mirror-box foam falling into the shutter is the cause of the sticky shutter on my MX.
Aristophanes
Well-known
I have 2!!
Excellent, small DSLR. Very rugged.
Excellent, small DSLR. Very rugged.
Crazy Fedya
Well-known
farlymac
PF McFarland
Sure, if I would to use the camera much, I'd like it for the lenses, the form factor, and inexpensive system gear. I've got a K1000 I could use, but I have too many cameras as it is, and the last thing I need is another platform to support.
People would send me boxes full of cameras, that's how I got hooked on Olympus. Wonderful lenses, but hard to find a body that is in good shape (metering problems, mirrors falling out, etc), or keeping all the variations of flash connectors straight. I've delved into Minolta and Canon too, and there is one thing that always seems to stick in my mind. No matter how good the lenses are, if you can't get comfortable with the camera, it's not worth the trouble.
So for SLRs, I'm sticking with my Nikon (we go way back together), Yashica (Zeiss lenses!), and Leica gear (a recent infatuation). It's what I like best. I may send the ME Super off for a decent service, as someone out there deserves a good camera to use. There's a college not far from here that still teaches their students how to shoot film.
PF
People would send me boxes full of cameras, that's how I got hooked on Olympus. Wonderful lenses, but hard to find a body that is in good shape (metering problems, mirrors falling out, etc), or keeping all the variations of flash connectors straight. I've delved into Minolta and Canon too, and there is one thing that always seems to stick in my mind. No matter how good the lenses are, if you can't get comfortable with the camera, it's not worth the trouble.
So for SLRs, I'm sticking with my Nikon (we go way back together), Yashica (Zeiss lenses!), and Leica gear (a recent infatuation). It's what I like best. I may send the ME Super off for a decent service, as someone out there deserves a good camera to use. There's a college not far from here that still teaches their students how to shoot film.
PF
Eric Hendrickson is the goto for Pentax service if you decide on that route
meeker
Established
+1 on Eric Hendrickson. Serviced my ME super and MX. For some reason I prefer the ME. It was my first Pentax so I am most used to its operation. Great form factor.
farlymac
PF McFarland
That's where I was planning on sending it to.
PF
PF
BlackXList
Well-known
As far as manual focus SLRs go, whenever I take mine out, I find myself wondering why I use any others.