What to check in an old Pentax ME ?

[italy74]

Hi guys
a colleague of mine, while talking with him about cameras and the fact I had just bought the FM3a, told me he thinks to have a Pentax ME which would like to check if it's fine. I guess it's unused since 20 years or so.. are there any specific issues with this model to check ? How is rated in field use? Any hint or useful info that might lead him to use it again?
Many thanks in advance.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Sticky seals and mirror bumpers is the main thing. He will almost certainly have to replace those. Otherwise, I think these have a great reputation for reliability. Tiny, fast, and an AMAZING finder. ME Super is better--it has 1/2000--but it's a great little workhorse.

 

[david.elliott]

I'd ask this over at pentaxforums.com

 

[italy74]

Thanks guys - have a nice day wherever you are !

 

[Chris101]

Check the usual stuff. Open the back and take off the lens. Look at all the foam rubber parts, look for scrape marks where somebody might have tried fixing things before. Check the condition of the shutter, cock the shutter, and check the travel, and edges. Turn all the controls, make sure nothing binds. Run through all the shutter speeds (I don't know, does it have mirror lockup? Use it for the shutter speeds if it does - hold it up with your finger otherwise. Check the levers that stop down the lens. Look through the prism - is it bright enough? Is ther a lot of dirt in the finder?

You know, that stuff.

 

[Michael Markey]

I sometimes use a Pentax ME super which was given to me years ago. I use 50mm and a 100mm Pentax SMC lenses. I has been no trouble despite laying around in a drawer for a few years unused.The bodies are reasonable to buy, here in the UK at least. Funny thing is they retail at about the same price as OM bodies yet I seem to recall the OM being a much more expensive outfit when they were current.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Oh yeah and check the battery compartment for corrosion and make sure the meter is working. You need a working battery to operate the shutter on this camera.

 

[Robin P]

I had one (with 40mm pancake) for several years as my cycling saddle bag camera. At first it seems like a cut down version of the ME super as it's auto only with no manual speeds but the exposure comensation knob on the top is quick and easy to use. A great camera but it will need new seals.

Cheers, Robin