My First 35mm SLR :D (Pentax ME Super)

[addies]

Hey guys, so a bunch of you have probably seen my other thread about the camera I was planning on buying "Pentax MZ-10". Well, I guess good things come to those who wait . Yesterday I got an email about a Pentax ME Super that someone had for sale, so today I went to check it out. Guess who now owns an ME Super?

For $60 I got the body, in surprisingly good condition; a 50mm prime lens fstop 2.0; a 28mm lens fstop 2.8 and a clear lens filter marked 1A.
I think this might be a better deal than the MZ-10, hopefully.

Any advice on what I should do now? Maintenance tips, etc.

Anyways, thanks to everyone who helped me with how to look over cameras, lens tips, etc. You guys are the best.

 

[lxdude]

A nice machine; handles nicely, especially with the winder attached. No DoF preview and no exposure lock on AE are its main drawbacks. Well, the shutter speed buttons are kinda funky, but I've gotten used to it. The viewfinder's very nice-large, bright and clear.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Check the seals on the door. If they are mushy at all, plan on replacing them. Jon Goodman, interslice on ebay-
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pre-Cut-Intersl...=ViewItem&pt=Film_Cameras&hash=item19bb59423a

If you get along with it, plan on sending it out for an overhaul. Eric will replace the seals at the same time. ~$70 and you'll have a great camera for years.
http://pentaxs.com/index.html

I've found the ME Super metering to be very good at default. Once I found the proper EI setting, rolls come out amazingly consistent. The ME Super and a Pentax-M 28mm f2.8 is my basic street film camera. Wonderful feel, wonderful viewfinder, consistent, small. I even like its muffled mirror slap!

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I don't know much about Pentax, but good luck with it!

Jeff

 

[lxdude]

Oh yeah! The 28 on it is a great combo, and without winder will slip into a coat pocket easily. Some find the camera too small without winder, but I think it's fine.

 

[addies]

Quick question: when I look though the viewfinder, it seems that the area surrounding the outer circle is not as clear as the very center circle, is it dirty or is that how it's supposed to be?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Yes, the outer area is a 'ground glass' look,with a bit of grain to it. There is a central split image circle, a collar of microprisms, and then the ground glass.

 

[Southern-Lights]

The ME Super is a great camera, imo, also my first SLR.

The winder is nice to have, but I like advancing the film manually better.

 

[addies]

Yes, the outer area is a 'ground glass' look,with a bit of grain to it. There is a central split image circle, a collar of microprisms, and then the ground glass.

Haha okay, thanks.

 

[pentax4ever]

Quick question: when I look though the viewfinder, it seems that the area surrounding the outer circle is not as clear as the very center circle, is it dirty or is that how it's supposed to be?

The outer part of the screen is a matte fresnel screen with a split-image and microprism collar in the center. The microprism and split-image area are clearer. Besides using the microprism and split-image area for focusing, you can also use the matte surface like a ground-glass screen, this is useful when you are using slow lenses that black out the microprism and split-image area.

 

[lxdude]

The ME Super is a great camera, imo, also my first SLR.

The winder is nice to have, but I like advancing the film manually better.

Yeah, it's sweet. The vertical shutter allows it to have a nice short winding stroke.
The winder's nice for people who find the camera to be too small. I like it either way.

 

[Dave in Kansas]

You should find the ME Super to be a very reliable camera. I have 2 of them that I bought new and other than an occasional CLA, they just go and go. I love the size and feel of them. My only complaint is that the exposure lights in the viewfinder are difficult to see on a bright day.

Dave

 

[altair]

As a first SLR, the ME Super is an excellent choice. Congratulations. I love mine, mostly due to it's small size, low weight and also it's superb VF. None other like it.

Dan Daniel: I love the muffled mirrror slap too, the nicest sound I've ever heard coming from a 35mm SLR! It gives me such pleasure. But, my friend has another ME SUper and oddly, his doesn't sound quite so muffled. Perhaps his mirror bumper is going?

 

[brainsalad]

Very good - it's a more durable camera than the one you were considering, and it has a much better viewfinder too. I enjoy using my ME Super. Hope yours does well for you.