Pentax ME Super - Mirror stuck in up position

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

Hi folks,

I was loading film in my ME Super and after a couple of click-and-winds, the winding lever won't advance the film and the shutter button doesn't do anything. Looking through the viewfinder (and taking off the lens) shows that the mirror is in the up position.

I have no camera repair experience, tools, or talent. Please help!

Thanks,

Adam

voceumana · Apr 5, 2021

I have no specific knowledge about this, but if you haven't done so already, open up the back and see if that clears it. The film may have gotten where it shouldn't be--in the shutter/mirror's path.

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

voceumana said:
I have no specific knowledge about this, but if you haven't done so already, open up the back and see if that clears it. The film may have gotten where it shouldn't be--in the shutter/mirror's path.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried opening and closing the back a few times, and I've removed the film, all with no success. When I remove the lens, a lever is exposed that will lower the mirror, but then the mirror just flips back up again.

Craig75 · Apr 5, 2021

if you push the self timer lever, does that trigger the shutter to allow you to wind camera on?

(thats worked for me in the past with other cameras)

wiltw · Apr 5, 2021

Some cameras with electronically timed shutters will lock up the mirror and cease to function when you have DEAD BATTERY. I do not know if the Pentax ME does that.

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

Craig75 said:
if you push the self timer lever, does that trigger the shutter to allow you to wind camera on?

(thats worked for me in the past with other cameras)

Thanks. I've tried it a few times--doesn't help.

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

wiltw said:
Some cameras with electronically timed shutters will lock up the mirror and cease to function when you have DEAD BATTERY

Thanks for the reply. Replacing the batteries is the first thing I tried. No luck.

wiltw · Apr 5, 2021

Adam W said:
Thanks for the reply. Replacing the batteries is the first thing I tried. No luck.

I know that if you press the shutter button while the camera is in Auto, and the lens cap is on, the mirror will LOCK UP..
If you turn the speed dial to 100X, the mirror will come down.

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

wiltw said:
I know that if you press the shutter button while the camera is in Auto, and the lens cap is on, the mirror will LOCK UP..
If you turn the speed dial to 100X, the mirror will come down.

Do you mean 125X? That didn't help.

wiltw · Apr 5, 2021

Adam W said:
Do you mean 125X? That didn't help.

The user documentation that I consulted said '100X'

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

wiltw said:
The user documentation that I consulted said '100X'

Huh, my camera says 125X

wiltw · Apr 5, 2021

Adam W said:
Huh, my camera says 125X

I originally consulted the Pentax ME manual, it has '100X'. I just checked the Pentax ME Super manual, it has '125X' to fix the locked up mirror.

Adam W · Apr 5, 2021

Well, after some more Googling, it looks like this isn't a rare problem with the ME Super and it's off to Erick Hendrickson for a repair.

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

Adam W · Apr 24, 2021

Damn, Erick is FAST! Got the camera back today, repaired and CLA'd. US$110.

russell_w_b · Apr 26, 2021

Adam W said:
Hi folks,

'I was loading film in my ME Super and after a couple of click-and-winds, the winding lever won't advance the film and the shutter button doesn't do anything. Looking through the viewfinder (and taking off the lens) shows that the mirror is in the up position...'

It's funny you say that. I was presented with a charity shop ME Super that had the mirror stuck up. It was possible to lower it by hand, but it flew up again. I fixed it by giving the camera a smart thump, base-plate down, into the palm of my hand. That brought the mirror down but the shutter wouldn't fire, although the winder appeared to advance satisfactorily. I removed the four screws underneath and lifted the baseplate off. If you do this, watch you don't lose the little plastic bush that sits over the film rewind button! It has to go back the right way. Then I watched what advancing the winder actually did.

After a few attempts at 'winding' on, the mechanism eventually bit and engaged the shutter. You don't need cells if you set the camera to '125' as it's the shutter speed the camera defaults to when the battery is flat. I gave the mechanism a liberal dose of lighter fluid (naphtha) and gently worked the winder a few times. All came good and now works perfectly! I advised the owner to invest in a CLA as I suspect the naphtha has eased the gunge, but probably removed all remaining lubrication. I wasn't prepared to delve any further into the camera.

Pentax ME Super - Mirror stuck in up position

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