Pentax ME Super

[sruddy]

I have a small camera collection that was started with cameras my Father saved for me over the years. Since then family friends, childhood friends, and camera club members donate cameras. I just received two Pentax Cameras, a ME and a K-1000. I was not impressed with the K-1000 but love the size and weight of the ME. I am waiting on batteries but am already considering a ME Super for Manual mode and higher shutter speeds. I also am thinking of replacing the 50mm F1.7 with maybe the f1.4 b just feels a little to short for comfort. Looking for tips on anything to pay particular attention too and opinions of any kind.

 

[runswithsizzers]

"I also am thinking of replacing the 50mm F1.7 with maybe the f1.4 b just feels a little to short for comfort."
I am not understanding what you are trying to say, here. I have the M-series versions of both the 50mm f/1.7 and the f/1.4 -- and they are both excellent lenses. I rarely shoot wide open, so I prefer to carry the f/1.7 version due to it's lighter weight.

Long ago, I ended up trading my ME for a ME Super, and then traded the ME Super for a MX. But as I recall the MEs were nice little cameras, the ME Super more so than the basic ME.

 

[Nitroplait]

I am waiting on batteries but am already considering a ME Super for Manual mode …

Why? auto mode is fine - or rather rock solid in these cameras.
No need to make it harder for yourself. Manual mode is only for the occasions where the meter is tricked.

 

[Paul Howell]

If you like the size and wt of the ME then the MX, it has is pro build quality, good if prefer manual meter and control, want a true motor drive. I have a ME that I have not used in years, nothing wrong with the camera, the winder is ok but not motor drive. The super is nice upgrade, in term of overriding the auto exposure on the ME, just fuss with the ISO setting.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have all three, and love all three the same.

 

[mrosenlof]

that 50 f/1.7 is an awfully good lens, and smaller than the 1.4

 

[ic-racer]

That is a nice display! Someday I'd like to do similar. Now all my cameras are in boxes, closets and drawers.

 

[gone]

I agree w/ the op, a Pentax K 1000 is a big and heavy camera compared to the MES. The K1000 is quicker to shoot in tricky light though. Just turn the lens aperture while keeping an eye on the match needles in the viewfinder. I have an MV and might buy an ME Super at some point, even if it is a very limited camera. Love their small size, and the MES has a quieter shutter and a lot brighter viewfinder than my MV.

Let's be honest, Pentax really screwed up by not putting an AE Lock button on the MES. Center weighted metering is fine for what it is, but there are more than a few occasions when it isn't going to be that accurate. That makes the camera more of an amateur point and shoot SLR, which is probably what Pentax had in mind.

If it had AE-Lock like the Canon AE-1 Program, lots of Nikons and other cameras (including the later Pentax cameras) you won't miss a shot while fiddling around w/those tiny buttons located on the top of the camera. Surprisingly, my MV's 50 2 lens is as good as the 1.7 when stopped down a bit. It makes surprisingly nice negatives. I did have to hack the lens to make it work in stopped down mode only because I got tired of not knowing what the DOF would end up being. Now I see exactly what will appear on the neg.

 

[flavio81]

I was not impressed with the K-1000 but love the size and weight of the ME. I am waiting on batteries but am already considering a ME Super for Manual mode and higher shutter speeds.

I would suggest you to stay with the ME. The ME is better built than the ME super; it has an actual metal top plate (plastic on the ME super) and overall it feels nicer finished. It also has a more beautiful, clean top plate.

The 1/2000 speed... you don't really need it. And even then, the ME super's 1/2000 speed is probably about 1/1500 in real life.

The manual mode... you don't need it either, it's a bit cumbersome, plus the auto mode works wonderfully. The ME was really perfectly designed.

For me the best improvement on the ME Super is that it is quieter.

 

[flavio81]

Let's be honest, Pentax really screwed up by not putting an AE Lock button on the MES. Center weighted metering is fine for what it is, but there are more than a few occasions when it isn't going to be that accurate. That makes the camera more of an amateur point and shoot SLR, which is probably what Pentax had in mind.

If it had AE-Lock like the Canon AE-1 Program, lots of Nikons and other cameras (including the later Pentax cameras) you won't miss a shot while fiddling around w/those tiny buttons located on the top of the camera.

I disagree. Pentax has an excellent exposure compensation dial. MUCH better than the one in the Nikons (FE2, FE, F3) and the Canons (A-1, F-1N) in the sense that it can be turned by hand and set by "feel" without removing your eye from the finder.

It is really easy to apply +1, +2 (or -1, -2) compensation. Which I find preferable to using AE lock.

The ME Super also improves here by adding an in-finder warning when exposure compensation is engaged. Something that the Nikon F3 and Canon F-1N professional cameras don'thave.

 

[albada]

I shot with an ME Super, and loved it. Pentax did everything right, making the camera a pleasure to use. Bright viewfinder, clear controls that are easy to use, small and not too heavy. Everything right.
I prefer all-mechanical cameras because I distrust electronics and batteries, so I prefer the MX, but the ME Super is a joy to shoot.

Mark

 

[xkaes]

Why? auto mode is fine - or rather rock solid in these cameras.
No need to make it harder for yourself. Manual mode is only for the occasions where the meter is tricked.

I like manual mode, but it's a real PITA with the ME & ME SUPER. Instead of a typical shutter speed dial, you have to spend time pushing & pushing buttons. If you like manual mode -- like me -- get a Pentax with an actual shutter speed dial. KISS!!!

 

[GRHazelton]

I have and use both the ME Super and the MX. The Super is very nice in auto mode, and the winder adds to its enjoyment. The winder has a proper battery tray - just slide it out and change the four AA cells.
The MX is also very nice to use, BUT the shutter speed dial is really stiff, seems to need a finger and thumb to change. The winder sadly lacks the slideout tray of the ME winder, rather it has a tiny end cap secured by a tiny screw into the plastic of the winder. The screw is sure to strip out the threads, and the end cap could easily be lost. What was Pentax thinking?

 

[Chuck_P]

That Canon F1 looks mint.

 

[mshchem]

Beautiful camera collection! My first 35mm camera was a Honeywell Pentax SP 500. I never went beyond Pentax ES, aperture priority, electronic shutter, screw mount Beautiful camera!

 

[flavio81]

I had KX, KM, MX, ME, ME-Super... I got a LX now and i prefer it. But all those machines are great. Perhaps ME/ME super my 2nd favorite.

 

[flavio81]

View attachment 324588

You have quite a collection. If I could steal from your collection i'd take the 2.8 Rolleiflex, the Canon New F-1, and the Contax IIIa. In that order.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I was given a Pentax ME Super with several lenses. It worked well and I liked it but I sold it off to buy more lenses for my other lenses.

 

[StanMac]

I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t like the K1000, but to each his own. I have been able to collect one of each of the K series and M series cameras. I like the heft of the K series bodies. The only complaint I have with the M series is the size of my thumbs - the shutter dial or buttons are a bit small for my fingers to get a grip on. No too much of problem for Auto operation but changing the MX shutter speed while holding the camera to my eye is a bit of a task.

Stan

 

[Lee Rust]

I have one each of the ME Super and MX. Small size, big bright finder images and compact lenses are the main attractions. The push button manual speed selection on the ME is fussy, and when wearing eyeglasses I find it hard to see all the metering LEDs at once. Then again, it was designed specifically for auto exposure.

Nice camera collection, well displayed, and it's good to see the Agfa Flexilette in there. I just got one earlier this year. The controls are a bit awkward, but I like the versatile finder.

 

[Paul Howell]

The K1000 is most respects a K mount Spotmatic with open aperture metering. I have one, not a bad camera at all, prices are in cult realm.

 

[rcphoto]

I like those shelves, did you have them made or were they purchased?

 

[flavio81]

I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t like the K1000

Because the KM and KX and MX exist and can be had for the same price, or less.

 

[flavio81]

The K1000 is most respects a K mount Spotmatic with open aperture metering.

The Spotmatic has a self-timer and depth of field preview lever, which the K1000 lacks.

The Spomatic can be turned off at will, something that is not possible on the K1000 unless one puts the whole camera in a bag or somewhere dark.

The Spotmatic is a better built camera.

 

[sruddy]

I like those shelves, did you have them made or were they purchased?

Thanks, we had them custom made and I cropped out the bottom shelf filled with LPs. If my collection gets any bigger I may need to move the albums somewhere else.