The Pentax ME type camera

Vonder · Jan 30, 2010

I have a newly acquired Pentax ME Super Program. It's acting just like nearly evey other "ME" type camera I've had - the shutter button must be pressed down HARD to get it to fire. I ordered a winder today, so I hope not to have to worry about this problem in the future, but is this trully a common affliction of this breed? Or is it more a sign of age? I have a Konica camera with a similar slow-firing, full-press shutter button too, and it sits on the shelf most of the time. Those electrical contacts must be getting brittle.

FilmOnly · Jan 30, 2010

I could not agree more with your complaint in regard to shutter buttons that need a hard push. I got rid of a number of cameras because of this. I believe that, in hand-held situations, this foolish design induces camera shake. Anyway, I have owned just about all of the Pentax M-series cameras (with the exception of the MX). I had multiple bodies, and some, as I recall, did have that annoying hard-press-down flaw. The worst, though, were the Canon AE-1P and A-1. These are fantastic cameras, otherwise. I gave them up specifically because of the shutter release.

Pumal · Jan 30, 2010

I have 2 Super Programs. I have no problems.

eSFotos · Jan 31, 2010

I have 4 ME Supers and they all have reasonable sensitivity.
However, they are not as sensitive as RTS or EOS 3.

gregmacc · Jan 31, 2010

My ME Super's shutter release button is sweet ... but the shutter speed buttons can be dodgy at times.

Vonder · Feb 1, 2010

Well, I went out to test it more today, and it looks like the metering system is goofy. Shooting ASA 200 film it kept trying, on P mode, to shoot 1/2000 at f16. The snow wasn't THAT bright. It does seem to meter correctly on occasion...

Anyone have a super-duper quick fix for that sort of error? I was thinking maybe the battery contacts and lens contacts could need to be cleaned.

Pumal · Feb 1, 2010

A CLA for an old camera is always a good idea.

Ted White · Feb 1, 2010

I have an MX and its shutter release is smooth and easy. Unfortunately the metering system leaves something to be desired. It meters consistently 1 to 1 1/2 stops off. For example, if my Pentax Spotmatic, Voigtlander Bessa R, and my Pentax KM all meter at f:5.6 @ 125th, the MX meter at f:8-8.5.

At least it's consistent.

My recommendation on the stiff shutter is, of course, to send it on to Eric Hendrickson for CLA.

BetterSense · Feb 2, 2010

I have an ME and an ME super, and the shutter release is not objectionable. Then again, both look like they have been fired a million times, so maybe they have been smoothed out.

naeroscatu · Feb 3, 2010

I have both the ME Super and ME-F and the shutter works just fine, smooth and easy. You probably have a problem with that camera. Here is a link that shows you how to take off the top cover:
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/pentaxmeramblings.html
It may be something visible obstructing the shutter. Cheers

Vonder · Feb 3, 2010

It turned out that the meter connection tab / flange on the lens mount was bent. Bending that back fixed the goofy metering. The shutter button is still not right but I can live with that, as the winder will provide a new new shutter button.

Carl V · Feb 9, 2010

Ted White said:
I have an MX and its shutter release is smooth and easy. Unfortunately the metering system leaves something to be desired.

I had an MX myself back in the 1980s, and for a while before I eventually parted with it, the LED's kept flickering up and down. At first, it only occurred when you altered the lens aperture, but eventually it was doing it constantly. Other than that, mechanically it was a great camera.

Randy_Va · Feb 9, 2010

I have the weird metring issue on my ME Super. It seems that the contacts between certain apertures on each of my lenses just don't work right. I just turn to a different aperture to meter then put in manual to get the exposure I want in the aperture I want.

The Pentax ME type camera

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