20 Most Recent Pentax ME Super 35mm SLR Camera - Page 5 Questions & Answers

Hey judyrosebudd,
You should be able to use any flash that is not dedicated to another camera manufacturer. Even though the manufacturer lists this camera as a dedicated flash unit it still has the sync contact in the center of the hot shoe mount, which is all that is required to operate a all manual flash. This being said a dedicated flash should provide much more advanced options and simplicity of use. I hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Allan
Go Ahead. Use Us.

pull up on the round button on the left..

That camera has several rubber bumpers and gaskets in the mirror mechanism that have a tendency to turn into sticky gooey sludge causing the levers in the shutter and mirror mechanisms to get sluggish.

The latch that tells it to stop winding is not dropping into proper position when you wind the camera. Try holding the film advance lever all the way to the front when winding it to allow the latch to drop into place before letting the lever to return.

The only permanent solution is to completely disassemble the camera to clean out the old goop and replace them with newer neoprene fittings. My suggestion would be to find a replacement body since the repair is probably going to cost between $80 to $90 and you can probably find a good used body for less than that.

CameraRepairs

Try setting the shutter speed to 125 and firing the camera many times. If it is going to break itself loose and start working, it should do it at 125. Then exercise it through all the shutter speeds to see if it improves. It is a long shot, but it might work!

The lubrication has probably dried out and solidified and would need to be cleaned and lubed which would probably cost between $70 and $80 so you might look around for a used body if that one won't loosen up.

CameraRepairs

Not sure about melting it........ i would be concerned about removing the special coating on the lens. i managed to ruin a digital camera that was tho it was not an expensive one... it still works but the quality of the pictures just isn't the same. be that as it may... use a very clean lint free cloth and a lite amount of water to polish the lens.... it may just be a clouding on the lens that needs to be removed.

Robert

Hello igby Slocumb,   As I recall, this was Pentax's way of mating electronics with mechanical cameras and the success rate was quite good. The only problem with the Pentax Super Program was the rather complex electronic circuit board. Your canera could have bad batteries, or batteries with too low amperage therefore no electronic shutter, have a short in the wiring, etc. You would need to do a shutter circuit check using a benchtop AC/DC power supply to exclude the batteries. Wow - really expensive and time-consuming = complete stripdown and repair. The camera is over approximately 30 years old making it a classic. It is no longer in production meaning parts need to be cannabalized from another old non-working Pentax Super Program. The cost of repair would exceed the value of the camera. Look for another good used model or move on to a Pentax DSLR (digital SLR) camera as your tool. Sorry I couldn't give you a better answer on how to fix your problem.

Easy solution : remove battery cover and clean inside the battery chamber AND the battery cap/cover itself ( use pencil erasor or anything slightly abrasive )
More demanding solution : remove top cover and locate red wire on the left hand side of the circuit board ( impossible to miss; the wire brings power from battery chamber to the main board ) and resolder ( dry joint ) . You should also actually measure whether you are getting 3V through this wire ( one connection to the contact and the other to the body of the camera ). If you are still not getting anything out from the battery chamber the red wire needs replacing.

The Pentax MV has a similar body and uses the same lenses as the Pentax ME Super, but it is a fully "Auto Exposure" camera. It does not have manual override or shutter-priority modes. It is a good camera to take pictures, but not if you want to have full manual / creative control over the camera.

Take care & Happy Imaging!
Glen
:)

Yes, I solved the problem. Apparently the problem was cused by grease aging in the mirror box due to the fact that de camera had not been used for a long time. I alternatively advanced the wind lever an depressed the shutter several times and now the camera is working ok. Regards,

Sound like your shutter is not opening and will need to be serviced.

Generally this may mean it requires a full over haul and may not be cheap.
Sorry for the bad news.

Hi Pete,

Say you're using ASA/ISO 100 film:
Photos come out overexposed and you were shooting in A or S or P modes.
Just set your ASA/ISO to 200: this will gives one stop less and images will be correct.

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Have the old batteries leaked and left acid corrosion on the battery teminals?

Firstly i would clean the battery termainals in the camera (remove the battery lid and batteries and with a small screw driver gentally scrap the battery connection in the body) then make sure you refit the batteries correctly. if this still has not rectified you issue the camera will need to be repaired.

Good luck.

Sounds like the pressure plate for the viewfinder lens has dropped in front of the lens. If the viewfinder surround is craked this is very likley.

To learn how to remove the top of these cameras and other Pentax's there is a camera repair website where you are shown how to do this. Just click the link.

miraje,
the shutter locking lever is sticking. time for a clean, lube & adjust.
i would take, or send this fine rugged camera to a reputable camera repair shop, have an estimate for a cla.
This model pentax is made with very little plastic and will last a long time with an occasional cla.

Ok, well are you using a lens that is compatible with the auto setting? Are the batteries new and fresh in the camera? If you are not sure about the lens, then what you can do is too look at the inside of the box of the film you are using (Kodak) has a setting and exposure guide printed on the box. Try using the required exposure for the light that you are in... say for bright sun try f 16 at 1/125th of a second. That setting is for Kodak Royal Gold 100. That is right off the Kodak exposure guide, which you can find on the web here

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/e41/index.shtml#exposure

I'd stick to Kodak film if possible. Try that out, and if no dice, then take the camera to a repair shop and have it looked over. good luck!

anmolag,

it could be the rubber bumper next to the fresnel lens has become sticky. very gently ( after removing lens ) try to bring mirror down without forcing it. it should release easily.
if not, rotate the select knob off auto. open film door and check that the shutter is fully deployed, shutters should not be overlapping.
remove screws from bottom cover and remove cover, keep camera up side down so that re-wind button stays put. there is a locking lever under the take up spool ( gray ) . with a pin move lever toward film door and bring advance lever fully to the right , then let it go so it returns quickly.
the shutter should have fired. if not the camera will need to be repaired. get an estimate first as there are no new parts available.

Press the rewind button and wind the film advance lever, It will set to its place. Release the rewind button, press the shutter release button.Once again try wind the film.( provided your camera is not fitted with motor wind )

This is a common problem with the older Pentax SLRs : shutter / mirror box needs servicing . The problem is caused by perished rubber parts. Although the problem is easy to fix, it has to be carried out by a pro because the mirror box has to be removed from the camera so that one can have access to the shutter and the side of the m-box where the problem is. Costs ? +- $150.

Hello davidpritchie,  As I recall, this was Pentax's way of mating electronics with mechanical cameras and the success rate was quite good. The only problem with the Pentax Super Program was the rather complex electronic circuit board. Your canera could have a short, bad condensers, bad on-off switch, etc. You would need to do a circuit check from batteries to every electronic component using battery power. Wow - really expensive and time-consuming = complete stripdown and repair. The camera is over approximately 30 years old making it a classic. It is no longer in production meaning parts need to be cannabalized from another old non-working Pentax Super Program. The cost of repair would exceed the value of the camera. Look for another good used model or move on to a Pentax DSLR (digital SLR) camera as your tool. Sorry I couldn't give you a better answer on how to fix your problem.

Hi - You can download the manual by clicking the link underlined in blue below:

Pentax > ME Super



Camera takes a standard 32mm roll film available at any high street shop:



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