Pocket-able SLR

I mostly shoot rangefinders for 35mm work, but sometimes I crave the

WYSIWYG of an SLR. This being the case, I�m considering picking up

an MX, and 40/2.8 pankace as a �pocket-SLR�. I�m not really familiar

with the Pentax line. What are some of the other smallish manual

focus bodies that have aperture priority AE? Any of those have

shutter speeds of at least 1/2000? <p>Thanks in advance.

The Pentax ME and ME Super were about the size of the MX, both are AP autos. The ME didn't have a manual exposure option, though. I think the ME super might have gone to 1/2000, not sure; its manual controls are a little odd but they work.

 

The pancake lenses are a little thin on the ground, you might want to check availability and cost on those before you get too far down the line with a body.

 

:)=

Thanks Richard. <p> After doing some quick research, it looks like the ME Super is the one I want, small, manual shutter speed control, AP AE, and 1/2000. One question - how have those speed selection buttons held up over the years? I remember a lot of equipment from the 80s that had similar push buttons that wore out very quickly.<p>Thanks again.

Hi Sheldon.

 

Take a look at the Pentax Super Program (Super A outside the US). It is a tad thicker than the MX ( I have squeezed one into a MX body case though) but offers a lot more automation. AE (with all K mount and screw mount lenses)and shutter priority (with A, F or FA lenses), TTL flash ability, Depth of view preview, film rewind check. And the camera is going for dirt cheap prices. Yes, you will need batteries to opperate the shutter, but it is a very nice camera.

"The pancake lenses are a little thin on the ground, you might want to check availability and cost on those..."<p>Just grabed one @ KEH for $126 in BGN condition, so that's taken care of ;-).

I use MX cameras, so I am partial to manual controlled cameras and don't like battery dependence much, but for a small camera that is newer and more user friendly(auto film advance, autofocus, multisegmented meter, dx capability) and still fairly pocketable, you should maybe check out the *ist film camera. It isn't all that costly and fits my hands pretty well, at least it did at the camera shop I played around with it at.

Hi Sheldon -- I have two ME Supers and they've been very reliable. No trouble with the buttons, but one of them has a weak slip-clutch in the film takeup that causes film to spool up somewhat loosely, and it will jam near the end with 36-exposure rolls. There was yet another ME Super many years ago that was destroyed by my wife spilling Coca Cola on it. After that she got a Pentax LX, gasketed for better protection from liquids! The LX is a honey, and withstood her abuse pretty well... plus it's not much bigger than the ME series. Another possible choice for you. Maybe the best 35mm Pentax ever made?

Sheldon, I have Pentax ZX-M for auto advance and rewind and very light weight. It sits on top of my skydiving helmet and does great. I got an MX to utilize the Pentax lenses I was accumulating. You'll wind up grabbing your ME super to go everywhere. My MX stays with me.

Have fun and blue skies! Doug

The shutter speed buttons on my ME Super work perfectly, but I think it was lightly used (i.e. I think I've used it more in 7 months or so than in the previous 20 years). I love the ME Super, and the only thing I ever wish for is the ability to check the shutter speed (in manual) without looking through the viewfinder. Usually I remember what it was, but not always. Obviously the MX has this feature, but I've never owned an MX and can't comment on it.

Well, the 40/2.8 showed up last Friday, and the ME-Super showed up today. While it�s definitely a compact package, you really can�t call it a �pocket-SLR� ;-) But stuffed in whatever bag/pack you have, you�d never notice it. <p>Looking forward to some shots this WE. Thanks to all who responded.