wpoupore Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I've been reading this forum for the past couple of months, absorbing all the info I can so I can "go digital" the right way. And what has it done? Made me want to go and buy a film camera! I've just come across a store that has a half dozen ME SUPERs ranging in price from $35 to $70. (There is also a Super Program for $95 that looks interesting) I'm just wondering if there are any known reliability issues with the ME SUPER, and generally what to watch for when buying a vintage camera? Thanks in advance. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronald_moravec1 Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Make sure it has a common avail battery, the foam seals are decent or replaceable, and that it works. You need a shutter tester or a nice day and a roll of film. Get a return privledge long enough to test it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewg_ny Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Super programs are nice too. I'd say go with the one in the best condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zfgauthier Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I still use my father's ME Super he had in college. I have had some work done on it recently. Check the mirror damping foam at the top of the mirror box. Mine started turning into goo about a year ago. This is a really easy/cheap fix. I've never really liked the mode dial. At one point it got stuck in bulb and I had to disassemble the dial to get it working again. I wouldn't call either of those serious problems. That ME Super is built like a tank and definitely one of my favorite bodies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWScott Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 My experience isn't with the ME Super specifically, but it probably applies to Pentaxes of the same era and similar design. I have read that the Super Program can have issues if the contacts are dirty in the ASA/exposure compensation dial. It can be cleared up by working the dial back and forth. I recently got a Program Plus, and at first it was a little flaky, sometimes locking up and showing 1/1000 shutter speed in the display. Sure enough, working the ASA dial back and forth (both the exposure compensation and the actual ASA dial) will cure it. Since I have worked the dial back and forth a number of times, the camera seems to be good. Those are good prices for an ME Super. They seem to command a premium (above the Super Programs and Program Plus's). Happy hunting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen_S Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 I never had one. My (later!) Program Plus died 2 times, the Super Program got a new shutter release button after 2 or 4 years, died once and is now suffering from a bend base plate no longer suitable to hold the Motordrive A. David's problem could occur before exposure #1 on the film counter, according its specs the camera sets the shutter to 1/1000 if not put on 1/125 synch setting to allow quick forward winding. Foam seals might start rotting now, I had only the ones of my way older KX replaced yet. In general I can only advise you to consider an electronic camera of that vintage "unreliable". - Why not get a Maginon or Optium K1000, Ricoh KR5, mechanical Cosina 300 or Vivitar 2000 if you can't afford a MX or KX? - They can get fixed locally. Sorry, I might come across as a semi-paranoid backup maniac, but which piece of sophisticated consumer electronics that already gave 23years of service would you (still!) call reliable? - To me it would appear "written off". - If you'll depend on a working camera bring some backup. - I'm doing the same with my DSLRs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david richhart Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 See if you can get a 50mm 1.4 lens thrown in on the deal. That makes a sweet little combination. Then you can start posting your black and white street photographs in the Leica forum and they will never know ;0P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_clark Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 The light meter electronics went on mine twice. I was told each time it was fixed that it is a common problem. Otherwise, they are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewg_ny Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Dave: They'll know for sure it's not Leica because he'll always be missing the decisive moment with his SLR viewfinder. ;oP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_kuhne Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Do as suggested above, so you can swap for a better one if there is a problem. The ME super is a super-built mostly metal camera, a mini tank! The Super Program has some features the ME Super does not have, in terms of more advanced flash system, but the ME Super has a bigger, brighter VF. Look through it, compare with others using the same fast lens, and you'll see how exceptional. Great for MF. I think in terms of workmanship with the 2-tone silver body (real metal, not painted plastic), chrome inlays and 2-piece film winder lever, it is tops. Yet it is one of the most compact bodies ever. Then get yourself a 43mm f/1.9 Limited- you'll be very happy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaner66 Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Bill, I have a ME Super I bought on Ebay about a year ago. I've never had any problems with it. For years I used my K1000. But I wanted an update before I could finally go digital. I went with the ME Super because I was looking for a faster flash sync speed. The ME has 1/125, which is twice the 1/60th of my K1000. And it was cheap. It takes great pictures. Like others here have said, it is built like a tank. But on the ninth of this month, I finally bought the K10d. If you're interested, I'd sell you this one. I have plenty of extras to go with it too. Either way, the ME is a great manual camera. It IS a Pentax, after all...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_robb1 Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Well, I feel really bad saying this, as I have grown up with Pentax cameras, and besides my Yashica rangefinder I have all Pentax gear. However, of the three ME Super bodies I've owned (still have two of them) the winding mechanism has gone a bit whacky on all of them. I don't know if something just get's loose in there and a more regular maintenance schedule would fix that or what, but it is a little dissapointing, as I love the small bodies and like Dave said, the 50mm 1.4 is a really nice lens, you'd be doing VERY well if you could get them to just 'throw one in', but try your luck, you never know ;) By the way, if any other ME Super lovers have had the same winder problem, I'd love to hear how you got around it, since I've got a pristine body, and another, not-so-pretty one I could use for parts. Cheers, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deaner66 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Maybe I'm lucky, and maybe the person I bought my ME from recently had it serviced, I don't know. But no gunk on the seals, and the winder works great. There is a smidge of something on the mirror, but I just left that as it is. I also bought a ME power winderII for it too. Like the camera, it also works flawlessly. I kind of want to sell it, my K1000 and all of the extras for some new goodies for the K10d, but I kind of feel like I'd be betraying my roots getting rid of it all. I've had that K1000 since high school. Photography speaking, it was my first born. But I have my eye on that 70mm f/2.4 limited. What to do, what to do......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_kuhne Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Bought my ME Super new in 1982 and shot with it exclusively for nearly 10 years, and as a backup for another 7. No problems. Still is used some, but I have other AF compact bodies. But control contacts becoming gungy over time, and gasket problems are fairly common with most models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david richhart Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Andrew... the secret is learning to pre-focus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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