[jerseyjubal]

I have both a Pentax Super Program and a Pentax MX and am curious as to autowinders, will an autowinder for a Pentax ME fit and operate properly with either of the aforementioned models? I'm not sure I will choose to pick one up but if I do what should I be looking for?

As for autowinders in general I used to and still think of them like I do about semi-auto firearms with 30-50 round capacity magazines (my fiancee' loves 'em) ie. things can get expensive real fast when blowing through a stack of 20 round boxes of ammo or in this case a roll of film. Lol!

[seventhdr]

The Pentax MX uses a different winder that is not compatible with the Super Program. Use can only use the Winder MX on the Pentax MX.

If I remember correctly with the Super Program you could use the Motor Drive A or the Winder ME II (But not Winder ME). You can use the Winder ME II on the ME, ME Super, ME F, MV, MV1, MG, Super Program and Program Plus, and the P5.

Regards

Chris

[pschlute]

I have both a Pentax Super Program and a Pentax MX and am curious as to autowinders, will an autowinder for a Pentax ME fit and operate properly with either of the aforementioned models? I'm not sure I will choose to pick one up but if I do what should I be looking for?

This compatability guide should help Pentax Winders and Motor Drives | The K-Mount Page

[jerseyjubal]

The Pentax MX uses a different winder that is not compatible with the Super Program. Use can only use the Winder MX on the Pentax MX.

If I remember correctly with the Super Program you could use the Motor Drive A or the Winder ME II (But not Winder ME). You can use the Winder ME II on the ME, ME Super, ME F, MV, MV1, MG, Super Program and Program Plus, and the P5.

Regards



Chris

Thank you.

---------- Post added 09-24-23 at 12:40 PM ----------

This compatability guide should help Pentax Winders and Motor Drives | The K-Mount Page

Thank you.

[leekil]

The Super Program's Winder ME II is not super fast (2 fps), I guess it is faster than advancing it yourself, but you're not likely to blow through a whole roll because it's out-of-control or anything. It never seemed that useful to me, especially because it's kind of noisy. It also makes the camera a lot less compact, the smaller grip that comes with the Super Program seems very adequate. I guess a larger grip might be useful if you have large hands, or are using large lenses on the camera.

[MadBill]

I have both the Wider ME II and Motor Drive A for my Super Program, all purchased many years ago. The winder is nice to use and provides a bigger grip when using a bigger lens. It strikes a nice balance (for me) between size, weight, and functionality. The Motor Drive A is a bit of a brick, but is more impressive in terms if speed, sound, and appearance. These days, for film, I don't really use either one. The Super Program looks nice mounted on the Motor Drive A with SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.4 or SMC Pentax-A 85mm F1.4.

[Lord Lucan]

The Super Program's Winder ME II is not super fast (2 fps), I guess it is faster than advancing it yourself ..... It never seemed that useful to me, especially because it's kind of noisy.

Any film winder is likely to be noisy, but unless you are in church or a theatre I don't understand why it should be an issue. I think that 2 fps would be fine for portraiture or sports at an amateur level. Apart from that, in film days many amateurs like the idea of an auto-winder as a must-have to emulate the professionals they saw on the TV news using motor drives at celebrity events, never mind that motor drives are in a different league from winders. The fact that a motor drive was made for the MX as well as a winder showed it to be a professional grade camera.

[jerseyjubal]

Thank you all for the clarifications and suggestions.

My first SLR was a Ricoh KR5, I don't have massive mitts so the size was perfect and it served me well for three decades. I later bought a used Pentax MX to have as a backup but now with the Ricoh gone I bought the Super Program cheap (under $5) and sent both it and the MX out for service ie. new light seals, lube, and cleaning.

The only reason I'm considering an autowinder is the difficulty at times phtographing our dogs (one a "high energy" Treeing Walker Coonhound the other a Lab/Pointer mix) and the horses in the pasture next door, the goats and livestock mostly beef cattle that populate the area are accomodating in staying relatively still.

---------- Post added 09-25-23 at 03:36 PM ----------

If I purchase a compatible winder is there a resource where I can download a user's manual in the event the winder doesn't come with one? I ask because so many of the winders I see on Ebay do not include the user's manual.

[pschlute]

is there a resource where I can download a user's manual in the event the winder doesn't come with one?

This site has a Manual for the MX and ME winders Pentax Manuals

Pentax is the password

[jerseyjubal]

This site has a Manual for the MX and ME winders Pentax Manuals

Pentax is the password

Thank you.