Pentax ME Super - LED not working & No change in 125x

Pentaxacapture · 04-13-2016, 10:59 AM

Hi everyone!

I have a Pentax Me Super that was in excellent working condition until last week. The LED stopped lighting up and the camera does not change shutter speeds in 125x mode in different light conditions.

I've changed batteries and ensured that they were in correct order. To no avail, the camera is not responding. No damage has impacted the camera. I can't think of any possible causes.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Many thanks!

pathdoc · 04-13-2016, 11:11 AM

Unfortunately there is a strong possibility that this is the time your camera has chosen to die. Remember the electronics modules of these M series cameras are up to 40 years old, depending on make and year of manufacture, and probably were never intended to last this long, especially if it's never been serviced.

Your profile puts you in the United States. Eric Hendrickson is the go-to guy in the US for service and repair of these old cameras, especially if this one means something personally to you - Look him up here.

Alternatively, if this is a secondhand camera with absolutely no sentimental value, it may be less expensive simply to replace it. You could sell the dead one online (e.g. e-bay or in the marketplace here in the forum), labelling it as "for parts or repair only" and see what you got for it, if that was the case.

**RKKS08** · 04-14-2016, 04:56 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxacapture

The LED stopped lighting up and the camera does not change shutter speeds in 125x mode in different light conditions.

If you set the ME Super to 125x mode by using the mode wheel (not the buttons!), it will turn into a fully mechanic camera, and shoot with the fixed exposure time of 1/125 sec.

I remember when in 1982 my first ME Super dropped 1m down to a concrete floor, all electronics stopped working. Nevertheless I could still go on using it for party photography (with a thyristor flash), without any restrictions.

EDIT:
If there is a problem with the mode wheel, it can happen that the camera is stuck in 125x mode. In this mode, LEDs are not used. This is not the same as if you use "M" mode and set the exposure time to 1/125 sec: then you'll get the over/under expose LEDs in the viewfinder.

Pentaxacapture · 04-14-2016, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by RKKS08

If you set the ME Super to 125x mode by using the mode wheel (not the buttons!), it will turn into a fully mechanic camera, and shoot with the fixed exposure time of 1/125 sec.

I remember when in 1982 my first ME Super dropped 1m down to a concrete floor, all electronics stopped working. Nevertheless I could still go on using it for party photography (with a thyristor flash), without any restrictions.

EDIT:
If there is a problem with the mode wheel, it can happen that the camera is stuck in 125x mode. In this mode, LEDs are not used. This is not the same as if you use "M" mode and set the exposure time to 1/125 sec: then you'll get the over/under expose LEDs in the viewfinder.

The wheel is not stuck at 125x mode but in AUTO and M modes, the mechanical shutter sounds the same (1/125 seconds) all modes, expect in B mode. There is no life in the LED displays in either AUTO or M settings.

pathdoc · 04-14-2016, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxacapture

The wheel is not stuck at 125x mode but in AUTO and M modes, the mechanical shutter sounds the same (1/125 seconds) all modes, expect in B mode. There is no life in the LED displays in either AUTO or M settings.

New thought - this is exactly what my ME sounded like when I last took the batteries out. You've told us yours are fresh. So for your camera, either the electronics are dead, or power is not getting to them for some reason. If it's the latter, the fix may be easy.

You could try looking at the cap of the battery compartment - my P3 (which I inherited after years unused in a cupboard) had shut down because corrosion had interrupted the circuit, and a little bit of gentle scraping right in the middle with a flat-head screwdriver fixed that and brought it back to life (something which has repeated itself at least once since then, with the same simple cure).

Barring that, you are looking at professional diagnosis and repair.

Pepperbrow · 06-06-2016, 01:17 PM - **1 Like**

pathdoc - sorry for resurrecting a dead post, but I just registered to say thanks so much for your suggestion - worked a charm and saved me some tears! All the best.

pathdoc · 06-06-2016, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by Pepperbrow

I just registered to say thanks so much for your suggestion - worked a charm and saved me some tears!

Excellent! What sort of camera did you resurrect?

Pepperbrow · 06-07-2016, 04:15 PM

It was a Pentax ME Super. It had worked a year ago, but (stupidly) I left the batteries in and one leaked a little on the cover. I popped a new CR1/3N cell in and that's when I started to panic...

I have a trip to Bodmin Moor this weekend and want to try shooting some landscapes with some Lomochrome Purple that I was gifted by a friend, so this would have been a bad time for the camera to brick.

DougIvey · 02-10-2021, 10:06 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by pathdoc

New thought - this is exactly what my ME sounded like when I last took the batteries out. You've told us yours are fresh. So for your camera, either the electronics are dead, or power is not getting to them for some reason. If it's the latter, the fix may be easy.

You could try looking at the cap of the battery compartment - my P3 (which I inherited after years unused in a cupboard) had shut down because corrosion had interrupted the circuit, and a little bit of gentle scraping right in the middle with a flat-head screwdriver fixed that and brought it back to life (something which has repeated itself at least once since then, with the same simple cure).

Barring that, you are looking at professional diagnosis and repair.

So here I am in 2021, some 5 years later and I come across this thread. I bought a used ME Super and thought it was DOA. It was an estate sale so I couldn't test it, plus it was only $20 CDN, so like $12 USD or so. Came with the case, 50mm f2, and a Sigma 70-210? or something close to that.

Long story short, I was 2 minutes from plunking this on the display shelf forever when I thought to scrape the battery cover and VOILA. Life saver post. Thank you!!

**dtroxell** · 02-16-2021, 12:17 AM

Originally posted by DougIvey

So here I am in 2021, some 5 years later and I come across this thread. I bought a used ME Super and thought it was DOA. It was an estate sale so I couldn't test it, plus it was only $20 CDN, so like $12 USD or so. Came with the case, 50mm f2, and a Sigma 70-210? or something close to that.

Long story short, I was 2 minutes from plunking this on the display shelf forever when I thought to scrape the battery cover and VOILA. Life saver post. Thank you!!

DougIvey, that's a brilliant price for that kit !

DougIvey · 02-16-2021, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by dtroxell

DougIvey, that's a brilliant price for that kit !

He didn't know what he was selling and I didn't know what I was buying. It was pure luck that it worked out for me. I'm into my first roll of film now since reading up on it. I love it!!

04-13-2016, 10:59 AM	#1
Pentaxacapture New Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 2	Pentax ME Super - LED not working & No change in 125x Hi everyone! I have a Pentax Me Super that was in excellent working condition until last week. The LED stopped lighting up and the camera does not change shutter speeds in 125x mode in different light conditions. I've changed batteries and ensured that they were in correct order. To no avail, the camera is not responding. No damage has impacted the camera. I can't think of any possible causes. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Many thanks!

04-14-2016, 04:56 AM	#3
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	Originally posted by Pentaxacapture The LED stopped lighting up and the camera does not change shutter speeds in 125x mode in different light conditions. If you set the ME Super to 125x mode by using the mode wheel (not the buttons!), it will turn into a fully mechanic camera, and shoot with the fixed exposure time of 1/125 sec. I remember when in 1982 my first ME Super dropped 1m down to a concrete floor, all electronics stopped working. Nevertheless I could still go on using it for party photography (with a thyristor flash), without any restrictions. EDIT: If there is a problem with the mode wheel, it can happen that the camera is stuck in 125x mode. In this mode, LEDs are not used. This is not the same as if you use "M" mode and set the exposure time to 1/125 sec: then you'll get the over/under expose LEDs in the viewfinder. Last edited by RKKS08; 04-14-2016 at 05:06 AM.

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04-13-2016, 11:11 AM	#2
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Unfortunately there is a strong possibility that this is the time your camera has chosen to die. Remember the electronics modules of these M series cameras are up to 40 years old, depending on make and year of manufacture, and probably were never intended to last this long, especially if it's never been serviced. Your profile puts you in the United States. Eric Hendrickson is the go-to guy in the US for service and repair of these old cameras, especially if this one means something personally to you - Look him up here. Alternatively, if this is a secondhand camera with absolutely no sentimental value, it may be less expensive simply to replace it. You could sell the dead one online (e.g. e-bay or in the marketplace here in the forum), labelling it as "for parts or repair only" and see what you got for it, if that was the case.

04-14-2016, 06:46 AM	#4
Pentaxacapture New Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Originally posted by RKKS08 If you set the ME Super to 125x mode by using the mode wheel (not the buttons!), it will turn into a fully mechanic camera, and shoot with the fixed exposure time of 1/125 sec. I remember when in 1982 my first ME Super dropped 1m down to a concrete floor, all electronics stopped working. Nevertheless I could still go on using it for party photography (with a thyristor flash), without any restrictions. EDIT: If there is a problem with the mode wheel, it can happen that the camera is stuck in 125x mode. In this mode, LEDs are not used. This is not the same as if you use "M" mode and set the exposure time to 1/125 sec: then you'll get the over/under expose LEDs in the viewfinder. The wheel is not stuck at 125x mode but in AUTO and M modes, the mechanical shutter sounds the same (1/125 seconds) all modes, expect in B mode. There is no life in the LED displays in either AUTO or M settings.

04-14-2016, 07:10 AM	#5
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by Pentaxacapture The wheel is not stuck at 125x mode but in AUTO and M modes, the mechanical shutter sounds the same (1/125 seconds) all modes, expect in B mode. There is no life in the LED displays in either AUTO or M settings. New thought - this is exactly what my ME sounded like when I last took the batteries out. You've told us yours are fresh. So for your camera, either the electronics are dead, or power is not getting to them for some reason. If it's the latter, the fix may be easy. You could try looking at the cap of the battery compartment - my P3 (which I inherited after years unused in a cupboard) had shut down because corrosion had interrupted the circuit, and a little bit of gentle scraping right in the middle with a flat-head screwdriver fixed that and brought it back to life (something which has repeated itself at least once since then, with the same simple cure). Barring that, you are looking at professional diagnosis and repair.

06-06-2016, 01:17 PM - 1 Like	#6
Pepperbrow New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 2	pathdoc - sorry for resurrecting a dead post, but I just registered to say thanks so much for your suggestion - worked a charm and saved me some tears! All the best.

06-06-2016, 04:51 PM	#7
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by Pepperbrow I just registered to say thanks so much for your suggestion - worked a charm and saved me some tears! Excellent! What sort of camera did you resurrect?

06-07-2016, 04:15 PM	#8
Pepperbrow New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 2	It was a Pentax ME Super. It had worked a year ago, but (stupidly) I left the batteries in and one leaked a little on the cover. I popped a new CR1/3N cell in and that's when I started to panic... I have a trip to Bodmin Moor this weekend and want to try shooting some landscapes with some Lomochrome Purple that I was gifted by a friend, so this would have been a bad time for the camera to brick.

02-10-2021, 10:06 AM - 2 Likes	#9
DougIvey New Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 2	Originally posted by pathdoc New thought - this is exactly what my ME sounded like when I last took the batteries out. You've told us yours are fresh. So for your camera, either the electronics are dead, or power is not getting to them for some reason. If it's the latter, the fix may be easy. You could try looking at the cap of the battery compartment - my P3 (which I inherited after years unused in a cupboard) had shut down because corrosion had interrupted the circuit, and a little bit of gentle scraping right in the middle with a flat-head screwdriver fixed that and brought it back to life (something which has repeated itself at least once since then, with the same simple cure). Barring that, you are looking at professional diagnosis and repair. So here I am in 2021, some 5 years later and I come across this thread. I bought a used ME Super and thought it was DOA. It was an estate sale so I couldn't test it, plus it was only $20 CDN, so like $12 USD or so. Came with the case, 50mm f2, and a Sigma 70-210? or something close to that. Long story short, I was 2 minutes from plunking this on the display shelf forever when I thought to scrape the battery cover and VOILA. Life saver post. Thank you!!

02-16-2021, 12:17 AM	#10
dtroxell Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 2	Originally posted by DougIvey So here I am in 2021, some 5 years later and I come across this thread. I bought a used ME Super and thought it was DOA. It was an estate sale so I couldn't test it, plus it was only $20 CDN, so like $12 USD or so. Came with the case, 50mm f2, and a Sigma 70-210? or something close to that. Long story short, I was 2 minutes from plunking this on the display shelf forever when I thought to scrape the battery cover and VOILA. Life saver post. Thank you!! DougIvey, that's a brilliant price for that kit !

02-16-2021, 05:23 PM	#11
DougIvey New Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 2	Originally posted by dtroxell DougIvey, that's a brilliant price for that kit ! He didn't know what he was selling and I didn't know what I was buying. It was pure luck that it worked out for me. I'm into my first roll of film now since reading up on it. I love it!!