Picked up a ME Super! A few questions

Turbo_Spool900 · 09-30-2010, 12:09 AM

Found a nice Pentax ME super on craigslist and picked it up yesterday and I'm really happy with it so far. It's a bit small for my gargantuan hands, but then again so is the K-x. It came with two M series primes: 50mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2.8. Unfortunately the 28mm has a pretty gnarly scratch on it, so I was going to use it mainly for digital with PP.

I was wondering if any owners could post a few pictures taken with it (100-400ish ISO?) and any tips and tricks you might have when working with the light metering system. It's quite different than what I'm used to on the K-x. Is there anything special you need to do to get the best possible shots?

This is my first film camera and I'm shooting Ilford HP-5 ISO 400 black and white for my photography class. What other films in the Ilford or Kodak lines would you suggest? I want to stick with black and white for film.

Also, getting used to the depth of field on the 50 is quite difficult. I did some shooting in low light and controlling the DOF at f/1.4 was a real challenge.

Here she is with the 28.

and the 50mm

goddo31 · 09-30-2010, 12:18 AM

Welcome and congrats on the ME Super and lenses. A fine place to start

That M50 is a great lens and I'll imagine you will get used to the shallow DoF. Then you might start wanting your other lenses to be faster!

cheers

Turbo_Spool900 · 09-30-2010, 12:26 AM

I already do want my other lenses to be faster! haha. One of the main reasons I bought the whole package in the first place was for that 50mm.

titrisol · 09-30-2010, 12:39 AM

In general the metering system is quite accurate and unless the situation is very challenging it will produce and acceptable result.
Have you read the manual? There's a few nice suggestions in there.

Try to get a few Hedgecoe books he had very good tips and tricks on exposure for tricky situations explained in a very simple way.

The 50/1.4 is a great lens and very easy to focus when coupled with the fabulous screen in the ME-super.
The 28/2.8 scratch may affect your pics but maybe not; put it on and shoot a few with it to check.

**klh** · 09-30-2010, 04:48 AM

Originally posted by Turbo_Spool900

Found a nice Pentax ME super on craigslist and picked it up yesterday and I'm really happy with it so far. It's a bit small for my gargantuan hands, but then again so is the K-x. It came with two M series primes: 50mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2.8. Unfortunately the 28mm has a pretty gnarly scratch on it, so I was going to use it mainly for digital with PP.

Congratulations! I also found an ME Super on Craiglist (two weeks ago), although mine had an A50/1.7 (I already have one, wish I had found a 1.4 like you!).

Unfortunately after I got it home, I found out that the camera jams every so often, so I don't think I can risk any film in it yet. I'm not too bothered though, since I only paid $60 for the set.

mikemock · 09-30-2010, 05:53 AM

Great find. The Me Super with the 1.4 is a good outfit. I have had an ME for over 25 years with no issues. As far as Black and White film, you may want to try some Kodak Tri-x. I have always had good results with it. Have fun, film is great.

Mike Mock

artobest · 09-30-2010, 09:20 AM

I just had my ME Super CLAed at Harrow Technical. I bought it new in 1985. In recent years the switchgear became a bit stodgy. Now it's back to new, and I can't put it down. I'm even shooting with it in preference to my LX! I'm one of the few (it seems) who love the shutter-speed buttons. Much easier to use than a shutter dial, and the LED display is far brighter than the LX's poor offering.

Turbo_Spool900 · 09-30-2010, 10:51 AM

^ I actually prefer the shutter speed buttons as well. Easier to change on the fly.

Thanks for the link to the manual, too! Appreciated.

Hopefully I'll be able to post a few pics that turned out decent when I develop my first roll.

Thanks all.

Vendee · 09-30-2010, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by artobest

I just had my ME Super CLAed at Harrow Technical.

Can I ask you how much that cost?

Turbo_Spool900 · 09-30-2010, 01:44 PM

Oh, one other question.. Is there any way I can use my 18-55mm kit lens from the K-x on the ME super? I know the kit lens has AF and electronically controlled apertures, but is there any way around that?

Thanks

artobest · 09-30-2010, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by Vendee

Can I ask you how much that cost?

It cost around £56.00, if I remember correctly, and included a repair to the winder. Harrow Technical has a very transparent pricing structure, it's all laid out on their site here.

Vendee · 09-30-2010, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by artobest

It cost around £56.00, if I remember correctly, and included a repair to the winder. Harrow Technical has a very transparent pricing structure, it's all laid out on their site here.

That seems reasonable. Mine is fine at the moment but a good service will ensure many more years of service. Thanks for the link.

womble · 09-30-2010, 04:14 PM

I spent more years than I care to calculate shooting Kodachrome 64 with an ME Super. I found that the metering for views, buildings etc. was excellent if you dipped the camera a little and excluded most of the sky. If you metered including all the sky it tended, unsurprisingly, to under-expose by about a stop or stop and a half. On slide film that is too much! I used my ME Super almost entirely on manual and got used to the little buttons very quickly. I still find my forefinger seeking them out sometimes...

For BW I prefer to use Ilford Delta 100 ASA for fine grain images. I have had big problems with Tri-X 400 fogging probably due to airport x-rays (I travel a lot). I also find Kodak CN400BW film excellent and relatively cheap. It has a wide exposure latitude: over expose for fine grained but slightly flat images, under expose for contrasty but coarser grained images. I usually set the ASA dial to 320 which seems a good compromise. As it is a chromogenic film you can take it down to Happy Snaps (or whatever) and get it developed along with the colour print film. I, however, usually send it to a good quality developing firm as I had a few nice images ruined by poor developing and scratched negs.

Enjoy the ME Super. It may be a common camera, but they made and sold a lot of them for a very good reason!

K.

keyser · 09-30-2010, 04:26 PM

The ME Super is a nice camera and meters well. I wouldn't worry about metering too much as you'll get the hang of it as you go along. Film has great dynamic range so minor-to-moderate under/over exposure can be corrected at the printing stage.

stevebrot · 09-30-2010, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by Turbo_Spool900

Oh, one other question.. Is there any way I can use my 18-55mm kit lens from the K-x on the ME super? I know the kit lens has AF and electronically controlled apertures, but is there any way around that?

Thanks

It will mount, but you will be limited to the minimum aperture in M mode only with no internal metering.

Steve

09-30-2010, 12:09 AM	#1
Turbo_Spool900 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 61	Picked up a ME Super! A few questions Found a nice Pentax ME super on craigslist and picked it up yesterday and I'm really happy with it so far. It's a bit small for my gargantuan hands, but then again so is the K-x. It came with two M series primes: 50mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2.8. Unfortunately the 28mm has a pretty gnarly scratch on it, so I was going to use it mainly for digital with PP. I was wondering if any owners could post a few pictures taken with it (100-400ish ISO?) and any tips and tricks you might have when working with the light metering system. It's quite different than what I'm used to on the K-x. Is there anything special you need to do to get the best possible shots? This is my first film camera and I'm shooting Ilford HP-5 ISO 400 black and white for my photography class. What other films in the Ilford or Kodak lines would you suggest? I want to stick with black and white for film. Also, getting used to the depth of field on the 50 is quite difficult. I did some shooting in low light and controlling the DOF at f/1.4 was a real challenge. Here she is with the 28. and the 50mm

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09-30-2010, 12:18 AM	#2
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Welcome and congrats on the ME Super and lenses. A fine place to start That M50 is a great lens and I'll imagine you will get used to the shallow DoF. Then you might start wanting your other lenses to be faster! cheers

09-30-2010, 12:26 AM	#3
Turbo_Spool900 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 61 Original Poster	I already do want my other lenses to be faster! haha. One of the main reasons I bought the whole package in the first place was for that 50mm.

09-30-2010, 12:39 AM	#4
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,852	In general the metering system is quite accurate and unless the situation is very challenging it will produce and acceptable result. Have you read the manual? There's a few nice suggestions in there. Try to get a few Hedgecoe books he had very good tips and tricks on exposure for tricky situations explained in a very simple way. The 50/1.4 is a great lens and very easy to focus when coupled with the fabulous screen in the ME-super. The 28/2.8 scratch may affect your pics but maybe not; put it on and shoot a few with it to check.

09-30-2010, 04:48 AM	#5
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	Originally posted by Turbo_Spool900 Found a nice Pentax ME super on craigslist and picked it up yesterday and I'm really happy with it so far. It's a bit small for my gargantuan hands, but then again so is the K-x. It came with two M series primes: 50mm f/1.4 and 28mm f/2.8. Unfortunately the 28mm has a pretty gnarly scratch on it, so I was going to use it mainly for digital with PP. Congratulations! I also found an ME Super on Craiglist (two weeks ago), although mine had an A50/1.7 (I already have one, wish I had found a 1.4 like you!). Unfortunately after I got it home, I found out that the camera jams every so often, so I don't think I can risk any film in it yet. I'm not too bothered though, since I only paid $60 for the set.

09-30-2010, 05:53 AM	#6
mikemock Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Indiana Photos: Gallery Posts: 252	Great find. The Me Super with the 1.4 is a good outfit. I have had an ME for over 25 years with no issues. As far as Black and White film, you may want to try some Kodak Tri-x. I have always had good results with it. Have fun, film is great. Mike Mock

09-30-2010, 09:20 AM	#7
artobest Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Swansea, Wales Posts: 455	I just had my ME Super CLAed at Harrow Technical. I bought it new in 1985. In recent years the switchgear became a bit stodgy. Now it's back to new, and I can't put it down. I'm even shooting with it in preference to my LX! I'm one of the few (it seems) who love the shutter-speed buttons. Much easier to use than a shutter dial, and the LED display is far brighter than the LX's poor offering.

09-30-2010, 10:51 AM	#8
Turbo_Spool900 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 61 Original Poster	^ I actually prefer the shutter speed buttons as well. Easier to change on the fly. Thanks for the link to the manual, too! Appreciated. Hopefully I'll be able to post a few pics that turned out decent when I develop my first roll. Thanks all.

09-30-2010, 11:49 AM	#9
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	Originally posted by artobest I just had my ME Super CLAed at Harrow Technical. Can I ask you how much that cost?

09-30-2010, 01:44 PM	#10
Turbo_Spool900 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 61 Original Poster	Oh, one other question.. Is there any way I can use my 18-55mm kit lens from the K-x on the ME super? I know the kit lens has AF and electronically controlled apertures, but is there any way around that? Thanks

09-30-2010, 01:51 PM	#11
artobest Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Swansea, Wales Posts: 455	Originally posted by Vendee Can I ask you how much that cost? It cost around £56.00, if I remember correctly, and included a repair to the winder. Harrow Technical has a very transparent pricing structure, it's all laid out on their site here.

09-30-2010, 02:13 PM	#12
Vendee Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norfolk, UK Posts: 1,134	Originally posted by artobest It cost around £56.00, if I remember correctly, and included a repair to the winder. Harrow Technical has a very transparent pricing structure, it's all laid out on their site here. That seems reasonable. Mine is fine at the moment but a good service will ensure many more years of service. Thanks for the link.

09-30-2010, 04:14 PM	#13
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324	I spent more years than I care to calculate shooting Kodachrome 64 with an ME Super. I found that the metering for views, buildings etc. was excellent if you dipped the camera a little and excluded most of the sky. If you metered including all the sky it tended, unsurprisingly, to under-expose by about a stop or stop and a half. On slide film that is too much! I used my ME Super almost entirely on manual and got used to the little buttons very quickly. I still find my forefinger seeking them out sometimes... For BW I prefer to use Ilford Delta 100 ASA for fine grain images. I have had big problems with Tri-X 400 fogging probably due to airport x-rays (I travel a lot). I also find Kodak CN400BW film excellent and relatively cheap. It has a wide exposure latitude: over expose for fine grained but slightly flat images, under expose for contrasty but coarser grained images. I usually set the ASA dial to 320 which seems a good compromise. As it is a chromogenic film you can take it down to Happy Snaps (or whatever) and get it developed along with the colour print film. I, however, usually send it to a good quality developing firm as I had a few nice images ruined by poor developing and scratched negs. Enjoy the ME Super. It may be a common camera, but they made and sold a lot of them for a very good reason! K.

09-30-2010, 04:26 PM	#14
keyser Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tsawwassen, BC Posts: 376	The ME Super is a nice camera and meters well. I wouldn't worry about metering too much as you'll get the hang of it as you go along. Film has great dynamic range so minor-to-moderate under/over exposure can be corrected at the printing stage.

09-30-2010, 05:33 PM	#15
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Turbo_Spool900 Oh, one other question.. Is there any way I can use my 18-55mm kit lens from the K-x on the ME super? I know the kit lens has AF and electronically controlled apertures, but is there any way around that? Thanks It will mount, but you will be limited to the minimum aperture in M mode only with no internal metering. Steve