Does my ME Super need a service?

aardbat · 01-20-2015, 01:27 PM

I acquired a ME super and for the heck of it decided to shoot some film through it.

Most of the results turned out nice, but there there are some which looks a bit suss. Being a film newbie I have no idea what problems I am looking at. I imagine maybe light seals + shutter?

Top left some flare like thing:

Band of uneven exposure (slightly brighter than rest of frame) on RHS:

and again...

Band of darkness on top right, pretty certain this was shot at 1/2000:

Flare or light leak on top right?

and again:

But in general I really like the results:

The rest of the album can be found here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/58023469@N04/sets/72157649979423799/

mrNewt · 01-20-2015, 01:36 PM - **1 Like**

It does look like a little bit of light leak and maybe some shutter issues with the timing.
A CLA is always nice to have on these cameras if you can spare the money.

**UncleVanya** · 01-20-2015, 01:38 PM

Odd. Check the seals around the back first. Also which lenses did you use?

aardbat · 01-20-2015, 01:49 PM

The interesting thing is that the other pictures in the album look to me to be completely fine.

The ones taken at night is the tokina 20-35mm. The other shots are a combination of the pentax smc k 55mm 1.8 and tamron 35-80 sp.

Not sure how much a cla will be. I imagine the light seals will be a lot cheaper to do first. I can live with it if the shutter only has problems at high and low speeds.

**UncleVanya** · 01-20-2015, 01:59 PM

Maybe you can the light seals on the exterior body by placing black electrical tape over all of the seams and hinges to block out light. Take some pictures and check. The internal seals are harder to imagine testing easily.

**gordon_l34** · 01-20-2015, 02:10 PM

Hi,
I see that you are in Australia.
All the best with your film shooting!
Should you wish to get it serviced I can recommend f16 at Margate, a near Brisbane suburb. Alan's telephone number is 07 3284 1588 and his web address is Camera Repairs & Services | Film or Digital Camera Maintenance | F16 Camera Service and he does repairs by post.
Regards.

stevebrot · 01-20-2015, 04:35 PM

Chances are your seals are toast. You can easily check the seals by touching the material with a toothpick or similar wooden splint. The material should be springy and resilient. If sticky, crumbly, or hard it should be replaced. Be sure and check the mirror bumper foam as well. You can do the replacement yourself with available kits or pay to have the job done as part of a CLA. I usually recommend Jon Goodman's excellent kits ($10 USD), though I don't know if he will ship down under.

One of your shots shows a shadow at the right. That might be an indication of a lazy shutter curtain.

Steve

**pentaxus** · 01-20-2015, 10:26 PM

The 1/2000 shot does show that the 2nd curtain catches up with the first curtain making the edge dark. Hopefully cleaning the shutter blades fixes the problem as the shutter curtains of this type of shutter aren't really designed to be adjusted like horizontal run shutters are.

aardbat · 01-20-2015, 10:43 PM

Thanks everyone for your input and advice.

I might try the tape with some colour film next.

I will check out a repair place local to me, but failing that I will see how much the guy in Brisbane costs

stevebrot · 01-21-2015, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by pentaxus

Hopefully cleaning the shutter blades fixes the problem as the shutter curtains of this type of shutter aren't really designed to be adjusted like horizontal run shutters are.

Cleaning the shutter is not something I would recommend unless done by a competent technician. As for adjustment...the ME Super shutter is electronically controlled and IIRC, there is nothing to adjust.

Steve

01-20-2015, 01:27 PM	#1
aardbat New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 22	Does my ME Super need a service? I acquired a ME super and for the heck of it decided to shoot some film through it. Most of the results turned out nice, but there there are some which looks a bit suss. Being a film newbie I have no idea what problems I am looking at. I imagine maybe light seals + shutter? Top left some flare like thing: Band of uneven exposure (slightly brighter than rest of frame) on RHS: and again... Band of darkness on top right, pretty certain this was shot at 1/2000: Flare or light leak on top right? and again: But in general I really like the results: The rest of the album can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/58023469@N04/sets/72157649979423799/

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01-20-2015, 01:36 PM - 1 Like	#2
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	It does look like a little bit of light leak and maybe some shutter issues with the timing. A CLA is always nice to have on these cameras if you can spare the money.

01-20-2015, 01:38 PM	#3
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Odd. Check the seals around the back first. Also which lenses did you use?

01-20-2015, 01:49 PM	#4
aardbat New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 22 Original Poster	The interesting thing is that the other pictures in the album look to me to be completely fine. The ones taken at night is the tokina 20-35mm. The other shots are a combination of the pentax smc k 55mm 1.8 and tamron 35-80 sp. Not sure how much a cla will be. I imagine the light seals will be a lot cheaper to do first. I can live with it if the shutter only has problems at high and low speeds.

01-20-2015, 01:59 PM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Maybe you can the light seals on the exterior body by placing black electrical tape over all of the seams and hinges to block out light. Take some pictures and check. The internal seals are harder to imagine testing easily.

01-20-2015, 02:10 PM	#6
gordon_l34 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 779	Hi, I see that you are in Australia. All the best with your film shooting! Should you wish to get it serviced I can recommend f16 at Margate, a near Brisbane suburb. Alan's telephone number is 07 3284 1588 and his web address is Camera Repairs & Services \| Film or Digital Camera Maintenance \| F16 Camera Service and he does repairs by post. Regards.

01-20-2015, 04:35 PM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Chances are your seals are toast. You can easily check the seals by touching the material with a toothpick or similar wooden splint. The material should be springy and resilient. If sticky, crumbly, or hard it should be replaced. Be sure and check the mirror bumper foam as well. You can do the replacement yourself with available kits or pay to have the job done as part of a CLA. I usually recommend Jon Goodman's excellent kits ($10 USD), though I don't know if he will ship down under. One of your shots shows a shadow at the right. That might be an indication of a lazy shutter curtain. Steve

01-20-2015, 10:26 PM	#8
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,313	The 1/2000 shot does show that the 2nd curtain catches up with the first curtain making the edge dark. Hopefully cleaning the shutter blades fixes the problem as the shutter curtains of this type of shutter aren't really designed to be adjusted like horizontal run shutters are.

01-20-2015, 10:43 PM	#9
aardbat New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 22 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for your input and advice. I might try the tape with some colour film next. I will check out a repair place local to me, but failing that I will see how much the guy in Brisbane costs

01-21-2015, 01:21 PM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by pentaxus Hopefully cleaning the shutter blades fixes the problem as the shutter curtains of this type of shutter aren't really designed to be adjusted like horizontal run shutters are. Cleaning the shutter is not something I would recommend unless done by a competent technician. As for adjustment...the ME Super shutter is electronically controlled and IIRC, there is nothing to adjust. Steve

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