Originally posted by edmundrt Yes, there's not much out there on the original CE Memotron. The original CE has multiple exposure control too, as did all the CE series - one of their strengths against the competition of the time.
This page lists the only difference between them as being the
flash sync speed. Thankfully the
CE has a simple rotary dial to select ASA, unlike the weird pin system on the CE-II. A lot of Chinon's OEM stuff was rebranded in Europe and the US, as the ones you've mentioned as well as Prinzflex in the UK for the earlier models (Chinonflex TTL etc) and Revueflex in Europe for the later ones (CE-4, CE-5). As I've mentioned before, I have a fascination with Chinon stuff and the great products they made as one of the smaller Japanese camera manufacturers, borne out of my affection for my CE-5 which was my first film camera (£8.50 in a charity shop).
The real advantage that the CE, CE-II and CE-3 have is that they can work in Av mode with any M42 lens with an A/M switch, unlike the Pentax ES which needed the specific late model lenses. This makes them very versatile. The lenses that were made for this camera by Tomioka are very good, particularly the 55/1.7 and 55/1.4.
The trade off is the long shutter release throw to stop down and activate the meter, and the weight of that mechanism, but it is a thing of mechanical joy to use and it makes one hell of a click.
This site also states that the sync speed was the only difference - 1/60 to 1/90 with the CE II, but with a question mark. ->
Chinon Screw-Mount Cameras
Do you have a pic of the top plate of the CE? Below is from my CE II for comparison.
Interesting how the CE-3 top shutter speed went down to 1/1000.
Also, do you have the CE-4 or higher?
Chinon CE-4 camera manual, instruction states that these have a Chinon bayonet lens mount? Intersting that they made their own mount and I wonder if it is compatible with any others?
I don't know how long the CE & CE II were in production as the much smaller CE-3 seems to have been released the same year as the CE II. Probably just like the initial K Series - and those from all the other manufacturers too, the smaller Olympus OM series influenced the change and accelerated the conversion. At least this seems to be what I have gathered from the Modern and Popular Photography magazines of the time.
---------- Post added 11-06-14 at 03:17 PM ----------
Cuthbert,
In good condition, all the Pentax 50mm lenses I have conducted resolution tests with exceed the film/scanning process.
If you want a super sharp lens, then you might want to try the M Macro 50mm F4.
In the test below using the 14.7MP K20D, they all seem to be the similar.
Link to larger ->
http://www.fototime.com/AFA3C6EDB6A663D/orig.jpg
Testing using Kodak Techpan processed in Technidol shows that the macro lens was only limited by the sensor of the K20D and the Coolscan as an optical enlargement of the film clearly shows there was quite a bit of extra detail still on film that was not being resolved.
Link to larger ->
http://www.fototime.com/A08A371F28ED137/orig.jpg
Kodak Gold 100 using the 50mm Macro below. Of course the small number of blades doesn't form well round OOF highlights.
Link to full size ->
http://www.fototime.com/AA49E1A00A2B5A7/orig.jpg