ME-F

séamuis · 07-31-2008, 12:30 PM

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well after the recent threads about ME & ME super's I decided that I wanted to try out an ME. I have experience with earlier pentax AE, with my superA but I wanted that M series look and feel. well after some research and some drooling over cameras I decided that I didn't really want and ME and the Super is appealing but there was one ME that really stood out... the ME F. I was reading through the instruction manual online and I came across this on page 7 and thought, "wow thats pretty freakin' cool." after a bit of CBA set in I headed over to KEH and came up short... so I plopped over to the bay and guess what I found? yup, its gorgeous and alas I bought it without hesitation. I guess I will find out in due time if it was worth it. the camera does look pretty good from the photos though. anybody got an smc-Pentax AF ZOOM 35~70mm 1:2.8 they might want to part with? and an ME winder II would be great as well. will look good next to my beat up old MX. what do y'all think?

RARE Asahi Pentax ME-F MEF w Case / Near Mint Condition - eBay (item 230276500355 end time Jul-31-08 12:22:27 PDT)

it even has a little focus conformation beep! I really want to try the little guy out.

Nesster · 07-31-2008, 12:33 PM

My brother in law has the equivalent Canon... it is pretty cool.

From what I read in my books, the ME-F may eat batteries, which would be its main downside. But then, this may be libel.

Congratulations, that is one good looking piece of equipment with a very useful doohickie.

séamuis · 07-31-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

with a very useful doohickie.

thats what I thought as well! I am a bit weary about the battery usage but I will have to wait and see I guess, hell the AF lens uses 4 AAA batteries!

ftpaddict · 07-31-2008, 12:41 PM

One of the first ever AF cameras. Really worth a try.

séamuis · 07-31-2008, 12:47 PM

It was the First TTL AF camera I know that for sure. it may have been the first AF camera to hit the market but I don't know that absolutely. I also get to say that I own a camera with a Kf mount if that means anything... and by the way Dan your recent ME acquisition is what pushed me over the top and led to this purchase.

Fritz · 07-31-2008, 01:37 PM

Wow, that is pretty cool. I'm curious to see what you think about it once you have had a chance to use it. What is the green ~2.8, and red 3.5~ about? Something to do with the focus precision at those apertures?

Nesster · 07-31-2008, 01:59 PM

The focus sensor works off contrast... the center of the mirror lets light through to the mechanism. It's optimized to either 2.8 or faster, or 3.5 or slower - you set it to what lens you have on.

(I happen to have read the Cecchi book on this camera the other day, and the Matanle just last night... great minds are moved in similar directions based on pentax forum talk

)

MikeH · 07-31-2008, 02:44 PM

I have an ME-F. I used to have the 35-70 f/2.8 lens but it didn't work properly (or maybe the camera didn't work with it!)

Anyhow, it's basically just the ME Super with the focus confirmation. Nice camera. It's lent out to a friend at the moment, though.

Mike

ryan s · 07-31-2008, 04:20 PM

One of those used sites starting with A has an ME F body for $44, but the lens for $259

Actually, I'm assuming it's the one even though it's listed as an f/2.8-3.5...

Oh...and this place also has a few Winder IIs available.

jgredline · 07-31-2008, 06:04 PM

Very cool and very interesting. I have not seen that model before...I look forward to the images and your thoughts on it...

MikeH · 08-04-2008, 01:39 PM

The 35-70 2.8 is different from the 35-70 2.8-3.5 lens.

Here is a photos of the Kit:

The 2.8-3.5 lens does not have the focus motor or battery pack on the lens (lol)

Mike

Stevopedia · 08-04-2008, 03:22 PM

I love how it loudly advertises that it's "AUTO FOCUS"! Though at the time it was a Big Deal.

The 35-70 F looks as if it would be really ungainly to use, and much too big for that little M-series body...!

Still, it's a very cool camera and an interesting piece of photographic history. Not to mention a useful one, what with focus confirmation.

séamuis · 08-05-2008, 04:59 AM

I want your lens! I am trying desperately to find a good example of one! I want that lens so bad, and your photo is only making it worse.

Originally posted by MikeH

The 35-70 2.8 is different from the 35-70 2.8-3.5 lens.

Here is a photos of the Kit:

The 2.8-3.5 lens does not have the focus motor or battery pack on the lens (lol)

Mike

zx-m · 08-06-2008, 08:00 AM

I suppose the ME-F's focus confirmation will only work with K-mount SMC lenses (i.e. not with M42 lenses)?

séamuis · 08-06-2008, 08:06 AM

no it works with both. and very well I might add.

07-31-2008, 12:30 PM	#1
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	ME-F Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. well after the recent threads about ME & ME super's I decided that I wanted to try out an ME. I have experience with earlier pentax AE, with my superA but I wanted that M series look and feel. well after some research and some drooling over cameras I decided that I didn't really want and ME and the Super is appealing but there was one ME that really stood out... the ME F. I was reading through the instruction manual online and I came across this on page 7 and thought, "wow thats pretty freakin' cool." after a bit of CBA set in I headed over to KEH and came up short... so I plopped over to the bay and guess what I found? yup, its gorgeous and alas I bought it without hesitation. I guess I will find out in due time if it was worth it. the camera does look pretty good from the photos though. anybody got an smc-Pentax AF ZOOM 35~70mm 1:2.8 they might want to part with? and an ME winder II would be great as well. will look good next to my beat up old MX. what do y'all think? RARE Asahi Pentax ME-F MEF w Case / Near Mint Condition - eBay (item 230276500355 end time Jul-31-08 12:22:27 PDT) it even has a little focus conformation beep! I really want to try the little guy out.

07-31-2008, 12:47 PM	#5
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979 Original Poster	It was the First TTL AF camera I know that for sure. it may have been the first AF camera to hit the market but I don't know that absolutely. I also get to say that I own a camera with a Kf mount if that means anything... and by the way Dan your recent ME acquisition is what pushed me over the top and led to this purchase. Last edited by séamuis; 07-31-2008 at 12:57 PM.

07-31-2008, 04:20 PM	#9
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	One of those used sites starting with A has an ME F body for $44, but the lens for $259 Actually, I'm assuming it's the one even though it's listed as an f/2.8-3.5... Oh...and this place also has a few Winder IIs available. Last edited by ryan s; 07-31-2008 at 04:26 PM.

07-31-2008, 12:33 PM	#2
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	My brother in law has the equivalent Canon... it is pretty cool. From what I read in my books, the ME-F may eat batteries, which would be its main downside. But then, this may be libel. Congratulations, that is one good looking piece of equipment with a very useful doohickie.

07-31-2008, 12:38 PM	#3
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979 Original Poster	Quote: with a very useful doohickie. thats what I thought as well! I am a bit weary about the battery usage but I will have to wait and see I guess, hell the AF lens uses 4 AAA batteries!

07-31-2008, 12:41 PM	#4
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	One of the first ever AF cameras. Really worth a try.

07-31-2008, 01:37 PM	#6
Fritz Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tillamook, OR Posts: 1,222	Wow, that is pretty cool. I'm curious to see what you think about it once you have had a chance to use it. What is the green ~2.8, and red 3.5~ about? Something to do with the focus precision at those apertures?

07-31-2008, 01:59 PM	#7
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	The focus sensor works off contrast... the center of the mirror lets light through to the mechanism. It's optimized to either 2.8 or faster, or 3.5 or slower - you set it to what lens you have on. (I happen to have read the Cecchi book on this camera the other day, and the Matanle just last night... great minds are moved in similar directions based on pentax forum talk )

07-31-2008, 02:44 PM	#8
MikeH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 273	I have an ME-F. I used to have the 35-70 f/2.8 lens but it didn't work properly (or maybe the camera didn't work with it!) Anyhow, it's basically just the ME Super with the focus confirmation. Nice camera. It's lent out to a friend at the moment, though. Mike

07-31-2008, 06:04 PM	#10
jgredline Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LosAngeles, Ca. Photos: Albums Posts: 10,628	Very cool and very interesting. I have not seen that model before...I look forward to the images and your thoughts on it...

08-04-2008, 01:39 PM	#11
MikeH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 273	The 35-70 2.8 is different from the 35-70 2.8-3.5 lens. Here is a photos of the Kit: The 2.8-3.5 lens does not have the focus motor or battery pack on the lens (lol) Mike

08-04-2008, 03:22 PM	#12
Stevopedia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Posts: 273	I love how it loudly advertises that it's "AUTO FOCUS"! Though at the time it was a Big Deal. The 35-70 F looks as if it would be really ungainly to use, and much too big for that little M-series body...! Still, it's a very cool camera and an interesting piece of photographic history. Not to mention a useful one, what with focus confirmation.

08-05-2008, 04:59 AM	#13
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979 Original Poster	I want your lens! I am trying desperately to find a good example of one! I want that lens so bad, and your photo is only making it worse. Originally posted by MikeH The 35-70 2.8 is different from the 35-70 2.8-3.5 lens. Here is a photos of the Kit: The 2.8-3.5 lens does not have the focus motor or battery pack on the lens (lol) Mike

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08-06-2008, 08:00 AM	#14
zx-m Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 376	I suppose the ME-F's focus confirmation will only work with K-mount SMC lenses (i.e. not with M42 lenses)?

08-06-2008, 08:06 AM	#15
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979 Original Poster	no it works with both. and very well I might add.