New ME F: the LEDS don't light up

ummm · 01-11-2018, 05:41 AM

Hi Pentaxians,

After looking on here I thought the ME F would suit me with its' 1/125 flash speed, 1/2000 to 4 seconds shutter speeds, clearly
marked exposure compensation dial and neat lights and info. in the bright viewfinder.

I inserted 4 Camelion Silver Oxide SR44s in the clean battery chamber but this sparked up nothing. I checked the batteries and
cleaned the contacts with 99.9% Iso and tried out different lenses. Sigh...

The camera is in really nice nick and I bought it as a package with a 280t flash, 50mm A 1.7, 35-70mm macro(ish) A 3.5-4.5,
polarising and skylight filters and a neat camera bag. I also have a Pentax 200mm 2.5, aTamron 90mm 2.5 macro with extension rings,Tamron 80-210 3.8 etc.. My grand plan was to use some lenses on my Canon 650d with the new Vello adapters.

If only I can get the ME F working. It could be simply a loose wire easily found by removing the baseplate or the entire exposure meter could be in any state whatsoever!

I could ask for a refund if needs be but I only paid £36.78 and 18.79 shipping from France.

Please help me get the ME F working if poss!!!! I have never disassembled a camera before:

:

Many thanks

pschlute · 01-11-2018, 06:43 AM

Possibly stating the obvious but have you tried the batteries the other way up ?

ummm · 01-11-2018, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by pschlute

Possibly stating the obvious but have you tried the batteries the other way up ?

Yes! Out of curiosity I wonder if inserting batteries the opposite way to that shown in the manual has ever worked...

Adam · 01-11-2018, 07:56 AM

Was the camera described as working in the ad? £36 sounds awfully cheap given you also got the lenses (which are already worth more than that).

Adam
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ummm · 01-11-2018, 08:26 AM

Hi Adam,
It was described as working mechanically but not tested with new batteries. The flash had not been tested. The reason it was so cheap was that I stumbled across it on French ebay and I was the only bidder. The seller normally only sells a few items of class glass in perfect condition and of high quality (100% feedback rating). An enthusiast!
I've asked if he has any idea how it might be fixed but really he wouldn't know.
I'm thinking that maybe the electronics were displaced a little in transit.

**gofour3** · 01-11-2018, 01:20 PM

If it's not a battery issue then the electronics may be shot. If you are in the UK maybe check with the guys at Harrow Technical:

Harrow Technical

Phil.

stevebrot · 01-11-2018, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by ummm

It was described as working mechanically but not tested with new batteries.

Welcome to the Pentax Forums!

Given that the camera is essentially battery-dependent,* the description is puzzling and may be an artifact of translation. As noted above, loading batteries upside down is a common mistake as is loading less-than-good batteries. Since you have the manual, the orientation of the batteries should be easy to determine. It may be that leaving batteries in the camera overnight might help. Sometimes capacitors need a nudge if they are old.

Steve

timw4mail · 01-11-2018, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by ummm

Yes! Out of curiosity I wonder if inserting batteries the opposite way to that shown in the manual has ever worked...

At least the SP-F will allow you to do so (if you use an SR44), and the needle will just go the opposite direction than you want.

ummm · 01-11-2018, 06:27 PM

Interesting stuff on the SP-F. I couldn't resist a quick look and it seems that the bridge circuit makes it voltage independent, within reason. I had wondered about the Camelions being 1.55v as against the originals 1.5v but that was just me being ignorant.

The batteries work great in my MG but that's a simpler beast.

I seem to recall reading speculation that the exposure circuit might be separate from the autofocus module. Since there doesn't ever seem to have been an ME F service manual, if it's nothing obvious, then it would mean relying on the ME super guide. I have also bookmarked dozens of sites to peruse later
.
Hopefully it might spark into life if I keep moving the dials to dislodge any debris or even better, as stevebrot said, it will be fine in the morning.

You folks have all been really on the case. Many thanks.

**boriscleto** · 02-08-2018, 03:13 PM

The ME F I bought from shopgoodwill arrived yesterday. Today I bought some batteries. I put them in going by the markings in the camera. It didn't work...I looked at the manual on pentax-manuals.com and it turns out they need to be inserted the opposite way...Really intuitive...Now the meter works just fine

01-11-2018, 05:41 AM	#1
ummm New Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 4	New ME F: the LEDS don't light up Hi Pentaxians, After looking on here I thought the ME F would suit me with its' 1/125 flash speed, 1/2000 to 4 seconds shutter speeds, clearly marked exposure compensation dial and neat lights and info. in the bright viewfinder. I inserted 4 Camelion Silver Oxide SR44s in the clean battery chamber but this sparked up nothing. I checked the batteries and cleaned the contacts with 99.9% Iso and tried out different lenses. Sigh... The camera is in really nice nick and I bought it as a package with a 280t flash, 50mm A 1.7, 35-70mm macro(ish) A 3.5-4.5, polarising and skylight filters and a neat camera bag. I also have a Pentax 200mm 2.5, aTamron 90mm 2.5 macro with extension rings,Tamron 80-210 3.8 etc.. My grand plan was to use some lenses on my Canon 650d with the new Vello adapters. If only I can get the ME F working. It could be simply a loose wire easily found by removing the baseplate or the entire exposure meter could be in any state whatsoever! I could ask for a refund if needs be but I only paid £36.78 and 18.79 shipping from France. Please help me get the ME F working if poss!!!! I have never disassembled a camera before:: Many thanks

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01-11-2018, 06:43 AM	#2
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,198	Possibly stating the obvious but have you tried the batteries the other way up ?

01-11-2018, 06:53 AM	#3
ummm New Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by pschlute Possibly stating the obvious but have you tried the batteries the other way up ? Yes! Out of curiosity I wonder if inserting batteries the opposite way to that shown in the manual has ever worked...

01-11-2018, 07:56 AM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Was the camera described as working in the ad? £36 sounds awfully cheap given you also got the lenses (which are already worth more than that). Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-11-2018, 08:26 AM	#5
ummm New Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Hi Adam, It was described as working mechanically but not tested with new batteries. The flash had not been tested. The reason it was so cheap was that I stumbled across it on French ebay and I was the only bidder. The seller normally only sells a few items of class glass in perfect condition and of high quality (100% feedback rating). An enthusiast! I've asked if he has any idea how it might be fixed but really he wouldn't know. I'm thinking that maybe the electronics were displaced a little in transit.

01-11-2018, 01:20 PM	#6
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	If it's not a battery issue then the electronics may be shot. If you are in the UK maybe check with the guys at Harrow Technical: Harrow Technical Phil.

01-11-2018, 01:24 PM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by ummm It was described as working mechanically but not tested with new batteries. Welcome to the Pentax Forums! Given that the camera is essentially battery-dependent,* the description is puzzling and may be an artifact of translation. As noted above, loading batteries upside down is a common mistake as is loading less-than-good batteries. Since you have the manual, the orientation of the batteries should be easy to determine. It may be that leaving batteries in the camera overnight might help. Sometimes capacitors need a nudge if they are old. Steve

01-11-2018, 01:35 PM	#8
timw4mail Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Driving a Mirage Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,670	Originally posted by ummm Yes! Out of curiosity I wonder if inserting batteries the opposite way to that shown in the manual has ever worked... At least the SP-F will allow you to do so (if you use an SR44), and the needle will just go the opposite direction than you want.

01-11-2018, 06:27 PM	#9
ummm New Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Interesting stuff on the SP-F. I couldn't resist a quick look and it seems that the bridge circuit makes it voltage independent, within reason. I had wondered about the Camelions being 1.55v as against the originals 1.5v but that was just me being ignorant. The batteries work great in my MG but that's a simpler beast. I seem to recall reading speculation that the exposure circuit might be separate from the autofocus module. Since there doesn't ever seem to have been an ME F service manual, if it's nothing obvious, then it would mean relying on the ME super guide. I have also bookmarked dozens of sites to peruse later . Hopefully it might spark into life if I keep moving the dials to dislodge any debris or even better, as stevebrot said, it will be fine in the morning. You folks have all been really on the case. Many thanks.

02-08-2018, 03:13 PM	#10
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	The ME F I bought from shopgoodwill arrived yesterday. Today I bought some batteries. I put them in going by the markings in the camera. It didn't work...I looked at the manual on pentax-manuals.com and it turns out they need to be inserted the opposite way...Really intuitive...Now the meter works just fine