Help! Servicing And Possible Repair Of An Immaculate Unloved Pentax ME Super.

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Heather
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Hi Folks, I am after some advice and recomendations please. I have just been given an immaculate Pentax ME super, it doesn’t have a mark on it and looks like it’s had very little use whatsoever but it has been sat in a cupboard for way too long.

I have ordered some batteries and a roll of Ilford XP2 but when I looked over it I noticed that the wind on lever has to be operated more than once to load the shutter.

I was an Olympus OM10 child so the Pentax is totally different for me, it came with a Pentax-A 1:1.7 50mm lens whose aperture ring is difficult to move past f8, should the little button on the aperture lens be pressed to pass f8 and should it be stiff to push down and for the ring to operate past f8.

I would really like to get this backup and running and restored mechanically to its former glory so I can use it. I have googled companies who service 35mm cameras but was wondering if you can recommend any, I hate pinning the tail on the donkey on the internet in an attempt to find a reputable company to carry this out for me.

If you can offer me any advice it really would be greatly appreciated as it’s been a long long time since I was a grinning 13yr old out with her Olympus OM10 and her mum and dad taking photo’s.

Sadly I am now in my late 40’s and a DSLR girl, but would love to go back to basics and learn the art form of 35mm once again.

Thanks In Advance.
 
I can totally recommend Robin Gowing (see below), he is a Pentax specialist and has fixed and CLA's a number of Pentax film SLR's for me

8 Lincoln Road
North Harrow
Middlesex
HA2 7RN

07773919308

info@harrowtechnical.co.uk
www.harrowtechnical.co.uk

Thanks for your prompt reply Lindsay.
Harrow Technical was one of the companies that I had reviewed and had received some very good reviews, it is always good to get a referral from someone who has used them.
 
I have ordered some batteries and a roll of Ilford XP2 but when I looked over it I noticed that the wind on lever has to be operated more than once to load the shutter.

I was an Olympus OM10 child so the Pentax is totally different for me, it came with a Pentax-A 1:1.7 50mm lens whose aperture ring is difficult to move past f8, should the little button on the aperture lens be pressed to pass f8 and should it be stiff to push down and for the ring to operate past f8.

I would really like to get this backup and running and restored mechanically to its former glory so I can use it. I have googled companies who service 35mm cameras but was wondering if you can recommend any, I hate pinning the tail on the donkey on the internet in an attempt to find a reputable company to carry this out for me.

I have and still use the Pentax ME I bought from new. I think the ME Super is a simple evolution of this to add some shutter speed selection by a complicated method. I'm pretty sure the wind-on lever should be a single stroke. However, apparently there is a weak part in the wind-on mechanisms of MEs; mine failed and started ripping the film apart (apparently the broken part had fallen into the mechanism). The stand-off part of the lever was also a bit floppy.

I usually get cameras fixed by Miles Whitehead, but he didn't have the part. In the end I got it done by Peter Emanuel in Brentford for £85.

The aperture ring on the A 50/1.7 should move freely. I don't think the A lenses are quite as well built as the M equivalents, in some cases. It would need fixing, or you could buy a M 50/1.7 for £39 or so plus postage from various places (it might be hard to get it repaired for that money).

BTW welcome to the best bit of TP!
 
I have and still use the Pentax ME I bought from new. I think the ME Super is a simple evolution of this to add some shutter speed selection by a complicated method. I'm pretty sure the wind-on lever should be a single stroke. However, apparently there is a weak part in the wind-on mechanisms of MEs; mine failed and started ripping the film apart (apparently the broken part had fallen into the mechanism). The stand-off part of the lever was also a bit floppy.

I usually get cameras fixed by Miles Whitehead, but he didn't have the part. In the end I got it done by Peter Emanuel in Brentford for £85.

The aperture ring on the A 50/1.7 should move freely. I don't think the A lenses are quite as well built as the M equivalents, in some cases. It would need fixing, or you could buy a M 50/1.7 for £39 or so plus postage from various places (it might be hard to get it repaired for that money).

BTW welcome to the best bit of TP!

Chris,
Sir I take my hat off to you for your help and advice. This is such a stunning and well looked after little camera, I really would like to get it serviced and put a roll of film through it and am already slightly excited about the results.
I will start looking about for another lil 50mm (M).

Thank you so much
 
Probably worth emailing a couple of the camera guys you've got names for (internet search or ask again here for more info) describing the problems (inclduing the lens) to get quotes. I've just realised the lens might not be so expensive if done with the camera because... you've got to add postage both ways (which I was factoring in, in my mind); this does get a bit expensive, sadly. Good luck... and please, do come back and show us some results.
 
Probably worth emailing a couple of the camera guys you've got names for (internet search or ask again here for more info) describing the problems (inclduing the lens) to get quotes. I've just realised the lens might not be so expensive if done with the camera because... you've got to add postage both ways (which I was factoring in, in my mind); this does get a bit expensive, sadly. Good luck... and please, do come back and show us some results.

Thank you Chris, and yes of course .... I will return bearing photos from this lovely little camera in due course.
 
I replied to you in the 'Conversations' thread with a Video about the Winder problems and details of differences between the 'A' Series and 'M' series Pentax lenses.
Also you can get lots of free advice by joining a 'Pentax' Forum such as www.pentaxuser.com and www.thepentaxforum.co.uk
 
These guys are ex-Pentax, based just down the road from me in Brentford, I’ve used them to service the Pentax 67 and been happy with the work that they’ve done. http://www.asahiphoto.co.uk/
 
I usually get cameras fixed by Miles Whitehead, but he didn't have the part. In the end I got [the Pentax ME] done by Peter Emanuel in Brentford for £85.
These guys are ex-Pentax, based just down the road from me in Brentford, I’ve used them to service the Pentax 67 and been happy with the work that they’ve done. http://www.asahiphoto.co.uk/

The same folk, though I didn't know that, so (y).
 
I replied to you in the 'Conversations' thread with a Video about the Winder problems and details of differences between the 'A' Series and 'M' series Pentax lenses.
Also you can get lots of free advice by joining a 'Pentax' Forum such as www.pentaxuser.com and www.thepentaxforum.co.uk

Thanks pentaxpete, I saw your message and have watched the videos. Thank you for your replies and help.
 
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