SMALLEST 35mm Full-Frame SLR EVER! The Pentax ME Super (SE) Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
- The Pentax ME Super SE is super-compact SLR from the film era that sports great build quality, super-modern LEDs to indicate shutter speed in the viewfinder and of course compatibility with LEGENDARY Pentax KA and KM lenses! I ran into some issues with the metering system and took steps (including yet another roll of Ektar) to try to really understand whats happening and how to make the finicky metering system reliable.
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The K1000 gets all the love - it’s nice to see the ME Super get its due. (And that 50mm f1.4 lens is a beauty). Thanks for sharing this!
Love the ME Super, if you can you should try out the Pentax MX. I just found your channel yesterday, love the content. My only "complaint" is that TH-cams commercials are about 4x the volume of your videos. Not your fault, just annoying.
@@mbecker163 - Use "Opera Browser" with "Built In Ad Block" and you will Never see a TH-cam Ad again.
How people can use TH-cam with all of their Ads is beyond me... Try it.
Some people like the MX, and it is a good camera if you want an All Manual Camera with ALL Mechanical Shutter Speeds...
Like going back to the 1963 Pentax SV, only adding a Meter.
The Electronically Controlled Shutter Speeds on the ME Super is Much More Advanced, and it was the First Camera in the World,
where you do NOT have to remove your Eye from the Viewfinder to change the Shutter Speed.
Who wants to Frame up a Shot, and then notice the little Needle Meter is telling you that you need to change Shutter Speeds,
so you have to remove you camera from your eye, look down at the camera, change the shutter speed to what the Meter said,
if you still remember and don't have to check again... Then Re-Compose the Shot and take it.
By Then, you have "Lost the Shot", unless you are shooting photos of a Statue... Real Life is Moving Constantly.
I am sure that over the 40+ years the MX has been out, over 100 Million "Lost Photos" have occurred. Never seen again.
Even Precious Moments with Family... like your kid's first steps. "Sorry dear, I had to change the shutter speed, and by the time I did he had fallen.
So No Pics of out kid's First Steps... No Wildlife shots Either, or Tins of Missed shots...
Worst of ALL ... Missed moments of Stage Shots and Concert Shots at the edge of the stage...
Try Changing Shutter Speeds on an MX or K1000 in the Dark! ... Doesn't Happen.
The ME Super never leaves your eye, and in the Dark, the LED Meter in the Viewfinder indicates what "Manual" speed to change it to,
with the Two Electronic Buttons on the top of the camera. You never miss a shot. Even in Automatic Mode, you get Extremely Accurate Exposures.
With the ME Super in Automatic Mode... you will see in the Viewfinder what shutter speed is chosen, for the Aperture you have selected.
BUT .... Even though the Shutter Speed LED might say 1/125th sec... when you take the Photo, the Meter in the Pentax ME Super will change it
to the Most Accurate Shutter Speed... like maybe 1/132nd of a Sec. or 1/112th of a Sec. Whatever the Meter Calculates as the Exact Proper Speed.
No Other Model, not even the original All Automatic ME does this. It continues on with ME Super Program, Program Plus etc.
Why in gods name ANYONE would want an MX for anything other than a "Pretty Paper Weight" is beyond my comprehension.
Some people like driving a 1962 Volkswagen 4 speed with No Heat or Air Conditioning... so I guess, whatever Floats your Boat.
:>)
K-1000 gets "All the Love" because it is the Cheapest 35mm SLR ever made, and also the Longest Production Run in Camera History.
Because it was So Cheap, more people bought this camera for their "Photography Class" than any other.
I know this because I taught Photography at the College Lever in the Late 70's Early 80's... and 90% of the students used the K-1000 w/ 50mm f-2.0 lens.
Because of this... the K-1000 became their "First Love". It is a Brick that is Built like a Tank. Takes a Licking, and keeps on Clicking.
That's about all I can say that is Good about the K-1000, but because of these things it is a Historic Camera. :>)
That was my first SLR I purchased back in 1983. I loved that camera. I remember using the 1/125 setting when the batteries were on the Fritz; with help from a hand held light meter!
Awesome
Thanks for this video review. I found it useful. I have two ME Supers, an OM-1 and an M-1. Thinking about it, Olympus got the size down through moving the shutter dial and keeping everything mechanical. On the other hand, Pentax got rid of the shutter dial/ring all together and introduced a bunch of electronics.
Got myself a ME in mint condition a few years ago and I absolutely love it! Made a lot of beautiful pictures using a Takumar 135mm f2.5, a 50mm f1.4 Revuenon and a 25-50mm f4 Tokina. It's so addictive I just bought a 55mm f1.2 for it and I can't wait to see the results!
Nice; If it's as good or better than my SMC Pentax 50mm f1.4, you'll be happy!
Great conversation on a cool camera.
Nice talkthrough. Classic camera. Highly recommended. I used mine with the wonderful 1.7 SMC 50mm lens throughout the '80s and added a folding 'L bracket' to make it a bit more stable. Still got it and intend using it again now I can copy negs with my DSLR on a lightbox. I've also used the lens on a DSLR for its amazing bokeh. Had to chop off the aperture lug so it don't scratch the mirror. Recently got a 135mm SMC lens for it from UK-based Rocky's Cameras ;-)
I much prefer my Pentax MX. Same small body as the ME Super. However, Pentax made another SLR that is much smaller, two models actually but not full frame and using 110 format film. Minolta also made two models of SLR that are smaller and also using 110 format film. There is something delightful about small cameras whether the full frame M series, or the Auto 110 series. I don't understand why cameras started getting bigger after the 1980's. Small is fun.
Yep. Small is fun. Every iPhone user can attest to that! I love the compact body and responsive mechanical feel of these Pentax cameras over anything that’s in production today.
My first camera, bought used in 1989 with a 50 1.7. I loved it and used it several times a week for several years. I liked its ergonomics better than the K-1000's. Now I want one again. That one looks great!
This camera can be had for a very low price nowadays and will provide you with wonderful photos of your loved ones. Don’t hesitate to get one. Enjoy!
I think I had a regular. Loved it as my grab & go. You have great reviews of everything I ever owned. Hey wait a minute! You're not in my back room are you?
Hah, No, but you better check to be sure!
Thank you for this detailed and interesting review!
Thanks for watching.
Thank you this was a useful video! Been considering a camera to get back into photography. I'm not an expert but did it at school years ago. Your critique and working out why things are they eat they are was refreshing to see. I think I'll be buying one much appreciated
Glad you found it useful. More to come!
This is such a lovely series of cameras. My first SLR was a K1000, and I fell in love with this series only for it's size and looks. Originally I wanted a MX because I thought I need manual, but they got really expensive so I just bought a normal ME for almost nothing. It has become my favourite day to day camera, my SLR point&shoot, I don't miss manual at all and as you said it's even quite unintuitive on the ME Super. So for "serious" manual work I have enough other cameras, this one is for fun, coupled with the totally overlooked 50 1.7. I still don't get why noone ever managed to build a small, pretty full frame DSLR again in the digital age, and today it's unbelievable Pentax once made pretty cameras. As for the metering issue, now that you mention it it happened to me once in a while, very rarely so I never tried to look into it.
Thanks for the feedback. I determined that the metering issue is just part of living with ME Super. It is avoidable however if you keep your eye on the meter just to be sure that it’s not going off the rails.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Actually the first time I saw it it had turned a super boring tourist photo into a post-apocalyptic nightmare atmosphere, one of my favourite camera accidents, so I'll just let it have it's own mind. :)
Thank you Eric. love your channel.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I absolutely LOVE this camera
It's really very handy and nimble due to it's size. I was also blown away by the Pentax 50mm f1.4!
Center weight metering can be tricky. Good video!
Well, I don't have one of these . . . but you sure made me consider one! Not that I need any more cameras, film or otherwise.
Welcome to my world. I sure don’t need all the cameras that I have but I really do enjoy them. You only live once so why not have some fun!
I reallywant to get back into film and I love Pentax so this could be for me
Another great review! If you haven't tried the Pentax MX, you should. I think you'd live it!
Child of the K1000?
I shot tons of images using slide films many times as well as print film and don't recall any metering issues at all and that was years ago but in many lighting conditions. Maybe I was more cognizant of not shooting if the LED'S were too easily spooked or perhaps I just accepted some bad images, but what I recall was excellent metering. I was on a trip and shooting Kodachrome and the images were just great, a friend of mine using his camera had all his images (kodachrome as well) blown out badly. So, maybe there is some form of degradation over the years with the meter, or maybe there were some batches that were off, but from what I recall, metering was excellent all the time, maybe in back lit not so much, but you are supposed to "know" to adjust for that. Nice video. I sold mine and then bought another. I have this really odd version with automatic focus that uses some double A? batteries and has this contraption attached to the lens and focuses at amazingly slow speeds, but it does focus. It's the damnedest contraption you have ever seen. Also they made a nice pocket camera with a nice little lens the PCAF-35 of which there were a few versions, I liked the smallest one it was really shirt pocket sized. The winder breaks on them sometimes though. Just bought one of those to have. Nice video, thanks also for the one on the stand development, thought provoking and quite useful.
this was really helpful, thanks! think this seems like a good camera for me after seeing this:)
It’s a fun camera to use. Please note the metering issue tho.
This was my first 'proper' camera bought new in 1980. Eventually I realised that most of my shots were in manual and bought the smaller metal bodied (not polycarbonate like the Super) MX in 1982 which I still have and use. The ME Super died a long time ago!
That guy has huge hands!
I bought mine second hand in the early 90:s, it was my first "proper" camera, had an APS compact before it. Still have it, still working but obviously haven't used it much in the last 15 -20 years or so as I've gone digital. Just ordered a power winder for it on Ebay, not because I intend to do a lot of fast-paced shooting with it but because I think it's a cool accessory and I used to dream of one in my youth.
Awesome, I hope you shoot a roll in it soon. It helps you enjoy photography in a different way. I too have a winder for my canon but enjoy the look and extra grip.
I now have shot several rolls though it. I also got into developoing my own (black and white) films and even got a enlarger and started doing my own prints. I also got an old Meopta Flexaret medium format TLR so this is really getting out of hand.
Great job! That’s how it all starts lol
This is a very helpful video. I enjoyed it as I do others you've made but this one especially as I just found a ME Super (not an SE) body at a yard sale for $2! Needs batteriers but the shutter seems to be working just fine. Can't wait to see if the electronics work.
Wow, congratulations on finding that little gem! It’s an awesome camera with great glass available for it. Check the meter for accuracy.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Will do. Shooting mostly in auto but trying to keep a record of the settings. Best regards!
Solid workhorse camera, mine has been in almost continual use since 1990. I never switched to digital, digital was a ridiculous cost.
I agree and the Pentax glass is absolutely exquisite (especially the primes). I took my ME Super SE out this past weekend on a quick family outing and absolutely loved using it. It’s tiny, quick and gets completely out of the way allowing you to focus on your subject. Mine has a bit of a metering problem where it tends to underexpose on some shots which detracts from the enjoyment. It happened on about 4-5 frames this time. I’m still glad I took it out. Wish I could figure out how to fix this issue. The fact that it happens sporadically tells me that it’s possibly a mechanical issue like with the lens indexing linkage.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel take it in for a full service.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel interesting, I picked up an ME and it seems to do the same. If you find a fix would be great to know!
Happy shooting!
It’s frustrating especially since it’s such a fun camera to use! I haven’t found a fix unfortunately other than keeping an eye out for unusual meter readings like I showed in the video. The last time I used it I was outdoors on a bright sunny day and came out with a few pretty severely underexposed shots. It makes me not want to use the camera! Again a shame because the Pentax glass renders photos so nicely. Maybe use a meter app or handheld meter to double check the camera meter?
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I think at this point until a CLA (if I do that) then I'm accepting the quirks and embracing whatever shots it may produce. I think even the extreme under exposures can be interesting, not ideal but interesting! I'm travelling with the camera so for me it is what it is and I'm rolling with it. A meter app to be sure its doing the right thing could be useful though!
Fabulous video. When I worked for a newspaper in the early 90s this was the free camera for reporters to use. At the time I wasn't comfortable using it. I picked up a used Nikon FM, and from there really got into the hobby. I picked up an ME Super at a thrift store recently for $10, and I'm looking forward to shooting with it. I put it next to a Leica IIIf rangefinder, and the Pentax was just a tad bigger.
Interesting what you said about the metering. I find the matrix metering on my Nikon D700 gets fooled, from time to time.
Try an LX if you want a classic pentax. It has a much better light meter.
I never get the MX or the Me super. Don't know why. I collect and use all the other pentax. I love the lenses as you say. Maybe because I own also the OM-2n and I don't need a small reflex.
Anyway, if you did like the K1000, the KX is the pro version. Same camera with lock button, on/off, dof preview and mirror lock... All the stuff... LX have the mirror issue but it can be fixed and it is the only pentax to be weather sealed. A good camera, with a lot of accessories. With the right viewfinder it is usable with the glasses... I have both and they never let me down.
Best thing with pentax is they still build lenses for this camera. I mean new lenses, with modern coating... The new "limited" lenses are still perfectly usable on this cameras.
Anyway my prefer pentax camera is the MZs but it is a modern beast.
Wow, I think you’re about to hurt my wallet! I’ve been looking at buying the LX now, lol. From what I’ve read so far, the LX seems to be my type of camera. I love Pentax glass and it would be nice to have a more refined camera body to use it with. Thanks for the post. 😀
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I’m sorry. Unfortunately (or maybe not) collecting camera is something incurable :)
Be aware the LX is not perfect. Indeed I think the perfect 35mm Pentax doesn’t exist. I used intensively my LX in the years and is a super fine camera with some unique feature. Its hybrid shutter is immortal, but the sound is ugly. The light meter to me is very good for such old camera, but if you shot in aperture priority there is not ae lock, its view finder beats every other pentax cameras, it is small and reasonably light, elegant, great grip, I still love it. It is my battleground camera.
There are also some special edition of the LX, but the are expensive!
Anyway, Great channel. I’m experimenting your recipe for stand development with the HC-110. I think is a better then the diluition G you can usually find on internet. Unfortunately my first negative was too underexposed even if printable. Also, I’m not sure on bergger panchro latitude. I’ll give another try soon with an HP5 or a TriX. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I havva black MESuper that's "brassed" nicely thru the black paint over time .. really cool; used 2 havva silvertop MESuper i/t 80s. I only have small paws but I find it's too small 2 handle comfortably & dislike the electronic shutter-speed buttons as too fidgety. Is the SE any smaller still than the regular Super? Photos @ the end a nice bonus. Nice easy going manner belies obvious photographic experience .. thx.
That is not a original ME Super film back as far as I know. Looks like it was stolen from a Pentax Super Program
ME & ME Super is just as professional as any Olympus, accessories or not, as far as 35mm cameras are concerned. Of course, Olympus never sold medium format. Yes, I am a Pentax snob. ;)
Lol, if you’re using professional interchangeably with build quality then I agree. But for a 1980s era system camera the OM (single digit) series is a much more of a system camera since there are so many accessories available from telescope and microscope attachments, bulk file and intervalometer backs and a range of top quality lenses designed with professional photographers in mind. That being said, Pentax lenses take a back seat to no one. They are among the best lenses ever made. Thanks!
Wow I never knew about this camera. This plus a 35mm 2.8 would make a great light weight travel and street cam. I wonder if you can use the exposure compensation set to +1 in high contrast backlight scenes and see a more correct exposure ?
Absolutely. I hope you saw the part in the video about the exposure meter. As much as I love this camera and Pentax lenses, the flaky exposure meter can be a pain. When everything is working right this camera is hard to beat!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I have an old Pentax P3n i bought new back in 1993. I love shooting it on manual because it is so easy to see and adjust the settings in the viewfinder. I tend to pick a preferred aperture and leave it at that and then adjust the shutter to it. So I will be buying the 35mm F2.8 since i gave the kit lens away decades ago. I want a small street cam and then found this video and wow this little ME super looks sweet. It is funny i seem to remember the my P3n always under exposed just a tad. So i would open up a stop usually. When I get my lens I will test it with a roll of e6 slide film. Though I shoot 99% B&W film i find slide film is easier to determine if exposures are correct. And I will most likely grab the ME Super as well. Love your channel man 👍🏻
The Pentax ME Super SE, is no different that the Normal ME Super, aside from the 45 degree Split Focusing screen...
BUT... and this IS a Big But... The SE model more than Any Other ME Super is much more Prone to have the "Film Winder Run On" problem.
Where the Film Advance Lever that also Cocks the Shutter, will just Wind and Wind after the initial wind to cock the Shutter, and Not Move Film.
I know this from Personal Experience, as I have sold Dozens of ME Super on eBay, and out of 11 SE models I have run across, 7 had this problem.
I have sold Dozens of normal ME Super, and only ran into one with this Problem.
(a good place to have your ME Super Repaired / Cleaned / New Seals etc is "Niles Camera" in Niles IL ... find on internet and phone them.)
I LOVE the ME Super and still have 3 here for my personal use, including a Pristine Museum Condition "Black Body" that is Flawless, w/ 50mm f1.4,
and also have the ME Winder II ... and Three Brand New Back-ups of it in Original Box, untouched since 1985.
So if my Original Winder goes out, I'm covered.
Using the ME Super with the "ME Winder II" and not the original "ME WInder" first version, makes the camera a whole different Beast.
You can find these in working condition on eBay for $40.00 or less.
Also... Try the Larger SMC Pentax 50mm f-1.4 with the 52mm filter on the ME Super, instead of the SMC Pentax M version with 49mm filter.
Pentax came out with the "M series Lenses" to be smaller and more compact for the M Series cameras... to Compete with Olympus OM-10.
I like the Size of the lens on the ME Super better than I do the M series, and the images might be slightly sharper. There is a Video here on YT about this.
but... these are Only My Personal Opinion, each person likes different things. . . . . Most Important thing is "Photography Fun!"
Great information! I wonder if any of your ME cameras have the metering problem that I explained in the video. Also my K1000 has the same issue. It’s the one issue that keeps me from using the ME Super as my main ride.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel - You should send your ME Super out for Repair.
"Gary's Camera" ? ... search the net.
I know he used to sell ME Super Service for under $50.00 on eBay, maybe still does,
price may have gone up.
None of the ME Super I have had, and I have 3 here now, have had the Meter issue.
First thing to check might be Battery Connection... Make sure the compartment is clean, and maybe try a Dental Tool to actually Scratch the Contacts in the compartment, as well as the Screw in cap.
I recently purchased a Pentax K2, which was the First K-mount Camera that Pentax produced. It is a Totally Pro Model, with features you'd expect, like Mirror Lock Up, Depth of Field Preview etc.
The Body size is much the same as the K-1000, but more elegant.
Most important is that it has the Vertical Running Metal Shutter like the ME Super,
with Timing by Seiko.
Half the Shutter Speeds are Mechanical, and the Slower speeds are Electronic.
The Shutter Speed Dial goes down to a full 8 seconds. It also has "Automatic" mode like the ME Super, and like the ME Super, the Seiko Timed Shutter / Meter the camera will choose the Correct Fraction for Optimal Exposure... so if the meter in the viewfinder says 1/250th of a sec. At the moment the shutter is fired, the camera may choose
1/232 or 1/264th of a sec.
I like the K2 so much, because I have Large Hands, and the slightly larger body feels better to me. but I never liked the K-1000.
I do understand that for a million plus people it was their "First Love"...
...but is is a very basic camera, and I do not like "Horizontal Traveling Cloth Shutter".
Very inaccurate and Weather Conditions also factor into this.
The K2 uses Lenses that are a bit larger also... and I actually like them better than the "M" series lenses, that were made to be smaller, for the "M" series Bodies...
...but, the K-1000 is Not a smaller "M" series Body. Yet they were sold with the newer "M" series lenses.
My K2 came with an "SMC Pentax 50mm f1.4 lens, with a 52mm Filter thread, while the "M" series is smaller body and 49mm filter. The Older lens for the K2 series, as the made a few models, that are similar to the "M" series. including an all mechanical
and all manual model, the KX, like the MX,
but a Bigger Body and Lens.
I Like the Bigger Lens, and I even like the way the Bigger Lens looks on the ME Super.
Note... these are Super Multi Coated in the same way as the "M" series lenses, and are Not the "Takumar" lenses.
Something to look into if you love Pentax Cameras as I do...:>)
Great information. Thanks for sharing. I’ve Thought about getting my ME Super repaired because I like it a lot. Don’t tell anyone but I like it better than my Olympus OM-2 some days lol. The 50mm f1.4M is a phenomenal lens. It’s as good as they get regardless of brand. I’m going to look into getting the meter fixed and troubleshooting the battery compartment etc. thanks again.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel - These ME Super Cameras are Fantastic, and I have many versions of Pentax 50mm f1.4 lens.
Love them more than any others I have used. Each has their Own Unique Qualities.
I can look at a Photo, and know instantly which 50mm f1.4 I used. All of them are fantastic, but each has their own look.
For Sure have you Camera Repaired. It will be like New when it returns.
I think the thing is that we "Bond" with some Cameras, and Others we do not. Each Person is Different, and may form a Bond with something else. I am discovering New "Old Lenses" every day, to put om my ME Super, and K2 Cameras. Some I form a Bond with over the course of a month using them, and others I do not.
The ones I do not, get Sold on eBay, and possibly someone else may Bond with that lens. It's all about what you Enjoy, and how you can Form a Relationship with your Gear.
Once you do... It will show in your work.
:>)
How can i get the picture from cam to my computer? Pls answer thank you
I scan my film using either a flat bed scanner or dedicated 35mm film scanner. One of my recent videos entitled “200MP Film Scan” goes into detail about how to do it.
Sans the lens this is definitely nearly the same size as my Agfa Optima 1035 sensor, only a bit wider plus bulging due to the mirror.
I've look at that camera before. It's a beautiful classic with what looks like a really huge viewfinder although I haven't held on in my hands-yet.
Isn't the Super A/ Super Program smaller? And it has the most functionality out of any manual focus slr, that Pentax ever made.
Where can I buy film cameras in excellent functional conditions?
I am looking for a Pentax ME Super Lenses: 40mm lens 50mm lens and a 70 or 80mm lens
Voigtlander Bessa II.
Does the Voigtlander Bessa II. uses bateries?
Voigtlander requires no batteries since it has a manual leaf shutter and no light meter. For the Bessa II I would check certo6.com since he refurbishes his cameras and has a great reputation. For the Pentax I would try eBay but make really, really sure that you buy from someone that has a great reputation and that the camera is film tested. Also make sure that they accept returns. Stay away from people that sell from estate sales and don’t know if the camera even functions. For the lenses I also buy on eBay and same advice reputable seller with return policy. Make sure that they mention that the aperture blades are clean and snappy with no oil and the lens elements have no fungus, fog or lens separation. Almost all lenses have some dust inside but they should mention that the dust doesn’t affect the picture. Good luck!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Thank you Eric.
Hello (don't know your name LOL), I found your you-tube channel searching for Pentax ME (not the super) Information. Can you please tell me if there is a way to select the f/ stop and the shutter speed, it seems that it only works in aperture priority. A relative gave me this camera that he got in 1978 and I’m trying to get back into shooting film. Thank you.
Hi Enrique, my name is Eric. Unfortunately, the “non super” doesn’t allow individual shutter speeds except for 1/100 and bulb mode. It was the Super that allows a manual mode. Thanks!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel Thank you very much for the prompt reply.
Konica TC-X is smaller still. It was made by Cosina and is less refined. It is also super-light as the body-frame is all plastic but it was beaten on weight by later plastic budget Canon Eos models.
Pro the Konica is that it is fully mechanical and the light meter works on a commonly available regular AAA-size battery.
Against it is that lenses are more rare.
Hi thanks for posting! From what I found, the Konica weighs 510 grams vs 445 grams for the Pentax. Also 131.5 x 82.5 x 49.5 mm for the Pentax vs 136 x 90 x 45 mm for the Konica. Looks like the Pentax is smaller and lighter overall. Still the king of "Tiny"!
@@FilmPhotographyChannel
The size and weight you mention for the Konica is the Konica 'Autoreflex TC' from 1976-1982. I was referring to the Konica 'TC-X' from 1985-1987.
According to www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eTC-XDaten.html the Konica weights 375grams whereas according to www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-manual-focus-film-slrs-c12.html the Pentax MX = 475 grams, ME = 460 grams (still metal top), MV = 420 grams, MV-1 = 425 grams, MG = 420 grams, ME-super = 445 grams, and both Program-A/ProgramPlus and Super-A/SuperProgram are 490 grams. This is a clear win for the Konica.
As for size: Konica TC-X is 130mm × 84 × 45 mm so it is the smallest but the Pentaxes are very close: although it is the same body i see listed ME: 131mm, MV, MV-1, MG 132mm, ME-super 131.5, and the A-series 131, thus that is at least 1mm more for Pentax. In height the difference is larger, ME and ME-super: 82.5mm, MV and MV-1: 84mm, MG: 86mm and the A-series 86.5mm. The Konica's do have a shorter focal flange distance so where all the Pentaxes are 49.5 the Konica is only 45 but of course there it is the mounted lens that counts. The Konica 40/1.8 is faster but the Pentax-M 40/2.8 is shorter. If using an A-series camera one can also use (in Program mode only) a DA 40/2.8 XS which is only 9.2mm (plus bayonet) and yes it can be focussed manually although the focussing ring is very narrow.
The Pentax *ist is however 122 × 84 × 63.5 (due to the handgrip) and 335 grams but it has a pentamirror-finder instead of a full glass pentaprism and it is not nearly as nice as the others. Canon Eos 300/Rebel 2000/Kiss III is 335 grams too. The Eos 1000, 1000F, 1000N, 1000FN, aka Rebel, Rebel S, Rebel II, Rebel SII are 340 grams. The Canon's are seriously larger though.
The Pentax MX and ME Super (and all ME series) are same size.
yes but not same weight
The Camera Store TV’s opening music? Really?
I LOVE the Pentax the Olympus makes me want to scream as if I need a separate add on to use the manual mode on the Olympus funny thing is I spent like 50$ to get an olympus and I spent 2 dollars to get my pentax super me the olympus snapped a few pictures then the mirror refused to come down again the pentax works like a champ
I like everything about my ME Super except the metering issue. I used it recently and had a bunch of underexposed photos from the roll. I wish I could get it fixed. I would use it a lot more if I could.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel or alternativley one trick I have seen is some people will play with the exposure stops because SR 44 batteries sometimes dont match the needed voltage and go up or down a stop to correct the lesser voltage
It is rare to find a ME super that works properly now.
Not true, I have found 3 in past 6 months. In my experience don't break too easy.
It saddens me that the only way to acquire one of these "Gems" is from the used market! NO ONE is making a truly quality film SLR today!
You will find literally hundreds of "Digital" toys on the market, but only used gems like this!
That’s true but it
The Pentax auto110 is the smallest film slr camera.
Yep it is. The Pentax ME series is the smallest 35mm SLR (not 110) like the title of the video says.
Smaller than a Pen F?
I probably should’ve said “full frame SLR”. The Pen-F Is a half-frame although it still uses 35mm film. Here’s the specs to compare.
Pen-F: 127x69.5x62.5mm 425grams
ME: 131.5 × 83 × 49.5 mm 460 grams
I yearned for this Camera but could not afford it
That’s how it was for me as a kid. I couldn’t afford any of them. Now this Pentax can be had for pennies on the dollar.
@@FilmPhotographyChannel I know, I just found one on amazon UK, without the lens for £55 that's about $75, bargain, I think I may buy it just to own not to use so I can say I have (at last) got one.
Regards from the UK
Lol, why not
I love your channel but please it's 35mm Not "full frame".
Even in the film days there was half frame, ie Olympus pen and APS cameras. I use the term full frame for effect and to emphasize that it’s a compact camera that takes a proper 35mm negative. Thanks for the feedback.
It's blinking because your battery is dying I believe..
From what I read, when the batteries are low all of the LEDs blink at once.