Re: [APML] Pentax ME Super camera(Tommy Lim)

["Andrew Schott" <aschott@cfl.rr.com>]

I had an ME Super SE and found it to be extremely unreliable, flimsy, and
poorly suited to astrophotography.  It has an electronic shutter which will
consume a set of batteries every night if used for time/bulb exposures.
It's internal circuitry cannot handle moisture of any kind and nightly
exposure to dew and condensation will kill it in no time at all.  Shutter
speeds and other control settings drift extensively as temperature and
humidity changes.  The plastics used universally in the external controls
and components are extremely subceptable to mosquito repellent and will
dissolve instantly on contact.

I would rate the ME Super as one of the most miserable, short-lived cameras
I've ever owned.  I currently use an old Cannon FTb QL which is ten times
the camera the ME was.  Yes, it's heavy.  No, you can't buy batteries for it
any more.  BUT, it has mirror lockup, depth of field preview, mechanical
shutter, easy load-in-the-dark film handling feature, and a metal body that
doesn't melt when I touch it.

For astrophotography, I would rate the Pentax K1000 as a much better camera
than the ME Super.  Mine is 23 years old and still functions great.  I've
handed it down to a friend who uses it on a regular basis to take better
astrophotos than I can and for everyday use taking pictures of his family.
It's been a while since I've actually held it so I may not get all the
features right.  It has no mirror lockup, or depth of field preview, but you
can still buy batteries for it and it's fully manual with mechanical
shutter.  The focusing screen seemed dark, from my memory, but that
shouldn't stop you from using it.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Larmay" <brileau@earthlink.net>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 10:20 PM
Subject: [APML] Pentax ME Super camera(Tommy Lim)


> Hi,
>
> Someone can give me some advice about the Pentax ME Super camera?
> Is it suitable for astrophotography????
>
> Tommy
> ___________________________
> Sun dogs fire on the horizon
> Meteor rain stars across the night
> This moment may be brief
> But it can be so bright
> Reflected in another source of light
> When the moment dies
> The spark still flies
> Reflected in another pair of eyes
>
> My website
>
> http://home.earthlink.net/~brileau/index.html
>
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