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Re: [APML] Pentax ME Super camera(Tommy Lim)
Hi Andrew,
A couple minor additions, the Pentax ME Super (not an "SE") does have a
mechanical shutter and needs no batteries to hold the shutter open. I use
mine as a backup to my Pentax LX (main camera) and Pentax ME (used
exclusively as a knife-edge body). I haven't found the ME Super to be
particularly unreliable, mine has never failed or malfunctioned. I believe
it was made in the 70's.
If you're a professional photographer who takes a lot of daylight photos
your requirements and performance expectations may be somewhat different
than mine.
The ME Super does incorporate some exterior plastic parts (I'll remember
about the bug repellent when using it in the future, I have noticed this
effect on my watch band) but I wouldn't really rate it too flimsy. The body
itself is made of metal.
To me, the biggest drawback in using it for astrophotography is the lack
of a removable viewfinder and a non-removable focusing screen which is a bit
too dark for many applications.
Can it be used for astrophotography? Yes. But there are better cameras
out there. I picked mine up for only $35 on ebay. I use it for occasional
meteor showers alongside the LX on a tracking platform, or with a lens in
piggyback rings while doing prime focus with the LX.
Sometimes I'll use it for daylight photos just to use up the rest of a
roll of hypered film already loaded. Or maybe if the LX is already loaded
with a non-hypered astro-film which I don't want to waste on daylight photos
of the family, not deserving it, as none of them have even the slightest
interest in astrophotography. :-)
I had a Pentax K1000 many years ago and really can't remember much about
it. It seems like it did have a removable focusing screen but I definitely
would not swear to it. It did have a non-removable viewfinder which, for me
and my equipment, would tend to make it a bit of a write-off for a really
nice all-around astrocamera. Mirror lock-up has never been really important
to me as I use the "hat trick" usually even for lunar and planetary
photography. Depth of field isn't really too important in a dedicated
astrocamera as far as I've been able to figure yet.
Jim Vineyard
Visit my Astro-photography website at:
http://www.homestead.com/sky4me/astrophotography.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Schott" <aschott@cfl.rr.com>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2002 11:10 PM
Subject: Re: [APML] Pentax ME Super camera(Tommy Lim)
> 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
> >
> > -- APML Archives at <http://astro.umsystem.edu/apml/> ---
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>
>
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