Choices! The ME Super is the perfect camera for its automatic "point and shoot" and fully manual modes. Beginners will love this camera, if their uncertain about the K1000's all manual function. Lightest Pentax model available. Quiet shutter.

Shutter problem. The shutter jammed on my model. Others I have spoken to have had the same problem. Looks like Pentax found their only production problem. $80 later, my ME Super works perfectly.

If available, buy the sucker over the Nikons. Nikon's N80 is $500 retail price, a complete waste of money for what you can get more for less in this rugged little camera. Learn to use the ME Super by relying on its automatic feature, then when you're ready to take the dive into knowledge, switch to its full manual mode. I usually stick to my full manual K1000, but when I need a little reassurance, my ME Super still sits proudly in my camera bag. Beginners to experts should look into this little camera. Look for these around $100, no more than $150. Well-worth every penny.

Customer Service

Just the shutter problem. Nothing too much to worry about.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000
Nikon N70
Nikon N80

Easy to use, durable despite being knocked about a lot, versatile, additional kit easy to find

none noted in over 14 years of ownership.

I have taken this little baby all over the world, taking nature, sports and geographic shots. Every time i think about getting a newer camera i look at the latest results and buy another lens instead ***** highly recommended***

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

P30T, K1000, + others

Great outdoor cammer it was well worth the money. easy to use when it is in automachic shutter mode.

Shutter dam once or tiwce. film door kept coming open till the shop that I brought it from repair also it not so good indoors.

Great cammer by Pentax great for starter phtogapher great out-door not so good in-door with out a flash. but I bleive it was worth it. pity it had no flash

Customer Service

The shop that I brought it from repalced the door free of charged.

Similar Products Used:

None

Simple, small, light. Cheap lenses and huge choice second hand.

Mirror jammed on mine, fixed under warranty by Ffordes (excellant service if you are in the UK)

Ideal first camera for someone who wants to learn about how to make pictures. Solid body, huge range of Pentax and aftermarket lenses. Cheap.

Customer Service

Not used Pentax but Ffordes were wonderful.

Similar Products Used:

None

Peautiful pictures, especially with zoom lens

takes a long time to take a picture like most manual SLRs

The Pentax ME Super is the best camera I've used and the quality of the photos is amazing!

Similar Products Used:

an old Yashica

All-metal, very durable, accurate meter, manual control

Meter becomes inacurate when the batteries are drained

This camera is a heavy and durable-all metal camera(lasts forever). Mine is 16 years old.

The meter is dead accurate(good when shooting slides like Velvia and Provia III).

It has the ability to use a motor drive(although I've never used one).

Customer Service

Never needed

Similar Products Used:

Fujica something(XG-700 I think)

Very versatile; easy to understand light metre readout; durable; large selection of manufacturer and aftermarket lenses; exposure compensation dial.

No mirror lockup or depth-of-field preview; only works at 1/125 when batteries are dead; slowest exposure is 4 seconds; no shutter-priority automatic mode.

If you want an inexpensive, versatile, good quality body, this is an excellent choice. I've been using mine for quite a few years now, and I've been very pleased with it. In contrast to its (very) limited cousin, the ME, it has a whole swack of manual features. This camera sits well in my hand (I don't like plastic cameras), and all the controls are easy to find and use. Pentax cameras have a wide variety of lenses available to them, and the modern autofocus/auto-exposure lenses can work on the old bodies (and vice versa). This means I can buy a funky lens now and use it on a modern Pentax in the future (if I ever buy one).
My only beef against the ME Super is its lack of mirror lockup and depth-of-field preview.
All in all, this is an excellent camera, especially for students or people wanting to get into photography as a hobby. It's a good entry-level model, but also serves the needs of professionals and advanced amateurs.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax SF-10 (a good autofocus camera, but a little too restricting for advanced photography)

Cheap and easy to find on the used market.

The manual shutter speed control is a bit fiddly. The meter sometimes gives strange readings, particularly in strong light. The back pops open sometimes, although it's nothing that can't be remedied with duct tape.

The ME Super is a good camera for those on a tight budget. Unlike the ME, it allows full manual control. The only feature that I miss is depth-of-field preview. I would argue that this is superior to the K1000 for beginners - it appears to be better made, and certainly has a more accurate meter. I stopped using my ME Super when I got a Nikon FM2T, but the ME Super served me well until then.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

Canon T50, Nikon FM2, Pentax K1000.

Built like a tank. Fits in hand nicely. Lens are cheap.

No depth of field preview. No mirror lock up.

Good entry level slr that you can grow with. Many good lenses SMC and aftermarket. The black model is very eye catching.

Customer Service

never needed. Have had no problems.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon n2000
Olympus om-1

great, very easy to use, a pleasure. Very quiet, great pictures. Taken everywhere, used for nearly 20 years with only one problem. Liked it so much I bought another Pentax as a replacement. Beginner OK, very good instruction manual. Snapshots, landscapes, portraits, and motor racing subjects all taken with good results. (28mm, 50mm + 200mm lenses)

Exposure. Under-exposed, had serviced, problem recurred. About 3 stops under, but recurred and remains erratic. Looked at one or two s/h for replacement, but they had same problem!

If you can get one with reliable metering, snap it up!

Customer Service

Not tried Pentax direct, only dealers

Similar Products Used:

recently replaced with MZ-5n