Pentax ME Super: what owners say, prices and what to check

The short answer

The Pentax ME Super is a 35mm K-mount SLR from 1979 (1980 by some accounts) and one of the smallest, lightest SLRs of its era at 445 g, with aperture-priority auto, a manual mode and speeds from 4 s to 1/2000 s.

Owners praise its size, its bright 0.95x viewfinder and an accurate auto mode, but unserviced bodies often need new seals, mirror foam or shutter work. On October 28, 2026, a used body cost $99.95 at Unique Photo and restored kits with a 50mm lens ran $264.99 to $324.99.

Lens mount: Pentax K
Shutter: 4 s to 1/2000 s
Weight: 445 g body
Batteries: 2 x LR44 or SR44

Check used prices What owners say

Built from 111 opinions from 27 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated October 28, 2026.

Photo: Alfred from Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0

The short version

It is built to be shot in AUTO. Manual mode sets speeds with two push buttons instead of a dial, the finder only tells you over or under, there is no AE lock, and only 1/125 and Bulb work without batteries. Owners who shoot aperture priority and use the exposure compensation dial for backlight tend to like it best; owners who want a match-needle meter and a shutter dial are better served by an all-manual body such as the Pentax K1000.

Reliability is the real question on a camera this old. The most common owner complaints are corrosion under the exposure compensation dial that throws the meter off, and rubber bumpers and foam in the mirror box and shutter that turn sticky and cause jams or the infinite-wind fault. A serviced body, or a cheap one bought with a repair budget in mind, is the safer way to buy.

Good fit if

You want an SLR you can carry all day: one owner biked 20 miles with it over his shoulder and barely noticed it.
You plan to shoot aperture-priority auto and let the meter pick the shutter speed.
You want cheap, plentiful K-mount lenses such as the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7.
You shoot long exposures: Bulb is mechanical, and Kosmo Foto's owner got accurate auto exposures of 20 to 30 seconds at night.
You want a first SLR that starts in auto and leaves room to learn manual later.

Think twice if

You mostly shoot manual and want a meter needle and a shutter speed dial.
You want a camera that works fully without batteries: only 125X (1/125 s) and B are mechanical.
You rely on AE lock, depth-of-field preview or mirror lock-up. It has none of them.
You need an adjustable diopter or wear glasses: the eyepiece is fixed at -1.0 diopter, one owner misses the adjustment and another found it hard to see the whole frame with spectacles.
You want zero risk from a cheap untested body: general single repairs at Brooklyn Film Camera, such as a stuck shutter, run $80-120, and that shop does not list the ME Super.

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

We sorted 111 opinions about the ME Super from 27 pages and videos on 17 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.

Most of these voices are owners writing on blogs, Flickr groups and forums, plus editorial reviews and four YouTube videos. Reddit, PentaxForums and Photrio threads could not be read, so none of them is quoted.

Controls and features39% positiveof 18
Aperture-priority auto wins praise, but manual mode divides owners: speeds are set with push buttons, the finder shows only over or under, and there is no AE lock.
- “the ME Super feels more like an automatic camera with a manual mode.”
  Aaron Gold, Kosmo Foto 2020-12Owner
- “The ME Super can do almost anything for what it is, regardless of lens.”
  James, 35mmc (reader comment) 2025-03Owner
- “I liked the Super but the button-push manual controls would have been better done with a dial.”
  tonyjohansen.art, Flickr: Pentax ME / ME Super groupOwner
- “I've had the same ME Super since 1984 and find its manual mode easy and intuitive.”
  Clive W, 35mmc (reader comment) 2021-01Owner
Viewfinder and focusing57% positiveof 14
The big, bright 0.95x finder is one of the most praised parts of the camera; the complaints are a focusing screen that can't be swapped, no diopter adjustment and a harder view with glasses.
- “The split prism focusing screen is fixed, you unfortunately can't interchange it with Pentax MX or LX screens.”
  Brennan Probst 2017-09Owner
- “The viewfinder is bright and huge with 0.95x magnification”
  Trevor Hong, EMULSIVE 2022-01Owner
- “The viewfinder just seems huge and bright for such a small camera.”
  The Noisy Shutter 2025-07Owner
- “Shame the screen can't be replaced. However I can live with that.”
  arhphotographic, ARH Photographic 2021-03Owner
Reliability today7% positiveof 14
The clear weak spot: 12 of 14 opinions report jammed shutters, winding faults, rotted mirror foam or corrosion under the compensation dial, while one owner says his never had these problems.
- “I had dirt and oil all over my shutter blades and it was jamming every shot.”
  cavjer123, iFixit guide 2024-10Owner
- “where under the exposure compensation dial gets corrosion causing this under-exposure”
  pentaxpete, Flickr: I Shoot Film groupOwner
- “haven't used it for nearly twenty-years (since the shutter/film advance system jammed).”
  GeeJay57, TalkPhotography forum 2019-05Owner
- “It's not proven to be the most reliable camera and that corrosion issue is on my latest model too.”
  Richard Moore, EMULSIVE (reader comment) 2022-02Owner
Light meter and exposure46% positiveof 13
Split down the middle, with 6 positive opinions, 6 negative and 1 mixed: the positive ones report accurate auto exposure, the negative ones cite bright sky fooling the meter, readings a stop off and the missing AE lock.
- “I just need get used to the fact it's constantly overexposing 1 stop.”
  39exposures, Flickr: Pentax ME / ME Super groupOwner
- “whenever sky was in the image the meter wanted to underexpose by several stops”
  Geoff Chaplin, 35mmc 2026-07Owner
- “The ME Super's meter was never fooled, even under a few tricky lighting situations.”
  Brennan Probst 2017-09Owner
- “For all of the shots I take, I usually get 36-38 shots of perfectly exposed images per roll.”
  Trevor Hong, EMULSIVE 2022-01Owner
Batteries and power78% positiveof 9
Owners like the long battery life, the cheap LR44 cells and the mechanical Bulb setting; the catch is that only 1/125 and Bulb work without batteries.
- “the ME Super is all but entirely battery reliant.”
  Hamish Gill, 35mmc 2021-01Hands-on review
- “a filter set and extra batteries (which I didn't need).”
  The Noisy Shutter 2025-07Owner
- “battery life is very long on this camera (more than five years).”
  FC Monteiro, Flickr: Pentax ME / ME Super groupOwner
- “the B mode is also mechanical which makes the ME Super well suited for long exposure photography without battery draining.”
  mycameracabinet, My Camera Cabinet 2011-11Owner
Lenses88% positiveof 8
K-mount lenses are easy to find and inexpensive, and the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 gets the most praise; one owner finds the 50mm f/2 kit lens fine but uninspiring.
- “The 50mm f 1.7 lens has to be one of the best I have tried so far.”
  arhphotographic, ARH Photographic 2021-03Owner
- “The M50mm f1.7 and the M28mm f2.8 are always in my bag, very lightweight lenses, but always sharp and contrasty.”
  JC, 35mmc (reader comment) 2026-09Owner
- “Pentax K-mount lenses are also plentiful and won't break the bank”
  Gareth Bevan, Digital Camera World 2023-01Hands-on review
- “they just don't inspire me to get out and shoot like other lenses.”
  The Noisy Shutter 2025-07Owner
Size and weight100% positiveof 8
Every opinion on size is positive: owners call it tiny, light and easy to carry all day, smaller even than an Olympus OM body.
- “it's a handsome thing and a lovely size to hold.”
  joeharvatt, Flickr: Pentax ME / ME Super groupOwner
- “ME Super is one of the lightest (only 445g!) and smallest.”
  mycameracabinet, My Camera Cabinet 2011-11Owner
- “I appreciate the small size and low weight of the ME Super.”
  Geoff Chaplin, 35mmc (reader reply) 2026-07Owner
- “it's become my go-to walk-around camera because it's small and light and accurate.”
  Aaron Gold, Kosmo Foto 2020-12Owner
Build quality33% positiveof 6
Most say it feels solid for its size, but several point to plastic dials and buttons, and one buyer received a body with a stripped battery door.
- “the battery door is so stripped that it won't even open.”
  z., Cute Camera Co. customer reviewOwner
- “Upon handling the ME Super for the first time, I'll admit I was a bit surprised by how good it felt in the hand.”
  The Noisy Shutter 2025-07Owner
- “Mine has a butter smooth film advance, but everything on the camera is plastic fantastic.”
  Steve Marino, EMULSIVE (reader comment) 2023-04Owner
- “There's a decent amount of plastic used in the ME's construction, but it still feels pretty sturdy.”
  Brennan Probst 2017-09Owner
Repairs and servicing83% positiveof 6
Owners say a professional service or a careful DIY shutter clean brings these bodies back to life, though one was quoted 160 pounds with no guarantee of a fix.
- “I've been quoted £160 to get it fixed! with no guarantee that it can be fixed.”
  davidmalt, Flickr: Pentax ME / ME Super group 2021-07Owner
- “Thanks to your guide I can now fairly confidently deal with infinite wind and dirty electromagnets.”
  cavjer123, iFixit guide 2026-05Owner
- “had the shutter & light seals replaced along with being cleaned/lubed. It works like new and I'm loving it.”
  RDS, My Camera Cabinet (reader comment) 2013-08Owner
- “I had mine professionally serviced about 5-6 years ago, and it has worked flawlessly since. A worthwhile investment, I think.”
  geowelch, Flickr: Pentax ME / ME Super groupOwner
Price and value100% positiveof 6
Everyone who mentions price calls it good value: one owner bought a parts body for less than a K1000, and a YouTube reviewer puts it in a similar price range as the K1000 with more features.
- “In this price range, I still think this camera is priced fairly.”
  The Noisy Shutter 2025-07Owner
- “All this, from a "as-is parts camera" that isn't worthy enough to be priced like the Pentax K-1000 model.”
  A Quirky Guy with a Camera 2017-06Owner
- “I think it is one of the best camera Pentax ever made, well balanced in features, weight, size and price.”
  mycameracabinet, My Camera Cabinet 2013-08Owner
- “they are abundant and affordable on the used market, frequently selling in the $50 to $100 range with a lens”
  Aaron Gold, Kosmo Foto 2020-12Owner
Ease of use100% positiveof 4
All four opinions on ease of use are positive: in aperture-priority auto you focus, compose and shoot, and loading film is simple.
- “none of them are as capable, pleasant, and fun as the ME/ME Super.”
  Jim Grey, ARH Photographic (reader comment) 2021-03Owner
- “The compact size and Aperture Priority function meant all I had to do was focus, compose, and shoot.”
  Kyle Klain, 35mmc 2021-03Owner
- “Great camara for begginers.”
  Santiago Pujato, Cute Camera Co. customer reviewOwner
Image results75% positiveof 4
Owners and reviewers report sharp, well-exposed results, especially with the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7; one new user found his first rolls a mixed bag, better outdoors than indoors.
- “the ME Super seemed to nail the exposure and focus the best, looking like anything but a second-rate camera.”
  A Quirky Guy with a Camera 2017-06Owner
- “The combination of run-and-gun film shooting with a new camera and film delivered results I could hang onto well into a future.”
  Kyle Klain, 35mmc 2021-03Owner
- “the photos that come out of the camera are excellent using the SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 lens”
  Gareth Bevan, Digital Camera World 2023-01Hands-on review
- “The photos I have taken so far have been a mixed bag, some really good shots on local mountains in the evening sunset”
  Jamsteruk, TalkPhotography forum 2019-05Owner

PositiveMixedNegative

How to check a used Pentax ME Super before you buy

Most ME Super faults show up in a few minutes of handling, and a seller who won't let you check these is telling you something. Restorers point out that leaks, meter errors and sluggish shutters can stay hidden until a roll is developed, which is the reason serviced bodies cost more.

1
Start with fresh batteries
Fit two new LR44 or SR44 cells, set the dial to AUTO and half-press the shutter: LEDs should light on the left of the finder. A body sold as dead may only need cells; one blogger revived a parts listing with a fresh pair.
2
Work the wind lever and fire it
The lever should turn smoothly and cock the shutter every time. Digital Camera World singles out a jammed wind lever and a mirror stuck up as the two faults to ask any seller about.
3
Fire at 125X and B without batteries
These two settings are mechanical, so they should work with the cells out. If it fires on 125X but not in AUTO with fresh cells, suspect dirty contacts or the electronics: iFixit lists the top-cover contacts as one cause of a missing AUTO mode.
4
Compare the meter with a phone app
Point both at the same scene with the same ISO and aperture. A meter that jumps around often has corrosion under the exposure compensation dial, and owners in one Flickr thread report steadying theirs by working the dial back and forth with a few drops of rubbing alcohol. Others live with a meter that reads a stop off, and one longtime owner says he always gave color negative 0.5 to 1 stop more than the meter read.
5
Check the seals and mirror foam
Expect to replace the mirror damping foam on an unserviced body: one owner found it gone on both of his, though the back light seals on his first body were fine. A Kamerastore listing for a rescue-grade body also notes it needs new light seals and a mirror bumper. Restorers add that leaks can stay hidden until a roll is developed.
6
Look at the finder and the lens
Make sure the aperture ring turns freely. The focusing screen is fixed, so marks on it stay; one owner lives with a screen damaged by bad cleaning.

Sources: digitalcameraworld.com, quirkyguywithacamera.blogspot.com, talkphotography.co.uk, mycameracabinet.wordpress.com, cute.camera, camera-wiki.org, ifixit.com, kamerastore.com, flickr.com

How to load and shoot the Pentax ME Super

The handbook treats AUTO as the normal way to shoot this camera, and owners agree it works best that way. These steps follow the manual and owner reviews.

1
Check the batteries
With the dial on AUTO or M, a light press on the shutter button should light one or more LEDs; the manual says flickering speed LEDs mean the cells are low. The LEDs stay dark on 125X and B by design.
2
Load the film on 125X
Set the dial to 125X, push the film leader between any two white pins on the Magic Needle take-up spool and close the back. As you wind, the film-advance indicator window should flicker, which confirms the film is moving.
3
Set the film speed
Lift and turn the ASA dial to the box speed, anywhere from 12 to 1600. The manual advises keeping the exposure compensation ring around the rewind crank at 1X unless you need it. My Camera Cabinet adds that the ASA dial also allows finer 1/3-stop adjustments.
4
Shoot in AUTO
Choose the aperture on the lens and the camera sets the shutter speed steplessly, shown by an LED in the finder. Green LEDs mean 1/60 and faster; yellow means 1/30 and slower, so brace the camera or use a tripod.
5
Correct backlight with compensation
There is no AE lock, and the center-weighted meter can be fooled by a bright sky. Dial in compensation from 1/4X to 4X (plus or minus 2 EV); an EF LED flashes while it is set, and it only works in AUTO.
6
Use M when you need it
Press the small white button on the mode dial to move it off AUTO, turn it to M and set the speed with the up and down buttons until the red OVER and UNDER LEDs stop flashing. The display doesn't show how far off you are.
7
Steady slow shots
The light body shakes more than heavier cameras and has no mirror lock-up, so use a tripod and a cable release at slow speeds; the shutter button is threaded for one.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, mycameracabinet.wordpress.com, kosmofoto.com, thenoisyshutter.com, emulsive.org, retro-camera.ru

Pentax ME Super batteries: LR44, SR44 and what works without them

The ME Super takes two 1.5V button cells. LR44 alkaline and SR44 silver oxide cells both fit; the manual specifies silver oxide (Eveready S76E or Mallory MS76H). Wikipedia lists the same 11.6 x 5.4 mm size under names such as A76, S76, EPX76, 357 and 303, and notes that silver oxide cells hold a much flatter discharge curve than alkaline. Wikipedia also says photographers sometimes use a single 3V CR1/3N lithium cell in place of two LR44s in cameras.

A set lasts about a year of normal use, and the manual adds that it is good for about 10,000 shutter operations. Owners report more: one has gone over five years on a set, and Digital Camera World's reviewer regretted buying a multipack of spares.

Without batteries, only 125X (1/125 s) and B work. If the cells die mid-roll, switch to 125X and set the aperture with the sunny 16 rule. Our film camera battery finder lists the cells for other cameras too.

Dead batteries don't stop the shutter in AUTO or M: it keeps firing at an uncalibrated speed, so blank or thin negatives can be the result of flat cells. Check that the LEDs light before every outing.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, filmtypes.com, digitalcameraworld.com, en.wikipedia.org, retro-camera.ru

Best lenses, film and flash for the ME Super

Ultramax 400

Any Pentax K-mount lens with an aperture ring works: SMC Pentax, Pentax-M and Pentax-A. Lenses without an aperture ring, such as FA J and DA, cannot be used. M42 screw-mount Takumars fit with Pentax's official adapter and meter stopped down, and AUTO still works that way, which 35mmc's reviewer counts as a plus.

The SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 is probably the most common lens on the used market, according to Digital Camera World, and the one owners praise most. Brooklyn Film Camera's guide, updated in October 2026, puts a good K-mount 50mm f/1.7 at $50 to $130 and the f/1.4 at $120 to $250. With the small 50mm f/2 or f/1.7, Brennan Probst says it can even fit in a jacket pocket.

It takes any 35mm film from ISO 12 to 1600. Cute Camera Co. suggests ISO 400 color negative as a forgiving everyday start, such as Kodak Ultramax 400 or Kodak Portra 400. EMULSIVE's reviewer says that aside from the F3, it is the only manual camera he would trust with slide film, and one owner shoots Portra or HP5 rated at ISO 100 and lets the camera handle the rest.

Flash is external only, through a hot shoe and a PC socket. Dedicated Pentax units (the manual names the AF 200S and AF 160) use an extra hot-shoe contact to light a flash-ready LED and force 1/125 in AUTO or M. Any other flash, on the shoe or through the PC socket, needs the dial on 125X; our flash photography guide covers PC sync.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, 35mmc.com, digitalcameraworld.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, brennanprobst.com, cute.camera, emulsive.org, camera-wiki.org, mycameracabinet.wordpress.com, kosmofoto.com, en.wikipedia.org

Pentax ME vs ME Super: what changed

	Pentax ME	Pentax ME Super
Exposure modes	Aperture-priority auto only	Aperture-priority auto plus manual (M)
Fastest shutter speed	1/1000 s	1/2000 s
Flash sync	1/100 s	1/125 s
Eyepiece	-0.5 diopter	-1.0 diopter
Manual speed control	None	Up and down push buttons

Pick the Pentax ME if

You only ever shoot aperture-priority auto and can live without manual mode, 1/2000 s and the 1/125 flash sync.

Pick the Pentax ME Super if

You want a manual mode for backlight, flash or tricky scenes.
You want 1/2000 s for fast film or wide apertures in bright sun.

Sources: mycameracabinet.wordpress.com, camera-wiki.org, kosmofoto.com, en.wikipedia.org

Pentax ME Super problems and what repairs cost

Most ME Super faults come from rubber, foam and contacts that are now more than 40 years old, and each has a known fix. No US repair shop lists an ME Super price, so the costs below are general rates from shops that publish them, and Brooklyn Film Camera notes that electrical issues are model-dependent.

Infinite wind

Raised in 4 opinions

How you notice: The advance lever keeps winding but never cocks the shutter, so the camera will not fire.
Fix: Degraded rubber bumpers in the mirror box let the mirror-charge latch stick. The mirror box comes out and gets cleaned; iFixit has guides, and one commenter now fixes infinite wind himself with them.
Typical cost: $80-120 for unjamming a film advance at Brooklyn Film Camera, no warranty; LeZot Camera charges $180 to repair comparable electronic SLRs such as the Olympus OM-2. Neither lists the ME Super by name.

Sources: ifixit.com, ifixit.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com, lezotcameras.com

Mirror stuck up

How you notice: The viewfinder goes black, the shutter will not fire and the advance lever is locked.
Fix: Rule out user error first: the manual warns that firing in AUTO with the lens cap on or in near darkness starts a very long exposure that looks like a lock-up, and turning the dial to 125X clears it. Otherwise it is usually the same sticky mirror-box rubber, which needs cleaning.
Typical cost: $80-120 for an unjamming repair at Brooklyn Film Camera; LeZot Camera charges $180 to $245 for SLRs such as the Olympus OM-2 and Nikon FE.

Sources: ifixit.com, retro-camera.ru, brooklynfilmcamera.com, lezotcameras.com

Sticky or frozen shutter

Raised in 6 opinions

How you notice: Uneven exposure across the frame, or a shutter that will not run at all.
Fix: Two rubber bumpers in the shutter block degrade over time. Removing the shutter and cleaning off the residue usually restores it; iFixit rates the DIY job difficult and allows 2 to 3 hours.
Typical cost: $80-120 for a stuck-shutter repair at Brooklyn Film Camera, no warranty.

Sources: ifixit.com, ifixit.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Dead, jumpy or inaccurate light meter

Raised in 8 opinions

How you notice: No LEDs with fresh batteries, readings that jump around, or rolls that come back consistently under- or overexposed.
Fix: Check battery orientation and clean the battery contacts. Corrosion under the exposure compensation dial is the classic cause; owners in one Flickr thread report that working the dial back and forth with a few drops of rubbing alcohol steadied a jumpy meter, though one says his still reads a stop over afterward. Some owners simply compensate by hand.
Typical cost: Contact cleaning is usually DIY; metering calibration is part of LeZot Camera's $180 service on comparable SLRs such as the Olympus OM-2.

Sources: ifixit.com, flickr.com, talkphotography.co.uk, kosmofoto.com, lezotcameras.com, flickr.com

Rotted light seals and mirror foam

Raised in 3 opinions

How you notice: Light leaks that may only show up on developed film, and mirror damping foam that has crumbled away.
Fix: Replace the mirror damping foam and, where they have failed, the back light seals. One owner found the foam gone on both his bodies; another had the seals replaced along with a shutter service; a rescue-grade listing flags both as needed.
Typical cost: $80-120 for light seal replacement at Brooklyn Film Camera; see our guide to [light leaks](/techniques/light-leaks/) for how they show up on film.

Sources: mycameracabinet.wordpress.com, kamerastore.com, brooklynfilmcamera.com

Batteries drain in a day or two

How you notice: Fresh cells die in a day or two when the camera is left in AUTO.
Fix: The meter switch under the shutter button is not opening, so the meter stays on. It needs adjusting, or a short from an earlier repair needs finding.
Typical cost: Bench repair; no published flat price for the ME Super.

Sources: ifixit.com

Mode dial or speed buttons not responding

How you notice: The camera won't go into AUTO, or the up and down buttons don't change the speed in M.
Fix: Dirty or oxidized contacts between the top cover and the body, or in the button housing, need cleaning.
Typical cost: Bench repair or DIY; no published flat price.

Sources: ifixit.com

Photos taken with a Pentax ME Super

Photos taken with a Pentax ME Super by Wikimedia Commons contributors, from Missouri and Mississippi in the 1980s to Ektar, Superia, Ortho Plus and Aerochrome rolls shot between 2016 and 2020.

Botallack mine, on Kodak Ektar 100, 2016Photo: chris lovelock, CC BY 2.0
Chanonry Point Lighthouse, on Fujifilm Superia 200, 2017Photo: chris lovelock, CC BY 2.0
Before the storm, on Ilford Ortho Plus 80, 2020Photo: chris lovelock, CC BY 2.0
Boxing Day walk on Perranporth beach, on Kodak Aerochrome, 2016Photo: chris lovelock, CC BY 2.0
Anderson House, Lexington, Missouri, 1987Photo: CapCase, CC BY 2.0
Engine 5 and Rescue 1, Philadelphia, Mississippi, 1986Photo: CapCase, CC BY 2.0

What a Pentax ME Super costs today

On October 28, 2026, US sellers listed a used body at $99.95 (Unique Photo) and restored kits with a lens at $264.99 to $324.99. Kamerastore, a Finnish shop that ships to the US, listed as-is bodies from $33. KEH, MPB, B&H, Adorama and eBay sold listings could not be checked, so they are not listed.

Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)
Used, Good, 30-day returns, in stock, Body only
$99.95
See listing
Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)
Used, Fair (sold out), Body + 50mm f/2 lens
$149.95
See listing
Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)
Used, Good (sold out), Body + 50mm lens
$169.95
See listing
Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)
Restored, Average cosmetic grade, 60-day returns, Body + 50mm lens + fresh batteries
$264.99
See listing
Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)
Restored, Good cosmetic grade, Body + 50mm lens + fresh batteries
$294.99
See listing
Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)
Restored, Very Good cosmetic grade, Body + 50mm lens + fresh batteries
$324.99
See listing
Film Supply Club
Used, fresh CLA (late winter 2026), Body + 35-70mm zoom lens
$299.00
See listing
Retrospekt (Milwaukee, WI)
Refurbished, full CLA, 90-day warranty (sold out), Body + SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4
$299.00
See listing
Retrospekt (Milwaukee, WI)
Refurbished, 90-day warranty (sold out), Body + SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 + skylight filter
$299.00
See listing
Kamerastore (Finland, ships to US)
Rescue grade, as-is, no warranty, Body only; meter inaccurate, fast speeds off, 1/125 and B work
$33.00
See listing

Prices checked on October 28, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. Older dated reports put used prices lower: $50-$100 with a lens (Kosmo Foto, December 2020), around $100 for good copies on eBay (Digital Camera World, January 2023), and $30-60 for untested bodies on "the big auction site", with tested ones up to $150 (The Noisy Shutter, July 2025). Kamerastore is in Finland but lists prices in US dollars and ships to the US; all of its ME Super stock was sold as-is.

Video reviews worth your time

How To Use: Pentax ME Super - Kamerastore
Kamerastore, 2021
The Pentax ME Super is an electronic 35mm SLR featuring aperture-priority auto exposure, manual push-button shutter controls, and an informative LED viewfinder.
- 0:25 Installing LR44 batteries into the bottom battery compartment
- 1:03 Mounting a Pentax 50mm lens onto the camera body
- 4:12 Loading a roll of 35mm film into the camera
- 5:20 Demonstrating the viewfinder display and split-prism focusing mechanism
SMALLEST 35mm Full-Frame SLR EVER! The Pentax ME Super (SE) Review
Film Photography Channel, 2019
The Pentax ME Super is a highly compact, fun, and capable film SLR with excellent Pentax lenses, though its LED exposure system and metering in high-contrast scenes can be finicky.
- 1:48 Side-by-side comparison with Olympus OM-2
- 3:43 Detailed close-up inspection of controls and body construction
- 10:05 Demonstrating the K-mount lens release and alignment dots
- 12:22 Explaining manual mode exposure LEDs in the viewfinder
Pentax ME Super in 3 minutes
Three Minute Pro, 2021
The Pentax ME Super is a highly popular, compact, and affordable 35mm SLR camera that offers an enjoyable photography experience.
- 0:11 Overview of exposure modes
- 0:36 Top dial controls and push-button shutter speed controls
- 2:21 Pentax K-mount lens compatibility
- 2:51 Step-by-step film loading process
Pentax ME Super | 35mm SLR Film Camera Review & Test
Film Gazing, 2023
The video provides a comprehensive hands-on guide to operating the Pentax ME Super, detailing its exposure modes, film handling, and controls.
- 0:08 Opening the battery compartment on the camera base
- 1:29 Switching to manual mode and adjusting shutter speed
- 2:45 Removing the lens using the release mechanism
- 3:15 Opening the film back and loading 35mm film

Specifications

Questions people ask about the ME Super

Is the Pentax ME Super good for beginners?

Yes, as long as you start in AUTO. You pick the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed; Cute Camera Co. suggests starting there and moving to manual when you feel ready, and Digital Camera World calls the camera incredibly intuitive to use. The catch is age: buy a serviced body or budget for a repair. Our list of the [best film cameras for beginners](/cameras/best-film-cameras-for-beginners/) compares it with other first cameras.

Sources: cute.camera, digitalcameraworld.com

Does the Pentax ME Super need a battery to take photos?

For most settings, yes. It takes two 1.5V LR44 or SR44 cells, which power the meter and every timed speed. Without them only 125X (1/125 s) and B work, and AUTO and M fire at an uncalibrated speed, so check that the finder LEDs light before you shoot.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, 35mmc.com

How much is a Pentax ME Super worth?

On October 28, 2026, Unique Photo had a used body in Good condition for $99.95, and Cute Camera Co. sold restored kits with a 50mm lens for $264.99 to $324.99. Untested bodies go for less: The Noisy Shutter saw them at $30-60 on "the big auction site" in July 2025, with tested, guaranteed bodies up to $150.

Sources: uniquephoto.com, cute.camera, thenoisyshutter.com

What is the difference between the Pentax ME and the ME Super?

The ME Super adds a manual mode, with speeds set by up and down buttons, to the ME's aperture-priority auto. It also raises the top shutter speed from 1/1000 to 1/2000 s and flash sync from 1/100 to 1/125 s.

Sources: mycameracabinet.wordpress.com, kosmofoto.com

How do you set manual shutter speeds on the ME Super?

Press the small white button on the mode dial to move it off AUTO and turn it to M. Then press the up and down buttons beside the dial; the chosen speed lights in the finder, and red OVER and UNDER LEDs flash until the exposure matches the meter. The display doesn't show how many stops off you are.

Sources: thenoisyshutter.com, kosmofoto.com, en.wikipedia.org

Why won't my Pentax ME Super fire or wind?

Check the batteries first: in AUTO or M a light press on the shutter should light the finder LEDs. If the finder is black and the lever locked, the manual says a shot in AUTO with the lens cap on starts a very long exposure, cleared by turning the dial to 125X. If it still jams, or the lever winds endlessly, the usual culprit is degraded rubber bumpers in the mirror box or shutter.

Sources: camera-wiki.org, retro-camera.ru, ifixit.com, ifixit.com

Is the Pentax ME Super light meter accurate?

On a healthy body, owners and reviewers say it is: EMULSIVE's reviewer gets nearly every frame on a roll correctly exposed. Worn copies often drift, usually from corrosion under the exposure compensation dial, so compare yours with a phone app; one longtime owner says he always gave color negative 0.5 to 1 stop more than the meter read.

Sources: emulsive.org, flickr.com, talkphotography.co.uk

What film does the Pentax ME Super use?

Standard 35mm film, set from ISO 12 to 1600 on the ASA dial. Color negative, black and white and slide film all work; Cute Camera Co. suggests ISO 400 color negative as a forgiving place to start.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, cute.camera

What people compare it with

Pentax K1000
The fully manual Pentax student SLR, with a match-needle meter. It takes the same K-mount lenses, but Kosmo Foto's reviewer calls the ME Super significantly smaller in all dimensions.
Pentax MX
The same compact size, but fully manual and mechanical, so it works with or without batteries. 35mmc's reviewer went back to it over the ME Super.
Pentax Super Program (Super A)
A Kosmo Foto commenter suggests it: about the same size, the same up and down speed buttons, three auto modes and a manual metering display.
Olympus OM-2
The other small aperture-priority SLR of the era; owners compare the two directly.

The short version

Good fit if

Think twice if

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

How to check a used Pentax ME Super before you buy

Start with fresh batteries

Work the wind lever and fire it

Fire at 125X and B without batteries

Compare the meter with a phone app

Check the seals and mirror foam

Look at the finder and the lens

How to load and shoot the Pentax ME Super

Check the batteries

Load the film on 125X

Set the film speed

Shoot in AUTO

Correct backlight with compensation

Use M when you need it

Steady slow shots

Pentax ME Super batteries: LR44, SR44 and what works without them

Best lenses, film and flash for the ME Super

Pentax ME vs ME Super: what changed

Pick the Pentax ME if

Pick the Pentax ME Super if

Pentax ME Super problems and what repairs cost

Photos taken with a Pentax ME Super

What a Pentax ME Super costs today

Video reviews worth your time

Specifications

Camera

Shutter and exposure

Viewfinder

Body and power

Questions people ask about the ME Super

Is the Pentax ME Super good for beginners?

Does the Pentax ME Super need a battery to take photos?

How much is a Pentax ME Super worth?

What is the difference between the Pentax ME and the ME Super?

How do you set manual shutter speeds on the ME Super?

Why won't my Pentax ME Super fire or wind?

Is the Pentax ME Super light meter accurate?

What film does the Pentax ME Super use?

What people compare it with

Pentax MX

Pentax Super Program (Super A)

Olympus OM-2

Every source behind this page

Manuals and references 20

Forums 9

Editorial reviews 7

Independent blogs 5

Video reviews 4

Retailer customer reviews 1

Other 1

Keep reading