Posted to 35mm Cameras 2009-08-23
A nostalgic look at the Pentax ME 35mm camera compared with its digital children that are running the world today shows just how far things have come. The ME was first released in 1976 by the Asahi Optical Company and took the amateur photography genre to new heights. It was later replaced by the ME Super in 1979 and is still a popular camera today for students of photography. Wonderfully compact and making use of the K-mount proprietary lens system that Asahi developed, the Pentax ME had a vast array of features, securely encased in a chrome metal body to ensure the camera was not easily damaged. With a viewfinder that covers 92% of the actual field captured, the ME was a quality camera that produced when needed. The camera requires two LR44 (or similar) batteries to power and can operate on a shutter speed between 8 seconds and 1/1000 of a second.
QualityA rundown of quality camera manufacturers finds Pentax still fighting it out for supremacy. The ME's design was a real step forward for the offerings for amateur photographers and it would have been easy for the quality to be somewhat lacking, thankfully this wasn't the case. The ME has been a timeless unit that has really helped shaped the digital camera era we are surrounded by today. With quality manufacturers, the timelessness of there equipment can be seen by the demand that exists well after production has finished. The ME stopped manufacture in 1981 and is still hot property for amateur photographers or collectors, displaying just how much quality was packed into this unit. FeaturesK-mount lens technology provided performance for 35mm cameras that was relatively unseen at the time for amateur photographers. The use of the design is still around today, showing just how well it performs in all conditions. Overall, the unit provides a 0.97x viewfinder that displayed the shutter speed that was currently chosen so you could be sure the photos you captured were at correct aperture. The ME featured a focus range between 0.45m and 1.55m and weighed a surprisingly light 16oz without the lens attached. SummaryA timeless classic, the Pentax ME has been widely exposed over the years and has an active collection of amateur photography fans that still support the units effectiveness. The K-mount lens technology, coupled with sturdy chrome casing means your Pentax ME was safe to endure whatever hardships it faced. Though tough to find new, you can still acquire a second hand unit if you dig hard enough, the ME is a great first camera for any photographer and is still able to produce quality photographs via its 35mm medium. Pros
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