Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $120.00 from eBay (with lenses+me

Summary:
Many people have reviewed this camera, but many of the reviews have factual errors that make this camera look worse than it is. This is my FAVORITE Pentax backup body. And is a small, reliable tank that always delivers spot-on exposures! I've owned modern $600+ SLRs that don't deliver the way this old girl does.

Strengths:
Auto-Exposure mode (You set the F-stop, the camera sets the shutter speed.) SOLID body in a small package. (I'd take this baby into a war zone.) Pentax lens compatibility. 1/100 sync and Bulb settings Compatible with ME-II Winder Features exposure compensation dial built into the ISO dial.

Weaknesses:
No manual shutter speed settings. (If you need manual control, get the Pentax ME Super.) It's a 20+ year old camera, so Pentax won't repair it ... you have to take it to a skilled local boy.

Similar Products Used:
Nikon EM, Pentax PZ-1

Customer Service:
Pentax won't repair a camera this old, but they will tell you where to find a qualified local repair shop. Pentax also still offers user manuals for this camera.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $130.00

Summary:
Bought this as a backup / 2nd body. I already have a K1000 and wanted another cheap body that could use the same lenses. Has a good flash sync speed (1/100) and decent metering but lacks several nice options. (see weaknesses)

Strengths:
Construction & finish. Ergonomics. Flash sync Speed (1/100). Bright view Finder.

Weaknesses:
No Exposure Lock. No Self Timer. Lack of info in viewfinder (no aperture / shutter speed) No compensation (bracketing) control aside from film speed adjust. No DOF preview (yeah yeah, I know, most Pentax don''t have it)

Similar Products Used:
K1000, ME Super, SP1000? Minolta XG-1

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $85.00 from second hand

Summary:
it''s making a very nice photos, ESPECIALLY with oryginal 50 mm /1.7 lens. The photos are always clear and sharp.

Strengths:
Accurate metering Small size Light weight

Weaknesses:
automatic mode only,

Similar Products Used:
zenith ttl

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Price Paid:  $158.00 from Oklahoma City

Summary:
Bought the ME before a bicycle trip overseas. A pro shooter buddy knew I liked my K1000, encouraged me to get the ME and a couple of extra lenses, and I got the winder too. Rode in England (cool and warm on same day), Scotland (wet, rainy, cold and warm on either side of hills, windy Grampian Plain, foggy Ben Nevis, Army bagpipe contests in pubs, Skye), Belgium & France (wet, hot, cool, and then a month of banging around with me at discos, restaurants, and everything tourists do. Dropped twice, once in mud...was it the wine or the girl?) I still have the Kodachromes from that trip, great saturation, sharp, thanks to a great film and a damn fine camera.m

Strengths:
About as good as the Nikon Fs from that period, from what I can tell and what I''ve heard.

Weaknesses:
Motor winder and camera sometimes don''t talk to each other.B

Similar Products Used:
Pentax K-1000, Mamiya 645 and 645S, Cambo 4x5, Canon G1,

Customer Service:
Pentax factory been good. Had camera worked on once for a sticking mirror. Lubed.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Glasgow (new)

Summary:
Mine is 20 years old and has never failed me. Its been on a Nepal trek and been dropped more than once and still exposes perfectly everytime.
Would like to get autofocus for photos where my kids are running around but for more static shots (portraits & landscapes) pictures have always turned out just right.

Strengths:
Accurate metering
Small size
Light weight
Never failed on me

Weaknesses:
Fully automatic (would like manual sometimes)
Not autofocus (for pictures of the kids)

Similar Products Used:
Pentax MX

Customer Service:
Never needed