Aperture ring seizing up: Hi All, My first post here. I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need...

MESuper

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Andrew, it might be time to consider a clean, lube, and adjust for that camera. I suggest a reputable camera repair shop.
--Bob

MESuper wrote:

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

blackest Loc: Ireland

MESuper wrote:

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

Hi you have the potential to mess it up the lens lubricating it, so maybe warm it a little on a radiator and work the aperture ring up and down 1 stop then 2 and 3 sometimes some of the grease hardens and piles up a bit. this will free things off and the bit of warmth will soften the grease some. It only wants to be warm not uncomfortably warm just working that aperture gently should loosen it off a little. maybe 100 times will have it fully free'd off. check how the aperture blades are moving initially they are likely to be slow but should get snappier as they get used to moving again. Worked for my takumar 35mm

Welcome to the hog.

MESuper

Many thanks for the advice. Maybe I should just put it in for a proper service.

blackest Loc: Ireland

MESuper wrote:

Many thanks for the advice. Maybe I should just put it in for a proper service.

This fella is well recommended on the Pentax forums http://pentaxs.com/index.html He is based in Knoxville, TN and his prices seem pretty reasonable. Obviously I can't give a personal recommendation being based in Ireland but I've been reading recommendations for his work for years.

e.g

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/189-repairs-warranty-service/347442-just-got-k1000-back-eric.html

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

MESuper wrote:

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

Is this a "Pentax-M" lens??

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

MESuper wrote:

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

Hopefully it can be repaired, because Pentax didn’t make many replacement aperture adjusting rings for the Me Super.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

RWR wrote:

Hopefully it can be repaired, because Pentax didn’t make many replacement aperture adjusting rings for the Me Super.

The Pentax ME Super was one of a series of early K-mount cameras. It was kitted with a "Pentax-M" lens, but almost any K-mount lens with an aperture ring can be used with it, and alot of those lenses are out there. I had another variant of the Pentax ME, namely the Pentax ME SE, but it got damp at Niagara Falls, and I ended up replacing it with a Pentax Super Program. The aperture ring of the lens kitted with it developed issues, and the helpful guy at the camera store told me it would be cheaper for me to purchase a replacement than to get it fixed; I actually used that lens for eleven years without an actual failure - today I still have the camera and lens, and both still work {although the lens still has a spot where the aperture ring sticks momentarily}.

I'm guessing the advice I was given over thirty years ago is still good - buy a replacement lens.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1-7-SLR-Camera-Lens-K-mount-195853-164-/222547400508?hash=item33d0dbd73c:g:nWsAAOSwPh5ZGzrA

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

rehess wrote:

The Pentax ME Super was one of a series of early K... (show quote)

So much for my attempt at tongue in cheek humor!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

RWR wrote:

So much for my attempt at tongue in cheek humor!

You forgot to include a smiley face

More to the point, my opinion is that there has been too much advice on repairing the lens; I cannot believe that any qualified artisan could repair anything for less than the cost of a new K-mount lens with working aperture ring.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

rehess wrote:

You forgot to include a smiley face

More to the point, my opinion is that there has been too much advice on repairing the lens; I cannot believe that any qualified artisan could repair anything for less than the cost of a new K-mount lens with working aperture ring.

I don’t think it would have been tongue in cheek with a smiley, so I deliberately left it off. I concur with you on getting the lens repaired. I actually used an MX with 4 M lenses alongside my Leicaflexes for a time, and know for a fact the lenses were not made for very heavy use. I was impressed with the optical quality of the 30 f/2.8 and 120 f/2.8 M lenses, though.
Edit: I’m assuming the OP has an M lens, because unless it had not been used for a long time, there shouldn’t be many problems with the other lenses.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MESuper wrote:

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

Contact these people. They were praised by a member who had work done by them. Home remedies are not the best choice for repairing a lens.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-profile?usernum=76531

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

OK, here is one for $25 {OK if you don't use filters}

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pentax-M-50-f1-7-Lens-/252794008329?ssPageName=ADME:X:COCE:US:3160

MESuper

Thank you everyone for your advice.
Andrew

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

MESuper wrote:

Hi All,
My first post here.
I have an old Pentax ME Super, the aperture adjusting ring of which is starting to jam when it is turned. Any ideas? Might it need some lubrication? The camera has never been serviced.
Andrew

Which lens are you talking about? I used to own a ME Super. As you can see from my tag line I have a lot of Pentax cameras now. I'm a little confused by your description. The aperture ring (iris ring) is part of the lens not the camera body. Don't try to oil it yourself. Just try "working" the lens as another UHH'er described, warm it a little and see if the iris blades in the lens loosen up. You may need to take it to a professional camera repair shop (they are not common today). If you then feel the cost of repairs it too high you could probably buy a used smc-Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 lens inexpensively on ebay, Amazon, from B&H, Adorama, or perhaps even UHH. If you need some help deciding on a replacement or a different lens, Private Message me on UHH, and I my be able to help you out. I'm pretty good with wheelin' and dealin' and locating on eBay for used photo equipment. Might even be able to work out a deal for a lens that I have but don't need.