Pentax ME Super Light Meter Adjustment

ID: 176292

Description: The light meter of the ME Super is very...

Steps:

  1. Wrap a piece of masking tape around your thumb, sticky side out.
  2. Turn the wind lever cap clockwise to remove (it is reverse threaded).
  3. Remove the wind lever lock ring (it is also reverse threaded).
  4. Remove the brass spring washer.
  5. A pair of fine tipped pliers or nippers can be used in place of a spanner wrench. Be careful!
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  6. Place a tool in the fork of the rewind spindle.
  7. Unscrew the rewind lever.
  8. Remove the lock ring with a spanner.
  9. Lift off the ISO/Exposure Compensation dial.
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  10. Ensure that the ISO dial couples with the tab on the resistor.
  11. Turn the Exposure Compensation to 1/4x then back to 4x while gently pushing down. This will help the dial engage with the detent mechanism properly.
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  12. Remove two 3.3 mm #00 screws.
  13. Remove one 3.2 mm #00 screw.
  14. Remove one 2.6 mm #00 screw.
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  15. Remove two 4.3 mm #00 screws.
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  16. Lift off the top cover. The silver trim piece is loose and may fall away.
  17. Remove loose washer.
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  18. The shutter pin is loose. Make sure it is in place before installing the top cover.
  19. The mode dial pin must be properly coupled with the mechanisms in the camera for it to work.
  20. Set the mode dial to 'M'. Place the top cover on the camera. Move the mode dial to 'B' then back to 'M' while gently pushing down.
  21. The mode dial should click into place and work properly.
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  22. Ground the right most mode contact to the camera body. This puts the camera electronics in 'Auto' mode.
  23. Insert a small rod between the mode levers. This puts the mechanics of the shutter in 'Auto' mode.
  24. Install the ISO dial.
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  25. Create a scene that fills the viewfinder with even brightness.
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  26. The ME Super has a stepless shutter in 'Auto' mode, which means it can fire at speeds inbetween the standard one stop increments. The indicated speed may be 1/60 but the metered speed could be anywhere from 1/45 to 1/90. The shutter will fire at the metered speed.
  27. Use the 1/3rd stop increments of the ISO dial to determine if the indicated value is in the center or at the edge of the possible range. Adjust until it is centered.
  28. Use a shutter speed tester to check the actual speed of the shutter and compare it to the indicated speed.
  29. Adjust VR2 until the measured speed matches the indicated speed.
  30. VR2 only affects the indicated speed in the viewfinder. It should not change the actual speed of the shutter.
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  31. Mount a lens on the camera and measure the exposure for the scene with a known good light meter or camera.
  32. Use a shroud to keep ambient light away from the light sensor. The light meter should only read light from the focusing screen of the camera.
  33. Adjust VR1 until the metered exposure matches the correct exposure.
  34. Repeat the last two steps at different exposure values for additional calibration points.
  35. VR1 affects the speed of the shutter and the speed indicated in the viewfinder. They should change at the same rate.
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