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Servicing/Cleaning for Pentax film cameras

andy_bell
Posted 23/09/2021 - 12:33 Link
anyone have any recommendations for servicing/cleaning Pentax SLR film cameras please?
Have recently acquired an MX and now a Black ME Super....
A few bits & Bobs
LongTimeLurker
Posted 23/09/2021 - 12:53 - Helpful Comment Link
Hello Andy.

Robin at Harrow Technical ( https://harrowtechnical.co.uk/ ) is able to repair and service film cameras. High quality work and excellent customer service. Recommended by me as a happy customer.

Robin semi-retired a couple of years ago and now runs the business from home. This means he has a more limited capacity for new work and there is a note on the front page of his website stating he is currently not accepting new items for repair due to "volumes". If you're not in a hurry, it may be worth contacting Robin to see if he has an idea as to when he'll be able to accept new work.
Nigel.

Getting older and grumpier. Taking longer to decide which lens to use today.

K5 with auto-everything lenses
A collection of manual primes to keep me in touch with the pleasures of doing it old-school.
Mannesty
Posted 23/09/2021 - 15:06 Link
Peter E Smith - flickr Photostream
womble
Posted 24/09/2021 - 19:20 Link
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
andy_bell
Posted 01/10/2021 - 12:46 Link
Thanks for the input guys, ill give one of them a go...
A few bits & Bobs
andy_bell
Posted 01/10/2021 - 13:03 Link
With the ME Super the mirror is stuck up, id not seen this in my years of ownership of these....is it a known issue?
Other than that the camera is pretty much mint.....
Will probably have a couple of vivitar lenses for sale in the near future.....
A few bits & Bobs
johnriley
Posted 01/10/2021 - 17:06 Link
The mirrors can lock up if the battery power fails, but otherwise most of the problems with ME series cameras that I have known have been electronic or film transport. They are very old now.....
Best regards, John
womble
Posted 01/10/2021 - 23:10 Link
Sometimes the mirror foam gets sticky and holds the mirror up.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
davidstorm
Posted 03/10/2021 - 10:40 - Helpful Comment Link
The ME's suffer badly from sitting and not being used. There are components in the mechanism that degrade over time and cause the film winding to lock up. It doesn't sound as if yours has this particular issue, it sounds more like sticky foam causing the mirror not to return, but it could also be sticky lubricant on the mirror pivot points. The foam is an easy fix if it is the only problem, just buy some sticky backed foam from ebay, 2mm or 3mm, then cut a strip to fit. To clean away the old residue you will need some isopropyl alcohol and some toothpicks or similar. Make sure you don't get any of the old foam on the prism.

Kind Regards
David
Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs
andy_bell
Posted 04/10/2021 - 10:51 Link
Ive decided to treat both bodies to a good service....
I also need to get my 50-135 off for a new SDM motor
A few bits & Bobs
smc
Posted 23/05/2022 - 20:41 Link
Resurrecting an old thread.

Andy - who did you go with in the end? I have a nice black MX that needs some work.

Many thanks
andy_bell
Posted 01/03/2023 - 09:18 Link
smc wrote:
Resurrecting an old thread.

Andy - who did you go with in the end? I have a nice black MX that needs some work.

Many thanks

A few bits & Bobs
andy_bell
Posted 01/03/2023 - 09:21 Link
So sorry I’ve literally just seen this comment…oops
I went with Asahiphoto in Harrow, he’s done 4 camera bodies for me now.. well pleased with the results!
MX x 2, ME Super & a Super A an MV1 & a LX to go
A few bits & Bobs

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