Asahi Pentax ME Super 35mm SLR Film Camera

The Asahi Pentax ME Super is a compact 35mm SLR introduced in 1979 as a refinement of the original ME, adding manual shutter speed control to an otherwise aperture-priority design. It uses the Pentax K-mount and pairs a lightweight metal body with an electronic shutter (4 seconds up to 1/2000 seconds). Controls are minimal and unconventional, relying on push buttons rather than a traditional shutter speed dial, which reflects Pentax’s late-1970s push toward smaller, more streamlined SLRs. The ME Super sits at an intersection between automation and user control, making it a distinctive example of the era’s transition in camera design.