Photographer advice! What do I have on my hands here?

Elimination

Alright I got given a camera, or rather "inherited" it i suppose. I have no idea what I am looking at value wise. I know the lens is probably worth something? It's all in really good condition, it has all associated cases as well as an auto and flash attachments. I know this camera is old, somewhere in the late 70's to mid 80's. I was told at one time it was a VERY good camera that was once worth a lot of money. It does work still, i tested it out it actually takes extremely good photo's. I only tried black and white with it so far. Obviously it isn't digital. Is there anyone here who could help me put a $ value to a camera like this? I don't actually have a use for this camera so I am probably looking to sell it, but I've no idea what I am looking at entirely so I don't want to sell it without knowing the value of it first. I figured there might be some people here who could help me out. Obviously the thing is a little dusty, its been sitting in a case for...who knows how long? But now it's in my hands.

Pics, sorry of they are on the large side:

zerzhul

The body (Pentax ME Super) appears to be going on ebay for around $50 right now. If I'm remembering right, it's just a nice solid 35mm slr. Nothing fancy or special about it, certainly not rare.

http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/bodies/film_M/ME_Super.html

Akilae

The ME Super is a classic. Impossible to even give you a price on the lenses without knowing what focal length and speed they are, but the one on the camera should be a 50mm.

My own personal advice is to keep it around and take good care of the camera. There will come a day when you will appreciate the qualities of good SLR, and the ME Super was one of the better ones. If you're sure you want to get rid of it, there's a Pentax-centric forum out there you can try your luck on.

I am curious about the telephoto though. What focal length is it?

Elimination

Akilae wrote: »

The ME Super is a classic. Impossible to even give you a price on the lenses without knowing what focal length and speed they are, but the one on the camera should be a 50mm.

My own personal advice is to keep it around and take good care of the camera. There will come a day when you will appreciate the qualities of good SLR, and the ME Super was one of the better ones. If you're sure you want to get rid of it, there's a Pentax-centric forum out there you can try your luck on.

I am curious about the telephoto though. What focal length is it?

How do I even tell the focal length? I really do not know what I am looking at here.

Akilae

Remove the front lens cap and look at the front lens element. Around the glass on the outside rim you should see something like "SMC PENTAX-FA...". That entire string is what identifies the lens. Failing that, there should be some sort of plaque on the lens body.

Usagi

I realize this isn't terribly helpful but oh man I used to have a ME Super and I loved it!

Elimination

Usagi wrote: »

I realize this isn't terribly helpful but oh man I used to have a ME Super and I loved it!

Yeah i keep hearing this a lot, that it's a good/reliable one.

zerzhul

It really is. I checked with my father, and I was right in thinking that's the camera I learned how to shoot with. He still has his and it's in great condition. Just an overall solid camera.

Elimination

Ok the big telephoto lens says this inside it (Also the lens appears to be in immaculate condition.) says: Super-multi-coated TAKUMAR 1:4/200 8301258 Asahi Opt. Co. JAPAN

Akilae

Oooh, an old SMC Tak. Good lens, solid all metal construction, nice bokeh (the background blurring effect). Wish I had the cash for one. A look at eBay seems to say around $60 on the low end, with a few optimistic souls listing for $100. Pentax Forums says average price people actually pay for it to be around $50.

Elimination

Akilae wrote: »

Oooh, an old SMC Tak. Good lens, solid all metal construction, nice bokeh (the background blurring effect). Wish I had the cash for one. A look at eBay seems to say around $60 on the low end, with a few optimistic souls listing for $100. Pentax Forums says average price people actually pay for it to be around $50.

Ahh ok, that's good to know. I have no idea how to even use a lens like this. Hahaha. I only have ever used the smaller lenses (And only back in my high school photography class.)

Elimination

Somebody here that came over offered me 250 bucks for the camera + lenses...looking around on ebay that actually seems pretty fair. Gotta think if i actually wanna get rid of it though.

MichaelLC

Really depends on if you want to get into film photography. It's a becoming a dying art, with Kodak exiting the business, and likely exiting the world -at least in anything but patent sales.

I still have an Olympus IS-1, and would like to pick up a "newer" model as mine is starting to go.

It's a tough one since you can;t just get some cheapo bulk film, since quality is somewhat critical to the process of good pictures.