Small correction. In comparing the FE and F3, Cody remarks that the F3 also has shutter priority metering. Both FE and F3 have manual and aperture priority metering. Neither have shutter priority metering. Having owned and use both extensively, I prefer the dial readout of metered shutter speeds in the FE/FE2 over the diode indicators in the FM series. Pretty sure the shutter locking open issue he's having when over=exposing in aperture priority mode is a defect in his specific camera. HIs identification of the FE as the ignored bargain in the Nikon lineup is right on point, particularly when the comparison is to the FE2, which offers the one stop faster shutter speed of its newer shutter and little (nothing?) else. An FE2 commonly sells for 3 or more times the FE. My FE was a client donation after it went through a house fire. Still looked fine and works as original.
The FE2 is TWO stops faster shutter (1/4000th). I can throw Portra 800 in an FE2 and shoot a beach day then keep shooting into dusk/night. You can't do that with 1/1000th shutter 800 ISO. And the price isn't triple, not even close. I just went on ebay. Depending on condition the FE is going for 100-250... and the FE2 is going for around the same... slightly more money on average per condition. (Not trying to make a case for the FE2, it's one of many cameras I have... but I would certainly pick it over the FE)
Don't laught at me... But, as a very old man I have my photo feeling centered in two cameras: Nikomat EL that I had own for centuries and my also loved Nikon FE... They are not the only cameras in my collection but, because my work goes to very dangerous environments I start to using these cameras seven years ago for not expose my very expensive ones to heat, salt, snow, hits... during that sessions I learn to appreciate simplicity, quality, affordability and the lack of features I don't use every day. Auto focus for me is something absurd when the quality depend as much in exposure as in selective focusing. Shutter priority have not value for me, my subjects are normally statics. And the "superior" photo cells with 50 or 70 measuring points don't make salivating my mouth... The standard cells of this two cameras with the help of a Gossen Luna-Lux SBC ( another Paleolithic tool ) for more difficult situations covert all my needs. One point to touch is how soft is the shutter of these cameras. The movement of the mirror is very well dampened... So enjoy your (old) new FE and... Welcome to the Club!!!
The FE doesn't get the love it deserves. I have been shooting the FE since 1979 and as a starving artist trying to break into the local freelance photojournalist pool the FE was the way to go, slap on an MD-12 on it and you can shoot anything in any situation. The FE made me some cash and gave me lots of "by lines" , [industry term for credited published work in newspapers and magazines]. I have owned four FEs, two black and two silver, I am down to my last silver one exactly like the one in your hand but this one I kept it preserved and has no scratches and looks brand new unlike my others that went thru hell but all lived a productive and long life. Tip for owners of these cameras or any manual camera, is to service your camera, get it cleaned, checked and lubed up just like you would your car ESPECIALLY if you are going to or living in tropical humid places. I made the mistake of not servicing the FE I took to Tahiti and the damn shutter jammed up and would not fire and the film advance lever would still advance the film a couple frames as if I took the shots, only half of my film had proper exposures.
So a little-known cheat code of the FE is that it can shoot faster than 1/1000th in Auto mode. This was originally stated by ken rockwell but I doubted it so I tested it in a controlled environment with a grey card. One stop over (1/2000th) was perfect, even two stops over (1/4000th) was fine. All three negatives have the same density and look perfect.
@lildooma I forgot I left this comment. It's worth mentioning that I tested on Portra 800, and while I can't notice a difference in density, it's entirely possible that Portra just handled the overexposure really well. A test on slide film would be the real determinant.
Wonderful video, Cody! You perfectly expressed how I feel about my Pentax Spotmatic F (which I bought last year to get into film photography and which, funnily enough, has a very similar shutter problem as your Nikon) and Spotmatic ES II. The simplicity, reliability and ruggedness of this kind of camera is just so refreshing!
I've owned an FE2 for about 20 years & never figured out why the shutter would get stuck open - thanks for that. Love mine, built like a tank but so good in the hand - it really is an iron fist in a velvet glove.
I was having similar issues with the shutter getting locked open, but it turned out to be damage to the internal electronics - corrosion and failed capacitors. I was lucky to be able to have it serviced by a technician who had been working on the Nikon assembly line in the 70s and 80s, and now it’s clean and functioning properly.
The Nikon FE is probably not overlooked, it’s literally in the top 10 best selling SLRs on KEH year after year. For Nikon aficionados, the all mechanical cameras like the FM and F2 probably get more love, but the FE is a near perfect camera. I installed the brighter K2 focusing screen in mine and it’s a joy to shoot with. Same goes for my Spotmatic F, which is probably overlooked and fortunately undervalued. Shh, don’t tell anyone. 😂
In 2019 I had found my FE for $25. Didn't think much about the camera until I put in a battery the next day, and shot a roll of film. It came with a Series E 50mm f1.8 pancake size lens on it that makes it a compact camera. I loved the simplicity and it has since been a camera that I am very fond of. I also have an FA, FE2 and a FM2n, but the FE rules above them. It's an unpretentious little gem!
I miss my 1975 Nikomat FTN, purchased in Japan just after the FT2 was introduced. I'm sure the guy behind the counter in Tokyo knew my mom couldn't tell the difference between the FTN with a flash mount held in place by the eyepiece and the FT2 with a hot shoe. When she got back I was a little disappointed but in retrospect I probably like the older-school FTN more, just because. I left it with someone as collateral and it was stolen. The guy was a jerk but not a thief. All black body, nice. Nikomat was domestic Japan, Nikkormat was export, Nikon's entry level line of cameras, same lens mount of course. The idea of using a camera that doesn't require a battery to operate is pretty far out these days, the meter needed it but it worked fine without it. I used to train my eye for exposure, sort of like someone guesses what time it is before they look at their watch.
I bought my FE new in 1982 and still use it regularly. It is a wonderful camera for all the reason you describe. It has been serviced once in its life and works perfectly. While I haver never used an FE2, I think it might be one step closer to perfection when compared with the original FE. The FE2 shutter goes up to 1/4000th of a second and I understand that the already good viewfinder is a little brighter.
I appreciate the way you pronounce Nikon. I hope more people will take note. I have the Nikon FE, FE2, FM, FM2 and FM3A. The FM would be my pick over the FE since the FM is fully mechanical. All shutter speeds fire without a battery. Only thing you need a battery for with the FM is the in built light meter.
I have all of those except the FM3A. I'd say though, one of the key advantages of the FE2 and FM3A is that they TTL metering for flash. For that reason, I usually shoot my FE2 anytime I think I might want to use flash. When I'm 100% certain I'm not going to use flash, then my FM2 is my favorite. One of these days, I'm going to have to add a FM3A to the collection, but the price is a bit much these days.
@@thisisbenji90 I suppose you’re right! I just almost never use external flash with these cameras. I’d say the FE2 is a better pick than the FE for the higher shutter speed and the ttl flash metering. They’re also not that much more expensive than the FE. Just comparing FE to FM, I still kreeft the FM for it being 100% mechanical. Although I prefer the needle meter in the FE over the arrows in the FM. Of course a FM3A beats them all as it is basically combining the best of the FE and FM series into one camera. But at a hefty price tag (got mine for a good deal, though).
I have had an FE for about 40 years and love it. For me it just works. it does what i want when i want is and the buttons are in the perfect position. i love the flick of winder to turn it on and off. needle matching exposure meter is how i learnt on my dads Minolta SRT101 so it was an easy step.
Had an FE for years, got another one that wasn’t working for 15 bucks and swapped out the battery and it works! If you start hearing squeaking when you rewind, get a clean and lube from a repair person. Left alone the rewind will bind up on you. Fantastic camera if you just want to shoot.
F3 has additional features over FE that were'nt described in presentation, - removeable prism and attachments, huge range of focusing screens and a mirror lock. Metered long exposures went longer too.
The nikon black FE with md-12 motordrive was my first camera at the age of 22. I shooted weddings and sports, landscapes, etc. with it . Never failed me in 12 years. The FE even saved my butt during a wedding. My Hasselblad wich i bought six month before has a shutter jammed during the ceremony. My FE was my back-up, always loaded with a film just in case!! Sold all my photography stuff years after. The worst move of my life!! Recently bought a mint F2 and a mint black FE with motordrive plus a bunch of nice lenses that i can also used with my Nikon D7000 and D7200. You have in your hand one of the easiest camera to use. While using the motrodrive you dont need to have the advance film open. Just press the trigger half way on the MD-12 to activate the metering then press the trigger again to take you photo and advance the film. Its buttery even easier and give you a good grip on your camera. Nice video! Enjoy your FE :)
I purchased a Nikon EL2 and I have to say, everything about this camera is amazing. The build quality is one of the best I have seen in a camera, the photos develop amazing and the lens are amazing. I recently took it on a month long trip to Sri Lanka and was amazed.
Nice one Cody, great vid mate. I feel like photography has come full circle since I started my photography journey back in the glam rock days of the 80's when a full manual metal beast was all most of us could afford and is what most of us used. I'm loving the fact that there are photographers out there who are rediscovering the magic of nice old metal slr's. You've inspired me to grab my Spotmatic SP1000 off the shelf and load up some Colorplus and go for a walk. Love your work mate! Oh, and it's nice to see "Nikon" pronounced as "Nikon" and not as "Niiiiiighkone", very refreshing.
15 years ago when I went back into film photography, this was the camera I got. Since got myself an M6, but still use the Nikon as I also use Nikon digitally, so got quite some glass for it. Would love the FM3 though, with the higher shutter speed. I find myself often with 800speed film on a sunny day, RIP(I almost always shoot wide open on a 50mm1.8). I've changed battery on it maximum 3 times...
I bought an FE about a year ago and apart from it needing new light seals (easily done), it's been a pleasure to use. I paid about the same, largely because the listing made it look a bit beat-up, but in reality it isn't. The front leatherette was a bit slack and the camera looked dreadful, but it was certainly worth the gamble. It's a perfectly working, fine camera. In fact, it reminds me a lot of my Nikkormat FT2, which I shot thousands of Ektachromes on, with almost no bad metering (the compositions were another matter, but that was no fault of the camera). Similar heft and feel, and just reliable.
I just bought the FM2/T. I paid a bit more because it was virtually new out of the box and a limited edition. LOVE IT so far! Fully mechanical all the time short of the light meter.
Thanks for the excellent review of one of the best cameras ever made. I bought my first Nikon FE in 1980, two years after it was first released. Due to theft and wear, I am now on my fourth or fifth FE body. I also own an F3 (also F, F2, F4, F5 & F6) and I prefer the FE to all the professional cameras. The light meter display in the FE is simply the best I have ever come across. I have what is a a brand new, fully boxed, FM3A, which was the last of this series that Nikon released. It goes up to 1/4000 of a second but at the loss of the slow shutter speeds available on the FE, but they are, essentially, the same camera (no idea why it is an FM3A and not an FE3A): it has the same light meter display.
Spring for the FE2 Nikon. It's an improved version of the FE and will shoot up to 1:4000 of a second, while still being in a small package. I've a whole slew of Nikon film cameras that I've been using for decades now. The FE2 has always been one of my favorites. One of the nice things about Nikon cameras is that you can shoot a photograph and use the camera as a hammer to drive the nail to hang that photo on. They are solid, and it's unlikely that you will ever hurt it by dropping it. The Nikkor glass is outstanding. Some of the older glass is slow, so you use a tripod which will always give you better results anyway.
I got a fm2(n) recently for €175 with a Nikkor 28mm f3.5, which was a great deal really. I bought it from a lady who purchased it herself in the 90s if I remember correctly. It was in great condition and i love the camera! I also got the ais 50mm 1.8, which is when the 1/4000th shutter speed comes in handy at times. Only thing I sometimes miss is the auto aperture priority for when I want to quickly take a photo however it doesn’t really matter that much. I love the full mechanical operation, especially since I mess around with night time photography and shooting start trails.
I have a Nikon FG, which was the little brother to the FM, these days the two are similarly priced. I highly recommend it for someone that doesn't want a full sized SLR but wants all the features. I'm honestly surprised it never got to be a trendy. For an SLR, its a true "Take anywhere" vs the larger Nikons.
As for the budget film camera, one more I can recommend is the Olympus Trip 35 if you are looking for a compact "always with you" camera. Tack sharp, lightweight yet sturdy and a breeze to use. Love mine. Prices keep rising. I picked mine up for 25 Euros, now they are asking at least 50 for it and some even a 100,-. Never thought old analog cameras would make such a good investment. Until the hype is over of course and everybody starts dumping them again...
This is the first camera I *bought* when continuing my journey into shooting film, after shooting a hand-me-down Canon Rebel II. I absolutely love the FE. I’m curious to try out the AE lock method that you mentioned as I hadn’t heard that was a thing previously for the FE. Thanks for the vid.
I use a cheap fujica stx-1 with fujino 50mm f1.9. You get it for 90€ in absolute perfect condition (perfect like brand new, i swear it's not an understatement) and 1 year warranty. Not highest quality, do not even try backlight shots, but my god the results are quite solid once you understood her limits. Used it for night photography with ultramax 400, no regrets.
Cody, that was a really cool video. I have a Minolta XD11 it cost me £23 with 50mm f1:1.7 prime. The catch was, I spent around 25 hours stripping it down to repair the shutter lock release arm and a second time to correct my exposure compensation wiring mistake (a whole 24 exp roll of Ilford HP5 woefully overexposed. I replaced the light seals, too. It was well worth the effort, though as it's a magnificent camera. And makes stunning images.
One you should look out for is a Praktica Mtl3 its even cheeper then the Nikon i have had mine for about 3 years now and as been nothing but a gem! Amazing video as always Cody!
Picked up an FE recently for a not quite as good a deal and I love it! I already had some Nikon stuff but never had a manual focus split level Nikon experience so it’s really nice having that experience with all my existing lenses Not sure why your FE locks open on overexposure… mine will lock open when the lens cap is on in auto mode (usually when loading film) and it took me a while to realize it’s because it’s trying to meter some crazy long exposure. Clicking from Auto to 1000 unlocks the shutter for me in that scenario
I got an F2 from my dad when starting to shoot film and ive got to say, if you want a fully manual film camera i dont think there is a better cheap option. You can change the viewfinder to your liking (there are MANY options), shutter speed goes up to 1/2000 and its was considered a profational grade camera (although that was half a century ago). I'm just going to say, there is a different feeling when shooting fully manual with a metal brick of a camera, the sounds and the feel is unmatched.
That's true. Theres no better feeling than a fully manual F2. The sounds are beautiful and so are the pictures you can make. I always liked the manual system better. You get to do the thinking and have to depend on nothing. I used an 85mm F2 lens (fast for an 85mm) because I shoot mostly portraits of people . Any light readings I needed to make I made with a hand held Gossen Luna Pro . That was 40 yrs ago, in 1983 . Like I always say, it's you who make the picture, not the camera. So keep it simple. The fanciest, most expensive camera isnt gonna make you into a pro. That comes from you .
@@axiomist4488 very well said! I also find it fascinating that when you were taking the pictures like that in 1983, that was when my dad was using my f2 as well. And now, 40 years later, I still use the same process you did back then, with the same equipment.
I’ve never shot the FE but I had 2 Nikon cameras in this range and era, the F3 and the FM2n. Shot both of them for about 3 years before selling the F3,.. why? The FM2n did everything the F3 did and then some. Titanium shutter with speed up to 1/4000, an LED viewfinder meter that made low light/night shooting pain free, and as a Canadian, a camera that worked in cold temps. My F3 was a drama queen in the cold. If you get a chance, pick up an FM2, you won’t regret it.
Reminds me of the Cosina1000s that i got for 30 euros. it is completely made of metal, it is built like a tank and is very reliable. The built in light-meter is not the best (one of those needle light meters), but the rest of the camera is amazing. and the best part of it is... it has a M42 mount! Which means that there are a TON of different lenses from DOZENS of different manufacturers from around the world (like the iconic helios 44-2) that you can easily use with it.... and most of them are even super cheap!
It looks beautiful. If it shoots like it looks, you made a killing. Do take care of it. I had a Nikon F2, which is fully manual. I like doing the work and setting both the speed and the F-stop myself . It was brand new at the time and I also got a Gossen Luna Pro .I also had a Honeywell Pentax a long time ago with a 55mm lens, I got it from a friend for $150 and that lens was the only one I used. It took fine sharp pictures (portrait) and I used that exclusively for a long time. I used to develop the pics myself at work. It was a professional lab and we did most of our work for Madison Av. I still have all the negatives that I shot at the time, but a lot of the prints got lost while moving. The prints I do have are still in fine condition and havent yellowed at all. They were shot in 1977 - 78 . Those Pentax cameras and the lenses were amazing for an economical camera . BTW, I always shot on Tri-X 400 and the prints were developed in Kodak Dektol . Oh, yes, them was the good ol' days !
One of my favorite underrated Nikon's is the n2000. I have one that I found for $3, it's cracked but works perfectly and I love it's 80s aesthetic. I put a Zeiss 50mm on mine and get beautiful images.
Good find on a great camera and nice video. I bought one new during the early 80s and still use it. The match-needle meter display is crazy good. Love this camera.
At any given time I'm unnaturally attracted to several old cameras, none of which I can afford to put film in at the moment. (And no, you're not allowed to question my recent R8 purchase nor my recent EF lens purchases.) I was once gifted a Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 and basic (although ML, not DSB) 50mm lens. _Great, now I can start collecting Contax/Zeiss lenses!_ Except they tend to make a lot of good EF glass seem positively inexpensive.
I worked in a pro camera store in the 90s and we sold lots of Nikons. I still have a pin from Nikon that says I am a Nikon Advanced System Specialist (AKA: ASS). It's funny for me to see you "discover" the FE. I actually think the FE2 is the one to have. It's got everything you need and nothing you do not. It has 1/250th flash sync and TTL. I proffer the FE2 over all other Nikon cameras of that era. The FA ads shutter priority, full program and matrix metering. None of which I find essential. Take it from an ASS, get yourself an FE2.
I have the FE and FE2. My street rig with film set at 1000 iso and a 28mm lens lets me zone focus at f/ 11 from 4' to infinity and makes it an instant reacting point and shoot. The FE has a 1/1000 max shutter speed, the FE2 4000. Since my Fe is only worth less than$100, it's a disposable camera for me and not worth selling.
Want something more dirt cheap? Find yourself a Ricoh KR-5 Super. I got it with Rikenon 50mm f2 lens for 35$. All manual settings, shutter's from Bulb to 1/1000, self-timer with red light for shutter and timer indicator, and a light meter. Riconar and Rikenon lenses are also dirt cheap, but quite low sharpness. You can upgrade to Pentax lenses for superb results. The camera body, while all plastic, is quite durable and very light. A reliable beginner's film camera.
Actually, a ton of pros adopted the FM and FE series cameras into their workflow shortly after they came out. They were a little smaller and lighter than the [fully professional ] F2 of the same era, but also extremely well built. The F3 arrived at the end of the 1970s [1980].
I love my Olympus OM-2n (and OM-1), but if I ever got another camera, it would be a black Nikon FE. Beautiful cameras and they can do whatever you need for film photography 🤙
Great vid, good to see some love for the FE. As you say it’s way underrated. I absolutely love my FE. Sure, you gotta twat the film back to get it to latch, and there’s a few dinks in the prism box on top but it just keeps going. The meters fab, the feel and sound of the shutter and it’ll work with lenses up to D series, and I can mount my Voigtlander 58mm f1.4. It’s such an amazing camera, it’s my daily use camera. My only real problem with this camera is the needs can be hard to view in dim light, but other than that it’s just a super camera to use! As for the battery, don’t worry about it, I’ve only put two batteries in mine since I got it in 2019 🙂 Also, completely agree about babying cameras makes for missed shots!
I wouldn't say this is overlooked and underrated. The film era cameras that sell for more and are prized more are the fully mechanical ones and this one has an electronically controlled shutter with mechanical shutter limited to either just the 1/90 speed or bulb mode. Better than nothing but far worse than the FM line of cameras. This is why the FM, FM2, and FM3 are so prized. Fully mechanical at all shutter speeds. The amazing FM3 is both fully mechanical or electronic. The FE, when operating correctly, is a fine camera. It is also very old now and if its electronics start to fail there isn't much you can do about it other than use it as a paper weight.
It is no secret that the FE and FE2 were the second best cameras behind the F3. I love my two FE2, they are nearly the same compared to the FE but there are some slight improvements to the FE.
While I agree with nearly everything you said about the FE, I don’t agree it’s overlooked or underrated. It’s a highly recommended and popular Nikon SLR. Most anyone will recommend the FE or FM, the FM is a bit more popular because it’s fully mechanical but they’re both well loved in Nikon’s line up.
The Nikon FE is just an FM with AE exposure, You will get a body cheaper than the FM, that is Fully Manual, which is what many enthusiasts want you might get an FM body at 125$ might. I used FMs for more than 30 years. One stolen one shutter broke (the FM2 wit 1/2000th shutter one in my loft with all le lesnes accessories and stuff still works.. To shoot Manual That's what it did. As good as an F3, same glass, viewfinder display so simple accurate. Now i'm not sure that the weatherproofing is the same on the FE as on the FM but why would nikon defeature a body design? an FM with Nikkor lens, you could pour a pint of beer over it, wipe the lens with a dirty hankerchief, go out into a -13° Centigrade night with a flat chilled battery AND IT STILL TOOK THE SHOT. My mate with his precious Leika did not compete. Now I use Olympus OM 5, it has good weatherproofing, dials and is of similar size to your FE and for underwater I use' Olympus TG6 which is the macro MONSTER compact. You can pour beer over it, drop it, Stand on it...
I've got FE2 for my GF as a gift. It's a top tear camera. It has a comparable to FE feature set, but a faster shutter speed (1/4000). I'd also like to try FM2N and FM2T (don't check the prices for this one 😅)
Some of the F3 specs mentioned are a bit inaccurate. Its mechanical shutter speed is 1/80 sec, there’s no shutter priority mode, and only the F3P (press version) advertises some weather sealing. Nevertheless, the FE is still a superb camera for its price.
In a weird way the very powerful FE2 is also under-rated because it lives in the shadow of the all-mechanical wonder, the FM2. So it can also be had cheaper than prestige cameras for a very powerful camera with mechanical controls. Obviously when you get to electronically controlled cameras like the EOS3 and the Nikon F100 you get titanic capabilities at low prices because, if people are shooting film, they usually prefer cameras with mechanical dials and a traditional feel.
I have been telling our B&W film students just how awesome this camera is! I have owned several. I am moving to at least an FE2 for a faster shutter speed. I really want and Nikon FM3A but it's over priced.
Ken Rockwell has lots of good advice on old Nikon cameras. I have some older fm and fe Nikons, but I like to use the vr lenses with vr, so I end up using N75 for a plastic fantastic, or the f100 if I want something a little better built. I have an f4, but I'm waiting for an f5 at a good price so I can get vr on a top end camera. For Canon, I like the 1N HS, though your eos-3 has a better shutter speed. If I want the full manual experience, I use one of my old German tlr cameras or one of my 4" x 5" cameras.
Hi, I hope you don't mind the random question... I have recently been gifted a Nikon FM and need to find a good flash for it. Do you have any recommendation for a small and easy to use flash? :)
Nice. I'm smiling broadly, here - your pronunciation of the brand, "Nikon" 😁 - civilisation reaches the United States (Yes, I'm kidding). As you assert, robust build quality - no need to be precious - virtually unlimited optical diversity in terms of lenses. One of many in the pre-digital Nikon range that are excellent value for money, but most importantly, an ideal learning tool for those who wish to understand the fundamentals of (all) photography. $100.00 (US) is a steal. Back in the day, you'd have been the ideal advocate for Nikon's PR Dept...subscribed !
Thank you for this. I've been trying to find a decent camera for under 100€ for a while now. My budget is fairly limited. I've got a full black and white darkroom setup to cut costs from going to labs. I can order film straight from Foma at probably the lowest price of any B&W film on the market. The whole set up with chemicals and paper cost me under $100 and yet I still don't have a decent camera to make full use of it. I'll have to take a look at this camera.
I had one but every time the shutter fired it made a ringing noise, like a desk bell. It drove me crazy so I sold it. I thought all FEs made this sound but yours doesn’t seem to do it.
Back in the day the EOS 3 was the perfect camera if you didn't have the money/justification for a EOS-1. You had pretty much all needed pro capabilities minus some weather proofing that really isn't necessary in most circumstances.
From what I have read on line the way you pronounced Nikon is the proper Japanese way. However in the American commercial they pronounce it in a more english friendly way.
Joke's on you, I already run the UA-cam blindspot combo of FE+F4. The hegemony of the FM2/FE2 is strong, but more flexible lens selection matters more to me than the faster shutter. The F4 is an absolute brick, but it adds autofocus. I got mine with a lens for $135.
the FE2, its predecessor, is also fantastic for all the same reasons but it reaches 1/4000 shutter speed and features a titanium shutter. For not that much more $ than an FE.
The FE is an amazing camera already but people sleep on how it goes into beast mode if you do infact flick it into "auto" mode. Up to 1/4000th at the fastest, down to many, many minutes at the longest -- check ken rockwell's article on it. It's crazy.
I have a Nikon FE but sadly the old batterieis corroded and killed the electronics so it basically only works in m90 and bulb. Such a shame because it's in pretty good condition minus the battery corrosion
Do you know any places where I can buy 35mm film cameras in new condition (where the package doesn’t look like it’s been sitting around for a couple decades)? I already looked on EBay and Amazon so pls if anyone has suggestions
cool video! This camera remids me a lot of my Revueflex 2000 CL (a rebranded Chinon CX) which I got for 5€ on a feamarket back in 2005 o.O I'm shooting film with it ever since! Sometimes its the qualitiy built simpler middlerange cameras that give you more creatve freedom...
Small correction. In comparing the FE and F3, Cody remarks that the F3 also has shutter priority metering. Both FE and F3 have manual and aperture priority metering. Neither have shutter priority metering. Having owned and use both extensively, I prefer the dial readout of metered shutter speeds in the FE/FE2 over the diode indicators in the FM series. Pretty sure the shutter locking open issue he's having when over=exposing in aperture priority mode is a defect in his specific camera. HIs identification of the FE as the ignored bargain in the Nikon lineup is right on point, particularly when the comparison is to the FE2, which offers the one stop faster shutter speed of its newer shutter and little (nothing?) else. An FE2 commonly sells for 3 or more times the FE. My FE was a client donation after it went through a house fire. Still looked fine and works as original.
Yep, never had that issue with my FE and I use it a lot!
FE-2 has 1/4000 shutter speed and 1/250 flash sync.
The FE2 is TWO stops faster shutter (1/4000th). I can throw Portra 800 in an FE2 and shoot a beach day then keep shooting into dusk/night. You can't do that with 1/1000th shutter 800 ISO. And the price isn't triple, not even close. I just went on ebay. Depending on condition the FE is going for 100-250... and the FE2 is going for around the same... slightly more money on average per condition. (Not trying to make a case for the FE2, it's one of many cameras I have... but I would certainly pick it over the FE)
Don't laught at me... But, as a very old man I have my photo feeling centered in two cameras: Nikomat EL that I had own for centuries and my also loved Nikon FE... They are not the only cameras in my collection but, because my work goes to very dangerous environments I start to using these cameras seven years ago for not expose my very expensive ones to heat, salt, snow, hits... during that sessions I learn to appreciate simplicity, quality, affordability and the lack of features I don't use every day. Auto focus for me is something absurd when the quality depend as much in exposure as in selective focusing. Shutter priority have not value for me, my subjects are normally statics. And the "superior" photo cells with 50 or 70 measuring points don't make salivating my mouth... The standard cells of this two cameras with the help of a Gossen Luna-Lux SBC ( another Paleolithic tool ) for more difficult situations covert all my needs. One point to touch is how soft is the shutter of these cameras. The movement of the mirror is very well dampened... So enjoy your (old) new FE and... Welcome to the Club!!!
The FE doesn't get the love it deserves. I have been shooting the FE since 1979 and as a starving artist trying to break into the local freelance photojournalist pool the FE was the way to go, slap on an MD-12 on it and you can shoot anything in any situation. The FE made me some cash and gave me lots of "by lines" , [industry term for credited published work in newspapers and magazines]. I have owned four FEs, two black and two silver, I am down to my last silver one exactly like the one in your hand but this one I kept it preserved and has no scratches and looks brand new unlike my others that went thru hell but all lived a productive and long life.
Tip for owners of these cameras or any manual camera, is to service your camera, get it cleaned, checked and lubed up just like you would your car ESPECIALLY if you are going to or living in tropical humid places. I made the mistake of not servicing the FE I took to Tahiti and the damn shutter jammed up and would not fire and the film advance lever would still advance the film a couple frames as if I took the shots, only half of my film had proper exposures.
So a little-known cheat code of the FE is that it can shoot faster than 1/1000th in Auto mode. This was originally stated by ken rockwell but I doubted it so I tested it in a controlled environment with a grey card. One stop over (1/2000th) was perfect, even two stops over (1/4000th) was fine. All three negatives have the same density and look perfect.
I was thinking it was sketchy and couldn't really find tests, but its so nice to know!!
@lildooma I forgot I left this comment. It's worth mentioning that I tested on Portra 800, and while I can't notice a difference in density, it's entirely possible that Portra just handled the overexposure really well. A test on slide film would be the real determinant.
Loved this! I feel the exact same way about my Minolta XG1. Super cheap, well built and has slowly become one of my favorite cameras to shoot with!
My first camera was an XG1 at 12. Then I switched to Nikon FE-2. The older Minolta XD11 is also nice body.
Wonderful video, Cody! You perfectly expressed how I feel about my Pentax Spotmatic F (which I bought last year to get into film photography and which, funnily enough, has a very similar shutter problem as your Nikon) and Spotmatic ES II. The simplicity, reliability and ruggedness of this kind of camera is just so refreshing!
I've owned an FE2 for about 20 years & never figured out why the shutter would get stuck open - thanks for that.
Love mine, built like a tank but so good in the hand - it really is an iron fist in a velvet glove.
I was having similar issues with the shutter getting locked open, but it turned out to be damage to the internal electronics - corrosion and failed capacitors. I was lucky to be able to have it serviced by a technician who had been working on the Nikon assembly line in the 70s and 80s, and now it’s clean and functioning properly.
The Nikon FE is probably not overlooked, it’s literally in the top 10 best selling SLRs on KEH year after year. For Nikon aficionados, the all mechanical cameras like the FM and F2 probably get more love, but the FE is a near perfect camera. I installed the brighter K2 focusing screen in mine and it’s a joy to shoot with. Same goes for my Spotmatic F, which is probably overlooked and fortunately undervalued. Shh, don’t tell anyone. 😂
In 2019 I had found my FE for $25. Didn't think much about the camera until I put in a battery the next day, and shot a roll of film. It came with a Series E 50mm f1.8 pancake size lens on it that makes it a compact camera. I loved the simplicity and it has since been a camera that I am very fond of. I also have an FA, FE2 and a FM2n, but the FE rules above them. It's an unpretentious little gem!
I miss my 1975 Nikomat FTN, purchased in Japan just after the FT2 was introduced. I'm sure the guy behind the counter in Tokyo knew my mom couldn't tell the difference between the FTN with a flash mount held in place by the eyepiece and the FT2 with a hot shoe. When she got back I was a little disappointed but in retrospect I probably like the older-school FTN more, just because. I left it with someone as collateral and it was stolen. The guy was a jerk but not a thief. All black body, nice.
Nikomat was domestic Japan, Nikkormat was export, Nikon's entry level line of cameras, same lens mount of course.
The idea of using a camera that doesn't require a battery to operate is pretty far out these days, the meter needed it but it worked fine without it. I used to train my eye for exposure, sort of like someone guesses what time it is before they look at their watch.
I bought my FE new in 1982 and still use it regularly. It is a wonderful camera for all the reason you describe. It has been serviced once in its life and works perfectly. While I haver never used an FE2, I think it might be one step closer to perfection when compared with the original FE. The FE2 shutter goes up to 1/4000th of a second and I understand that the already good viewfinder is a little brighter.
I appreciate the way you pronounce Nikon. I hope more people will take note.
I have the Nikon FE, FE2, FM, FM2 and FM3A.
The FM would be my pick over the FE since the FM is fully mechanical. All shutter speeds fire without a battery. Only thing you need a battery for with the FM is the in built light meter.
I have all of those except the FM3A. I'd say though, one of the key advantages of the FE2 and FM3A is that they TTL metering for flash. For that reason, I usually shoot my FE2 anytime I think I might want to use flash. When I'm 100% certain I'm not going to use flash, then my FM2 is my favorite.
One of these days, I'm going to have to add a FM3A to the collection, but the price is a bit much these days.
@@thisisbenji90 I suppose you’re right! I just almost never use external flash with these cameras. I’d say the FE2 is a better pick than the FE for the higher shutter speed and the ttl flash metering. They’re also not that much more expensive than the FE.
Just comparing FE to FM, I still kreeft the FM for it being 100% mechanical. Although I prefer the needle meter in the FE over the arrows in the FM.
Of course a FM3A beats them all as it is basically combining the best of the FE and FM series into one camera. But at a hefty price tag (got mine for a good deal, though).
Now that is just greedy!
@@randallstewart1224 I also have a F3 and FA, but that’s it. Plenty of Nikons left to accumulate 😅
His pronunciation is wrong!! An affectation, and annoying..
I have had an FE for about 40 years and love it. For me it just works. it does what i want when i want is and the buttons are in the perfect position. i love the flick of winder to turn it on and off. needle matching exposure meter is how i learnt on my dads Minolta SRT101 so it was an easy step.
Had an FE for years, got another one that wasn’t working for 15 bucks and swapped out the battery and it works! If you start hearing squeaking when you rewind, get a clean and lube from a repair person. Left alone the rewind will bind up on you. Fantastic camera if you just want to shoot.
F3 has additional features over FE that were'nt described in presentation, - removeable prism and attachments, huge range of focusing screens and a mirror lock. Metered long exposures went longer too.
The nikon black FE with md-12 motordrive was my first camera at the age of 22. I shooted weddings and sports, landscapes, etc. with it . Never failed me in 12 years. The FE even saved my butt during a wedding. My Hasselblad wich i bought six month before has a shutter jammed during the ceremony. My FE was my back-up, always loaded with a film just in case!! Sold all my photography stuff years after. The worst move of my life!! Recently bought a mint F2 and a mint black FE with motordrive plus a bunch of nice lenses that i can also used with my Nikon D7000 and D7200. You have in your hand one of the easiest camera to use. While using the motrodrive you dont need to have the advance film open. Just press the trigger half way on the MD-12 to activate the metering then press the trigger again to take you photo and advance the film. Its buttery even easier and give you a good grip on your camera. Nice video! Enjoy your FE :)
I purchased a Nikon EL2 and I have to say, everything about this camera is amazing. The build quality is one of the best I have seen in a camera, the photos develop amazing and the lens are amazing. I recently took it on a month long trip to Sri Lanka and was amazed.
Nice one Cody, great vid mate. I feel like photography has come full circle since I started my photography journey back in the glam rock days of the 80's when a full manual metal beast was all most of us could afford and is what most of us used. I'm loving the fact that there are photographers out there who are rediscovering the magic of nice old metal slr's. You've inspired me to grab my Spotmatic SP1000 off the shelf and load up some Colorplus and go for a walk. Love your work mate! Oh, and it's nice to see "Nikon" pronounced as "Nikon" and not as "Niiiiiighkone", very refreshing.
Every SLR i have is Nikon. F2, FM2, and the FG. All amazing, never have let me down and i never expect them to.
15 years ago when I went back into film photography, this was the camera I got. Since got myself an M6, but still use the Nikon as I also use Nikon digitally, so got quite some glass for it. Would love the FM3 though, with the higher shutter speed. I find myself often with 800speed film on a sunny day, RIP(I almost always shoot wide open on a 50mm1.8). I've changed battery on it maximum 3 times...
The shutter getting stuck is an issue I encountered in mine as well, thanks for posting the fix!
I bought an FE about a year ago and apart from it needing new light seals (easily done), it's been a pleasure to use.
I paid about the same, largely because the listing made it look a bit beat-up, but in reality it isn't. The front leatherette was a bit slack and the camera looked dreadful, but it was certainly worth the gamble. It's a perfectly working, fine camera.
In fact, it reminds me a lot of my Nikkormat FT2, which I shot thousands of Ektachromes on, with almost no bad metering (the compositions were another matter, but that was no fault of the camera). Similar heft and feel, and just reliable.
I just bought the FM2/T. I paid a bit more because it was virtually new out of the box and a limited edition. LOVE IT so far! Fully mechanical all the time short of the light meter.
Thanks for the excellent review of one of the best cameras ever made. I bought my first Nikon FE in 1980, two years after it was first released. Due to theft and wear, I am now on my fourth or fifth FE body. I also own an F3 (also F, F2, F4, F5 & F6) and I prefer the FE to all the professional cameras. The light meter display in the FE is simply the best I have ever come across. I have what is a a brand new, fully boxed, FM3A, which was the last of this series that Nikon released. It goes up to 1/4000 of a second but at the loss of the slow shutter speeds available on the FE, but they are, essentially, the same camera (no idea why it is an FM3A and not an FE3A): it has the same light meter display.
Spring for the FE2 Nikon. It's an improved version of the FE and will shoot up to 1:4000 of a second, while still being in a small package. I've a whole slew of Nikon film cameras that I've been using for decades now. The FE2 has always been one of my favorites. One of the nice things about Nikon cameras is that you can shoot a photograph and use the camera as a hammer to drive the nail to hang that photo on. They are solid, and it's unlikely that you will ever hurt it by dropping it. The Nikkor glass is outstanding. Some of the older glass is slow, so you use a tripod which will always give you better results anyway.
Would you recommend as a beginner camera?
I got a fm2(n) recently for €175 with a Nikkor 28mm f3.5, which was a great deal really. I bought it from a lady who purchased it herself in the 90s if I remember correctly. It was in great condition and i love the camera! I also got the ais 50mm 1.8, which is when the 1/4000th shutter speed comes in handy at times. Only thing I sometimes miss is the auto aperture priority for when I want to quickly take a photo however it doesn’t really matter that much. I love the full mechanical operation, especially since I mess around with night time photography and shooting start trails.
I bought a Nikon FE in 1979, later I bought a Nikon MD12 motor drive for it, I still have both they work and look like new.
I have a Nikon FG, which was the little brother to the FM, these days the two are similarly priced. I highly recommend it for someone that doesn't want a full sized SLR but wants all the features. I'm honestly surprised it never got to be a trendy. For an SLR, its a true "Take anywhere" vs the larger Nikons.
Just grabbed one mint with all the accessories for $61 on eBay. Looking forward to the world of film. Thanks for the rec!
As for the budget film camera, one more I can recommend is the Olympus Trip 35 if you are looking for a compact "always with you" camera. Tack sharp, lightweight yet sturdy and a breeze to use. Love mine. Prices keep rising. I picked mine up for 25 Euros, now they are asking at least 50 for it and some even a 100,-.
Never thought old analog cameras would make such a good investment. Until the hype is over of course and everybody starts dumping them again...
This is the first camera I *bought* when continuing my journey into shooting film, after shooting a hand-me-down Canon Rebel II. I absolutely love the FE. I’m curious to try out the AE lock method that you mentioned as I hadn’t heard that was a thing previously for the FE. Thanks for the vid.
I loved the FE. Had two. Note also the off-center position of the lens mount. Wish I had the FE and my 35 and 85 again. Maybe later.
Yess! I've had a Nikon FE for 10 years and I absolutely adore it. It's super reliable.
I use a cheap fujica stx-1 with fujino 50mm f1.9. You get it for 90€ in absolute perfect condition (perfect like brand new, i swear it's not an understatement) and 1 year warranty. Not highest quality, do not even try backlight shots, but my god the results are quite solid once you understood her limits. Used it for night photography with ultramax 400, no regrets.
Cody, that was a really cool video. I have a Minolta XD11 it cost me £23 with 50mm f1:1.7 prime. The catch was, I spent around 25 hours stripping it down to repair the shutter lock release arm and a second time to correct my exposure compensation wiring mistake (a whole 24 exp roll of Ilford HP5 woefully overexposed. I replaced the light seals, too. It was well worth the effort, though as it's a magnificent camera. And makes stunning images.
One you should look out for is a Praktica Mtl3 its even cheeper then the Nikon i have had mine for about 3 years now and as been nothing but a gem! Amazing video as always Cody!
Picked up an FE recently for a not quite as good a deal and I love it! I already had some Nikon stuff but never had a manual focus split level Nikon experience so it’s really nice having that experience with all my existing lenses
Not sure why your FE locks open on overexposure… mine will lock open when the lens cap is on in auto mode (usually when loading film) and it took me a while to realize it’s because it’s trying to meter some crazy long exposure. Clicking from Auto to 1000 unlocks the shutter for me in that scenario
I got an F2 from my dad when starting to shoot film and ive got to say, if you want a fully manual film camera i dont think there is a better cheap option. You can change the viewfinder to your liking (there are MANY options), shutter speed goes up to 1/2000 and its was considered a profational grade camera (although that was half a century ago). I'm just going to say, there is a different feeling when shooting fully manual with a metal brick of a camera, the sounds and the feel is unmatched.
That's true. Theres no better feeling than a fully manual F2. The sounds are beautiful and so are the pictures you can make. I always liked the manual system better. You get to do the thinking and have to depend on nothing. I used an 85mm F2 lens (fast for an 85mm) because I shoot mostly portraits of people . Any light readings I needed to make I made with a hand held Gossen Luna Pro . That was 40 yrs ago, in 1983 . Like I always say, it's you who make the picture, not the camera. So keep it simple. The fanciest, most expensive camera isnt gonna make you into a pro. That comes from you .
@@axiomist4488 very well said! I also find it fascinating that when you were taking the pictures like that in 1983, that was when my dad was using my f2 as well. And now, 40 years later, I still use the same process you did back then, with the same equipment.
A million points for saying Nik-on correctly!
I’ve been using my dads FE2 of and on for a couple of years now but only now getting into it properly, really fun camera
I’ve never shot the FE but I had 2 Nikon cameras in this range and era, the F3 and the FM2n. Shot both of them for about 3 years before selling the F3,.. why? The FM2n did everything the F3 did and then some. Titanium shutter with speed up to 1/4000, an LED viewfinder meter that made low light/night shooting pain free, and as a Canadian, a camera that worked in cold temps. My F3 was a drama queen in the cold. If you get a chance, pick up an FM2, you won’t regret it.
Reminds me of the Cosina1000s that i got for 30 euros. it is completely made of metal, it is built like a tank and is very reliable. The built in light-meter is not the best (one of those needle light meters), but the rest of the camera is amazing. and the best part of it is... it has a M42 mount! Which means that there are a TON of different lenses from DOZENS of different manufacturers from around the world (like the iconic helios 44-2) that you can easily use with it.... and most of them are even super cheap!
I have a Nikon Nikkormat FTN which is another great camera that has little hype to it so it doesn’t cost much at all. Highly recommend!
I have the FM2A and loved it before I found it difficult to focus and so switched to digital . After the F2, this is my favourite manual camera .
It looks beautiful. If it shoots like it looks, you made a killing. Do take care of it. I had a Nikon F2, which is fully manual. I like doing the work and setting both the speed and the F-stop myself . It was brand new at the time and I also got a Gossen Luna Pro .I also had a Honeywell Pentax a long time ago with a 55mm lens, I got it from a friend for $150 and that lens was the only one I used. It took fine sharp pictures (portrait) and I used that exclusively for a long time. I used to develop the pics myself at work. It was a professional lab and we did most of our work for Madison Av. I still have all the negatives that I shot at the time, but a lot of the prints got lost while moving. The prints I do have are still in fine condition and havent yellowed at all. They were shot in 1977 - 78 . Those Pentax cameras and the lenses were amazing for an economical camera . BTW, I always shot on Tri-X 400 and the prints were developed in Kodak Dektol . Oh, yes, them was the good ol' days !
One of my favorite underrated Nikon's is the n2000. I have one that I found for $3, it's cracked but works perfectly and I love it's 80s aesthetic. I put a Zeiss 50mm on mine and get beautiful images.
Good find on a great camera and nice video. I bought one new during the early 80s and still use it. The match-needle meter display is crazy good. Love this camera.
At any given time I'm unnaturally attracted to several old cameras, none of which I can afford to put film in at the moment. (And no, you're not allowed to question my recent R8 purchase nor my recent EF lens purchases.)
I was once gifted a Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 and basic (although ML, not DSB) 50mm lens. _Great, now I can start collecting Contax/Zeiss lenses!_ Except they tend to make a lot of good EF glass seem positively inexpensive.
I worked in a pro camera store in the 90s and we sold lots of Nikons. I still have a pin from Nikon that says I am a Nikon Advanced System Specialist (AKA: ASS). It's funny for me to see you "discover" the FE. I actually think the FE2 is the one to have. It's got everything you need and nothing you do not. It has 1/250th flash sync and TTL. I proffer the FE2 over all other Nikon cameras of that era. The FA ads shutter priority, full program and matrix metering. None of which I find essential. Take it from an ASS, get yourself an FE2.
Hey! Even though this video is a bit old, I still had this question. What film did you use in your Nikon Camera?
I have the FE and FE2. My street rig with film set at 1000 iso and a 28mm lens lets me zone focus at f/ 11 from 4' to infinity and makes it an instant reacting point and shoot. The FE has a 1/1000 max shutter speed, the FE2 4000. Since my Fe is only worth less than$100, it's a disposable camera for me and not worth selling.
Want something more dirt cheap? Find yourself a Ricoh KR-5 Super. I got it with Rikenon 50mm f2 lens for 35$. All manual settings, shutter's from Bulb to 1/1000, self-timer with red light for shutter and timer indicator, and a light meter. Riconar and Rikenon lenses are also dirt cheap, but quite low sharpness. You can upgrade to Pentax lenses for superb results. The camera body, while all plastic, is quite durable and very light. A reliable beginner's film camera.
Actually, a ton of pros adopted the FM and FE series cameras into their workflow shortly after they came out. They were a little smaller and lighter than the [fully professional ] F2 of the same era, but also extremely well built. The F3 arrived at the end of the 1970s [1980].
I love my Olympus OM-2n (and OM-1), but if I ever got another camera, it would be a black Nikon FE. Beautiful cameras and they can do whatever you need for film photography 🤙
Great vid, good to see some love for the FE. As you say it’s way underrated. I absolutely love my FE. Sure, you gotta twat the film back to get it to latch, and there’s a few dinks in the prism box on top but it just keeps going. The meters fab, the feel and sound of the shutter and it’ll work with lenses up to D series, and I can mount my Voigtlander 58mm f1.4. It’s such an amazing camera, it’s my daily use camera. My only real problem with this camera is the needs can be hard to view in dim light, but other than that it’s just a super camera to use!
As for the battery, don’t worry about it, I’ve only put two batteries in mine since I got it in 2019 🙂
Also, completely agree about babying cameras makes for missed shots!
I wouldn't say this is overlooked and underrated. The film era cameras that sell for more and are prized more are the fully mechanical ones and this one has an electronically controlled shutter with mechanical shutter limited to either just the 1/90 speed or bulb mode. Better than nothing but far worse than the FM line of cameras. This is why the FM, FM2, and FM3 are so prized. Fully mechanical at all shutter speeds. The amazing FM3 is both fully mechanical or electronic. The FE, when operating correctly, is a fine camera. It is also very old now and if its electronics start to fail there isn't much you can do about it other than use it as a paper weight.
i wasn't a huge nikon fan during the film era; however, admittedly, i did use and love like crasy a nikon fe with a tamron 28-80.
It is no secret that the FE and FE2 were the second best cameras behind the F3. I love my two FE2, they are nearly the same compared to the FE but there are some slight improvements to the FE.
While I agree with nearly everything you said about the FE, I don’t agree it’s overlooked or underrated. It’s a highly recommended and popular Nikon SLR. Most anyone will recommend the FE or FM, the FM is a bit more popular because it’s fully mechanical but they’re both well loved in Nikon’s line up.
The Nikon FE is just an FM with AE exposure, You will get a body cheaper than the FM, that is Fully Manual, which is what many enthusiasts want you might get an FM body at 125$ might. I used FMs for more than 30 years. One stolen one shutter broke (the FM2 wit 1/2000th shutter one in my loft with all le lesnes accessories and stuff still works.. To shoot Manual That's what it did. As good as an F3, same glass, viewfinder display so simple accurate. Now i'm not sure that the weatherproofing is the same on the FE as on the FM but why would nikon defeature a body design? an FM with Nikkor lens, you could pour a pint of beer over it, wipe the lens with a dirty hankerchief, go out into a -13° Centigrade night with a flat chilled battery AND IT STILL TOOK THE SHOT. My mate with his precious Leika did not compete. Now I use Olympus OM 5, it has good weatherproofing, dials and is of similar size to your FE and for underwater I use' Olympus TG6 which is the macro MONSTER compact. You can pour beer over it, drop it, Stand on it...
I've got FE2 for my GF as a gift. It's a top tear camera. It has a comparable to FE feature set, but a faster shutter speed (1/4000). I'd also like to try FM2N and FM2T (don't check the prices for this one 😅)
Great movie! I have an earlier model of the same camera... Nikormat FT... 1978 I think... Love it! have mine since 1979. Shooting it regularly ... :)
Some of the F3 specs mentioned are a bit inaccurate. Its mechanical shutter speed is 1/80 sec, there’s no shutter priority mode, and only the F3P (press version) advertises some weather sealing. Nevertheless, the FE is still a superb camera for its price.
What lens are you normally using on this lovely FE? I ask because you mentioned simply keeping it in your van. So I’m curious as to your go to lens 😁
What lens have you got in the camera here? Could you recommend any?
In a weird way the very powerful FE2 is also under-rated because it lives in the shadow of the all-mechanical wonder, the FM2. So it can also be had cheaper than prestige cameras for a very powerful camera with mechanical controls. Obviously when you get to electronically controlled cameras like the EOS3 and the Nikon F100 you get titanic capabilities at low prices because, if people are shooting film, they usually prefer cameras with mechanical dials and a traditional feel.
Definitely thinking about getting the FE.
I can't find a FE in my surroundings, but what do you think about a FM?
I have been telling our B&W film students just how awesome this camera is! I have owned several. I am moving to at least an FE2 for a faster shutter speed. I really want and Nikon FM3A but it's over priced.
What lens do you have mounted on the camera for this video?
Great, practical review. I love my F2AS with its 50mm f1.2 lens but Jeez, it's so heavy.
Love it, a camera that make the user think! I own a Canon F1n and a quantity of FD glass incl, the 50MM 1.2.
Love my FE2. Had it since 1985.
Nikon FE was my first SLR back in 1977. Shooting it untill it got stolen in 1988. Bought one again in 2020 ...
Ken Rockwell has lots of good advice on old Nikon cameras. I have some older fm and fe Nikons, but I like to use the vr lenses with vr, so I end up using N75 for a plastic fantastic, or the f100 if I want something a little better built. I have an f4, but I'm waiting for an f5 at a good price so I can get vr on a top end camera. For Canon, I like the 1N HS, though your eos-3 has a better shutter speed. If I want the full manual experience, I use one of my old German tlr cameras or one of my 4" x 5" cameras.
Hi, I hope you don't mind the random question... I have recently been gifted a Nikon FM and need to find a good flash for it. Do you have any recommendation for a small and easy to use flash? :)
Nice. I'm smiling broadly, here - your pronunciation of the brand, "Nikon" 😁 - civilisation reaches the United States (Yes, I'm kidding). As you assert, robust build quality - no need to be precious - virtually unlimited optical diversity in terms of lenses. One of many in the pre-digital Nikon range that are excellent value for money, but most importantly, an ideal learning tool for those who wish to understand the fundamentals of (all) photography. $100.00 (US) is a steal. Back in the day, you'd have been the ideal advocate for Nikon's PR Dept...subscribed !
Thank you for this. I've been trying to find a decent camera for under 100€ for a while now. My budget is fairly limited. I've got a full black and white darkroom setup to cut costs from going to labs. I can order film straight from Foma at probably the lowest price of any B&W film on the market.
The whole set up with chemicals and paper cost me under $100 and yet I still don't have a decent camera to make full use of it. I'll have to take a look at this camera.
I had one but every time the shutter fired it made a ringing noise, like a desk bell. It drove me crazy so I sold it. I thought all FEs made this sound but yours doesn’t seem to do it.
Great stuff Cody, got myself one of these about 9 months ago with a 50mm F1.8 loving it so far. How are you finding that zoom lens man?
what is the lenses you use for this camera
After this video prices for this camera on eBay doubled!
3 videos in 4 weeks i'm driving off a cliff with excitment!!!
Can someone explain the meter system to me and how to use it to my benefit when shooting???
what lens are you using on the camera ?
it is a normal "problem" that the shutter "locks open" in the circumstance you described.
I found a Canon eos 3 after watching one of your videos, very happy with it.
Glad to hear that! The EOS 3 is the goat.
Back in the day the EOS 3 was the perfect camera if you didn't have the money/justification for a EOS-1. You had pretty much all needed pro capabilities minus some weather proofing that really isn't necessary in most circumstances.
I have a Nikon FE and it’s a joy to shoot. Got mine for $50 with a lens. Highly recommend this camera. It’s a beast.
From what I have read on line the way you pronounced Nikon is the proper Japanese way. However in the American commercial they pronounce it in a more english friendly way.
Joke's on you, I already run the UA-cam blindspot combo of FE+F4. The hegemony of the FM2/FE2 is strong, but more flexible lens selection matters more to me than the faster shutter. The F4 is an absolute brick, but it adds autofocus. I got mine with a lens for $135.
Great video! I really enjoyed it. What lens are you using?
Thanks Leroy! I believe it’s a nikon 35-70mm f/3.5
Thanks@@Codacolor
the FE2, its predecessor, is also fantastic for all the same reasons but it reaches 1/4000 shutter speed and features a titanium shutter. For not that much more $ than an FE.
Great video and very nice shots!
The FE is an amazing camera already but people sleep on how it goes into beast mode if you do infact flick it into "auto" mode. Up to 1/4000th at the fastest, down to many, many minutes at the longest -- check ken rockwell's article on it. It's crazy.
I love my FE! I picked my up for $70 bucks on eBay.
I have a Nikon FE but sadly the old batterieis corroded and killed the electronics so it basically only works in m90 and bulb. Such a shame because it's in pretty good condition minus the battery corrosion
Do you know any places where I can buy 35mm film cameras in new condition (where the package doesn’t look like it’s been sitting around for a couple decades)? I already looked on EBay and Amazon so pls if anyone has suggestions
Just bought an ebay lot with this and a few other Nikon cameras, sold some of the other cameras so now I’ve got a free FE 👌🏼
cool video! This camera remids me a lot of my Revueflex 2000 CL (a rebranded Chinon CX) which I got for 5€ on a feamarket back in 2005 o.O I'm shooting film with it ever since! Sometimes its the qualitiy built simpler middlerange cameras that give you more creatve freedom...