Tempted by the dark side

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Kiloran
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Hmm, I appear to have caught a new virulent strain of GAS from a friend who is looking for an old manual SLR. I'm completely amazed by the low(ish) prices highly competent cameras like the Nikon FE/FM series fetch, and it doesn't help that they look gorgeous in black paint. As a result very, very tempted to buy a Nikon FE2 and a bunch of cheap AI primes (so many sad little 20mm f/2.8s kicking about on eBay for little money).

Am I mad? Is there help available? Will I be cast out from these shores like a leper if I give in to this new urge? 😱

I'm trying to convince myself that I'd only use the Nikon in situations that don't suit an r/f (telephoto, fast action) but I just know I'd end up using for other purposes...
 
Go for it! Last weekend I picked up my R4 for the first time in months and it felt great in my hands, the only thing was that I kept trying to look through the left side of it to search for my subject. I much prefer the rangefinder, but the truth is, and this is speaking of my case specifically, my two best lenses are on SLR's. That's because I owned the SLR's before the RF's and have not yet been able to afford modern lenses for the RF's.
 
The FE2 is a great camera, but I prefer the FM2. BTW, you can use both you know. There was a great Nikon ad shot of a photographer with both a Nikon F and an S2 around his neck. I forget who, but I can look it up at home.
Cheers, and Happy New Year.
 
Get what you want while prices seem low. The FE series are some of the best Nikons to use-great meters and very reliable. I bought mine more than 25 years ago and the only mechanical 'repair' has been new seals. The batteries last years.
 
Definitely go for it. Many of us are ambicamerous -- enjoying both RF's and SLR's. I recently added an FM2 myself and think it's great. Excellent manual lenses generally sell for less than RF lenses. SLR's are the ticket for any closeup photography and tele work. Plus they're fun to use. Not a better experience than RF's, just a different one.

Gene
 
I must mention the absolutely bargain prices for the Nikon F3. If you know how to manually focus a lens, the F3 represents an incredible value the $$$.

The Nikon AI/AIS manual focus glass is very nice too.

For close up work the Nikon 35/2 and 24/2.8 lenses are amazing (less than 1 ft minimum focus). The 35 is sharp and the contrast is almost as good as Leica/Zeiss RF glass. The 24 is prone to flare but it too is a sharp with good contrast. Of course SLRs are great for telephoto work too.

willie

btw :I am selling a very nice Nikkor 28-85/3.4-4.5 macro zoom with lens hood and a filter.
 
Don't do it.

I think many of us just end up focusing on gear rather than shooting. Yes the Nikon's are cheap but once you buy the body and a couple of lenses, you problaby could have bought another lens for your RF.

I think the more you can limit your options gear wise, the more your photography opens up creatively and the better you get to know the gear you are using till it becomes an extension of your vision.

The best reason to buy a new piece of gear is because you need some specific thing it can do for a project you have envisioned. If you have to shoot something macro and your RF won't cut it, then sure get an SLR and a macro lens but if it's just because they look like good deals, I'd stay away and focus on what you've got.

Just thought I'd offer a dissenting opinion. I'm trying to rid myself of some extra gear this new year.
 
I'm with nightfly on this one. "Small is Beautiful" is my philosophy when it comes to most things, including my photo gear. I used to have several cameras and have owned about 10 different models over the years (including a Nikon FM, FE2 and Oly OM1, Pentax MX... etc). Today, I'm down to one "serious" camera (the MP) and a digi p&s. I'm currently saving for a wide angle lens for the MP; that and a possible 90 macro Elmar would be all I'll ever REALLY need. I feel shooting with one tool and getting to know it very well is more important than having many toys to play with.

But, hey, if you're at the "I want to try new things" stage, go for it. I was once there too and it can be fun. My regret in going in that direction is that with all the money I burned trying new cameras and selling them (losing money in the process) I could be shooting with my dream kit now.

Ron
 
but seriously, i am finally settled on an rf kit and it feels good, but part of how that happened is that i bought into the oly om slr system.
the oly is a good escape from the rf when i feel the need and it's fun to play with a macro or a really long lens - things i can't do with the rf - and the stuff is dirt cheap, well most if it anyway.
if you can afford a few bucks for the diversion then go for it.

joe
 
Nikon manual cameras are the road to perdition

Nikon manual cameras are the road to perdition

It can all be badly addictive. I started with a single shooter M3 body 6 months ago, because I was curious and the prices had become very attractive. I now own that original M3, a M3 DS, M2 (currently being CLA'd), M4 (wonderful and my 2nd favorite), M5 (best of all and totally gorgeous), iiif, Bessa R2A, Bessa R3M, and a miscellany of lenses. I now think $2000 for a lens is cheap, so price creep has started to insidiously enter into the picture. And I firmly believe that I cannot live without an ala carte MP. I have a bid in for a Leica tri-elmar, oh, and did I mention I also had to get the R-D1, which is my 2nd favorite to shoot after the M5. I am seriously in need of help.

This all started when I purchased the above mentioned Nikon FM3a for a trip to Israel two years ago. A seriously great camera that marries the best of the FE and FM worlds. Unfortunately, I find that I can't focus it well with my presbiopic eyes. Interestingly, I have no such focusing problem with a rangefinder! Beware the Nikon manual cameras. They are the road to perdition!

Regards,
Ira
 
Well, I'd love an FM3A but the price is a little prohibitive at the moment (particularly for a black body). I'll be content with an FE2 (I'd be content with an FE1 if it wasn't for the 1/1000 top shutter speed - 1/2000th on the Bessa's is bad enough...)
In my pre-rangefinder life I was a Nikon shooter and have lusted after an FM3A since they came on the market...
 
I have a nikon fm2n with a couple of lenses.I love them.
I want another mf nikon body.Have a pentax k1000 to trade for it if anybody is up to it.
 
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I'm happy user of Nikon gear, and beside the f100 (i use for sport/events pictures or when I need the 80-200 zoom) I use the FM2 with a single lens (50mm f1,4) . Comparing to range finder I have (Bessa R) I prefer the FM2 when I feel in the mood for more creative pictures It allows more play focus/out of focus, like http://www.ball-saal.com/ThirdParty/phorum-5.0.13a/read.php?10,11982 when I'm in the mood for reportage or easy travelling I prefer the RF kit (lens 35-1,7 / 75 - 2,5 / 12 /5,6) . IMHO there is no contrapposition between RF and SRL it depends on what you plan to do and how you feel you like to take pictures.
ciao, robert
 
Yes, by all means pick up the camera and lenses and enjoy them. I have tried to talk myself into selling my F3HP and lenses. Each time I take them out one more time (the most recent time was new years eve day) just to be sure I want to sell them, I come home and wonder what the hell I was thinking...this is great gear and fun to use.


Bob
 
After reading about your temptation to the "dark side" I can only say, "Jump in the water is fine."
My FM2n and RD1s handle about the same, and I'm sure you will not regret getting a manual focus Nikon. They are great machines. I'm attaching a comparison shot of the two cameras. The FM2n has the old 50mm/1.8 Series E lens that I bought sometime in the eighties (I think), and the RD1s has a CV 50mm/1.5 Nokton mounted.

Take care,
Michael
 

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