In praise of Nikon FM/FE/1/2/3

[CK Dexter Haven]

I have an FE2. I don't find it "clunky," at all, compared to any Leica i've owned. In fact, the FE2 feels as much or more like 'a real camera' than anything i've ever owned. And, i'm a 'canon guy.'

I have the 50/1.8 Series-E and consider that my favorite lens. Also have a Mir 35mm, but haven't really shot with it yet....

FE2, Series E, Rollei Retro 100 + D-76/ID-11. That's my thing these days.

 

[kshapero]

I've been shooting exclusively for the last three months with an all black FE that my dad bought new in '78. At first with the 50/1.4, and I've since added a 105/2.5 and a 35/2.8. I took the time to replace all the seals myself, and it feels really solid now, akin to closing a VW door (well, not quite). I actually really like the loud clunk of the shutter release, and winding the film on. It reminds me that I'm operating an analog device with moving parts. Its satisfying. Although, the shutter noise does get noticed on the street. Perhaps one day I'll experience the understated "tsik" of a Leica shutter release and it's "buttery smooth" film advance and the FE will be ruined for me, but until then, the FE is great. I carry it daily with two lenses in a messenger bag over my shoulder, because it's small enough.

I've also picked up a gently brassed black FM. In general I prefer the match needle of the FE over the LED display of the FM, but agree that the needle of the FE is hard to see in low light, which is where the FM will be better.

I like to push HP5 to 800 or 1600, and at times I'd really like the 4000th shutter speed of an FM2 or FE2 when I'm going from inside to outside. The brighter viewfinder would be nice too.

Very nice rant. Any photos?

 

[rkm]

Very nice rant. Any photos?

Of the cameras, or from the cameras?
I've just ordered a Plustek 8200i and promise to flood the gallery with images soon...

 

[nobbylon]

Having F2's spoiled my FM2n experience. It felt flimsy and cheap in comparison. I know they're tough but they just don't feel it. I'd rather have an F3 which is what I did at the time and which can be had for the same money. I paid 70 euro for my late black FM2n, 75 euro for an F3 with a lens. All gone now in favour of an F5. I have an FE2 that I was given somewhere around, must dig it out and sell!

 

[semilog]

Having F2's spoiled my FM2n experience. It felt flimsy and cheap in comparison. I know they're tough but they just don't feel it. I'd rather have an F3 which is what I did at the time and which can be had for the same money.

The whole equation of camera weight with "build quality" has always struck me as bizarre. But my formative experiences are from climbing and bicycles and motorcycles and skis and backpacking, where the best-built gear is almost never heavy. Quite the opposite, in fact.

I've always valued low weight because my periods of most intensive shooting always have coincided with using bicycles for transport. And I also was doing a lot of climbing and backpacking, again favoring lighter setups. Galen Rowell for most of his career used FM series cameras because of the superior combination of weight and reliability.

Hence: FE/FM rather than F2 or F3 or Nikkormat; M6 rather than M4; Fuji X-E1 rather than X-Pro or DSLR. Black rather than silver Summilux ASPH [😛].

So when people act as though heaviness = "build quality" I think that's nuts. To me higher weight just means "inefficient use of materials." I will admit that the F3 is a killer camera, though, and I'll go out on a limb by saying it has the best manual film advance on any camera ever made, the M3 very much included.

 

[farlymac]

I bought a good used FM many years ago, and kitted it out with all the Series E lenses, MD-11, Sunpak 611, right-angle finder, bellows, SB-20 ring flash, and whatever else I could find to use. Did all kinds of stuff with it, and it never let me down. The FE I bought though was another story. It failed in the middle of the first roll, and when I took it back, they supposedly fixed it. Well, it didn't last through loading the next roll, so I took it back again. They wouldn't refund my money, saying I must have messed the camera up. I took it to a reputable repair shop, and they said the shutter needed replacement, and was unavailable. Unfortunately, a few years ago, I had to make up my mind what camera outfit I was going to keep when I had to divulge myself of anything I couldn't eat. The N90s outfit won out because it was newest, had the widest array of focal lengths, and I figured had many more years of life in it than the FM.

Earlier this year, I came into ownership of another FM as part of a lens sale. The owner didn't think it worked, but after a thorough going over, I couldn't find anything wrong with it. So I got an MD-12 to keep it company, and shot a tractor show with it. It was great to feel that rig in my hands again. Then last week, a friend of mine sent me a box of stuff with a note that said "some work, some don't". In amongst all the stuff was another MD-12, and an FE. WooHoo! The MD-12 only works on continuous, and the FE will lock-up the mirror if you press the shutter release too far without turning on the meter circuit. You then have to turn the shutter speed to M90 to get the mirror to return. Both problems are fixable, so I'm more than happy to have them. The more Nikons, the merrier!

PF

 

[kshapero]

Of the cameras, or from the cameras?
I've just ordered a Plustek 8200i and promise to flood the gallery with images soon...

either or both.

 

[nobbylon]

The whole equation of camera weight with "build quality" has always struck me as bizarre.
So when people act as though heaviness = "build quality"

I think you must have imagined what I wrote in my post as I actually mentioned nothing about weight! I referred to the feel of the camera. I personally don't care that much how much a camera weighs as long as it's doing what I want. I'll stand by my post and say that the FM/FE series feel like toys compaired to F2's however they have a good track record for reliability.
For my 35mm film needs I use an F5 and a Leicaflex and I carry them wile travelling no problem.
What strikes me as bizarre is the notion that a mechanical camera is more reliable than an electronic one.

 

[semilog]

Apologies if I misconstrued you. That equation seems to come up again and again around here.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Staying with the theme of the smaller Nikons... When the FM and FE came out, I simply stopped using my F2. The smaller bodies were that much more convenient and seemed to do everything I needed.

Rugged enough for me; I've had no failures.

 

[nobbylon]

F3's don't feel as well built or precise as F2's either (the wobbly film advance was just so crappy on such an expensive camera) however along with the FM series cameras, reliability and longevity is without question. For myself the feel of the F2 returned with the F4 continuing with the F5 and to a lesser extent the F6.

 

[sparrow6224]

I have two F's, an F2, an FE, an FM2n, and an FM3A. The most solid feeling machine among my Nikons would be the F100 and the D700 -- but they ALL feel extremely well made. I have owned, among SLRs, many Minolta's, Pentax's, Canons, a Leica R4, two Contax SLRs, and at different times the OM2, 3, and 4. The only cameras in the lot that have seemed to me as rock solid in engineering and mechanics as the Nikons have been the OM2n and the RTSII (Contax). The R4 is close; so is, surprisingly, a Pentax ME-Super that my wife's parents gave her in the 1980s.

What most surprises me is the dramatic statement about how cheap and flimsy the FE felt after the F2. I just fired off my two F's, the F2, and the FE/FM2n/FM3A set and the earlier larger F's and the F2 have noisier more guillotine-ish shutters and more ratchety film advances. The later smaller set all feel smoother. The shutter-mirror operations of these definitely feel smaller but not at all cheaper or more flimsy.

They are all great.

 

[Mablo]

I spent the Xmas weekend using my old reliable FM in -25C temperatures without any problems.

 

[rkm]

I spent the Xmas weekend using my old reliable FM in -25C temperatures without any problems.

Wow. Gorgeous. I need to experience a white Christmas at some point in my life.

 

[sparrow6224]

That is a fantastic image: really beautiful.

 

[jamais]

Nikon FE 1.4/58

 

[markwatts]

I have owned an F, I have a F3HP and 3 FM3A. I have never quiet understood why so many see a marked difference in 'build quality' or toughness. I have every expectation that my cameras will outlive me, including the rangefinders that are within a year of my age.

 

[Armoured]

I spent the Xmas weekend using my old reliable FM in -25C temperatures without any problems.

I've used an FM for (hurts to say this) over twenty years and my experience is the same - solid, reliable, no fuss, and the weight equation is fabulous. It's still the camera I trust the most to just work - the weak part in the formula is always me. I've since picked up an FE and FE2 and they are both great - the big advantage being the flash metering. I've never had any problems with any of them.

And I used the FM outdoors for a very long day of -25C, a lot of in and out of doors, back and forth, very punishing. Never an issue, even the batteries. I was also carrying a digital camera and it would give half an hour at best in the real cold.

The only camera I've ever felt had the same feel of quality and size - even somewhat better - is the OM4. The feel is even better actually. The ridiculous battery issue ruins the equation. All of the Nikons can be picked up after months and I'll be quite certain they'll work; the OM always needs to have an extra set of batteries. I still want to get an OM4T because of the battery issue.

 

[biomed]

I still have the FE2 I purchased to replace a stolen camera. I haven't used it for a while. I have the MD-12 drive and 50mm, 36-72mm, 75-150mm series E lenses. I also modified several of my older Nikkors (non ai) to use with the FE2. It is a very nice handling camera.

 

[nobbylon]

Curiosity got the better of me and I picked up an FM2n today just to see if I remembered it correctly.
I've put my 50 H on it and here's a few observations.
General feel is of an F2 on a diet. The film advance is so much nicer than a wobbly F3 and actually feels very like my F2. You can definately tell the difference between a vertical and horizontal shutter though. Not that it's important. I can actually focus it better than F, F2 and F3 but not as good as my Pentax K2 and nowhere near my Leicaflex which is in a different league focus wise.
Meter, I like the LED now because it's easy to see. All in all I'm pleasantly surprised however I still think the cheap looking shutter dial plate lets it down.
I'll put a few films through and see what they're like however for M/F there simply is nothing like a Leicaflex SL/SL2.
My perfect M/F SLR would be the size of this FM2, focusing and screen of a Leicaflex with R6.2 readouts and finish of an F2. I've never used an R6.2 which are not too far size wise from the FM series. At the end of the day though it's about focus for me and the SL wins.