carlb
Established
On Monday I was in the office of the fellow who does my camera repairs and we got talking about a camera swapmeet that’s on this Sunday and what the chances of me finding an OM 1n in decent condition were.
He made a comment that if I was after something of that class he had a black Nikon FE2 with a Zoom Nikkor 35 -105 f3.5 - 4.5 and an MD12 motordrive that someone had given him as a part-exchange on a K10D digital kit. He took it out of the cabinet and apart from a tiny ding on the edge near the film winder (which you have to really look for to see), and a couple of paint chips, the body is pristine and the lens looks almost new. The MD 12 is a little tatty but would probably still score about 90%.
After playing around with it a bit and seeing that it all worked perfectly, I very tentatively asked him how much he wanted for it. I braced myself for a shock.
Imagine how (very pleasantly) shocked I was when he said $AU 250 for the lot.
I pondered this for all of 10 seconds, and told him he had a deal. I organised the cash and picked it up yesterday. It’s as solid as a rock and the whole combo weighs a ton, but I can see why they have such a good reputation. And the styling is classic IMO.
But do I actually need another camera?? Well of course not, but when a golden opportunity shows itself………..well, it just wouldn’t be right not to take advantage of it would it?
Now I just need to find a bit of time to put a few rolls through it.
Sorry if this comes across as gloating and is not the done thing, but I just couldn’t believe my luck and had to share with others who would understand.
He made a comment that if I was after something of that class he had a black Nikon FE2 with a Zoom Nikkor 35 -105 f3.5 - 4.5 and an MD12 motordrive that someone had given him as a part-exchange on a K10D digital kit. He took it out of the cabinet and apart from a tiny ding on the edge near the film winder (which you have to really look for to see), and a couple of paint chips, the body is pristine and the lens looks almost new. The MD 12 is a little tatty but would probably still score about 90%.
After playing around with it a bit and seeing that it all worked perfectly, I very tentatively asked him how much he wanted for it. I braced myself for a shock.
Imagine how (very pleasantly) shocked I was when he said $AU 250 for the lot.
I pondered this for all of 10 seconds, and told him he had a deal. I organised the cash and picked it up yesterday. It’s as solid as a rock and the whole combo weighs a ton, but I can see why they have such a good reputation. And the styling is classic IMO.
But do I actually need another camera?? Well of course not, but when a golden opportunity shows itself………..well, it just wouldn’t be right not to take advantage of it would it?
Now I just need to find a bit of time to put a few rolls through it.
Sorry if this comes across as gloating and is not the done thing, but I just couldn’t believe my luck and had to share with others who would understand.
V
varjag
Guest
Is $250 really that cheap for FE2 with a zoom? I'm just not sure as to relative value of Nikon models, but FE series shouldn't be overly expensive?
Kim Coxon
Moderator
The local camera shop in Lincoln has a body only in for £125 which is about the same as the whole kit so I would class it as a good deal.
Kim
Kim
varjag said:
nrb
Nuno Borges
Recently I bought a black M6 with 35 Summicron IV version canadian for 995 euro. Both work all right. I'm not sure if this qualifies as a good deal.
kshapero
South Florida Man
FE2 is a real classic. Those were the days when Nikon was IT!! for the SLR world. Enjoy.
V
varjag
Guest
Yep.. I checked eBay completed listings, it appears a good deal indeed.Kim Coxon said:
kalokeri
larger than 35mm
The FE2 is one of the most wanted "classic" slrs, so the price for the kit is really good.
Congrats, Carl! Enjoy your new toy.
Even if you don´t really need another camera, this FE2 is really nice to have. In my teens I wanted the FE, but it was too expensive then. A few weeks ago I found a really good looking body for a good price, bought it and gave it to the nearest Nikon Service. For under EURO 100 they cleaned and exaimed it, changed a few parts and just mailed me that the camera is ready to go out again. I´m as excited as you are.
Thomas
Congrats, Carl! Enjoy your new toy.
Even if you don´t really need another camera, this FE2 is really nice to have. In my teens I wanted the FE, but it was too expensive then. A few weeks ago I found a really good looking body for a good price, bought it and gave it to the nearest Nikon Service. For under EURO 100 they cleaned and exaimed it, changed a few parts and just mailed me that the camera is ready to go out again. I´m as excited as you are.
Thomas
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
I understand your pleasure and it is a good deal. My first mf Nikon was an FE2 and I still have it. Great cameras.
Bob
Bob
nksyoon
Well-known
The FE was one of the first SLRs I used when I was a teenager. I'm now reliving those times with an FM3a I just received yesterday.
The body is very similar in size to the Leica M6, it's only the lenses which are much bigger.
The body is very similar in size to the Leica M6, it's only the lenses which are much bigger.
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KoNickon
Nick Merritt
The FE2 is a great camera. The 35-105 was the first zoom lens I bought -- fine image quality but f4.5 at 105mm is just too dang slow and hard to focus. It got stolen some years ago and I haven't bothered to replace it.
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
I had an FE2 about ten years ago, I used it more than my F4, great camera.
Now I fing myself looking at the FM3a as a replacement, just as nice as the FE2with a few improvements, nice camera Nick!
Todd
Now I fing myself looking at the FM3a as a replacement, just as nice as the FE2with a few improvements, nice camera Nick!
Todd
Tuolumne
Veteran
I bought an FM3a before they were discontinued a few years ago. My first Nikon was an FE, then I got the FE2. Both were stolen many years ago from my home while I away on a trip. I was really psyched to get the FM3a. I never did like the stoplight metering that the old FM series had and was delighted to see the combination of the FE/FE2 style match meter with the all mechanical FM series. I took some wonderful pictures with it on a trip to Israel two years ago. Recently I have been shooting my RF cameras almost exclusively. But yesterday I bought a new f1.2 AI-S Nikkor on eBay from Matsuiyastore. I can hardly wait to compare it to my Noctilux! Will report back. I do notice that the mirror has quite a bit of sensible "slap" compared to my RFs though. I can see why RFs are the preferred tool for low available light.
/T
/T
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nksyoon
Well-known
Tuolumne said:
I was looking at that lens as well...in the end I ordered a Voigtlander 58/1.4 SLII. Will post photos once I receive it.
On the shutter slap, it kind of surprised me...it's been more than 20 years since I used the FE and I didn't remember the shutter being so loud or being able to feel vibrations through the fingers supporting the lens. Certainly different from an M6, M8 or even a modern SLR like a Canon 5D.
Tuolumne
Veteran
nksyoon said:
I think if all you've ever used is an slr the shutter slap of the FE/FE2/FM doesn't seem so bad. After regular use of a RF you start to really feel the mirror slap, which is non-existant in a rangefinder, and a different issue from shutter noise.
/T
Chris101
summicronia
I just checked KEH's prices for FE2 cameras. You got a good deal to be sure! Enjoy your new camera!
kshapero
South Florida Man
What a gorgeous pair. Getting a GAS attack just looking at it. My my.nksyoon said:The FE was one of the first SLRs I used when I was a teenager. I'm now reliving those times with an FM3a I just received yesterday.
The body is very similar in size to the Leica M6, it's only the lenses which are much bigger.