Nikon FM or FE? I'm confused...

[Dwig]

How's the battery life on the FE? What kind of battery is it?

All of the FM/FE family use the same batteries. The original "stock" battery set was a pair of 1.5v S-76 silver oxide batteries. The cameras all have their own internal voltage stabilization and will work with any power supply over about 2.1v total and under something in the 12-15v range.

It's quite common to use S-76 size alkaline substitutes and a single CR1/3N Lithium 3v battery will work very well and has the advantage that is doesn't leak when it dies. Nikon offered an external battery pack for the series (fit the F3 as well) that used a pair of AA alkaline batteries and had no circuitry. It merely wired the cells to the camera's battery compartment.

Battery life is quite good in all of the series with the exception of the original version of the FM when used on the MD-11 motor drive. This combination would allow the user to easily lock the meter in the on position with no built-in timeout sleep function. The later MD-12 motor resolved the issue and a reworking of the body's switching (moved release lock and switching to the wind lever instead of a collar around the shutter release button) reduced user error.

 

[maitani]

get the FM3a, both cameras in one..

 

[Dwig]

get the FM3a, both cameras in one..

Very, very poor choice for the OP as it will not accept their non-Ai lenses!

 

[rulnacco]

I don't own an FM. I do own an FE, so I can speak to its strengths.

It can be used with non-AI lenses, definitely, as it has the flip-up tab for that purpose. I personally like the match-needle meter, as you can see more easily how far the meter reading is from your exposure. When you're shooting things that fall outside the normal scene brightness range (bright snow, say), this is helpful. However, as others have pointed out, this makes it useless for shooting in very low-light situations where you can't even see the needles.

Battery life? It's fine. As pointed out above, you can go months without changing them, and they are easily available, cheap and small--just carry an extra set around in your bag.

I had an FE that I bought several years ago, and loved it. It got stolen last year at an MMA fight card (along with my AIed 28/2.0, alas) and when I went to replace it, I did a lot of research to decide between another FE, the FE2, the FM2n, and the FM3a. I decided, that for my own needs (which included the occasional convenience of aperture priority) and for the price, the FE was the best way to go. So although it's not perfect, I got another one--and got a great deal! If you look around, you can probably get a good one for under a hundred bucks on eBay.

If you do get one (not sure if this mod works on the FM series), I'd *strongly* recommend pimping it with a K3 screen from the FM3a. The brightness and focusing pop you get with this screen are wonderful. Some users have reported needing to fiddle the ISO dial a few thirds of a stop to get proper exposures with the new screen, owing to its brightness, but I've found no need with my camera to do so.

Personally, as above, I'd go with the FE. However, if you're never going to use aperture priority with your AI/AIS lenses, and/or if you're going to do a good bit of shooting in the dark, then the FM might be more attractive to you.

 

[kshapero]

It's $25 to convert non Ai lenses, then the world is yours. More choices.
http://www.aiconversions.com

 

[rulnacco]

Oh, and one other thing--I know you said you'd like something smaller. But the F4 also has the flip-up prong for using non-AI lenses. Those beasts are probably still the most versatile and best cameras Nikon has ever made. Indestructible, excellent metering, loads of interchangeable accessories, will focus AF-S lenses (and work, to an extent, even with the G lenses), a viewfinder that is like looking at a movie screen compared to a DSLR finder.

Erm, sorry to get off topic there. I just had a chance to wax enthusiastically about the greatest SLR ever made, and so I succumbed to the temptation. But they will work--and meter pretty nicely--with your non-AI lenses, and as cheap as they are nowadays, you might wanna pick one of those up, too, just for good measure!

 

[Vics]

I am decided. It's the FM for me. All my cameras are all mechanical, and I don't see any pressing reason to be battery-dependent now. Thank you all for your kind responses and suggestions. RFF is still a better resource than Wikipedia!

 

[semilog]

For that lens collection I'd just get an F3.