Tell Me About The Nikon FE2

[wjlapier]

I have had many different Nikon bodies over the years but just recently became aware of the FE/2 cameras--How is that!

Tell me about the FE2 as it would compare to the F3 or F2, or FM? I understand it's an AE camera, but can also shoot manual mode. How well built is it compared to the three cameras I mentioned?

Any issues with it that are common to most users.

Finally, are these cameras serviceable?

Thanks!

 

[sanmich]

it would be the perfect SLR if the finder was not so uncomfortable with glasses (the whole FM/FE series).
F/F2/F3 is much better but bigger/heavier
Oly OM is just perfect 🙂

 

[Huss]

Just picked up an FE2. I can compare it to my FM2n, F, F2, and F6..

Auto exposure up to 1/4000 sec w/ heavy center weighted metering, full manual override, and simple exposure lock. Light weight, compact but really nicely made body. Excellent exposure display in bright VF.

If I was honest and not a gear hog, I would say that this is the best film Nikon made and it also happens to be the cheapest one that I have. I bought a perfect condition one for $85.
The FM3a only offers a mechanical/electronic shutter hybrid as a difference, but as long as you have batteries there will be no difference in use apart from having an extra $500 in your pocket.

My F6 provides AF. Which I don't use. 1/8000 sec which is actually handy as I am less likely to need an ND filter wide open (and ND filters suck on SLRs as they make the viewing image darker), but the FE2's 1/4000 is almost there at 1/10 of the price (used vs used). I find the matrix metering in the F6 - coloured 3D marketing BS blows, even with dedicated chipped lenses. It makes you think that it can perform miracles but in tricky lighting situations, where it is needed, it gets it wrong so actually I do much better in center weighted metering and locking the exposure. Just like on the FE2 (or FM2n etc)
I find it ok with glasses, but usually I use contact lenses so maybe there is that.

Anyway, my Fs, F2s (and Minolta XK) may be sexier but they are not better cameras than the FE2. (I don't find the F6 sexy. It's a DSLR that happens to shoot film).

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

I bought mine as my first Nikon, while i was primarily using Canons. I just always liked Nikon film bodies, and wanted to 'dabble' a bit. Since then, i've had a string of Nikons: F100, F6, back to F100, F80, F4, FG (broken), EM (broken), and most recently an F3. Of all of those cameras, i kept only the FE2 the entire time, and went back and forth with the F100 (I still have it). The F3 is something i've only had for two months or so.

I like so much about the FE2, but the three 'flaws'/characteristics i don't like are what keep it from being the perfect manual film SLR.

• There's no On/Off switch. You activate the meter by pulling the wind lever out a bit. That may seem to be a trivial matter, but i've never gotten used to it and it still feels silly. When i'm walking around with it, i just expect to be able to raise it to my eye and meter/shoot. I'm caught out too often by that damn lever.

• The meter. I don't really like a needle. Seems like i can't see the numbers on too many occasions. I'd prefer an LED or the F3's LCD.

• No AE lock with a half-press of the shutter release. Instead, it's a separate switch, on the front of the body. I'll never use it there. It should have been on the shutter button, or the later Nikon compromise, the button on the back panel, just below the top deck.

Other than that.... It's a gorgeous, well-built, solid, small camera, with a very nice finder and satisfying shutter/mirror sound and wind advance.

Now that i have the F3, i'm a bit more taken by the F3, but that's probably just a honeymoon effect. The F3 is a bit larger than i'd like, but the larger finder is what i'm into now. If i had to choose one of them, i'm not sure what i'd do. Good thing they're all so cheap these days, right?

To be honest, if i wanted to spend the money on an FM3a, i'd probably be happiest with that, versus the FE2 or F3, but it's a considerable amount more, and because i use so many different cameras (all too infrequently, though), i couldn't justify it.

Which Nikon/s do you currently have? If you already have an F3, unless you want a slightly smaller/lighter camera, i don't think you really need to make a switch.

 

[JP Owens]

The best thing about the FE2 or FM2 over the FM or FE is that the finders are so much brighter. The FM finder was so dark that it was hard to focus in low light.

 

[dave lackey]

I have had many different Nikon bodies over the years but just recently became aware of the FE/2 cameras--How is that!

Tell me about the FE2 as it would compare to the F3 or F2, or FM? I understand it's an AE camera, but can also shoot manual mode. How well built is it compared to the three cameras I mentioned?

Any issues with it that are common to most users.

Finally, are these cameras serviceable?

Thanks!

Bill, the FE2 is the most perfect SLR ever made with MF along with my FM3a. No issues with my two heavily used examples. Inexpensive. Faster than my Leica M. and about the same size. Great reliability. Feel is like putting on a favorite pair of jeans and it never gets in the way of shooting except in very low light with the needle getting hard to see. I simply love it.

The F6 is unbeatable as it is simply the best Nikon ever made. Although I love the form and retro design of my beloved FM3a, the F6 is light years better! That said, I carry the F6 with me always now instead of the FE2s or the FM3a. Why? Because the AF is getting to be important as I get older (vision).. The FM3a is my most fun and reliable camera period. But if I don't want anything to think about, the F6 is better.

But I simply love my first ever camera... the compact F body. I could easily live with either the FE2 or the FM3a for a lifetime and never need another camera unless I went back to professional sports and motorsports shooting. Ain't gonna happen!😛

 

[dave lackey]

Oh yes. The F3 and F2. In retrospect, I hated my F3 and didn't even know it, and was so happy to have sold it to get the M3. It was aesthetically and ergonomically a PITA. Goofy little light switch was useless. The FA was much better IMO for my use. I really could not bond with F3. for some reason. The F2 I have is amazing but a PITA to use. Way too much trouble with shutter speeds, etc. if I had a DE-1 and I didn't hate carrying a separate meter, the F2 would be wonderful. I use mine rarely because the compact F bodies are better for me. The F2 comes out for a walk now and then for nostalgic reasons. And even then, I am an aperture priority addict... F2 fails, FE2 is far easier.

That said, the F2a and F3 are fantastic cameras and I can understand the allure. They just don't fit me for what I do these days with film cameras. I must be a real slacker with aperture priority and small, light bodies.

If you want a very capable system, don't shoot action sports or kids, and you want a camera to just be invisible in use, you can't do better than an FE2, IMO. If you are having vision problems, AF is the way to go and there are not many choices for me other than the F80, F100 and F6 and of course the DSLR lineup!

 

[giganova]

The FE2 is a great camera, very solidly built, has a great form factor, and the center-weight exposure meter gives well balanced exposures in most situations. The battery seems to last forever, the viewfinder is very bright, and -- unlike others -- I love the needle of the meter because it is so intuitive. I also love that the camera turns on when you pull out the wind lever a bit. I find this a very ergonomic solution because your thumb is right there anyway, much better than a separate on/off switch. I swapped the focusing screen for a matte screen with horizontal and vertical lines which lets me better level the shots.

Two things I don't like about it:

- The shutter is way too loud! "CLUNK". Each time I make a picture, people turn around and look at me! For that reason alone I am thinking about getting a Leica.
- You can't make any pictures until you forward to frame 1. This means that you'll waste one image per roll.

 

[Rob-F]

I like my FE2s and their meter-needle exposure reading. I like the FM3a for the same reason. Exposure is inherently an analog process, and a meter needle is an analog display. It makes sense to measure an analog phenomenon with an analog proportional display. It does not make sense (to me) to represent an analog measurement with a +/- go/no-go display. And with a meter, I can compensate my exposure by letting the match-needle be a little above or below the arm that is set by the shutter speed dial. I agree that "intuitive" is a good word for what it is.

 

[giganova]

I agree with Rob: an analogue needle is very intuitive, a quick glance and you instantly know how much over/under you expose. Given the high dynamic range of film, it makes perfect sense to have an analogue needle.

 

[Mablo]

One little thing about FE2 I don't like. It doesn't meter before the film counter is on 1, film inside or not. The second one is the exposure lock button. It's awkwardly placed and at least for me it complicates refocusing. I prefer using my FE2 in manual mode like FM2 thus avoiding the exposure lock. Other than these little nuisances it's a great camera.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Remembering back, the FE2 was a step up from the FE, which I think got my attention was TTL flash automation.

Great camera. Nice size. Plenty of features. Served me well. Still have it, on the shelf.

 

[burancap]

One little thing about FE2 I don't like. It doesn't meter before the film counter is on 1, film inside or not...

AHK! I recently declined a gorgeous FE2 that I thought had a broken meter! :bang:

 

[ChrisPlatt]

FWIW I liked my brother's FE better than my FE2.
The "improved model" added no features I require and lost compatibility with pre-AI Nikkor lenses.
IMO build quality and smoothness of operation ("feel") suffered too.

Chris

 

[WJJ3]

The best thing about the FE2 or FM2 over the FM or FE is that the finders are so much brighter. The FM finder was so dark that it was hard to focus in low light.

I agree with this, and one way to improve the FE's finder is put a focus screen from one of the later cameras in it.

FWIW I liked my brother's FE better than my FE2.
The "improved model" added no features I require and lost compatibility with pre-AI Nikkor lenses.
IMO build quality and smoothness of operation ("feel") suffered too.

Chris

I second this. I had an FE for years that seemed a cut above the later cameras in terms of build, fit and finish.

 

[oltimer]

I noticed no one from the cold northern winter climate responding here. The FE2 ate my batteries winding the spring up to 1-4000 speed. My FE was way better in the cold

 

[DNG]

FWIW I liked my brother's FE better than my FE2.
The "improved model" added no features I require and lost compatibility with pre-AI Nikkor lenses.
IMO build quality and smoothness of operation ("feel") suffered too.

Chris

I never did like the awkward stop-down metering with my FE.

The Sunny 16 with the FM/FE/F3 is just as fast


I agree that the extra $400-500 for the FM3a is over rated for the addition of a manual shutter w/o bats... (a Canon EF is cheaper and has 1/2 to 1/1000 without a battery,
though it has shutter priority not aperture priority. (Similar Hybrid Shutter) and has the build of the F1 quality)

But, The FE2 is good upgrade with the new lighter shutter, and 1/4000 top speed and the 1/250 sync..I had the FE, and I liked it, but, for a few $$ more used,
the FE2 offers a good upgrade or deal. Make sure it has the rubber ring around the eyepiece. (eyeglass wearers)

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I never did like the awkward stop-down metering with my FE.

The Sunny 16 with the FM/FE/F3 is just as fast

I'd disagree. The bigger problem is that many pre-AI Nikkors cannot be mounted
or will damage the fixed plastic AI coupling tab around the FE2 lens mount.

Chris

 

[dtcls100]

I have an FE2, FM3a and other cameras. Have also used FE, FM, FM2, etc. the FE2 is a very good, solid machine. I much prefer it to the earlier FE (I don't have or use pre-Ai lenses) because of the brighter screen, faster 1/4000 shutter speed, 1/250 synch, and TTL flash metering. It does lack the FM3a's hybrid shutter, improved K3 focusing screen (but can be purchased separately) and -1 flash comp button and better placed AE lock button.

Overall though, I prefer the Olympus OM-4t camera which has a considerably better viewfinder, multi-spot metering, faster motor drive, and better ergonomics (IMHO). But the Nikon's flash system with the SB-800 is better, as that flash is more modern and advanced than any OM flash, which were truly cutting edge when the OM flash system first came out.