Which Nikon manual focus SLR body?

[nikon_sam]

FE/FM

I have both but started in Nikons with the FE...it has a great meter...I shot a lot of Velvia and was always blown away with the results...

 

[retro]

Any of them.

 

[Ronald M]

I feel fortunate to have found pristine F2 and a Nikormat FT, $200 and 65 respectively.

I replaced to foam on both with yarn and black felt an general principles. The other Nikon I have is a FE2. I consider it a toy compared to the big strong SLR..

 

[Benjamin]

FM2n, easy choice. FM3a if you've got the bucks.

 

[nobbylon]

Here's my manual focus Nikon's. Stuck indoors with a cold so decided to update my camera and lens lists!

F/Ftn finder, F2 Photomic, F2a, F2as, F3's and F4's

 

[FrankS]

Here's my manual focus Nikon's. Stuck indoors with a cold so decided to update my camera and lens lists!

F/Ftn finder, F2 Photomic, F2a, F2as, F3's and F4's

Now you just need some Nikkormats. 🙂

 

[sparrow6224]

I'm about to sell a beautiful black FE because I want to get away from AE shooting and have the FM2n for all manual work -- it helps me pay attention and not take stupid shots. The FE over the FE2 -- to be heterodox -- I'd recommend because the needle indicator in the viewfinder is so much easier and more intuitive than the conflicting LED lights which need to be brought into agreement (FE2).

You'll want a 24/2.8, the 35/2, the 50/2 Ai (if you don't need the speed, that's the harpest and most beautiful rendering 50mm lens in their collection IMO) and the 105/2.5. That last you should not be without. You might want to add the magnificent 28/2 or 28/2.8 -- AIS only on the latter -- and the 85/2, but you're fine with the first three. If you need a cheap tele, you can get the 200mm F4 for $50 and it will knock your socks off. It's amazingly sharp.

 

[sparrow6224]

PS The FE takes non-Ai lenses, and will shoot the 00 or 0 frames -- the FE2 won't let you! And if I recall the FE2 does NOT take the pre-Ai lenses. Stop down metering on those, btw.

 

[FrankS]

That's right, the FE2 (and FM2/n too I think) will not allow mounting of pre-AI lenses due to the automatic indexing tab on the body's lens flange, that does not flip out of the way as it does on the FE and FM.

 

[nobbylon]

Now you just need some Nikkormats. 🙂

Ha! I sold them, FT, FT2 and FT3 apart from one, a mint FTn which I forgot to include in the piccy. I just didn't need all those cameras🙂

 

[jaredangle]

I'd give the F4 some consideration - it can probably be found for $200 with enough of a search. I use mine almost exclusively with a 50mm f/1.2 AIS and the G3 focusing screen. It's a high performing kit, but a tad bit hefty.

 

[Frank Petronio]

I've had a whole slew of FM and FE series bodies over the years but once you use a quality body like an F2, F3, F100, or Hell even a N80, the FM-FE series feels like a cheap whiney toy. The shutter and mirror flap scare the crap outta me ~now~ it feels like it is going self-destruct in my hand and I always check to make sure it isn't broken.

Seriously, I shot 100,000s of shots throughout the 80s with them because I never tried anything else and thought that was how a good camera was supposed to be. And they make fine photos -- it just feels like they are cheap and tinny and about to break. So go ahead and get one but don't ever try anything better or you'll be ruined.

A F3 isn't that much larger and an infinitely better built camera, it feels smoother than most Leicas. Otherwise I'd stick with the F100 or go way retro and get a clean meterless F2 with the eyelevel prism.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Hi,

Bit of a threadjack, but on the same theme. Already wrote about my FM2n that I love and highly recommend.

Yesterday at a family get together for Christmas my sister-in-law surprised me by mentioning that her favorite camera was a Nikon FE-2. She got one back in college (1985) and used it for years. She dug it out of the closet (where it's spent the last decade) so that her daughter could use it in a photography class, but it no longer functions properly. She asked me who I would recommend sending it to for repair. Both my Nikons are only about fifteen years old, so neither has needed repair, and I'm a bit stumped.

Can any of you FE-2 shooters recommend someone in the States who does a good job servicing these cameras? Thanks.

Best,
-Tim

 

[bgb]

Have you considered an F4 it will run as a manual camera as will many of the auto focus wonders, even my humble little F80 can be used in manual focus mode (N80 in the USA).

 

[semilog]

That's right, the FE2 (and FM2/n too I think) will not allow mounting of pre-AI lenses due to the automatic indexing tab on the body's lens flange, that does not flip out of the way as it does on the FE and FM.

That's correct.

 

[nobbylon]

I have to admit that I was an F/f2 lover until a certain someone started an F3 thread. I ended up with 2 of them! I did end up getting an F4s on a whim and it for me is the ultimate F Nikon. Large and heavy but feels just perfect to hold and take pics. I've welded my 28 ais to it. The FM and FE series are great Nikon's but they don't have that old school Nikon feel to them.

 

[raid]

I still have a beaten up F2, an FE and an FE2. The glass makes them special.

 

[mawz]

Honestly? F801(s). It's reasonably compact, runs forever on 4 AA's, has a viewfinder that's as good as the FE2/FM2n, excellent metering, 1/8000 shutter and 1/250 sync, a built-in 3.5fps winder, AI support and you can get them for $25. It gives you an FE2 and MD-12 combo in a smaller package for much less money. Oh, and the Exposure compensation setup is simple and quick, unlike the awful setup on the FE2/FA/F3.

Otherwise I'd pick an EM. Great little body.

While I loved my FM2n, I never really liked the FE2. And the FA and F3 fall down due to the horrid LCD readout.