I scored a Nikon FE!

DonW · Dec 19, 2020

I'm pumped to take this little guy out with some TriX in it. It's so light! Came with a Series E 50mm f1.8 lens which may or may not be decent. I have better 50mm lenses I can use.

I think it will make for a great street shooter.

Don

BrianShaw · Dec 19, 2020

Congratulations... one of my favorite cameras. If you put a motordrive on it make sure you get a MD-12. The MD-11 Will drain all batteries if left “on”.

Ariston · Dec 19, 2020

That lens is outstanding. The camera is great, too. I prefer the match needle metering, so I use my FE a good bit.

Contrary to the opinion of many (especially left-eye dominant types), the swing out power on the advance lever is probably my favorite feature. I love it.

Nitroplait · Dec 19, 2020

Of the “FE” series consisting of: Nikkormat EL, ELW, Nikon EL2, FE, FE2 and FM3a - the FE is my absolute favorite - that model reached the peak of comfort and simplicity IMO.
The E lens is perfectly fine but lacks a little when it comes to feel - but it is light and compact.
The focusing screen of the FE can be upgraded with the brighter versions from FE2 and FM3a.

Sirius Glass · Dec 19, 2020

ENJOY!!

Dennis-B · Dec 20, 2020

The FE is a tremendous camera. Lightweight and nimble, even with the MD-12 attached. I like the motor drives, since they provide a bit of heft.

A number of years ago, at a garage sale, I asked if there were any cameras for sale. He trotted out an FE with the case, and a 50mm f/1.8 lens. However, he stated that the camera was jammed, and couldn't be fixed, but I could have it for $25. I nearly broke my wrist getting out my wallet. I went to my local camera store, and the repair guy who took care of the Detroit Free Press repairs was in the store. I mentioned to him the problem, that I could cock the shutter, but not advance the film. He opened the bottom of the camera, took a small screwdriver and "re-meshed" the film advance gears. Voila! Worked like a charm, and he refused to take any money for the repair. I sold it a number of years later for far more than I paid. Last year, I found another, and I won't get rid of it until film disappears.

Good luck with yours!

dynachrome · Dec 20, 2020

I would not put the Nikkormat El/ELW and Nikon EL2 models in the same category as the FE and later models. The electronics of the pre-FE cameras have not aged well. I think I have three FEs and one FE2. I must have at least half a dozen N2020s. These are nice to use with manual focus lenses and have similar features to the FE/FE2 cameras.

Alan Gales · Dec 20, 2020

The series E was considered an amateur lens back in the day. They had good glass though.

A lot of mirrorless digital shooters adapt them to their cameras so you will have no problem selling it if you wish. Try it out for street shooting first. You may keep it.

Huss · Dec 20, 2020

Excellent buy. I have a 50 series E lens and find it excellent. It is the 2nd version of it which is much nicer than the first. The first version (optically great) is a horrible really plasticky thing. Version 2 is built much nicer, and had a chrome ring with the DOF scale.

DonW · Dec 20, 2020

I guess my lens is the second version then.

Autonerd · Dec 20, 2020

Fantastic! I have one and it's a great camera -- personally I think it's a better camera than the FM2, as I've expounded upon in another thread. Not my favorite camera, but a joy to use and has a very comprehensive feature set. It's one of those can't-go-wrong-with-it SLRs.

Nitroplait · Dec 21, 2020

dynachrome said:
I would not put the Nikkormat El/ELW and Nikon EL2 models in the same category as the FE and later models. The electronics of the pre-FE cameras have not aged well...

Based on what? There are plenty of working EL/ELW/EL2's around to disprove that statement.
Besides the probability of electronics failing in a 40 years old working camera versus a 45 years old working camera is for all practical purposes the same.

flavio81 · Dec 21, 2020

dynachrome said:
I would not put the Nikkormat El/ELW and Nikon EL2 models in the same category as the FE and later models. The electronics of the pre-FE cameras have not aged well.

Well...

Surprise surprise!!

The EL2 and the FE use almost the same electronics . It's exaclty the same custom Nikon IC, and almost the same circuit.

Source:

- Nikon literature on nikon website

and

- My own inspection of both cameras.

flavio81 · Dec 21, 2020

DonW said:
I'm pumped to take this little guy out with some TriX in it. It's so light! Came with a Series E 50mm f1.8 lens which may or may not be decent. I have better 50mm lenses I can use.

Congrats, I really like my FE even though I have the theoretically superior F2S and F3 cameras.

The Series E 50/1.8 is a decent lens, and it should balance perfectly with the FE so ergonomically it's a good combination.

Just make sure to clean the battery compartment as best as possible. And carry spare batteries. Once, during a trip, the battery died on me, fortunately I kept using the M90 speed. Since the battery lasts VERY LONG on this machine, one is tempted to never carry a spare...

Andrew O'Neill · Dec 21, 2020

Congratulations! Be sure to share your pics!

DonW · Dec 21, 2020

I was out today with the FE loaded up with TMAX 100, 36exp. Fired off 8 frames. Heading out again this afternoon.

Peter Schrager · Dec 21, 2020

DonW said:
I was out today with the FE loaded up with TMAX 100, 36exp. Fired off 8 frames. Heading out again this afternoon.

Lucky guy..great camera I have several

Huss · Dec 21, 2020

DonW said:
I was out today with the FE loaded up with TMAX 100, 36exp. Fired off 8 frames. Heading out again this afternoon.

Whoa slow down there! No need to go crazy!

George Mann · Dec 21, 2020

flavio81 said:
Well...

Surprise surprise!!

The EL2 and the FE use almost the same electronics . It's exaclty the same custom Nikon IC, and almost the same circuit.

The EL series was noticeably better made, and had a more reliable ring resistor to boot.

Disappointed_Horse · Dec 22, 2020

Congrats! The FE is my favorite camera. I have two.

outwest · Dec 22, 2020

I had an FM, then an FE, and then an FE2, all bought new. I seem to remember liking the FE2 best. I may have an N2020 kicking around somewhere. I still have my last film Nikon, an N90, and my first Nikons, an F and an F2.

flavio81 · Dec 22, 2020

DonW said:
I was out today with the FE loaded up with TMAX 100, 36exp. Fired off 8 frames. Heading out again this afternoon.

Check that the auto operation works fine. Sometimes you can see a slow speed like 1/8th in your viewfinder yet the machine will fire fast (say, 1/250). This is a common failure mode. Until it gets repaired, it sometimes can be prevented by waiting some seconds with the shutter half-pressed, before taking the picture.

DonW · Dec 22, 2020

I was out in the cold with it. Was around -1C not all that cold actually. The meter quick working or was erratic. This never happens with any of my pro Nikons. I've shot my F, F2 and F5 cameras in -20C with no issues. Oh well it was designed and built as a consumer camera after all. Once I got home and the camera warmed up all was fine.

It might be awhile before I finish that roll of film. We just got a dump of 25cm's of snow.

Don

Ariston · Dec 22, 2020

Sorry to hear that. The M90 speed should work in any weather.

RalphLambrecht · Dec 22, 2020

DonW said:
I'm pumped to take this little guy out with some TriX in it. It's so light! Came with a Series E 50mm f1.8 lens which may or may not be decent. I have better 50mm lenses I can use.

I think it will make for a great street shooter.

Don

One of my favorite Cameras; the series E ens is also excellent

I scored a Nikon FE!

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