I'm excited! I snagged a mint condition-refurbished Nikon FE2!

rpavich · Jul 4, 2018

I'm waiting on delivery of a mint condition refurbished FE2 and I'm getting awfully excited I must say.

I had an FM2 but started to have what I "THINK" is a focus problem and so sent it to be fixed. In the mean time, I order an FE2 that I hope will be my main "when the Oly Trip 35 isn't the right tool" camera. I generally shoot with the trip 90% of the time but there are certainly things it doesn't do well, low light indoor is one of them, that's why I keep an SLR handy.

I'm going to start figuring out TTL flash too. I usually shoot flash manually so it's a bit slower than shooting TTL but I want to get into the habit of using a flash not be such an alien thing to me. I want it to be second nature.

Sirius Glass · Jul 4, 2018

Enjoy!!

Theo Sulphate · Jul 4, 2018

Interesting. I bought an FE2 last year specifically for its TTL flash capability because I, too, wanted to learn about using electronic flash.

I bought these flashes just for fun, but have not yet ever used flash in my photography.

rpavich · Jul 4, 2018

Sirius Glass said:
Enjoy!!

Thanks!

rpavich · Jul 4, 2018

Theo Sulphate said:
Interesting. I bought an FE2 last year specifically for its TTL flash capability because I, too, wanted to learn about using electronic flash.

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I bought these flashes just for fun, but have not yet ever used flash in my photography.

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Those are some cool looking flashes! I have a Nissin i40 left over from when I shot digital and just got an SB16b which is supposedly the recommended TTL Flash for the FE2

Theo Sulphate · Jul 4, 2018

rpavich said:
Those are some cool looking flashes! I have a Nissin i40 left over from when I shot digital and just got an SB16b which is supposedly the recommended TTL Flash for the FE2

The big Vivitar 285 is a classic high-output flash with clever features. The SB-15 and SB-20 have those charming analog scales and switches that are fun to play with.

Enjoy your new FE2 - it has a well deserved good reputation.

By the way, I pop these flashes once a month, as recommended, to keep the old capacitors happy.

rpavich · Jul 4, 2018

Theo Sulphate said:
The big Vivitar 285 is a classic high-output flash with clever features. The SB-15 and SB-20 have those charming analog scales and switches that are fun to play with.

Enjoy your new FE2 - it has a well deserved good reputation.

By the way, I pop these flashes once a month, as recommended, to keep the old capacitors happy.

Thanks!
I think i might have a 285 stuck in a drawer somewhere, ill have to look.

Sirius Glass · Jul 4, 2018

For many the Vivitar 285 was a break through and a go to strobe.

Dismayed · Jul 4, 2018

The FE2 was my very first SLR. Excellent camera. Enjoy!

TheRook · Jul 5, 2018

Congratulations! The Nikon FE2 is a fantastic model.

However, one must be cautious when the seller advertises a film camera as "mint condition", as only few cameras truly qualify as mint condition - never used, in original packaging, stored under ideal conditions. Clean exterior with no visible scruffs and scratches is simply not enough to guarantee mint condition.

rpavich · Jul 5, 2018

TheRook said:
Congratulations! The Nikon FE2 is a fantastic model.

However, one must be cautious when the seller advertises a film camera as "mint condition", as only few cameras truly qualify as mint condition - never used, in original packaging, stored under ideal conditions. Clean exterior with no visible scruffs and scratches is simply not enough to guarantee mint condition.

I agree. From the pictures I think he means "incredibly clean as if it was never used" which I'm sure most people take it as (I know I do) it appears that it's in that sort of condition and that as for the inner parts, he's given it an CLA to make sure.

I've been reading up on the method of using TTL, I can't wait to get it and burn a roll!

Dennis-B · Jul 5, 2018

I own both the FE and FE2. One of the digs on the FE2 is the lack of a battery check switch on the FE2. I guess some folks find comfort with the little button. I also just bought a EL2, the predecessor to the FE and FE2. Really looking forward to using that one.

I use a SB-16 on most of my manual focus Nikons, although my SB800 will do TTL on the models with that feature. I also own a Vivitar 285-HV, and it's a very versatile flash I can use on my Nikons, Pentaxes, Olympus, and Canon cameras, though not in TTL mode.

The FE2 is a very sophisticated camera. The only thing that made it obsolete was A/F.

Good luck with your purchase!

rpavich · Jul 5, 2018

Dennis-B said:
I own both the FE and FE2. One of the digs on the FE2 is the lack of a battery check switch on the FE2. I guess some folks find comfort with the little button. I also just bought a EL2, the predecessor to the FE and FE2. Really looking forward to using that one.

I use a SB-16 on most of my manual focus Nikons, although my SB800 will do TTL on the models with that feature. I also own a Vivitar 285-HV, and it's a very versatile flash I can use on my Nikons, Pentaxes, Olympus, and Canon cameras, though not in TTL mode.

The FE2 is a very sophisticated camera. The only thing that made it obsolete was A/F.

Good luck with your purchase!

Thanks very much! (I gotta look for that danged 285-HV that I have stashed around here somewhere)

Chan Tran · Jul 5, 2018

Theo Sulphate said:
Interesting. I bought an FE2 last year specifically for its TTL flash capability because I, too, wanted to learn about using electronic flash.

View attachment 203453

I bought these flashes just for fun, but have not yet ever used flash in my photography.

View attachment 203454 View attachment 203455 View attachment 203456 View attachment 203457

I have all the flashes you showed. I only use the SB-15 a lot. I got it for a big $2.50 at a thrift shop.

GarageBoy · Jul 5, 2018

There's the in between non ttl auto flash too (i.e what's on the vivitars)

Dennis-B · Jul 5, 2018

GarageBoy said:
There's the in between non ttl auto flash too (i.e what's on the vivitars)

The Vivitars such as the 283, 285, and 285-HV, use fairly primitive thyristor circuitry to control the light output. However, they're still good flashes, and I carry my 285-HV in a back-up kit for my other dedicated flashes.

Les Sarile · Jul 5, 2018

I definitely prefer getting a fully functional unit over a good looking that isn't. Fortunately, there seems to have been some previous owners out there who kept these cameras in both good functional and cosmetic condition. So I can appreciate your excitement when you find one!

oneANT · Jul 6, 2018

well done mate .. I got a really super clean Black F2 and a nearly as clean DE-1, found a Tokyo store and they know the camera because they sold it to the customer in the first place. Mint means it isnt, and still needs a service and foam, You sound like you did well and refurbished is the best when all the older Nikons are well past needing servicing. Mine will be here in two weeks, they do a test and make sure it is what they said and until then I am as excited as you. I got 3months warranty as well, the seller is 100% too so I don't even need to worry.

ant

rpavich · Jul 6, 2018

oneANT said:
well done mate .. I got a really super clean Black F2 and a nearly as clean DE-1, found a Tokyo store and they know the camera because they sold it to the customer in the first place. Mint means it isnt, and still needs a service and foam, You sound like you did well and refurbished is the best when all the older Nikons are well past needing servicing. Mine will be here in two weeks, they do a test and make sure it is what they said and until then I am as excited as you. I got 3months warranty as well, the seller is 100% too so I don't even need to worry.

ant

Thanks!
The seller gives a 60 day warranty on his. From the description of what he does barring something unforseen, I won't need to return it. He's refurbished hundreds..that's what he does so it's not as if someone like me just replaced the light seals and called it refurbished.

If you'll excuse me now, I have to go to the freezer and take about 10 rolls of film in anticipation.

M-88 · Jul 6, 2018

Excuse me if I'm being too nosy, but was it from Robertscamera/Usedphotopro by any chance?

rpavich · Jul 6, 2018

M-88 said:
Excuse me if I'm being too nosy, but was it from Robertscamera/Usedphotopro by any chance?

You aren't, no problem.

It was from a guy in Oregon, USA.

sissysphoto · Jul 6, 2018

Well I just snagged someone's Nikkormat ELW complete outfit for $56. The AW1 winder is listed as not working, but I'm not concerned. ELW's in good shape are not easily found.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 6, 2018

I am not a Nikon guy, but I always thought the FE or FE2 was the best Nikon. Love that match needle meter. No christmas lights blinking all the time. Can't remember the difference between the two anymore though.

rpavich · Jul 6, 2018

Patrick Robert James said:
I am not a Nikon guy, but I always thought the FE or FE2 was the best Nikon. Love that match needle meter. No christmas lights blinking all the time. Can't remember the difference between the two anymore though.

Im a fan of needles rather than lights.

I always thought that the pentax k1000 had the best meter.

oneANT · Jul 6, 2018

Every camera online now needs a full service if anyone buys it, but the sellers don't know that we know. Imagine, you have an old camera, you just bought it coz it looks nice, so you leave it cocked and in the window and collecting dust just so you can look at how pretty it is all day, and then you want to sell it, to someone like me that wants to use it. My freezer is full, the deli drawer is filling as well. I got film, when it was cheaper than coffee is now, well almost. But I am a Street Photographer that is going to have a world full of fun.
And so is OP.
Funny too the camera owner sellers call themselves film photographers selling cameras and try to sound like they know what they are talking about. A lot of F2's, are left cocked, the foam has gone to goo and every time they click the shutter and never exercise the self-timer little bits of goo get on the mirror, and in the gears and on the curtain, and well, they don't know that. But they did keep the battery in it, for all those years they did keep the battery. They were unsure what battery to buy if it ever went flat from being used, so they kept the one that was in it. in there lol
Soon, a lot of cameras are going to be junk because of these camera owners, and there are people that will turn the bodies and sometimes lenses ..into desk lamps. Sthe way to stop that is to get them serviced when you buy them and then to use them. But it is too expensive to do for the ones that own them. The ones that want to sell us cameras do not get their cameras serviced, why would they, they don't even use them. lol
ant

I'm excited! I snagged a mint condition-refurbished Nikon FE2!

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