Nikon FA vs FE2?

[Chan Tran]

The button to switch from center weighted to matrix metering on the FA is a little mysterious, but the rest of the controls are just dials. The FA might be more fragile than the FE2, what with the microprocessor and LCD.

In P mode it shows no aperture.
In A and S modes the shutter speed and aperture are displayed in different places.

 

[RichardJack]

I've owned a FE2 and presently own a FA. While I found the FE2 to have a better built feel the FA is more versatile. Whether you prefer analog (moving needle) viewfinder output or digital is personal taste. I prefer the digital. Both will accept the same lenses but only the FA can take advantage of AIs and newer lenses and shoot in Shutter priority mode. My F3 can't even do that. The FA also has dual metering modes, matrix and centerweight. I traded my FE2 in for my FA and have never regretted it. I bought the dedicated MD-15 drive for it and it's still my most used Nikon MF body to date. I'd recommend it over a F3.
BTW...it's one review that Ken Rockwell got completely right.

 

[Talbert McMullin]

Finally got rid of the FA. It was just not for me. Bought an FE as a backup and really like it. The FA is best for programed or AE use. Would love to find an FM2n, but those are way too pricey. The meter on my old FM went out, sold it on sleazebay. I miss that one.

 

[Russ - SVP]

The FE is very good, well designed and built. You will find it to be a very reliable camera. It also gives quite accurate, long exposures in Aperture priority mode. I use the the cheap 3v lithium batteries in my FE’s and FE-2’s. The last a very long time.

 

[Talbert McMullin]

I still have the FE2 I bought new back in the 80s. The FE will be my "old beater" as it's not in the same nearly mint condition.

 

[Russ - SVP]

The foam seals on the FE are fine? It’s a very good camera.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Been keeping my eyes open for an auto exposure sister to my FM2. My understanding is that the FA is the more sophisticated of these two, and will, in fact, meter even with Manual focus lenses. The FE2 will not. That would be a big advantage for me.

On the other hand, the FE2 seems more popular. Also, I've read that, due to the more complicated electronics, and lack of parts since 2000, the potential for something to go wrong, and not be able to be readily fixed is more of a possibility with the FA.

What's everyone's collective or individual experiences?

a well-treated FE2 is a workhorse running for many decades.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

The foam seals on the FE are fine? It’s a very good camera.

I'm convinced that in many cases, the seals are not even required; a clean light-trap channel is as light-tight as needs be.

 

[Talbert McMullin]

The foam seals on the FE are fine? It’s a very good camera.

Seals seem okay, but to be safe, I plan to replace them next week. I've done it many times before. The corded replacements seem to be better than the foam, which wear out after a couple of years.

 

[Ariston]

I have an FE, an FM, and an FM2. All work, but the FM doesn't meter, and the FM2 won't fire a flash, so the FE has proved most reliable. This means nothing, though, because I have no idea how they were treated before I got them. I have a tendency to take chances on "as-is" cameras. Nevertheless, it seems the electronics are the first thing to go... and the FE certainly has electronic elements.

 

[Russ - SVP]

Finally got rid of the FA. It was just not for me. Bought an FE as a backup and really like it. The FA is best for programed or AE use. Would love to find an FM2n, but those are way too pricey. The meter on my old FM went out, sold it on sleazebay. I miss that one.

Finally got rid of the FA. It was just not for me. Bought an FE as a backup and really like it. The FA is best for programed or AE use. Would love to find an FM2n, but those are way too pricey. The meter on my old FM went out, sold it on sleazebay. I miss that one.

I never took to the FA & FG.

I have an FE, an FM, and an FM2. All work, but the FM doesn't meter, and the FM2 won't fire a flash, so the FE has proved most reliable. This means nothing, though, because I have no idea how they were treated before I got them. I have a tendency to take chances on "as-is" cameras. Nevertheless, it seems the electronics are the first thing to go... and the FE certainly has electronic elements.

My two FE’s have been very reliable. Never an issue.

 

[Talbert McMullin]

I never took to the FA & FG.


My two FE’s have been very reliable. Never an issue.

I believe you! Broken FM2n would be a broken heart! But I'm still tempted.....

 

[dynachrome]

I have FE and FE2 cameras but no FA. I have a number of N90S/F90X (4?) cameras. If you don't mind the extra size and weight, they are very capable and have excellent finders. They also sell for very little and have a more sophisticated Matrix metering system than the FA's rudimentary version. I use mine mostly with manual focus lenses. I find the N2020 to be a very nice camera for manual focus use. A neighbor gave me an FG a few years ago. At the time I was more interested in the 50/2 Nikkor which came with it but the FG is pleasant enough to use. It has more features than the FG20 and seems better made than the EM.

 

[Russ - SVP]

I have FE and FE2 cameras but no FA. I have a number of N90S/F90X (4?) cameras. If you don't mind the extra size and weight, they are very capable and have excellent finders. They also sell for very little and have a more sophisticated Matrix metering system than the FA's rudimentary version. I use mine mostly with manual focus lenses. I find the N2020 to be a very nice camera for manual focus use. A neighbor gave me an FG a few years ago. At the time I was more interested in the 50/2 Nikkor which came with it but the FG is pleasant enough to use. It has more features than the FG20 and seems better made than the EM.

In some ways, the N90s is better built than the F100.

 

[dynachrome]

My local camera store lent me an F100 earlier this year. It seems to have more in common with a DSLR than with any of my film SLRs. I found the extra bells and whistles in the finder somewhat distracting and the body is pretty heavy. It came with a number of AF lenses. I mostly used the 24-120. The AF was very good.

 

[Huss]

The electronics on my FE2 went belly up. It started to randomly shoot long exposures so I sold it. Still have my FM2n though I barely use it.

 

[Russ - SVP]

My local camera store lent me an F100 earlier this year. It seems to have more in common with a DSLR than with any of my film SLRs. I found the extra bells and whistles in the finder somewhat distracting and the body is pretty heavy. It came with a number of AF lenses. I mostly used the 24-120. The AF was very good.

I slapped a 24-135 lens onto my F100. Great combination.

 

[Ariston]

I have FE and FE2 cameras but no FA. I have a number of N90S/F90X (4?) cameras. If you don't mind the extra size and weight, they are very capable and have excellent finders. They also sell for very little and have a more sophisticated Matrix metering system than the FA's rudimentary version. I use mine mostly with manual focus lenses. I find the N2020 to be a very nice camera for manual focus use. A neighbor gave me an FG a few years ago. At the time I was more interested in the 50/2 Nikkor which came with it but the FG is pleasant enough to use. It has more features than the FG20 and seems better made than the EM.

This is a good suggestion. I have three F90Xs because they keep popping up for $20, which is irresistible for such a camera. One was bought $14 (as-is) so I could harvest the diopter, but it turned out that the only thing wrong was that the eyepiece shutter didn't work well. I put some lighter fluid on it and, voila, now I have three F90Xs. They are solid and capable. No VR support, though... but, man, that price. Also, dynachrome is right about the finder. It is my favorite finder in any of my cameras. It is wide and bright without having to strain your eyes left and right to see everything in frame.

 

[Russ - SVP]

This is a good suggestion. I have three F90Xs because they keep popping up for $20, which is irresistible for such a camera. One was bought $14 (as-is) so I could harvest the diopter, but it turned out that the only thing wrong was that the eyepiece shutter didn't work well. I put some lighter fluid on it and, voila, now I have three F90Xs. They are solid and capable. No VR support, though... but, man, that price. Also, dynachrome is right about the finder. It is my favorite finder in any of my cameras. It is wide and bright without having to strain your eyes left and right to see everything in frame.

They are very well designed and built. The choice of many pro’s in their day.

 

[__Brian]

The electronics on my FE2 went belly up. It started to randomly shoot long exposures so I sold it. Still have my FM2n though I barely use it.

The variable resister under the ISO dial probably cracked/ went bad. This happened on my EL2, but long enough ago that I had it repaired. An EM did this- replaced it myself with a camera bought for parts.

 

[Ariston]

The variable resister under the ISO dial probably cracked/ went bad. This happened on my EL2, but long enough ago that I had it repaired. An EM did this- replaced it myself with a camera bought for parts.

Brian (or anybody), do you have to remove the top plate to get to the resistor, or is there a way to just disassemble the dial?

 

[George Mann]

They are very well designed and built.

Except for the pesky sliding exposure-lock switch.

 

[__Brian]

The Nikon FM-2 repair manual is online,

http://ss-it.de/data/servicemanuals/FM2.pdf

FE and FE2 - also online.

https://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/manuels_rep/reflexes/nikon/Nikon_FE_rm.pdf

I could not find one for the FM- but they are very close in construction.

 

[Russ - SVP]

Except for the pesky sliding exposure-lock switch.

That is true. But a minor quirk. The exposure lock on the F3 is much better.

 

[GarageBoy]

The FA can be had for cheaper than the fe2 at times

The N90/n90s is a screaming deal - I couldnt sell mine for $20 - N2000/N2020 are nicer than you expect too (better, IMHO than the AE1s that remain so popular)