Nikon FE/FM/FM2/FE2/FA - Mirror Vibration?

[GarageBoy]

So I always assumed they were all exactly the same, minus the timing mechanism, but I noticed the FE has a much better mirror damping system? (or at least the shutter/mirror is quieter?)

Is this your experience or is my FM dying?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

There is a foam strip that stops the mirror at the end of its travel.

The foam has probably gone rotten and needs to be replaced. Might as well check the light seal foam - the foam in the channels around the back - as it has probably gone as well.

You can get re-foaming kits or you can order a sheet of foam - enough for several hundred cameras - from Microtools.

 

[GarageBoy]

I had just redone the foam
On the FM, it clacks with authority, but on the FE, it merely pops and clicks

 

[Aja B]

I won't pretend to have first-hand knowledge of the precise dampening mechanisms amongst the various bodies but have read (Nikon source and reliable 3rd party) that the FE2 has improved dampening over that of the FE. But that's exactly what one would expect from the 'new and improved' model, no?

 

[Russ - SVP]

When using longer shutter speeds with those cameras, I use the self timer. That activates the mirror lock-up mechanism.

Russ

 

[MFstooges]

So I always assumed they were all exactly the same, minus the timing mechanism, but I noticed the FE has a much better mirror damping system? (or at least the shutter/mirror is quieter?)

Is this your experience or is my FM dying?

That was my impression too. After I read your post I compared the two cameras and even recorded their shutter sound. Turned out they are almost the same except FE has chime-like sound at the end. On both cameras I used Nikkor 24mm at F22.

 

[Russ - SVP]

Activate the self timer, and all of your "mirror slap, vibration" issues will be resolved. Also, Nikon did a very nice job of dampening the mirror vibration issue on the F-100.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

On the FM, it clacks with authority, but on the FE, it merely pops and clicks

Ah, quite possibly. I keep thinking of the cameras as twins - but they aren't as the FE has an electronic shutter.

The mirror and shutter sounds can be separated with the self timer as mirror/buzz/shutter. How do they compare then?

 

[Russ - SVP]

Ah, quite possibly. I keep thinking of the cameras as twins - but they aren't as the FE has an electronic shutter.

The mirror and shutter sounds can be separated with the self timer as mirror/buzz/shutter. How do they compare then?

I just fired my FM and an FE, and they sound identical at 1/15 a second shutter speed. And, the self timer activates the mirror lock-up on the FM, FE and FE-2.

 

[LJSLATER]

That was my impression too. After I read your post I compared the two cameras and even recorded their shutter sound. Turned out they are almost the same except FE has chime-like sound at the end. On both cameras I used Nikkor 24mm at F22.

Ha, my F2 makes that chime sound. But it does it even with the mirror locked up, which makes me think the sound comes from the shutter, rather than the mirror. I wanted to fire my FM2 to remind me of what it sounds like, but it has IR film in it right now.

I agree with Kiron Kid about the self-timer on the FM/FEs-- it's so convenient, it doesn't make sense not to use it when working with a tripod. That said, my photos have never shown signs of mirror vibration with my FM2 (I don't have experience with the FM), either with long lenses on a tripod, or hand-held at 1/15" (or slower). Mirror vibration issues commonly reveal themselves as "double-images" on film, correct?

 

[Chan Tran]

I just fired my FM and an FE, and they sound identical at 1/15 a second shutter speed. And, the self timer activates the mirror lock-up on the FM, FE and FE-2.

I think I could hear the differences in sound at 1/15. Of course at lower speeds it would be clearly different. The FM would have the timing sound while the FE does not.

 

[terryw]

Ah, quite possibly. I keep thinking of the cameras as twins - but they aren't as the FE has an electronic shutter.

The mirror and shutter sounds can be separated with the self timer as mirror/buzz/shutter. How do they compare then?

Hmmm. I don't believe that FE has an electronic shutter. I am pretty sure (actually, I'm certain) that the shutter in the FE is mechanical. I think that it is the same shutter mechanism as the FM. The FE2, however, has an electronic shutter. The predominant difference between the FE and FM is the FE's auto exposure mode. I don't have an FM any longer, but I have 2 FEs and an FE2 and I can snap the FE shutter just fine without a battery in it. At any shutter speed to boot. The FE2 (just like my FG) must be set to M90 or B to release the shutter without a battery.

 

[terryw]

Hmmm. I don't believe that FE has an electronic shutter. I am pretty sure (actually, I'm certain) that the shutter in the FE is mechanical. I think that it is the same shutter mechanism as the FM. The FE2, however, has an electronic shutter. The predominant difference between the FE and FM is the FE's auto exposure mode. I don't have an FM any longer, but I have 2 FEs and an FE2 and I can snap the FE shutter just fine without a battery in it. At any shutter speed to boot. The FE2 (just like my FG) must be set to M90 or B to release the shutter without a battery.

Sorry, Nicholas. I have to correct myself. My post caused me to want to make sure of myself. So, I went off to do a test. My black FE body would raise the mirror, but only fire correctly in M90 and B without a battery. But, my chrome FE would fire at any shutter speed. That is, until I discovered an "offender" in the battery compartment. After removing the offending battery, the chrome body behaved the same as its sibling.

I am corrected.

tw

 

[John Koehrer]

FWIW, All of them have a mechanical shutter, but not the same shutter. Some(FE,FE2,F3 etc.) have Electronically controlled timing circuits. The electronic variety uses coils to control the timing.

The one thing they all have in common is that they are released by the mirror reaching the top of it's travel and releasing a lever actuator.