Nikon SLR recommendation

[John Koehrer]

Why would you want to pay for squat?

 

[Hawkeye]

I have an F3 and an FE. Both great cameras. I spent 3 days dragging the F3 around New York City last weekend. Next time I will bring my FE as it is about 6 ounces lighter.

 

[flavio81]

Nikon made many great cameras and i can heartily recommend:

- FG is one of the best nikon cameras ever and I regret selling mine.
- FE is excellent, as is the subsequent FE cameras
- Nikkormat EL is even better than the FE if you don't mind a bigger and heavier camera
- FM series is also a classic, although i prefer the FE
- Nikkormats are also good machines although the viewfinder is a bit dim and the ergonomics are a bit awkward.
- Nikon F you can still get for 100 USD and is one of the best Nikon ever, just be prepared to use it without the photo meter because the meters have faulty (non-linear) CdS cells nowadays.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

^I'd tend to prefer the EL2 over the EL and the ELw... Meter cells are SPD instead of CdS cells that are frequently dying. Same with the FT series Nikkormats. CdS cells that are frequently dying. My current three 'mats seem to be ok in that regard. Including the FT, which, strangely enough also has a smoothly operating ring resistor. With respect to the F, not all have bad CdS cells. But, a lot have non-linear meter needles, due to dirty and worn ring resistors. Besides, the metered prisms make the camera too heavy. An F eyelevel with a light meter (either real or an app on a phone) works great...

-J

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Then again, why would you?

Because my knees hands and back are deteriorating from the real job I have now.

Why would you want to pay for squat?

Really? A little more effort would be appreciated.

 

[DaveO]

Hi all,

Any advice on a reliable Nikon slr with aperture priority for under 100 dollars. A pre-AF camera is what I am mainly thinking about.

I think that the Nikon F 100 is about that price. The FM2n would be a little more.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

F100 is usually around $150-$200. FM2n is between $120 and $400, depending on condition. FE2, which is pretty much what the OP wants, can be had for less than $100.

-J

 

[John Koehrer]

Because my knees hands and back are deteriorating from the real job I have now.



Really? A little more effort would be appreciated.

Nuts! Missed onre's post. Sorry to be redundant.

 

[fstop]

because you do not have a useful site like he does

As a devote Rockwellian disciple I like yur style.

I would suggest a regular FE, it has the meter hold function missing on the FE2 and the meter couple lever can flip out of the way to accept older lenses.
If you need higher shutter speeds than 1/1000 th then look at the FE2.

 

[flavio81]

As a devote Rockwellian disciple I like yur style.

I would suggest a regular FE, it has the meter hold function missing on the FE2 and the meter couple lever can flip out of the way to accept older lenses.

For me this feature is ultra-important, and I can't believe why Nikon removed this feature from the FE2... perhaps to force people to buy the F3 camera if one wanted to use pre-AI lenses? Because i've owned the F3 and used the FE2 as well, and the FE2 I liked better.

BTW, the FE2 does have meter hold function just as the FE does.

 

[fstop]

For me this feature is ultra-important, and I can't believe why Nikon removed this feature from the FE2... perhaps to force people to buy the F3 camera if one wanted to use pre-AI lenses? Because i've owned the F3 and used the FE2 as well, and the FE2 I liked better.

BTW, the FE2 does have meter hold function just as the FE does.

oops that right. side effect of GAS

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

BTW, the FE2 does have meter hold function just as the FE does.

Yes, with just a slight variation: the FE2 traps the needle when using AE lock while the FE continues to show the metered value when you recompose.

 

[cooltouch]

Since the OP is "mainly thinking about" a pre-AF Nikon with aperture priority for under $100, the choices seem obvious to me. Top choice, the FE, since clean examples can be found all day long for well under $100. As just mentioned above, the FE has the additional advantage of a meter coupling tab which can be lifted out of the way so that pre-AI lenses can be mounted. Second choice is the FG, which can usually be found for even less than the FE. While it has one more exposure mode than the FE and an excellent manual exposure mode, it is generally considered to be the more amateur-oriented of the two. There's no point in even discussing the FM or FM2, since neither has an aperture priority auto exposure mode. Any F3 selling for less than $100 is probably not worth the money, unless it is a serendipitous find at a yard sale or some such. Sometimes, though, you can get close if you buy an outfit. A couple years ago, I bought an F3HP with MD4 motor drive, 70-300 D ED AF lens, 35/2.8 AIs, SB-16 strobe, and an EM with 50/1.8 E for $225. The F3 is minty too and works perfectly. If you were to assign a proportional value to each piece, I think you'd find I spent under $100 on that camera.

 

[flavio81]

Since the OP is "mainly thinking about" a pre-AF Nikon with aperture priority for under $100, the choices seem obvious to me. Top choice, the FE, since clean examples can be found all day long for well under $100. As just mentioned above, the FE has the additional advantage of a meter coupling tab which can be lifted out of the way so that pre-AI lenses can be mounted.

I have owned the FE and own the Nikkormat EL and i'd recommend the EL over the FE. Reasons:

- EL is able to do wide-open automation with both pre-AI and AI lenses. The FE can't do this.
- EL can do wide-open metering with both pre-AI and AI lenses. FE can't do this.
- EL is usually lower-priced because it's "under the radar"
- EL is noticeably better finished than the FE, with nicer controls, overall higher quality. For example the shutter speeds are engraved on the dial, not painted on, etc.
- EL feels noticeably more solid.
- Battery life on the EL was suprisingly very good.

 

[cooltouch]

Yeah, I won't argue your point(s). I own both an FE and an EL2 and I can appreciate the EL2 for its solid build quality. I personally don't mind the added heft of the EL2, but some folks will favor the FE for its smaller size and reduced weight -- plus it takes a genuine motor drive with the MD-11 and MD-12, whereas the EL and EL2 only get a winder.

 

[Terry Breedlove]

for low cost take a look at the Nikon n90
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...A0.H0.Xnikon+n90.TRS0&_nkw=nikon+n90&_sacat=0

 

[flavio81]

Yeah, I won't argue your point(s). I own both an FE and an EL2 and I can appreciate the EL2 for its solid build quality. I personally don't mind the added heft of the EL2, but some folks will favor the FE for its smaller size and reduced weight -- plus it takes a genuine motor drive with the MD-11 and MD-12, whereas the EL and EL2 only get a winder.

On the other hand the FE2 has a fantastic shutter. If the FE2 had possibility to mount non-AI lenses, it would be my favorite camera. Also because "FE" are my initials. (that's why i use a Canon EF)

 

[KrankyKraut]

OK, aperture auto under $100? Nikon El-2, N2000 (F301) or FE. All great. The EL-2 is so solid, a dream to use, but a bit heavier then the FE. The N2000/F301 also great, with built-in winder. Also a tad heavy due to the 4 (or is it six?) AA batteries. The FE is smallest and lightest and handles great.

 

[cooltouch]

If I had to choose between the three, I'd get the FE, for a few reasons. It's comfortable and lightweight, it uses match-needle metering (which I prefer), although so does the EL and EL2, and it takes the compact, yet very useful MD-12 motor drive. Yes, the MD-12 adds to the weight with 8 AA batteries, but the weight distribution is so well done, I really don't even think about it.

 

[kivis]

Nikon EM is ridiculously good for what it is.

That and the FE are stars.

 

[darkroommike]

Just for your information, "reliable Nikon" is redundant because "reliable" and "Nikon" are synonymous.

Obviously never used an FM-10. (I know it wasn't made by Nikon but by golly they put their name on it.)

 

[flavio81]

Obviously never used an FM-10. (I know it wasn't made by Nikon but by golly they put their name on it.)

 

[Linn]

Well, I was sort of in this boat a week ago. I grew up in the days when a F2as was the cat's meow. I got to looking at prices and functionality. I now have two F4 cameras. The can do both non-AF and AF, if I want to go down that road in the future. The pricing for the F4 is cheap compared to many of the Nikon F cameras, built to last, and has the controls of an old fashioned Nikon. Future proof.

 

[frank]

Well, I was sort of in this boat a week ago. I grew up in the days when a F2as was the cat's meow. I got to looking at prices and functionality. I now have two F4 cameras. The can do both non-AF and AF, if I want to go down that road in the future. The pricing for the F4 is cheap compared to many of the Nikon F cameras, built to last, and has the controls of an old fashioned Nikon. Future proof.

One of my favourites. I shot a couple of dozen weddings, using the F4 with SB24 flash and colour neg film. I piggy-backed shooting B+W film with a medium format camera.

 

[narsuitus]

Obviously never used an FM-10. (I know it wasn't made by Nikon but by golly they put their name on it.)

You are correct, I have never used a Nikon FM-10.

I have used the Nikon F, F2, F3, F4, EM, L35, N70, and Nikonos III. With the exception of the F and F3, I still own and use all of them and all have been very reliable.

Last week, a colleague gave me a Nikon N2000 with a Nikon MF-19 data back. I have not had it long enough to determine how reliable it is but thus far, this low-cost, manual focus, aperture priority camera has impressed me.