What was the Nikon equivalent to the Canon AE-1 in the day...?
What was the Nikon equivalent to the Canon AE-1 in the day...?
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- Thread starter Richard S. (rich815)
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Nikon did not make amateur-level SLR cameras in those days.
Nikon did not make amateur-level SLR cameras in those days.
Right. The EM and FG were amateur cameras all the way (and a heck of a lot smaller than the AE-1 cameras). My memory says they were specifically designed for woman amateur photogs, hence their diminutive size. I have both. My favorite is the EM. Even though it's very limited in controls, being basically just a P & S SLR w/ one button for back lit subjects, it's so much fun to shoot. Just focus and fire away. If you shoot Tri-X and develop in D76 you'll be "close enough" 99% of the time. Before I had to sell it, my favorite lens on the EM was a Leica R 90 Elmarit w/ an R to Nikon adapter. A $20 camera w/ a $400 lens. Worked a treat!
I suspect that Nikon figured the FGs were cutting into their "real" camera sales, so they quickly stopped making them.
I suspect that Nikon figured the FGs were cutting into their "real" camera sales, so they quickly stopped making them.
direct competition
Nikon's direct competition to the AE-1 was the FE2 http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfeseries/fe2/fe2a.htm
and maybe the FG http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/fg/
Nikon's direct competition to the AE-1 was the FE2 http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfeseries/fe2/fe2a.htm
and maybe the FG http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/fg/
Not true at all. The FE(2) was build for pros looking for a second camera or advanced amateurs, see specs they are very different to the AE-1.
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the FE-2 is at a much higher level of technology, higher shutter speeds, true AP operation,titanium or al. shutter instead of cloth,no to mention other features the AE-1 doesn't have.
Alright gentlemen, I give in to the majority ! And yes, the FE2 was the better camera.
My thought : Who ever was interested in a Canon AE-1, didn't regard the EM as an alternative solution to buy.
Please don't mind my poor english.
My thought : Who ever was interested in a Canon AE-1, didn't regard the EM as an alternative solution to buy.
Please don't mind my poor english.
If I recall, the Nikon FE was priced closer to the AE-1, just slightly higher. The FG was a less expensive camera. Pro's, real professional photographers, needed the extra ruggedness and reliability of the F2 or F3. If your income depended on your tools, you get the best.
I remember differently! I remember that the FE price was much higher than that of the Canon AE-1 although really as far as features it's not much more. The FE is an A and M mode camera while the AE-1 was the Tv and M mode. In fact the AE-1 was the least expensive 35mm SLR that offer AE. It's the reason why it's so popular, it offered the best bang for the bucks at least by specs only.
Aside of the other arguments already given:
those two Nikon cameras were introduced many years after the AE-1.
MattKing
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The AE-1 was a game changer for the industry. As was the Olympus OM-1.
The cameras that were introduced in response to each of them tended to be considerably different than the models that were current before them.
The cameras that were introduced in response to each of them tended to be considerably different than the models that were current before them.
The Nikon EM was the direct competition for the AE-1. They were on sale at the same time (although the EM was introduced in 1979, 3 years after the AE-1). Both used cheaper materials is place of all-metal construction and cheaper internal construction (although the EM has proved fairly durable, nonetheless). Both featured automatic exposure - shutter priority for the AE-1, aperture priority for the EM. The EM did not, however, include manual exposure (which the AE-1 has), although this was remedied by the FG that replaced it in 1982 (and which competed with the AE-1 Program). Both use MF lenses.
The FE was compared to the AE-1 back in the day.
The FE and later FE-2 were not considered pro cameras although a lot of pros used them. The Nikon pro cameras were the F2 and F3.
When Nikon introduced the EM and FG they were considered entry level cameras. I used to sell both of them new.
Yes, Nikon bodies were expensive in the day. I paid less for my Contax 139 than an FE-2 body but the Zeiss lenses cost more than the Nikkors. Zeiss, Leitz and Nikkor were all expensive compared to Canon and other brand lenses.
The FE and later FE-2 were not considered pro cameras although a lot of pros used them. The Nikon pro cameras were the F2 and F3.
When Nikon introduced the EM and FG they were considered entry level cameras. I used to sell both of them new.
Yes, Nikon bodies were expensive in the day. I paid less for my Contax 139 than an FE-2 body but the Zeiss lenses cost more than the Nikkors. Zeiss, Leitz and Nikkor were all expensive compared to Canon and other brand lenses.
It was in 1982, when I (very clueless) was looking for my first 35mm SLR.
There were the AE-1, the FE and the EM approachable - finaly I bought a FM (still in use) …
Wise move
I had a couple of FM2s as my main cameras in the late 90s till about 2007 when I moved to another 35 system. They are indestructible.
OP
OP
Geez, ask a simple question! Interesting discussion nonetheless. A few years ago someone gave me an AE-1. Since I was Nikon and Contax and had no Canon lens I never used it and gave it to a friend who had an A-1. I now do have an F-1 and a couple of Canon FD lenses and was wondering which of my Nikons (F2, F3, FE2, FM2) most resembled the AE-1.....
Wise move
To bring a little color to the discussion -
young macfred in the early eighties ( self portrait with the Nikon FM)
Attachments
I wouldn't call the EM an AE-1 equivilant because the EM did not have manual override on the shutter speeds. And the FE2 came out several years after the AE-1. So I'd have to say the FE would be the closest in years produced and in features.
To bring a little color to the discussion -
young macfred in the early eighties ( self portrait with the Nikon FM)
Lovely light, great portrait.
That would have been the Nikkormat FT2, not the FT3.
The Nikkormat FT3 was introduced in March 77, 2 months before the EL2 and at the same time as the F2A and F2AS.
The Nikon FM was introduced late 77 and the FE in 78.
That is true. But, the internal frame was built with the same metal as the F3.
The new engineered plastics on the outside were only used on the top cover, bottom plate and the front fascia with the Nikon name. Everything else was metal, including the back door.
The EM was a direct answer to the Pentax ME of 1976 (and later MV and MV1, although these models were even simpler than the EM) and competed with the Olympus OM10 of 1978.
The FG was launched the same year as the Pentax ME Super and a year or so after the Canon AE-1 Program.
Nikon never fully answered the Canon AE-1.
The closest in the late 70s was the FE. As both stand for the smaller and lighter bodies trend and as an answer to Olympus small OM series, then the FE is the closest to the AE-1 albeit targeting a slightly different market segment.
BTW, the FE and FM also incorporated some more plastic materials, including the front plate with the Nikon name.
Bet some of you though they were all metal. See this quote from Nikon Japan:
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