Nikon FE Film Camera

The Nikon FE 35mm Single Lens Reflex camera is a manual focus film camera. If you have vision problems and/or don't want to be bothered with getting film developed, this is not the camera for you.

I have bought and sold dozens of Nikon FEs and taken at least a roll of film on each one. Of all the 35mm film cameras I have used, this one seems to be the most reliable. Each time I came a cross an FE that wasn't working, I checked and all it needed was new batteries. [LR44 1.5V (A-76)] It's a well made, easy to use manual focus film camera.

The FE was introduced in 1978... so some models are nearly 40 years old... if you are buying one today, be sure it's in good condition before you lay down the cash. The FE is not loaded with a lot of fancy features. But it's basic design is one of the reasons it's so reliable. As a matter of fact, you can operate this camera (in m90 mode) with no batteries.

The Nikon FE features aperture-priority (AUTO)... that's where you set the aperture and the camera will automatically adjust the shutter speed over a range of 1/1000 to 8 seconds.

In MANUAL mode you adjust the shutter speed where you want it... then adjust the aperture until the black needle overlaps the green needle inside the view finder.

The FE is an excellent film camera choice if you do flash photography. When used with the Nikon SB-10 Flash, (camera set to automatic) the shutter speed automatically sets itself to 1/90 second.

There is also a little oddity about the FE... the film advance lever also serves as the on/off switch for the camera. You have to back the film advance lever off the camera 30 degrees (it will click into place) to turn the camera on. I have purchased at least 3 of these cameras with the seller saying they wouldn't turn on only to find they work fine. It is my theory these people just didn't know how to turn the camera on.

The camera also has the B (bulb) mode for use with a shutter release cable. In this mode you can take long exposure night time shots of stars, traffic and city skylines.

The Nikon FE was a step up from and a lot more expensive than Nikon's FM model (the mechanical version of the FE) and was priced out of a lot of photographers budget. But now you can find these gems on eBay for very reasonable prices.

A few things to watch for when shopping for a Nikon FE

1: SEALS: The light seals keep light from sneaking into the film chamber. Even if a camera has never been used, these seals deteriorate over time and need to be replaced. So always ask the seller about the condition of the light seals. If they are worn out they will be sticky to the touch and leave residue on the film chamber door. Ask your seller about the condition of the light seals.

2: VIEW FINDER:
Ask sellers if the viewfinder is clear and free of scratches. While this would not affect picture quality you don't want to see specs of dust and scratches while trying to compose your shot.

3: LENS SELECTION:
The Nikon FE will accept nearly all Nikkor lenses. It has an adjustable meter coupling lever that allows it to use everything from the old non AI lenses to new autofocus lenses. Note: The auto focus function will not work but you can focus these lenses manually. I have great success with Nikon Series E lenses... they are a good, quality lens that you can find for good prices.

If you do purchase this camera... be sure you get a manual with it, read it and you will be happy with your purchase.

The Nikon FE is an excellent camera , a very durable workhorse, As one of my additional duties as an Operations NCO, I am also the Unit Historian for a U.S Army Infantry unit on it's way to Iraq, I have documented the our training events with two Black body Nikon FE's with MD-12 motordrives that I use for back up for my two Nikon D70s digitals. Although digital is the way of the future of photography there is a certain quality about film that didgital will never possess. I love these camera's because they are versatile and compact, as well as being able to endure some usual punishment. In addition, they are reasonally priced so anyone can afford them. I bought three of them on Ebay and turned around and sold the third on Ebay. I hope this review helps you in your selection of a camera that is right for you. Thanks you for this opportunity to share my experiences with you.
SFC LEO BOECHE
HHC 1-185TH IN
OPS NCO
UNIT HISTORIAN

I'm 54 years old and I live in Istanbul but travel extensively around the world. I started photography in 1970 as an amateur with a Pentax Spotmatic camera. Over the years my love of photography grew and slowly I started to build a name. By the end of this year, the number of my photography books will reach six - all of them full of black and white photographs. Although I use digital cameras still I shoot black and white film because film has a different flavor. Shooting digital may at times turn into what may look like shooting with a machine gun. With a DSLR, you may forget about planning and start shooting right away. What I like much about the Nikon FE2 is its small size and the small lenses, especially the primes. I may go unnoticed when doing street photography. I often use the A setting which allows me to concentrate on the picture and not on the exposure settings. I do not have and will not have a winder or a motor drive. I plan, wait and shoot. Believe me, this is the formula for good photography. I previously owned an FM but sold it when turning into digital. I regretted my decision and through e-bay I could buy one FE2 and one FM2, both in near mint conditions at very reasonable prices. I usually shoot with the FE2 and carry the FM2 in my pocket ready for situations I may need it. Sometimes I load a different type of film: May be 400 ASA or color slide. Because these cameras are small I carry them on my neck, shoulder or in my pocket. You can hardly do it with the EOS1 Ds Mark II, which I use for digital work. You may think that I am a full time professional photographer. No. I am working as a financial consultant and I'm only a weekend photographer. I wish you all fellow photographers days full of good photography. Stay light with Nikon FE and FM. Regards, Selim Seval

I love it. It's very durable, and very functional. It's a shame they don't make cameras like this anymore.

Those old cameras are more solid than any new camera you can think of. They keep on working and never fail you. I have used my FE for God knows how long and it never ever fails me. I have lugged this camera with me everywhere and just carry bunch of film. It works well.

i owned one of these cameras 28 years ago and it is so nice to get one back in my hand...the nikon fe has to be the best 35 mm nikon made because the cameras had not yet become SOOOOO electronic and automatic as to take the fun out of photography..the camera does have one simple auto function that can be used in a hurry

Well I am an old camera buff,(photographer, collector) This Nikon FE and FE 2 cameras are very well made and was the best camera at that time. I like to use film as well as digital cameras and this was a great buy, works like new.

Great classic camera with great controls and takes top notch pictures. Built to last. My favorite 35mm camera. It's been good for 25+ years and should be good for at least another 25+ years.

I previously owned two Nikon SLR film cameras, Nikon models FE and EM. Both performed very well. When I migrated here in the states I gave the cameras to my nephews. I miss film photography, it is very different from digital, you really need experience to get the right shots, so I decided to go back to SLR film camera. Good thing about Nikon, most lenses are interchangeable. Same goes with parts and accessories. The only feature that I don't like with FE is that the shutter is controlled electronically, if you don't have batteries you are stuck to M90 speed! Nikon cameras are built to last.

Great 30 year old camera. I'm in love with old film Nikons on ebay to begin with, but the FE is just a super camera! It's built like a battleship. Even though the camera is three decades old the meter is right on. A really important accessory to get with this camera is the Nikon MD-11 or MD-12 Motordrive. I've bought these for as little as $20 and they fire off 3 1/2 frames a second. Really more than fast enough and, also, built like battleships.

I have most of the manual focus film Nikons, including the Nikon F, F2, F3, and FM. They are all great cameras, but the Nikon FE is the best all-around of them since it is both auto exposure and manual exposure (at the Photographer's option), has an easily read meter, is very lightweight and really compact (which is why I like it better than the F, F2 and F3 - all serious pro cameras). I can't recommend this camera highly enough.

Okay, This item still at my friend address in FL, 32169. I didn't receive
it yet. Seller send to wrong address by his mistake, However I phoned my friend, The seller take good respond to check where it was ship to, the camera was at FL, I leave him positive feedback. Sorry I did not see it yet.

I was told it was pristine. In looks it seemed to be so. Upon receipt of the merchandise, there were two non functional items on camera that were very apparant to anyone who knew about cameras.
I wanted a pristine used model of this camera and was willing to pay asked price rather than go to an auction. It is distressing to be taken in by the glich and the seller did not deliver on the goods.

When I purchased this product, I understood that some items might be a little worn, even if it did not say so in the description. I have spent 95 dollars getting the camera cleaned, and the shutter repaired, as it wouldn't even fire when I received the camera. I had the light seals replaced at the same time. It is a used camera, and somethings I can expect.

Now I have put a roll of film in the camera, and the light meter does not work. The batteries have been changed, and it is still not working. Without the light meter, the aperture priority mode will not work. I hope this can be repaired, but I now will have spent more on repairs than the original cost. Also, the flash is useless, because the battery door is broken, and I cannot get it open. In the end, I feel the item was mis-represented because the item was listed in 'great' condition, and I have yet to be able to run a roll of film through it. This may be a case of cavet emptor, but I suppose I am at least at liberty to explain my experience.

I have listed this as below average and not poor as the lenses are at least clean if really well worn.

The Nikon FE film camera was the autoexposure twin of the Nikon FM, which was the manual exposure model. I used to sell this camera back in the heyday of the film SLR, though I haven't owned one in years. However, briefly stated, the Nikon FM/FE twins had the same body with the same AI lens mount and the same basic shutter.The shutter itself was a metal vertical travel design with speeds from 1/1-1/1000 sec plus bulb. The meter was a centerweighted averaging design, with exposure compensation of +-two f/stops. ASA settings ran from 12-4000 and both the ASA and exposure compensation were set on the left side exposure dial, just below the rewind crank. The FE differed from the FM only in that it offered aperture priority auto exposure operation: aperture priority being you select the lens aperture, the camera selects the shutter speed. Finally, they were able to mount any Nikon F series lens made, though the older ones had to be modified by Nikon to work with the metering system. Other accessories for the FM/FE included the MD-11/12 3fps motordrive and a series of Nikon flash units which set the camera shutter speed.
The FM/FE series were marketed as the mid priced compact Nikons of their day,placed below the F2 and F3 professional cameras and the Nikon EM amatuer model. Their competition was the Canon A series,(A-1, AE-1 etc) the Pentax ME/MX and the Olympus OM-series cameras. A new FM/FE had that nice high quality glow that came with a well made camera. They were handsome beasts, but though well made, they still appealed more to your aspiring Nikon owner than the general public, mainly because they were priced about 1/4 to 1/3 higher than, say, a Canon AE-1. Aside from that, the FM/FE series suffer from two design features that I personally did not like.
The first was the external meter coupling ring, a feature Nikon borrowed from Minolta. Now, 98 percent of the time this was no trouble, unless you took the camera to the beach and got it near sand. External coupling rings by anyone were always vulnerable to dirt and sand getting behind the ring and messing things up. Usually a good cleaning was all that was required, but while Canon, Pentax and Olympus made sure all their lenses connected inside the lens mount, Nikon (and Minolta's ) external coupling ring was a true disadvantage.
The second item,which applies to the FE itself, was aperture priority auto exposure itself. Granted, most camera manufacturers used it,Canon and Konica excepting. Now a knowledgeable photographer could use aperture priority just fine. Indeed the stepless shutters often engineered into these cameras was a great help, especially with finicky slide films. But, many an amateur would by a Nikon FE, try to take pictures indoors without a flash, then complain about blurry pictures. Why? They never paid attention to the meter needle which no doubt indicated a shutter speed way too low for hand held photography. That's why. (And some of them would never learn.)
Now, would I recommend one. Well, overall, a Nikon FE is a fine camera, but it's also nearly forty some years old. The main problem with cameras that old from everyone is parts and repair. Fortunately it uses MS76 cells so a working model can still be used. However, before you buy, I'd look up the Nikon FE on Stephen Gandy's Cameraquest. He knows Nikons and if you can get one in good condition, with a good Nikkor lens, get some film and enjoy.

The Nikon FE was a pleasant surprise. I bought it because it's a Nikon (very reliable) and the price was right.

The pleasant surprise came from the sensible way the controls are arranged. Turning the camera on by moving the film advance level out makes so much sense you wonder why opther manufacturers use a separate switch.

This camera does everything you could reasonably want, unless you're a hard professional who needs a system camera. It's a joy to use - you can concentrate on framing and focusing without being distracted by the mechanics of operating the camera.

I worked as a pro with this camera for years with the MD-12 winder. You can trust that the light meter will git your shots in auto. I wanted the lens that was with this camera body and got a peach of a camera for free basically. Carry an extra battery so your shutter will work in the speeds other then Manual 90 but believe you me the sunny F16 rule will get you covered. I played with Kodak 800 when it first came out and that film has alot of latitude. You get a picture with a guess, this is not the exact exposure but a picture the 400 tmax and ilford also allow alittle latitude. Please remember that the negative from my $5. dollar camera when scanned yields a 12 meg image that is twice as good as com paired to the image of a 12 meg camera and a whole lot cheaper. If you have a closet and shoot B&W you can make some killer prints. Photography is an art form, in the old days you learned to make better photos so that the printing was easier. You can't learn by just pushing a button, You need the touch and smells of the dirty hands at work to learn this craft. Rugged and tough,light and easy to use, a great manual camera for the student or serious armature photographer. Please realize that I work with a N70,It's a box that holds film, comes with a built in winder and can do auto or manual. The prices on ebay are so good you can buy both. I saw a 5meg neg scanner work pritty good for $70. bucks so add that to your collection of Objects-de-Art. Good luck and God bless, David

Nikon, makes a product that is designed to last the ages. Easy to learn and use both for novice and professional. I needed a well priced quality Nikon Camera and this auction perfectly fit my expectations. This ebayer is fair, professional and honest with their items. The item was well packaged for shipping, was accurately described and timely. If all my transactions on ebay are similar, then why would I shop anywhere else.

I had read about the Nikon FE on the website of a well known photographer who priased it. After reading the praise I decided to find one as I am going to start a photography class at college. I recieved my Nikon FE two days ago and I am thoroughly pleased at my purchase. I already own a new Nikon DSLR and this FE, although about thirty years old performs as reliably as my digital. I have a new favorite camera!

I love the FE for the following reasons:
- it mounts and meters both Ai and pre Ai lenses
- it has aperture priority automation, but also is a beautifully functional manual metering camera
- the viewfinder presents all information in the best way - the Pentax KX is similar, both excellent
- the early electronics -from many brands- have advantages over later designs, as they go 'over' limits gracefully. So for example you are able to get very long exposures, and probably even a shutter speed a bit faster than 1/1000.

The camera purrs - that is, the frame advance is the silkiest, purriest one I've ever used. It is small-ish and light in weight, easy to use and look through. About the only complaint I have is the shutter/mirror sound isn't the quietest in the world.

And these cameras have a well deserved reputation for being indestructible.

Although I use a digital camera most of the time, I do have a need for a film camera now and then.I chose the FE model because it is small light and semi auto which leaves me the opportunity to shoot entirely manual shots and have fun in determining the shutter speed and lens openings I have chosen.Also I can use most of nikon's older lenses without a problem.

It was a hi-tech camera in late 1970s. Most of the FEs are still in excellent working condition even after 30 years.
However, there is a 'bug' in its design --- pressing the AE lock cannot freeze the needle. You do not know whether the it work properly until the shutter has been releasing.

reasonable price, good and honest seller, make me a good experience from eBay, during the process, i have ask the seller for the shipping price, he tell me it take around US$40 to ship hong kong, finally, the shipping price is US$80, but the seller just ask me to give US$40 that he promise before, i am very happy about that, and the product is very good too..

Man briefly mentions the camera is sold as is and then states how all it may need is a good cleaning and service... The camera is OBVIOUSLY broken...Beyond repair and obviously so. Was my first purchase in a while... I need to learn how to read listings with a great deal of skepticism before I buy again.