As today’s DSLR’s and lenses are getting bigger, heavier, more expensive and become obsolete quicker and quicker, I decided to make a change for my daily carry-around camera: the good old Nikon FE2 !
The FE2 is one little piece of craftsmanship and has been around since 1983… almost 30 years ago, time flies! As the FE2 uses batteries, you could think that it needs the batteries for operation but no. It only uses the batteries for its built-in lightmeter. So when you run out of power, no worries, just keep on taking pictures using the sunny 16 or your handheld lightmeter!
As you could figure, the FE2 is a fully-manual camera…. well, not really. It has an “A” stand on the shutterspeed-knob, which can be used as an aperture priority setting. So first set your aperture on the lens and the FE2 will select the suited shutterspeed. This only when you didn’t run out of power of course.
As the FE2 is NOT a DX-camera (which means that it will detect your ISO-speed on the film canister), you still have to set the ISO-rating yourself. This can ben a big advantage for over- or underexposing your film… YOU have full control!
The FE2 has a nice and bright viewfinder with standard the split-image/microprism focusing. The is a pretty easy way to focus on a SLR camera, so no hassles with this.
On little nifty trick is the film advance lever, the shutter can only be released when the advance lever is in the backward position. This, to prevent unwanted shutter releases in your bag… nice little trick from Nikon!
The standard kit to take on a hike is completed with the small manual focus Nikkor H-C 50mm 2.0. A nice and sharp lens with very robust focussing ring, which I like! You immediately get the ring when needed. It focusses very smoothly and precise. As an addition to the 50mm, the 28mm 2.8 E-series is also a nice and small manual focus lens. These 2 lenses perform well and keep size and weight down. And one very important detail… you can find them really for no money!
Oh yes… and for those who love looks: it has a brass body… so it will only become more beautiful during the years!
A few images I took with the FE2 on one of my recent trips to Luxembourg. Film was Kodak TMAX400, bit grainy, but lovely in contrasts!
