Nikon FE Series SLR camera(s) - Message Board/Guestbook

1. From : bob pengelly (bobwp@blueyonder.co.uk)
Url : http://
Date : 01:25 AM Monday 03 April, 2006

I have had my nikon fe for about 26 years, it's still working as well as the day it was born. pity about the camera case, it has been dead and buried for the last 5 years. very sad.

2. From : Steve (schatham@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 12:19 AM Monday 20 March, 2006

I have a Nikon FE , s/n 328xxxx, that I had last used several years ago (like 3-4) and have owned for about 10 years before that. I've either forgotten how to use it, or it's broken. I THOUGHT I had it set right to take some photos at a Nascar event yesterday, but got a blank roll of film from it. The only thing exposed was the first couple of inches from where it got wound around the takeup when I was loading the camera.

From how it felt, the film advanced (I could feel it "pull" on the thumb lever). The film was 800 speed. I had the exposure compensation set to 0, film speed on 800. and the Metering Circuit set to AUTO. I wasn't using a flash or anything. The lens on it is a Micro-NIKKOR-P Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm.

All batteries are good, light meter works and everything. Am I operating it wrong? What did I do? Is there a manual (I never had one for this camera) or a refresher that'd help me figure out how I fouled this up? I used to use this mostly for copy work when I used it regularly, which kind of went away when flatbed scanners got better. Any help appreciated, my email is schatham _at_ yahoo dot com if you can respond via email...... Steve

3. From : Gary M. Hatfield (Starmangmh@msn.com)
Url : http://www.starryestateobservatory.com
Date : 05:04 AM Tuesday 07 March, 2006

I have an FE2. Today I was taking a roll of film out from the weekend and the film advance/winder came apart. I'm not sure if it's broken or just came apart. I picked up a small flat washer, a washer with an angled tab, a small screen, and the winding handle and pin. I'm not sure how it goes back together and was wondering if anyone could tell me or provide me with a link that shows an exploded view of the winding mechanism so I can see if I can get it back together. Thanks Gary

4. From : Hal Hagan (halhagan@3web.com)
Url : http://
Date : 10:43 AM Thursday 02 March, 2006

Like a few other contributors, I have had two occasions where my Nikon FE jammed up - the wind lever wouldn't go full stroke, the shutter wasn't adequately wound up. I was stuck in limbo, an apparently dead FE on my hands.
My FE's light meter is no longer working (early generation, metal gears - way too expensive to consider repairing), so I can create problems for myself if I accidentally set it to Automatic and press the shutter. The exposure calculator doesn't know what to do and the whole machine goes stupid until I switch to M90 and force it to fire.
This lead to a lockup once all by itself, so I'm careful to forget this camera ever had a light meter or Automatic exposure. (Luckily, per a technician, the shutter speeds are right on the money, so this beauty lives on as a totally manual camera with great lenses).

Anyway, here's what I did to free my locked-up Nikon FE: this method worked the last couple of times successfully and without a trip to a repair shop. It might work for you, but no guarantees.
Warning - this procedure takes LOTS of patience, and a certain fatalism about whether the camera has finally given its last performance. Only try it if you've already got your eye on a used FE2 on eBay and you're just spitballing.

Firstly, I put in fresh batteries and set the shutter speed to M90.

Next, I set the auto-timer lever. As it turns out, this can give a very useful auditory feedback to let you some of the following steps have begun to be successful.

Next, holding the camera in my lap with both hands, I open the back and with the shutter facing me, I begin to roll the cogged film advance and take-up spool backward and forward gently and moderately quickly as far as possible with the pad of my left thumb.
Of course, be very careful not to touch the shutter blades.

Initially, there was no resistance in either direction and no particular sound - it was as if the cogged roller and the take-up spool were freewheeling.

I did this for a period of about 2-8 minutes (I'm very patient) but at some point I noticed that the cogged roller began to be reluctant or resistant to being rolled backward, plus a slight firmness in the turning of the takeup spool which hadn't been there a moment ago (it's subtle but detectable) and a sound like the quiet zhzhzh that one can hear when winding with the film advance lever.
I continued to roll both back and forth a few more times (gently, reverently - it is a Nikon, after all).
At some point I noticed the cogged roller wouldn't move backward anymore, and I didn't try to force it.

Next, I continued to roll the cogged film roller and the takeup spool, but now only in the direction they'd normally go if one were winding film, with the occasional attempt at rolling backward to see if it were possible.
At this point, I'd occasionally try pressing the shutter button gently with my right index finger to see if it would go down any further.

Somewhere in this whole process, something in the winder assembly must have clicked, because I heard the auto-timer begin it's quiet little buzzing sound, indicating it was beginning to time down to release the shutter. I stopped what I was doing and held my breath.

I was very relieved to see and hear the shutter fire once the self-timer wound down.
Naturally, I had to press my luck, so I rewound and fired again about 50 times at various speeds.

So far so good, and it fires dependably on all speeds. The creature lives again!

From now on, even though I have a newer AF system because of an impairment (50-yr-old eyeball syndrome) I'll make sure to run a roll through my beloved FE every month or two from now on. I may even try to get a +1.5-2.0 diopter, so I can ditch my eyeglasses while shooting. I'm definitely going to replace the light seals and mirror bumper and use this for black and white film as my second camera.
I'm sure it was just getting lonely, crotchety, and it was letting me know it wanted some TLC.

To make a long story boring, I figured I had little to lose, 17+ years of great shots from a camera I had bought second hand for a steal, so I gave it a try myself. I love this camera - great value for the money, easy to use, wonderful lenses and a dead-accurate shutter. Who needs autofocus or an onboard light meter?

I hope some of this might help you revive your FE, but bear in mind your mileage may vary. Good luck!

5. From : dlods (dlods@yahoo.com)
Url : http://
Date : 08:32 AM Tuesday 21 February, 2006

An FE with jammed film advance usually needs to have the shutter curtain pulled down carefully from the rear. I've used a jeweler's screwdriver, very carefully engaging the actuating lever screw to the right. This releases the shutter, and you can use it again. However....this is not a permanent cure on my camera. Unless I release the wind lever with vigor after each winding, I'll hear the sickening mid-roll sound of the shutter sticking again. I have two of these beasts and I don't know why I insist on grabbing one of them when I'm out the door. They are far from the only gear I own! It's love, I guess.

6. From : Andrew Chudy (atchudy@loyola.edu)
Url : http://
Date : 03:04 AM Thursday 09 February, 2006

Hi - My father gave me his Nikon FE, which is in great condition. It has a 50mm? or 52mm? Nikkor Lens. and a Vivitar 70-210mm lens with Macro.

I will be going to the Grand Canyon soon and have a couple questions.

1) What would be the best lens hood for the lenses?
2) Is Kodachrome the best slide film I can use? or should i use Kodak Ultra color print film?
3) what filters would help me in the grand canyon and other attractions?

Thanks

7. From : JWoodS (Cewntutywoods@ayahoo.com)
Url : http://nil
Date : 11:20 AM Tuesday 07 February, 2006

If the indicative prices are USD - The quoted price(s) are too high ! Even if this site has its own trading section, (Do asearch via the messages) http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/ftz/search.php3 the prices are much cheaper (in MYR). These are search from Ebay on FM3A & FE2 (personally, I think a slight premium on FM3A is justified as all parts are available: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=FM3A&category0=
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&fkr=1&from=R8&satitle=FE2&category0=

8. From : Miti Ruangkritya (miti139@hotmail.com)
Url : http://www.flickr.com/photos/minkminkmink
Date : 02:39 AM Friday 03 February, 2006

Hi everybody, This guy I knew is willing to sell his mint fe2 (silver chrome) for around $381 (15,000 Thai Baht). I got a Nikomat body and ideally would like 2 bodies for travelling. I thought about FM3A but the price is around $634 in Thailand! from Nikon official dealer. I have been recommend by quite a few people that fe2 would be a rather good choice although I have heard about the weakness of the titanium shutter? I have looked around the local second hand market and found a fe2 for $127, but since I'm quite new into photography I'm quite scare of buying secondhand. Any suggestions welcome. kind regards, Miti

9. From : Greg Habas (ghabas@att.net)
Url : http://
Date : 06:48 AM Tuesday 20 December, 2005

Hello- I have an FE2 and two lenses for it. While I rarely use the FE2 anymore (gone digital), I would like to use the lenses for astrophotography. In order to attach these lenses to another type of camera, I need a copy of the "ring" on the FE2 that the lens locks into (I can machine the rest). I've been told that B&H has one, #2717 K-3. But the picture of it on their site looks slightly different. Is this the correct one? Thanks, Greg

10. From : Douglas (douglas@13tracks.com)
Url : http://
Date : 03:13 AM Tuesday 20 December, 2005

Hi, I am looking for a focussing screen for a Nikon FE. Anyone got one or got any ideas ? Thanks, Douglas.

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