Nikon
FE2, 1983-1989
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfeseries/fe2/
A Nikon manual focus FE2 with a 28mm AF-D Nikkor ? This is one
of the many reasons that has made the manual focus FE2 so attractive - Since
all AF Nikkors are AI-S in nature, the FE2 is compatible with all the current
AF Nikkors lenses. This,
includes any Nikkor optics that have Automatic Indexing (AI). It is an
extremely well made and dependable SLR camera as with its earlier model, the
original Nikon FE of 1978 but it has been updated with a lot of extra features
and refinement has been made to its original specifications. Bearing in mind
that some of the FE2's basic features are still very much up to date even
today. I also want you to know that this is one of my few favorite Nikon
bodies. It strikes a good balance in the best price-versus-performance ratio
among all the Nikon bodies available on the second-hand market.
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The FE2 is an upgraded version of the original electronic Nikon FE (1978-1984). It was first released back in 1983. The mechanical original FM2 was launched a year ahead of the FE2 in 1982. It created a lot of attention as the general expectation of breaking the speed barrier of 1/4000 sec was eventually materialized with the original FM2. The camera, benefited from the newly designed Nikon titanium honeycomb pattern shutter with a shorter vertical shutter curtain travelling time, and also provided a higher maximum sync speed of 1/200 sec. - the highest sync speed available in a commercially produced SLR camera body during the early part of the '80s. However, with a newly revised shutter mechanism, the FE2 featured an improved sync speed of 1/250 sec, which was the world's fastest sync speed SLR then in 1983. The original FM2, was eventually upgraded with a newer shutter with similar performance, it was renamed the FM2n or called New FM2 in Japan. |
Amidst all these changes in the
FM2/FE2 cameras, Nikon had simultaneously launched another multimode automatic
camera in the Nikon FA,, also in 1983. Incidentally, it was the
first Nikon camera that provided a built-in Shutter Priority AE ('Built in' -
because as early as 1976, Nikon had developed a device called EE Aperture
Control Unit to be mounted on the Nikon F2S/SB that provided a mechanical 'shutter
priority', you can bookmark the Nikon F2 site by Michael Liu for future
reference). The FA, introduced a new and highly innovative metering system,
called multi-pattern metering system (An early test bed for the current matrix
metering). Together, it enables Nikon FA to offer Shutter Priority AE and an
intelligent dual-program AE mode, the Nikkor lenses have a new revised mount
for lens/body data communication interface, called 'AI-S' (Automatic Indexing
- Shutter). The Nikon FE2 is fully compatible with these newer series of
lenses, although it doesn't benefit much from the new features provided in the
new AIS lenses, as the FE2 has only Aperture Priority AE and manual exposure
controls, which donít need lens data input. Both the FE2 and the FA were
discontinued in 1989, making way for the AF era. For more information on the
FA, please visit the separate site featuring that
camera. In
chronological order, Nikon automatic manual focus SLR bodies were: The early
EL(1972), ELW(1976), EL2(1977), the original FE(1978), EM(1979), the
professional F3(1980), the FG(1982), the FE2 here (1983) and the FA (1983).
For models other than those mentioned here, you can use the Pictorial History of Nikon cameras
Site as a
guide.
This Nikon FE2 site is comprised of three major sections. The
first details the basic camera operations, the next outlines on some technical
notes and the last details the shared resources with other camera bodies in
the FM/FM2/FM2n/FE and the FA series. Thus, depending very much on your
personal preferences, expectations, experience and knowledge with this camera,
it is hoped that some sections within this site will help you in one way or
another.
This Nikon FE2 site is comprised of three major sections. The first details the basic camera operations (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11) the next outlines on some technical notes (Page: A | B | C | D | E | F | G) and the last details the shared resources with other camera bodies in the FM/FM2/FM2n/FE and the FA series. Thus
Recent Upload: Nikon FE2 with Aluminum Shutter Contributed by Mr. William F Kleimenhagen <compleatangler1@juno.com>
W A R N I N G: The New G-SERIES Nikkor lenses have no aperture ring on the lens, they CANNOT ADJUST APERTURES with any of these manual focus Nikon FE series SLR camera models; please ignore some portion of the content contained herein this site where it relates.
Main Reference
Map :
HTML | PDF(231k)
Full Specifications: HTML | PDF(54k)
| Back to Main Index Page - FE
Series
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Nikon FE | Nikon FE2 | Nikon FE10 | * Nikon FA |
| Nikon FM series | Nikon FE series | Nikon FA |
Nikon F | Nikon F2 | Nikon F3 | Nikon F4 | Nikon F5 | Nikkormats | Nikon FM series | Nikon EM/FG/FG20
Shared Resources: MD-11 | MD-12 | 3rd Party Power Winder Only for FM2(n)/FE2/FA | Focusing Screens | Titanium Shutter | Flash Units - | SB-15 | SB-10 | SB-16B & Other Options | Databack | Nikkor lens mount (related info)
| Nikkor Resources |
| Message
Board | for your favourite Nikon FE Series SLR
camera(s)
| Message Board | for your
Nikon Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically
for Dispose or Looking for Nikon / Nikkor Photographic
Equipment
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A contributing effort to Michael C Liu's Classic Nikon Site.
* Credit: Special thanks to Mr MCLau®, who has helped with his images of the MF-12 databack and has been helping me to patch some of the mistakes made during early days of this site; Miss Rissa (Marketing) & members of the Technical Service dept. of Shriro Malaysia, local distributor of Nikon cameras in Malaysia & Singapore, for providing so much useful input to make this site possible. Dave Hoyt who has prepared the introductory page and offer some images of his FE2 in this site. Thanks to Mr Tham, Mr Lim of Foto Edar for his early effort to lend his FE2 for me to take some picture for this section. Wati and Mirza for helping the initial scanning and OCR works. Chuck Hester® who has been with me all these while with the development of all these Nikon sites; This site is also dedicated to our friend from Brazil, Enjoy ! A contributing site to a long lost friend on the Net. Certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, brochures published by Nikon and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their own work to publish in this site based on educational merits. The creator of this site will not be responsible for any discrepancies that may arise from such possible dispute except rectifying them after verification."Nikon", "Nikkormat", "Nippon Kokagu KK" & "Nikkor" are registered tradename of Nikon Corporation Inc., Japan. Site made with a PowerMac.