Nikon FE with 50mm f/1.8

The Nikon FE is a mid-range 35mm film SLR camera developed in the late 1970s to replace the Nikon EL-W and EL2 bodies.  The body comes in both chrome and black versions.

The Nikon FE is a robust camera built with amateurs and enthusiasts in mind.  It notably features the addition of an aperture-priority (AP) mode.  The FE has a stainless steel Nikon F-mount that accepts just about every lens ever created by Nikon.  Unlike most Nikon bodies made, later on, the FE's metering aperture follow tab can be flipped back out of the way so non-AI F-mount lenses can be mounted without causing damage.

The electronically timed focal plane shutter can fire from 8 to 1/1000 second and has two backup speeds of bulb and 1/90s (M90 on the dial) speeds.  The flash is synced at 1/125s and the body has a hot shoe and PC Sync terminals.  Fully mechanical wheels and levers allow total control of the body.  Exposure comp of +/- 2 stops is set with a top-mounted wheel on the left side of the body and a small lever can be triggered for multi-exposures.  AE lock is engaged with a well-placed button.  ISO is selectable on the Nikon FE from 12 - 3200.  Film advance and rewind are also fully mechanical, though Nikon's motor drives can be used with this body.  The metering is center-weighted TTL.  A great feature is the use of a highly responsive analog needle for metering (up to a tenth of a stop accuracy).

Due to the level of quality construction and compact design, the FE is still much coveted to this day.

Key Features

• Classic Nikon 35mm film camera


• Compact well made metal body


• Nikon F-mount


• Manual-focus


• ISO 12-3200


• Electronically timed shutter


• Shutter speeds of 8 seconds to 1/1,000, bulb, M90


• Two mechanical shutter speeds of bulb and M90


• 1/125s Flash sync


• Hot shoe and PC flash sync terminals


• 93% finder coverage


• 0.86x finder magnification


• Center-weighted TTL meter


• Depth of field preview


• Self Timer


• Uses two 1.5V LR44, PX76, or MS76 style batteries


• Built-in battery check

Available accessories include: Body cap, MD-11 motor drive, MD-12 motor drive, AI and non-AI F-mount lenses, MF-12 Data Back, SB10, SB15, SB-E, SB11, and SB-14 Speedlights.