Nikon FE2 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

mohawk51
( Expert)

Review Date
December 10, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 52

Price Paid: $300.00 from EBAY

Summary:

One of the best Nikon cameras I've ever owned, besides the F3! I've owned a chrome FE2 for over a year and just recently bought a mint++ black FE2. They are wonderful and reliable cameras in every respect. It deserves more than a 5 star rating.

Strengths:

It's a Nikon!!!

Weaknesses:

None noted.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon EL2, FE.

Customer Service:

Hasn't been needed. Knock on wood!!!

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Rating
Reviewed by:

trebor
( Intermediate)

Review Date
July 8, 2005

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 2 of 52

Price Paid: $250.00 from Camera store

Summary:

I bought this camera when I was 14 years old after saving up (what I thought was) a ton of money. I used it for everything: art mostly, but people and sports as well. It never let me down, picture after picture, roll after roll. Since then, I moved on to different camera, and finally now to digital SLRs. I still use this as one of my backup. All the manual and autofocus (except G) lenses work. I love this camera.

Strengths:

Easy to use, rugged. I dropped this countless times--this camera is dented and scratched--and it keeps firing away.

Weaknesses:

Hard to read the meter in low light.

Similar Products Used:

FM3a, F3 (backups) D70s (main)

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Rating
Reviewed by:

azdustdevil
( Professional)

Review Date
December 14, 2004

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 52

Price Paid: $400.00 from Mail Order

Summary:

This camera is unbelievable. Lightweight yet solid, only occasional maintenance is necessary. It is easy to use, like my FM, but has added feature of aperture priority auto exposure when you need it, and is quite accurate when you do. I rarely use the shutter speeds over 1000, but nice to have when you need it. Light meter/match needle is hard to use in very low light situations, so I just place it in automatic and the FE2 does its thing and does so quite well. Feels natural in your hands. This camera needs little maintenance, but the foam seals and foam mirror bumper need replacement every few years. FE2s in top shape are getting harder and harder to find. I will probably retire mine soon, now that I have digital.

Strengths:

Lightweight Durable/reliable Simple to use Uses a world of lenses and accessories Easy to change from man exp to auto

Weaknesses:

Afraid I will scratch it

Similar Products Used:

FM, F, F2

Customer Service:

Never needed it, except for routine service done locally at authorized repair shop.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Kemotex
(Expert)

Review Date
November 2, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 4 of 52

Price Paid: $320.00 from 42nd St Photo

Summary:

I bought this camera new in 1986, after selling my Canon A1 (a great camera but I didn't like its readout). I have not felt a need to replace it over all these years. Very natural handling camera, small but sturdy. The problem of not being able to see the readout in dark that many mention has never bothered me, as I usually shoot in automatic at night (for long exposures--which by the way can be extended way beyond the 8 seconds its manual suggests). One thing I don't like is the safety pin for exposure compensation (very small and hard to oprate with gloves; Nikon could have left it out). I also don't care for the inconvenient exposure lock, and seldom use it--they changed this with the FM3a. Lack of mechanical speeds have not been a problem for me. I use a battery tester to periodically check the batteries. Only once have I been forced to use the 1/250 second mechanical speed. The self timer serves as a very convenient mirror lock-up. All in all it has very few limitations. If I was buying a camera today I would go for its present day reincarnation, the FM3a.

Strengths:

Size Handling Simplicity Few limitations

Weaknesses:

Can't use different viewfinders like in the F series.

Similar Products Used:

Canon A1

Customer Service:

Haven't used

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Rating
Reviewed by: GAC
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 13, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Review 5 of 52

Price Paid: $200.00 from E-bay

Summary:

I just love this camera. The match system (when you have enough light) is the best! The "A" aperture priority mode works better than any camera I have had. Just swing the camera down to set the shutter speed for a shot that incudes the sky, depress the memory lock or set the shutter manually. And shoot! Simple! If you know how to use the 60/40 center weighted metering, you will get perfect exposures just about every time. The needel match system can't be beat. You can always tell how if the shot will over/under expose and by how much. A little bit of practice goes a long way with this camera. The 1/250 sec flash sync and the 8 sec max exposure time are absolute gems in photography. By the way, the 8 sec max exposure time is not the limit. Just set the camera to "A" and set your aperture, set the self timer and depress the shutter release. The mirror will flip up first and 10 sec later the shutter will open....for far longer than 8 sec if needed. Great for night shots!

Strengths:

Needel match system for shutter speed. You can tell and set the the over/under exposure by adjusting the aperture in one step in manual mode. Just use the shutter memory lock in "A" mode to do the smae, only faster. The body is very, very solid. The batteries will last years! Flash sync at 1/250 sec (with TTL flash) is perfect for flash fill. Set the shutter on manual mode for 1/250 sec and adjust the aperture for proper exposure (on manual mode) for the background. Set the flash for TTL and set the camera exposure compensation to -1 stop (or what ever you like) and depress the shutter release button. All in manual mode. The TTL flash is affected by the camera's exposure compensation, but, the ambient (background) exposure is not affected.

Weaknesses:

Needel match system is not visible in low light situations.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FA, FM, FG and EM. All are good but the FE2 is best for me.

Customer Service:

Not required yet.

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