Nikon FE Video 1: Interface, Features, and Layout

[@eddyhoughton6542]

I got an FE as my wedding present 20 years ago. I still use it as my camera of choice, and I've never used the Auto setting as I've never felt the need. The light meter is so easy to use. It's an absolute gem.

[@solreategui418]

Wow best breakdown out there deserves all the views x

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@glannewehr]

I purchased an FE2 last fall, which is my very first Nikon camera (other than my Minoltas and Canons I have). The ONE think I don't like about the FE(2) is that for me being dominate left eyed, the film advance lever needing to be partially pulled out for the meter to operate, it clocks me in the forehead and difficult to get my eye up to the viewfinder. Other than that, great cameras. I would for sure purchase another one.

[@PaulTimlett]

I’m the same. I also shoot Leica M digital cameras so being left eye dominant was inconvenient (think greasy nose prints on the rear screen). So over a period of a couple of months I’ve trained my right eye, simply by ensuring I always put the viewfinder to my right eye. It’s now second nature and it makes using the FE with the lever cocked no problem at all.

[@DavidHancock]

Yeah, SLRs are sometimes frustrating for left-eye dominant users. I feel like some cameras had extensions for the viewfinder eyepieces, but I'm not sure if the FE series did or not.

[@asu318]

Great intro video! As a complete newbie I appreciate the level of detail and the descriptions of how the components work together

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@jantjeheeftschijt]

thank you so much. just bought my first film camera and this was very helpfull. Now im going to watch the second video!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@SoulsStrawberry]

Hi! I’m using my fathers old Nikon FE camera because he had it forgotten in the closet lol but I can’t manage to shoot a picture. The button seems stuck and it doesn’t shoot. Do u know what could be happening?

[@DavidHancock]

There are a lot of different things that could be going on. First, I'd say check out the second video in this series because that covers all the operation. If you go through that and the camera's still not behaving, let me know and we'll see what's up.

[@jakubhanak8167]

Hi, Ive got my Nikon FE but realized with slower shutter speeds that they are faster than what setting is. 8 seconds is like 6. 4 seconds = 3. 2 second = 1,5 and 1 second is like 0,75. Is there some way to fix it?

[@DavidHancock]

Check your EV compensation dial as that sounds like a pretty consistent variance. If the EV dial isn't adjusted to cause a bit of underexposure, I wouldn't worry too much, honestly. The variance in those times is within the tolerances of most film stocks. You can always adjust the EV compensation dial, too, to add a bit of light and make up that difference.

[@jakubhanak8167]

@@DavidHancock thank you so much for the answer.

[@eddyhoughton6542]

​@@DavidHancockNow that is a bloody smart answer, I'd never have thought of that one!

[@mrstandfast2212]

I bought a 2nd hand Nikon FE sometime around 2000. It was, I thought, a stepping stone towards one of the more advanced models. In reality, I found it just about perfect, to me it's the most intuitive SLR I own. As you say early on, it has everything you need, and nothing you do not need. I still have it, and have never found the need to upgrade. It's handled dozens and dozens of rolls of film, is totally reliable, and the metering is excellent. A small selection of lenses cover everything I want. I have many cameras (GAS affliction) but the two SLR,s that I would never part with are my FE and my Zeiss Ikon Contaflex Super.

[@DavidHancock]

I can't blame you. We all have that one camera that really meshes with us and the FE is a great one for that.

[@azul4904]

hi! if anyone reads this, can you help me with something about this camera? i have no experience in photography of any kind, and it’s my first time shooting film. so my question is, what is the tiny number on the lense that you can see through the viewfinder? is that the aperture? can anybody explain how i could know what it needs to be set to? any help is welcomed! sorry about my ignorance

[@DavidHancock]

Hi and yes that's the aperture. There's a second video on this series, and I wrote a book about this camera, both of which will probably run through all those questions.

[@azul4904]

@@DavidHancock thank you! i’ll definitely be looking into them.

[@azul4904]

can anyone help me with an issue i’m having with this camera? my frame count isn’t advancing and i think the film isn’t “moving” correctly. i loaded it yesterday and i did everything very carefully and took a first picture, which seemed to be fine, but now something’s off. please, if anyone can help it’d be greatly appreciated, i invested a lot on this camera and it’s my first time shooting film🙏🏻

[@DavidHancock]

When you advance the film, does the film rewind knob turn? To verify, before your next photo turn the rewind knob the direction of the arrow until you feel resistance. This should only take a turn or three. Then take a photo. If the twins knob turns then your film is advancing. If not, it isn't. The frame counter is it's own component and if it isn't moving that won't indicate that the film isn't moving. Frame counters can get jammed or damaged and stop working and the camera can still operate just fine otherwise. If you're still uncertain after that, take the camera into a dark room like a closet. Make sure you're in perfect darkness. Open the camera back and feel if the film is loaded correctly. If the leader is loose like you just loaded it, then turn the lights on and reload and start over -- you won't have taken any photos. If it feels like it's wrapping around the take-up spool on the right, close the neck and keep going with the roll. Worst-case scenario with all this testing is that you didn't load the film properly and in rewinding it you tale the entire leader back into the film cassette. If that happens, a local camera store might have a leader retriever that can pull the leader back out so that you can use that film.

[@azul4904]

@@DavidHancock thank you so much 🙏🏻🙏🏻 this was really helpful

[@LR-jn1rk]

How do you know it is turned on

[@DavidHancock]

The light meter will respond to light. Video 2 should help show all the ways that this camera works when it's powered on.

[@eddyhoughton6542]

Ask its wife, she'll know!