Nikon FE with Nikkor 50mm f2
By the time I’d checked in with the Nikon FM2n, the storm clouds were gathering. For a change in Plymouth, they weren’t of the literal, drenching sky variety, but the imminent arrival of the storm crow aka Covid19. But at this time it could not be envisaged that we’d be locked down at home. So Russell dug out a Nikon FE for me to test, on the basis that I’d just got familiar with the layout and it might be enlightening to test something with Aperture Priority and wavy needles in the display. Me, I like wavy needles.
The bodies are largely the same. The FE, being an earlier camera to the FM2n, only goes up to 1/1000th of a second shutter speed rather than the 1/4000 of the FM2n, and that shutter is electronically controlled. You can put it in auto mode, or you can choose the shutter speed on the dial and then adjust the aperture using the needle display on the left of the viewfinder. As you need to choose a shutter speed to get it out of Auto, I’d suggest I’d call it shutter priority rather than a pure manual.
Being a masochist I thought I’d let the meter do its work, and only adjust via the exposure compensation dial on the left of the body. A quick trip into town revealed a tiny number out for a Saturday, and the Ivor Dewdney pasty vans were parked up rather than out delivering. Both photos came out a bit under-exposed – I’d thought the predominance of both being grey scale or darker they would be fine, but the bright sky evidently affected the metering slightly.
Then, the lockdown. After a dash to collect my elderly father from my sister, I was confined to the house, with only a trip to exercise or shop possible. Didn’t stop me from packing the camera, and exploring all the ups and downs of Plymouth Hoe.
With bright sunlight and high contrast, I thought I’d explore the exposure compensation dial. Then I wished I hadn’t. To move it you have to press a little button down, and then adjust to which stop + or – you want to do. Suddenly you are taking your eye out of the viewfinder to find the button. Always a bore if you are shooting things moving around, But you can adjust the film speed on the same dial without button pressing, so unless you remember what you have done, suddenly the whole speed setting is out. But the worst is yet to come – the + and – on the adjustment do the opposite – you aren’t increasing exposure by a stop if you go to +1 but reducing it! It’s really odd and unintuitive. Leave it in auto!
The Hoe was sunny, and deserted. Normally bustling with families and dog walkers, I’ve never seen it so quiet, and on such a bright sunny day.
My trip went past the Plymouth holders of the VC memorial garden, then up to the Naval memorial, with the Royal Marine one to be found near the outer bastions of the Royal Citadel. Again I had some fiddling with the exposure compensation to adjust for the lighting. Glad I did!
Round the monumental walls of the Citadel and a look out over the early 19th century Carronades to Plymouth Sound, with a few ships moored up. A long enough walk with the return home, and exercise and camera testing combined. No Easter Eggs to attract the attention of the large number of police cars.
So, the comparison – would I choose the FE or the FM2n? It’s slightly unfair comparing different generations of cameras, but even though it has the light display rather than matched needles, I’d have the FM2n any day. In real life it’s as quick to fire with more shutter speed options and a mechanical shutter. YMMV!
All images were shot on Ilford HP5+ at EI 250 and developed in PMK Pyro 1+2+100.
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I’m Charles Morgan and if you want to see other of my photos I’m charlesdamorgan on Instagram.
