I bought a mint unused boxed FE2 back in 2011, and I absolutely love this camera. Beautifully made and beautiful to look at and use.

I have owned my FE2 since 1983 or so. One thing that you've missed is the auto exposure lock: with the camera set on Aperture Preferred mode you can meter the scene then push the self timer lever towards the lens mount and it'll lock the exposure. This allows you to meter on your subject then recompose without losing the exposure setting.

I've been an Olympus fan most of my adult fan. I still am, actually. However, I managed to snap an FE2 from my sister, which never touched since she got it. I immediately felt in love with this camera. I also had an FM2 but decided to part ways with it and stick to the FE2. Fantastic camera. And that 1/4000th speed is something (still, at least for me) out of this world.

$100? Man that's the deal of the century for that camera!

I have this FE2 in black bought new in 1984 when they first came out and paid $400.00. I worked selling cameras at a electronics store so this was my second camera. I shot hundreds of rolls with this camera over the years , 25 weddings, portraits , every day use, slide film to name a few. I also have the winder too. I shot completely in Manuel mode . This was a great camera from Nikon, one of the best. Using one of these help you learn photography , todays cameras do everything for you. People are not learning photography basics with todays cameras.

I grew up with this and the FM2, beautiful cameras. I don’t know if it is just nostalgia for me but this era was somehow more involving and enjoyable than the current hi tech digital world.

I’ve always loved the little bit of black on the prism.

I used a Nikon FM2n for 25 years, which never let me down. Of course, I shoot mosty digital nowadays (after a final flurry with a number of Leica film cameras). Still, I keep a Nikon F3 in the car everyday just in case the mood takes me for film - which it might do now (fortunately, I have a freezer full of film!)

This is one of a few cameras that Nikon has made that comes perilously close to perfection, along with the FM2 and F3. In fact I would rank it slightly above the FM2 and F3 because the match needle system is perfection, and just behind the FM3a which is more or less an FE2 that has more than one backup mechanical shutter speed (though I haven't had the pleasure of trying the FM3 yet).

Just picked up today ... it looks brand new and in the box had all the original paperwork n manual. Oddly enough it really looks unused... loved this camera in the early 80s ...will be putting on MD12 drive And a Speedlight 15 n go really retro to the great days of film SLRs

My first camera was the Nikon F2A + Motor drive + battery pack and backup by the Nikon FM. Later, I replaced the FM with the FE2 to get TTL OTF. Both SLR were still in fully working condition. As a left eye dominant photographer, the motor dirve MD-12 (with the Terminal Release MR-2) was a must have accessory to unlock the shutter release button without having the film advance level in standoff position.

Bought mine in 83 and still shoot with it. Absolutely love this camera! Nice to see your video and that you are sharing this gem.

My favorite film camera of all time. //Andrew

A stands for "aperture priority". You set the aperture and the camera chooses the exposure time. Full auto would set both automatically.

You got a really good deal there. This package is easily worth US$200, if not more.

Another great review Darryl. I bought my FE2 a few weeks back and It's a great camera for the price. It's nice that the shutter goes down to 8 seconds for long exposures and 1/4000th sec for shooting wide open in the daytime. I like the hybrid shutter of the FM3a, but for the price this camera can't be beaten.

Never had an FE2, just played with it a couple of times, but I had Nikon FM2 for years. I adored that camera, and I still do. I did however needed an auto focus camera for events in the dark, and since I din't had enough money for it, I sold my FM2 to a guy who borrowed it to his friend who had that camera on him while dying in the air crash. The moral of the story? I should never sell that camera...

Another good video Darryl. It is very interesting watching videos about the older 35mm SLR cameras. These older cameras were obviously built to last and outlast these new digital cameras. I think that I will pick up a Nikon FE2 with a manual lens after I get my F5 early next year 2021. The first manual SLR camera I had was a Practika back in the 1980’s.

There are camera techs who can install the titanium Nikon shutter in a Leica film body, if you can find a donor body. No more burned cloth shutter curtain. And apparently, it's just as quiet as the original Leica shutter when installed in the Leica body.

LR-44 are the easiest batteries to find for these cameras in the states, too. You can get them anywhere.

Excellent video

Thanks for the review! I am seriously considering getting this film camera. It looks like it has all the essentials and nothing more to get the job done and the build quality seems amazing. I will probably use Zeiss glass in addition to using Nikkors on it. Zeiss has some quality manual focus glass for Nikon F mount.

Back in the day people carried one of these or an FM2 along with their F3 purely for that 250th/sec flash sync.

Thanks Darry, well made and to the point!!

Hi Darryl nice Video. Just got one for my re entrance in analogue photography with nikon....

You missed the exposure lock. Press the self timer towards the lens and it locks the exposure reading and you can recompose and take the shot

Very intresting video ! Clear and practical informations. Good Job, Darryl ! I subscribed to your channel ! Take Care, Greetings from Antwerp, Roger ;-)

Such lucky that you find one for 100nzd only!

Great video! Im concerned about using the advance lever to support the thumb on the camera. Mine skips and advances film if I pull too hard even after cocking the shutter. I know mine needs a CLA but beware of using the lever with force. Happy shooting!

The FE2 exposure compensation is really fiddly to use. Using manual mode is way faster.

I have a black FE2, a great camera

A l'époque j'avais préféré le Canon AV-1, ce sont tous des bons appareil. ( Dieu te cherche, Clic sur le Smiley)

Hi, nice review. Just forgot on AE lock button. Self timer button, but opposite way :-) so many users do not know that this very useful function exists :-)

Great review by the way

Hi Darryl! I recently bought this camera after initially watching this video, and then doing loads more research. I took it to Africa, got 2 rolls out of it, and am and now ready to take the 2nd roll out. Quick question - I pushed the release button on the bottom, rewound it, but felt some resistance at the very end. I tried a tad more but didn't want to push it. I ended up opening the back to see if it was fine, but the first few (previously exposed) frames were not fully wound back into the canister. I have retried twice but still feel resistance. Any advice? Love your channel, and thank you!

Pretty sweet camera man

Most "easily available" lr44's are alkaline based, much better to stash a few CR1/3N lithium's in your gear

C'est appareil photo reflex Nikon mon grand père avait un Fe2 dans les années 80 c'est je suis devenu un passionné de la photographie depuis

This might be a stupid question but I’m looking at getting my first analogue camera (being one of the Nikon FE series) - I want to know how you can tell how many shots have been taken? Or when your film is up? Is it because you can’t wind it anymore? Is there a dial that tells you how many shots have been taken? Pleeease help this newbie here :)

Is “digitalizing” a word? Anyway, many thanks for enlightening us on this great camera!

I'm not sure using the lever as a thumb rest is a good idea. It might damage the mechanism due to the material's wear and fatigue.

Hi this is strange as my friend owns a FE2 that doesn't have the honeycomb style shutter blinds could this be a later option for it i mean would my friends still be titanium ?

I just paid $450 Canadian dollars for a fe2 with a 50 1.4. $100!? Crazy.

Nice camera but can't use pre Ai lenses on it. Get an FE if you have these old Nikon lenses.

It has nothing to do with any "struggle." No, it's all about the joy of using a Nikon Legend camera. After all ... that word "legend" says everything.

I bought one and it came slightly open with no film inside, I closed it and it wont reopen. Ive tried rotating it and such, what do u recommend I do

Hi mate. Did u ever get around to making that video with scanning 35mm with dslr? Cheers

When did you but it? Insane price 😅

I guess logs make good boats too.

You paid $100 NZD! You mean you stole it! :-)

I have one for sale!