Mechanical Marvel meets Electric Enticement.
In today’s episode, Jules and I do a comparative review of the Nikon FM2 and FE2. The FM2 is a fully mechanical 35mm single lens reflex camera with an unusual maximum shutter speed of 1/4000s and a built-in electronic light meter. The camera was introduced in 1982 and built until 2001. The FM2 was directed at professionals and ambitious consumers, it also often served as spare body for professional photographers who typically used F3, F4 or later F5 models in that era. The FE2 was introduced a year later in 1983 and only built until 1987. It is very similar to the FM2 except that it features an electronically controlled, quartz oscillator timed shutter with the same maximum speed of 1/4000th second. The improved shutter comes with eight honeycomb-patterned blades instead of nine which reduces the shutter curtain travel time from 3.6 milliseconds to 3.3 milliseconds. The FE2 also introduced a feature to minimize mirror shock vibration effects using a unique rotating flywheel plus inertial mass damping system. This made a mirror lock-up feature obsolete.
We took the FM2 out in and around Wasserburg am Inn on an overcast winter day exposing some Ilford Delta 400 and some Kodak Colorplus 200. To keep things interesting, Jules brought three different lenses in the 50mm range for comparison. A beautiful vintage Voigtländer 58mm f/1.4, an original Nikon 50mm f/1.2 and the legendary Nikon 45mm f/2.8. We also took the FE2 out early one morning in Munich. To round things off, I brought the FM2 with me on a trip to Barcelona shooting some Kentmere 100.

Gear used:
Nikon FM2n
Nikon FE2
Nikon MD11/12 Winder
AF Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 D
AF Micro Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 D
AF Zoom Nikkor 20-35mm f/2.8 D
Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-s
Nikkor 45mm f/2.8 P
Voigtländer Nokton 58mm f/1.4

Films used:
Ilford Delta 400
Fuji Provia 100
Kodak ColorPlus 200
Kentmere 100
Kentmere 400

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