(Nikon) 2 General Introduction to the Nikon FE The automatic Nikon FE is the second in a series his established camera-handling techniques. This is of compact Nikon cameras-a series which features a major consideration for a working professional reductions in size, weight, and price without a who cannot afford to make mistakes on the job, reduction in the quality your customers have come or, for that matter, an advanced amateur shooting to expect from Nikon. with two or three camera bodies. In addition, most The design of the Nikon FE is not a radical depar­ of the accessories he has bought for other Nikon ture from that of other Nikon cameras. On the cameras are usable with the FE. contrary, its styling and the layout of its controls The Nikon FE uses the performance-proven are based on nearly three decades of high-quality aperture priority system of exposure automation camera production, during which time Nikon has first developed for the Nikkormat EL in 1972 and listened to the advice of its users. Traditionally, one later refined in the Nikon EL2. With this system, of the main reasons for the overwhelming popularity all your customer has to do is set the desired f l stop of Nikon cameras has been their ease of handling, on the lens, and the FE takes over from there ... and the Nikon FE is no exception. If anything, the automatically selecting just the right shutter speed FE is even easier to handle than other Nikon to give correct exposure in a variety of lighting cameras. This fact means two very important situations. Its electronically controlled shutter things to your customers. One: If he is considering provides infinitely variable speeds ranging from the purchase of his first 35mm single-lens reflex 1/1000 second down to 8 full seconds. On the camera, then the FE is a natural. It's so easy to use other hand, suppose he wants to choose a definite that he will not need superior mechanical aptitude shutter speed to freeze the action or to prevent to learn how to operate the controls nor will he camera shake when using a telephoto lens. By have to refer constantly to the instruction manual adjusting the aperture ring on the lens, the appro­ for explanations. All dials, levers, and buttons on priate shutter speed can be selected without having the FE are just the right size and shape, but, more to turn the shutter speed dial off the" Auto" importantly, are in the right position for comfort­ setting. However, the real beauty of aperture-priority able, foolproof handling. Two: If your customer automation, as employed in the FE, is that the owns other N ikon cameras, then he can buy the FE camera can be used with almost any optical device, knowing full well that he will not have to relearn including a mirror lens, microscope, telescope, or bellows unit, and still deliver automatic exposures. them will be registered on the same frame of film To produce accurate exposures, two metering cells creating a unique abstract photograph which are positioned, one on each side of the eyepiece, resembles a "Cubist" painting, or a photo taken to give a "center-weighted" meter reading, a system under a rapidly pulsating stroboscopic light. pioneered by Nikon more than 10 years ago in the Nikon provides three interchangeable focusing FTN Photomic finder for the Nikon F and still by screens for the FE, because, frankly, one screen is far the most reliable way of measuring the light never perfectly suitable for use with all lenses. The coming through the lens. Silicon photodiodes are Nikon Type K screen comes as standard equipment utilized in the FE, because of their almost instanta­ and consists of a central spl it image surrounded by neous response to changing light levels, extreme a microprism collar in an overall matte field. This sensitivity to dim light, and linear spectral response. screen works well with the great majority of Yet Nikon realizes that auto-exposure control is Nikkor lenses. Type 8 has a fine matte center and not always the answer. Therefore, the FE provides is ideal for shooting close-ups or super-telephoto not one, but two ways of modifying the automatic pictures, because there is no blackout in the center meter reading: a memory lock lever for holding of the screen. Type E is the same as Type 8 with close-up readings of back-lit subjects and an expo­ the addition of vertical and horizontal etched lines sure compensation dial for easy bracketing or when for reference in document copying or when doing shooting predominantly light or dark-colored architectural photography with "perspective scenes (e.g. snowscapes or moon-lit shots) : Further­ correction" lenses. A special pair of tweezers is more, the FE offers match-needle manual control provided for easy screen interchange. of all shutter speeds; plus there are two mechanical The new Nikon S8-1O Speedlight was designed speeds, "M90" (1/90 second) and "8," so that the expressly for the FE and is an energy-saving camera can be used fer flash photography or shoot­ electronic flash unit offering a choice of two ing time exposures without causing any drain on f/stops on automatic. All that's necessary is to the batteries. And, of course, the FE can still be mount the S8-1O in the FE's hot shoe, set the lens used at either of the two mechanical settings with a to the prescribed f/stop, and turn the flash unit on. hand-held exposure meter in the event of battery Even with the FE'sshutter speed dial set to "Auto," failure. the proper flash synchronization speed of Like the Nikon FM, the new FE accepts the 1/90 second is set automatically as soon as the compact and lightweight MD-11 motor drive for speedlight is turned on. It's that simple. There is 3 single-frame shooting or continuous sequences up to even an LED ready-light above the camera's 3.5 frames per second. The MD-11 was created eyepiece to indicate when the flash is fully charged exclusively for Nikon's compact camera series and and ready to fire. matches the size and weight of each body perfectly. But best of all, the compact and automatic The motor drive's design allows the fingers of the Nikon FE is an integral part of the extensive Nikon right hand to wrap around the handgrip as if the System. The prospective owner of an FE has no two were made for each other (which, of course, less than 55 superb Nikkor lenses to choose from­ they were). Operation of the M D-11 is the essence lenses ranging from 6mm fisheye to 2000mm of simplicity, because there are so few controls. super-telephoto. * Not that Nikon expects everyone The ON/OF F switch not only turns on the motor to own every single Nikkor lens. That's not the drive, but activates the camera's metering circuit, point. The fact is, regardless of focal length or too, while the SINGLE/ CONTINUOUS mode maximum aperture required, there is always just selector is located on the top of the grip and is the right Nikkor lens available. Nikon makes the concentric with the trigger button for one-touch widest wideangle (13mm) and the longest mirror handling. The framing rate adjusts automatically to telephoto lens (2000mm) available from any the shutter speed giving a maximum of 3.5 fps at camera manufacturer. In addition, Nikon invented speeds of 1/125 second or above and progressively the designs for the fish eye, macro, and perspective lower rates at slower shutter speeds. correction lens. There are also 9 zoom lenses cover­ Motor-driven multiple exposures-pictures that ing the focal lengths from 28mm all the way up seem to vibrate with action-are an exclusive to 1200mm! When you add to this an almost feature of the Nikon FE (as well as the FM) and unlimited number of accessories for any type of cannot be found on any other compact camera photographic situation, you have the Nikon being manufactured today. In fact, Nikon originated System, the most comprehensive in the world. this creative shooting possibility with the introduc­ On the following pages, this sales manual provides tion of the Nikon F2/MD-1 Motor Drive combina­ information which we, at Nikon, hope you will tion in 1971 and continues to offer it on all Nikon find beneficial when presenting the Nikon FE to cameras that accept motor drives. To make a your customers. motor-driven multiple exposure, all your customer * The 6mm f/5.6 and OP 10mm f/5.6 Fisheye-Nikkors has to do is pull back the FE's mUlti-exposure lever cannot be mounted on the FE, because the camera does not while firing off as many shots as he desires. All of have a provision for locking the mirror in the "up" position. Nomenclature of FE ----------------------------------------------0 - Shutter release button erture direct readout window Shutter release fingerguard Meter coupling lever Shutter-speed dial lock Meter coupling lever release Neckstrap eyelet Sync terminal (cover provided) Depth-of-field preview lever Lens mounting index Reflex mirror Lens release button Self-timer/memory lock Focusing screen holder release Lens mounting flange Tripod socket Motor drive shutter coupling Battery chamber lid Motor drive cou ling Motor drive electrical contacts Film rewind button Memo holder Ex re compensation index Hot-shoe contact E osure compensation scale Shutter-speed index Film rewind crank Film rewind knob Shutter-speed scale 4 Safety lock Frame counter Film speed scale index Multi-exposure lever ASA film speed scale/dial Film advance lever Exposu re compensation ring Meter ON index ASA film speed dial lock Film plane indicator Accessory shoe Ready-light contact Battery power LED lamp Ready-light indicator Batte ieee with rubberized rim Film guide rails Film pressure plate Film guide roller Film roller Rewind fork Film chamber Specifications of FE Type of camera: 35mm sing le-lens reflex (S L R ) Reflex mirror: Automatic instant-return mirror Picture format : 24mm x 36mm (35mm film format) Self-timer: Can be set for approx.