hkr4627@acf4.UUCP (Hedley K. J. Rainnie) (04/27/85)
Another Nikon question for those who know. Lately, MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY has been touting the incredible freedom from mirror vibration that the FE2 displays. In picture taking situations, it actually equals the best with their mirrors locked up (i.e., F3). MODERN describes the setup as having an "improved damping mirror and rotating flywheel." Now I'm wondering if the FM-2 also has this feature. I have their brochure in front of me: "A patented controlling gear and control wheel virtually eliminate vibration and bounce in mirror movement. Additionally, foam rubber in the spring coils helps minimize sound. Cusions inside the m mirror box also reduce noise and absorb shocks. And the titanium mirror frame ensures lighter, smoother movement..." So is this it, or what? Anyone know? The Nikon FA has a removable cover about underneath the film spool. This seems to indicate power rewind, but neither the MD-12 nor even the especially-made-for- the-FA MD-15 provides this feature. What gives? By the way, about an earlier query about screens and the FM2: All Nikons with the exception of the F3 take exposure readings off the screen (the f-3 uses a semisilvered mirror and reads through it). Thus, changing the FM2's K-screen to the FE2/FA's brighter K2 screen will require compensation for exposure readings. I suppose that is as simple as setting the ASA dial the appropriate number of stops down. As anyone might guess, I'm definitely converging on the FM2 as my next camera. Anyone have anything to say about it? Any FE2 owners want to tell me why the FE2 is better? -r- p.s. I know,Aperture-Priority y automation, TTL flash, K2 screen, 8 second shutter speed. But NEEDLES IN THE FINDER?? I mean, NEEDLES AND SCALES?
ron@wjvax.UUCP (Ron Christian) (04/30/85)
*******
As anyone might guess, I'm definitely converging on the FM2 as my next
camera. Anyone have anything to say about it? Any FE2 owners want to
tell me why the FE2 is better?
-r-
p.s. I know,Aperture-Priority y automation, TTL flash, K2 screen, 8 second
shutter speed. But NEEDLES IN THE FINDER?? I mean, NEEDLES AND SCALES?
*******
DIODES IN THE FINDER??? I mean, LITTLE RED PLUSES AND MINUSES???
The biggest deal in match needle exposure reading for me is that you
not only know whether you are under or over exposure, but BY HOW MUCH.
And not the paltry 1 stop or so those plus and minus signs give you.
If I'm going to overexpose 4 stops, I set it for 4 stops overexposure,
directly, right in the finder. I don't have to click it into 'correct'
exposure then back off. After playing with match needle for awhile,
you might find it's the fastest way to set up a shot. It's the match
needle of the FE that decided me AGAINST a used F3. I think this setup
provides the most complete information in the most readable form. The
only FM owner I know of went to LED's because she couldn't see the needle
through her glasses.
That's what's good about the FE-2. Now, what's bad about it: The
DAMN thing will NOT take non-AI lenses. New from Nikon: Both the
FE-2 and the FM-2 do not have the decoupling button that allows
you to use the older (cheaper-and-better-than-you'll-find-anywhere)
Nikkors. I think this is a major flub on Nikon's part, as those
old heavy lenses last forever and you find loads of them at photo
swap meets and sitting neglected on the 'used' shelf in camera stores.
This 'feature' alone is causing me much soul-searching on whether I'm
going to get that FE-2 as my second body, or get another used FE. Could
Nikon be trying to 'design out' those older lenses to force the poor
user to buy the newer three-times-more-expensive Nikkors?
And a query: Does anyone know of a place where I could get that
decoupling button put back into a new FE-2? It might be as easy
as unscrewing the coupling ring and installing an older one. Anyone
know?
BTW, I know that non-AI lenses can be converted to AI by Nikon,
and even the REAL old ones, the ones Nikon won't touch, can be
converted by some camera technicians. (It's expensive though,
about $60.) I've had this done, and it works well, but if you
don't mind stop-down metering, why spend the money?
--
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Ron Christian (Watkins-Johnson Co. San Jose, Calif.)
{pesnta,twg,ios,qubix,turtlevax,tymix,vecpyr}!wjvax!ron
"What do you mean you backed it up the wrong direction???"