C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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slr-35mm
The FE2 (1983) is the aperture-priority sibling of the FM2 — same body chassis, same titanium vertical shutter to 1/4000s, but with electronic shutter timing, AE mode (you set aperture, camera picks shutter), and TTL flash automation. Mechanical fallback at 1/250s only (the rest of the shutter range needs battery). The TTL meter accepts AI and AI-S lenses.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
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Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The FE on titanium. Aperture priority, 1/4000s shutter, 1/250s flash sync — and the FM2's electronic sibling.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S) |
| Years | 1983–1987 |
| Shutter | 8s – 1/4000s, electronic vertical titanium |
| Flash sync | 1/250s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted silicon |
| Modes | Aperture priority, manual |
| Mechanical fallback | 1/250s |
| Weight | 550 g |
| Battery | 2× SR44 |
Released 1983 alongside the FM2 (1982). The FE2 succeeded the FE (1978, slower 1/1000s shutter). Production ran four years until 1987 when it was effectively replaced by the FA (matrix meter, more electronic) — though the FA had launched in 1983 as well. The FE2 line ended without a direct successor; the FM3A (2001) eventually combined FM2 mechanical reliability with FE2 AE convenience.
For Nikon shooters who want aperture-priority on a manual-focus body without paying FM3A prices, the FE2 is the rational choice. Same titanium shutter as FM2, full TTL flash, and reliable AE for street photography. Used prices stay reasonable ($200–400) because the FM2 and FM3A overshadow it culturally — the FE2 is the "third favorite" Nikon manual-focus body, which means it's discounted.
The trade-off vs FM2: more electronics to fail, no battery-independent operation at all speeds. Vs FM3A: less battery-independent than FM3A's full mechanical fallback.
F-mount: AI / AI-S meter directly. AF Nikkors mount and shoot in manual focus. Pre-AI lenses cannot mount (no flip-up tab on FE2). MD-12 motor drive (3.2 fps), MF-16 data back, SB-15 / SB-16B flash with TTL.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
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