Nikon FE review: a classic film camera revisited

The Nikon FE is very capable, easy to use and ideal for anyone wanting a vintage 35mm film camera

Nikon FE being held in a hand to show off the camera
(Image: © Lauren Scott)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Nikon FE was an advanced semi-professional 35mm SLR camera, manufactured by Nikon in Japan from 1978 to 1983. Today, it's possible to pick up the camera from eBay and specialist secondhand retailers for under $200/£200, but is it still worth buying? The FE is a manual-focus SLR with aperture priority and manual exposure modes, making it a good choice both for advanced enthusiasts, as well as beginners who want a film camera with a retro aesthetic.

Pros

  • +

    Compact and affordable

  • +

    Gorgeous retro aesthetic

  • +

    Easy to use

Cons

  • -

    1/1000sec shutter two stops slower than the Nikon FE2's 1/4,000sec

Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.

Film cameras continue to see a resurgence in popularity, as emerging young shooters seek a more tactile, analog photographic experience than digital cameras, and traditional (let's not call them old) photographers look to hark back to the cameras that they learned the craft with.

Here at Digital Camera World, we review all the latest cameras upon release, but what about the original film cameras that kickstarted the industry as we know it today? Launched way back in 1978 (just a few years after the Canon AE-1 and six years after the original Olympus OM-1) the Nikon FE was an incredibly popular 35mm SLR with advanced amateur photographers.

Find the Nikon FE on eBAY

Find the Nikon FE on eBAY
A Nikon FE in nice condition with a 50mm f/1.4 shouldn’t set you back more than much more than $150. Just be mindful that there can be a few issues if they haven’t been looked after, so try to find a model that's been fully tested – and check the seller reviews to see what other customers have said about their cameras.

Find the Nikon FE on eBAY.co.uk

Find the Nikon FE on eBAY.co.uk
A Nikon FE in good condition with a 50mm f/1.8 will cost around £170, but you can find body-only examples for around £75. Just be mindful that there can be issues with the sensor or mechanisms that the seller may not even know about.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Lauren Scott
Freelance contributor/former Managing Editor

Lauren is a writer, reviewer, and photographer with ten years of experience in the camera industry. She's the former Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, and previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer magazine, Technique editor for PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, and Deputy Editor of our sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine. An experienced journalist and freelance photographer, Lauren also has bylines at Tech Radar, Space.com, Canon Europe, PCGamesN, T3, Stuff, and British Airways' in-flight magazine (among others). When she's not testing gear for DCW, she's probably in the kitchen testing yet another new curry recipe or walking in the Cotswolds with her Flat-coated Retriever.