Kosmo Mono 100 in the Summer Part Two and Some Thoughts on the Nikon FE2
My camera of choice on this photo walk was my Nikon FE2, a slightly lesser known camera only made from 1983 to 1987. Replacing the FE which was made from 1977 to 1983, the FE2 boasted faster shutter speeds to 1/4000 of a second, 1/250 flash sync speed and TTL off the film plane electronic flash automation and improved silicon photodiode light meter sensors.
Cosmetically the FE2 looked a lot like the FM2, it's mechanical stablemate but it was a far more sophisticated camera that was built like a truck and was marketed to the advanced amateur. While it sold well, it didn't sell as well as the much cheaper and honestly much more plastic fantastic Canon AE-1 Program, Canon A-1 and Minolta X700. By the late 1980s, autofocus entered the camera market and that became the must-have feature.
Using the FE2 is a lot like using an FE or Nikkormat EL beautiful viewfinders with lots of information and match needle metering, unlike the F3HP pro body and the technologically advanced FA. The one big strike in my mind with the FE2 was the inability to check battery life compared to the FE. Also, everyone's favourite photography blowhard Ken Rockwell noted the FE2's battery lifespan is not as long as the FE. That aside, it is still an enjoyable camera to shoot with. Sadly my FE2 could use a CLA, the meter is overexposing by two stops for some reason. It joins the repair queue with two OM-1s.
Camera: Nikon FE2, Nikkor lenses.
Film: Kosmo Mono 100, Rodinal 1+50.
Cosmetically the FE2 looked a lot like the FM2, it's mechanical stablemate but it was a far more sophisticated camera that was built like a truck and was marketed to the advanced amateur. While it sold well, it didn't sell as well as the much cheaper and honestly much more plastic fantastic Canon AE-1 Program, Canon A-1 and Minolta X700. By the late 1980s, autofocus entered the camera market and that became the must-have feature.
Using the FE2 is a lot like using an FE or Nikkormat EL beautiful viewfinders with lots of information and match needle metering, unlike the F3HP pro body and the technologically advanced FA. The one big strike in my mind with the FE2 was the inability to check battery life compared to the FE. Also, everyone's favourite photography blowhard Ken Rockwell noted the FE2's battery lifespan is not as long as the FE. That aside, it is still an enjoyable camera to shoot with. Sadly my FE2 could use a CLA, the meter is overexposing by two stops for some reason. It joins the repair queue with two OM-1s.
Camera: Nikon FE2, Nikkor lenses.
Film: Kosmo Mono 100, Rodinal 1+50.
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