So here’s something I didn’t think I was going to do.
I went out to Jeremiah’s Photo Corner in Santa Rosa just to look around. I’d heard they had quite the film camera collection so I figured I’d take a look. Just for fun. To kill some time. While I was talking with the staff, I spotted this lovely film camera sitting up on a shelf collecting dust among the dozens and dozens of cameras sitting on the shelf. Something drew me in to it. As soon as I picked it up, I told him, “This is going home with me.” As it turns out it had been serviced and all new parts guts inside so it’s all fresh and operating perfect including the light meter.
I thought it would be fun to pair it with a 28mm to have some fun and since I’d never owned one, I thought it’d be fun. I ended up finding this really cool looking older Nikon 28mm f/3.5.It’s all metal, with beautiful older glass, but what really drew me in were the different colors in the script against the all-black body. It’s also just the perfect size in my hands. Really balances well.
And it feels very, very, very similar to a rangefinder in the hand.I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with this little Nikon. It’s a Nikon FE. Later serial date. Early 80s. The lens is a Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 AI. Seems to be from the mid 70s. I like an older lens on an older camera. Feels right.
This is my first film camera since the 80s or 90s. It’s such a beautiful piece of engineering! Pictures do these camera’s no justice. I’ve already snapped a few photos. Love that shutter sound. Very satisfying.
Surfnsun wrote:
So here’s something I didn’t think I was going to do.
I went out to Jeremiah’s Photo Corner in Santa Rosa just to look around. I’d heard they had quite the film camera collection so I figured I’d take a look. Just for fun. To kill some time. While I was talking with the staff, I spotted this lovely film camera sitting up on a shelf collecting dust among the dozens and dozens of cameras sitting on the shelf. Something drew me in to it. As soon as I picked it up, I told him, “This is going home with me.” As it turns out it had been serviced and all new parts guts inside so it’s all fresh and operating perfect including the light meter.
I thought it would be fun to pair it with a 28mm to have some fun and since I’d never owned one, I thought it’d be fun. I ended up finding this really cool looking older Nikon 28mm f/3.5.It’s all metal, with beautiful older glass, but what really drew me in were the different colors in the script against the all-black body. It’s also just the perfect size in my hands. Really balances well.
And it feels very, very, very similar to a rangefinder in the hand.I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with this little Nikon....Show more →
Surfnsun wrote:
So here’s something I didn’t think I was going to do.
I went out to Jeremiah’s Photo Corner in Santa Rosa just to look around. I’d heard they had quite the film camera collection so I figured I’d take a look. Just for fun. To kill some time. While I was talking with the staff, I spotted this lovely film camera sitting up on a shelf collecting dust among the dozens and dozens of cameras sitting on the shelf. Something drew me in to it. As soon as I picked it up, I told him, “This is going home with me.” As it turns out it had been serviced and all new parts guts inside so it’s all fresh and operating perfect including the light meter.
I thought it would be fun to pair it with a 28mm to have some fun and since I’d never owned one, I thought it’d be fun. I ended up finding this really cool looking older Nikon 28mm f/3.5.It’s all metal, with beautiful older glass, but what really drew me in were the different colors in the script against the all-black body. It’s also just the perfect size in my hands. Really balances well.
And it feels very, very, very similar to a rangefinder in the hand.I think I’m going to have a lot of fun with this little Nikon....Show more →
Awesome! Looking forward to seeing the photos from it in the film thread.
Congratulations. Looks like a nice camera! What model is it? I can't quite see the text before the serial number. I was recently smitten by early Nikon SLRs as well.
I was a bit excited about this camera when I posted it earlier. Heck it still had some dust from being on that shelf. Anyway I didn’t include any details about the camera. Sorry.
It’s a Nikon FE. Later serial date. Early 80s. The lens is a Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 AI. Seems to be from the mid 70s. I like an older lens on an older camera. Feels right.
This is my first film camera since the 80s or 90s. It’s such a beautiful piece of engineering! Pictures do these camera’s no justice. I’ve already snapped a few photos. Love that shutter sound. Very satisfying.
kbrede wrote:
Congratulations. Looks like a nice camera! What model is it? I can't quite see the text before the serial number. I was recently smitten by early Nikon SLRs as well.
The all-metal body and lens feel fantastic in the hand, and the glass itself is really nice too. Clean.
Now of course a 40+ yr old camera and lens are not perfect. I do think the focus helicoid needs some attention. I believe that there should be grease and it feels like it may have dried out? There’s probably about a millimeter or less of up-and-down play in the focus ring. I’m sure a good technician can clean everything up, regrease the helicoid, adjust the focus ring, and get it back to that buttery-smooth feel it should have.
It would also be nice if they could get the little specs of dust out of the viewfinder while they have it. I looked up the procedure for doing it myself, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to mess with it. I’d rather have someone who knows what they’re doing go through the whole thing, clean it up, and just get everything completely dialed in.
OffTrail wrote:
Can't go wrong with that. The FE is a super practical little camera, and the 28 f/3.5 is a remarkably good lens. I think you did well!
Surfnsun wrote:
The all-metal body and lens feel fantastic in the hand, and the glass itself is really nice too. Clean.
Now of course a 40+ yr old camera and lens are not perfect. I do think the focus helicoid needs some attention. I believe that there should be grease and it feels like it may have dried out? There’s probably about a millimeter or less of up-and-down play in the focus ring. I’m sure a good technician can clean everything up, regrease the helicoid, adjust the focus ring, and get it back to that buttery-smooth feel it should have.
It would also be nice if they could get the little specs of dust out of the viewfinder while they have it. I looked up the procedure for doing it myself, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to mess with it. I’d rather have someone who knows what they’re doing go through the whole thing, clean it up, and just get everything completely dialed in.
Yeah, a lot of older manual lenses can definitely benefit from cleaning out the old grease and putting in new. A recently CLA'd MF lens is a joy to use.
And for the dust, if you've got a rocket blower, gently blow off the under side of the focus screen as well as the mirror. That seems to take care of it most of the time.
It’s going to be what I bring when I go out around sunrise and sunset with my M10r and 50 lux. Should be a fun combo! By the way, it sat in my lap all the way home.
Keep a spare battery with you, unlike the Nikon FM it needs a battery to work. Other wise a very good camera. A good companion lens would be the 75-150 Series E lens.
Norm Shapiro wrote:
Keep a spare battery with you, unlike the Nikon FM it needs a battery to work. Other wise a very good camera. A good companion lens would be the 75-150 Series E lens.
Just thinking that…
Last Nikon’s I had were a D810 and D3S. This is so much smaller and lighter. But it just feels absolutely solid in my hand with the all metal build. Obviously not the same sorts of camera’s, but I am happy to have a Nikon again.
OffTrail wrote:
Yeah, a lot of older manual lenses can definitely benefit from cleaning out the old grease and putting in new. A recently CLA'd MF lens is a joy to use.
And for the dust, if you've got a rocket blower, gently blow off the under side of the focus screen as well as the mirror. That seems to take care of it most of the time.
Nikon AI and AIs lenses are especially susceptible to helicoid grease drying out unfortunately. They used crap grease. A regrease will cost between $50 to $100 depending on how generous your local technician is.
I have not seen the issue in any other brand of lens, and I have lenses from pretty much every other brand.
Congrats! I've got a similar kit, black paint FE with 28mm f/2.8 AI-s. Both are gems. Compared to my film Ms, I really dig the match-needle light meter, larger eyepiece, perfectly straight frame mask, swing door film loading. The ergonomics and feel in hands are great. Abundant choices for high quality lenses. Modest prices.
Jeremiah’s is a cool camera store that has super cool staff. I live in Santa Rosa visit the store from time to time. They ounce had a mint Mamiya 7ii that I was sorely tempted by (didn't end up buy it).
Looking forward to seeing the photos from it in the film thread.
