Throwback Edit Version: I edited this in March 2025, checked the links and converted it to the new WordPress blocks format if needed.

Looking for junk cameras has gotten much harder lately for two reasons.

1. I have tried a lot of cameras.
2. The ones I find, I have already tried, see point 1.

For that reason, I decided that on each payday I would buy just one semi-junk camera until my quit date. This means it should be second-hand and I am unsure it works, but I have paid enough that it should. The first camera I bought was this Nikon FE with a lens for $70, which I thought was a good price. And, this camera might change my view of Nikon cameras.

There was a little dust in the viewfinder, but the lens was in great condition…a bargain. Also, my other lens from a previous find fit and worked…bigger bargain. I was so excited that I put in the needed LR44 batteries. Great, an easy battery to find, no mercury replacements here. Then I loaded some black and white film, seagull oriental 100, which unfortunately was not right for the dull conditions.

I then popped around to my friend’s house to photo the cat.

Even with the 1.8 aperture I still had to use a very slow speed. Luckily, it was an old cat and a sleepy child. Still, the f1.8 did mean a very shallow depth of field. I didn’t like most of the photos, but the cat owner loved them as did the father…of the boy, not the cat.

The one thing I needed to get used to was the way the camera switched on. It was by moving the film crank. My habit is to wind the film on and then put it the crank back, flush with the body. With this camera, you have to leave it slightly out or the camera turns off. There is a handy battery check button on the back too.

I finished off the film by walking around my local area. That way I got to use a different f-stop.

I LOVE THIS CAMERA! It just works, plus it is so easy to use. The viewfinder has a window to let you see the chosen aperture and on the left is a needle to let you know the speed. Simple as!

I finished the walk and rushed home to process the film. The metering was perfect, there was not one shot I could grumble with, including the dragonfly on a white wall.

I left the camera on auto, just to see how well it worked. The speed scale goes from 8 seconds to 1/1000th. The ASA is from 12 to 3200 which is pretty awesome for a camera from 1978. There is an exposure lock button, but it is hard to find without the manual. To use it you have to push the self-timer switch towards the lens.

There is an M90 symbol on the speed selector that I had not seen before. A little research told me that the M meant manual. If the battery dies the camera would still work at 1/90th of a second. That is a really great feature to have. If you are in the middle of nowhere and the battery dies you can still use the camera.

This website gives a much more poetic review, but he seems to love it too. If you want more technical details then Ken Rockwell will give you that in abundance.

Keep or Sell: Initially, I had no intentions of selling it. Then I decided to take some me time, no job or wages. It had to go and it sold very quickly.