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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The Nikon FE Black is the black-painted variant of the FE, available from the camera's 1978 launch alongside the more common chrome version. Specifications are identical to the chrome FE: electronic vertical-metal shutter from 8s to 1/1000s, TTL center-weighted SPD metering with match-needle display, aperture-priority and manual modes, and a mechanical fallback at M90 (1/90s) and Bulb. The black paint is applied over the same copper-aluminum alloy body. Black-bodied FE units are less common in the used market than chrome, which slightly inflates prices relative to the chrome equivalent. In every practical sense the two bodies are interchangeable.
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 aperture-priority FE in black - same match-needle AE body, preferred finish for working photographers.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S) |
| Years | 1978-1983 |
| Shutter | 8s - 1/1000s + M90 + B, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/125s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted SPD, match-needle |
| Modes | Aperture-priority, manual |
| Mechanical fallback | M90 (1/90s), B |
| Weight | ~590 g |
| Battery | 2x SR44 / LR44 |
| Finish | Black paint over copper-aluminum alloy |
Nikon introduced the FE in 1978 as the aperture-priority companion to the manual-only FM, sharing the same body chassis. Black-finish bodies were offered from launch at a small premium over chrome. Production ran until 1983, when the FE2 replaced the line with a titanium shutter (to 1/4000s), faster flash sync (1/250s), and TTL flash capability. The black FE was never produced as a separately named model -- it is simply the black-finish production run of the standard FE.
The FE Black occupies a specific niche: an aperture-priority 1970s Nikon in black finish, at a price below the FE2. Black bodies were the preferred working tool for press and editorial photographers throughout this era, and the FE Black carries that association. The match-needle meter in the viewfinder gives an immediate visual read on the camera's chosen shutter speed, which remains useful for aperture-priority shooters working in changing light.
Versus the chrome FE: identical in use, marginally harder to find in clean condition, often priced slightly higher on cosmetic desirability alone. Versus the black FE2: same body handling, but limited to 1/1000s and 1/125s flash sync -- meaningful in bright sun with fast film.
Nikon F mount. AI and AI-S lenses meter correctly. AF Nikkors mount and focus manually. Pre-AI lenses cannot mount without modification (no flip-up AI tab on the FE). Motor drive: MD-12 (3.5 fps with winder, faster with MD-12 drive). Data back: MF-12. Flash: SB-10, SB-15 without TTL; no TTL flash capability on this generation.
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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