<s>
The	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FE	I-Algorithm
is	O
an	O
advanced	O
semi-professional	O
level	O
,	O
interchangeable	O
lens	O
,	O
35	O
mm	O
film	O
,	O
single-lens	B-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
(	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
)	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
manufactured	O
by	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
in	O
Japan	O
from	O
1978	O
to	O
1983	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
available	O
new	O
from	O
dealer	O
stock	O
until	O
c	O
.	O
1984	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
FE	O
was	O
the	O
replacement	O
for	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
EL2	I-Algorithm
of	O
1977	O
and	O
is	O
a	O
member	O
of	O
the	O
classic	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
compact	O
F-series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
uses	O
a	O
rugged	O
aluminum-copper	O
alloy	O
(	O
duralumin	O
)	O
chassis	O
developed	O
from	O
the	O
one	O
introduced	O
in	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FM	I-Algorithm
in	O
1977	O
,	O
with	O
minor	O
external	O
controls	O
and	O
cosmetic	O
differences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
compact	O
F-series	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
were	O
moderately	O
priced	O
,	O
semi-professional	O
level	O
stablemates	O
to	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
premium-priced	O
,	O
professional	O
level	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
F2	I-Algorithm
(	O
1971	O
)	O
and	O
F3	B-Algorithm
(	O
1980	O
)	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
were	O
all-new	O
successors	O
to	O
the	O
Nikkormat	B-Algorithm
F	O
and	O
EL-series	O
of	O
amateur	O
level	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nikon	B-Algorithm
used	O
it	O
,	O
with	O
incremental	O
improvements	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
backbone	O
of	O
the	O
compact	O
F-series	O
from	O
1977	O
to	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
other	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
compact	O
F-series	O
are	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FM2	I-Algorithm
(	O
introduced	O
in	O
1982	O
)	O
,	O
FE2	B-Algorithm
(	O
1983	O
)	O
,	O
FA	B-Algorithm
(	O
1983	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
limited	O
production	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FM3A	I-Algorithm
(	O
2001	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
FE	O
was	O
discontinued	O
with	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
the	O
visually	O
similar	O
FE2	B-Algorithm
,	O
which	O
had	O
faster	O
top	O
and	O
sync	O
shutter	O
speeds	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
TTL	O
(	O
through-the-lens	O
)	O
flash	O
metering	O
,	O
but	O
which	O
was	O
no	O
longer	O
compatible	O
with	O
non-AI	O
lenses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
FE	O
is	O
a	O
manual-focus	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
with	O
manual	O
exposure	O
control	O
or	O
aperture-priority	B-Algorithm
autoexposure	O
,	O
and	O
electromechanical	O
components	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
system	O
can	O
be	O
traced	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
Nikkormat	B-Algorithm
EL	O
(	O
in	O
the	O
USA/Canada	O
;	O
Nikomat	B-Algorithm
EL	O
,	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
)	O
of	O
1972	O
and	O
continued	O
until	O
2006	O
with	O
the	O
discontinuation	O
of	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FM3A	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
FE	O
has	O
a	O
"	O
full	O
information	O
"	O
viewfinder	O
very	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
Nikkormat	B-Algorithm
EL	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
metering	O
shutter	O
scale	O
,	O
the	O
viewfinder	O
also	O
displays	O
the	O
set	O
lens	O
aperture	O
through	O
an	O
optical	O
"	O
eye	O
"	O
(	O
this	O
particular	O
feature	O
missing	O
on	O
the	O
Nikkormat	B-Algorithm
EL	O
)	O
and	O
has	O
a	O
flash	O
"	O
ready	O
"	O
LED	O
to	O
give	O
context	O
to	O
the	O
metering	O
needles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
viewfinder	O
also	O
introduced	O
interchangeable	O
focusing	O
screens	O
to	O
the	O
compact	O
F-series	O
:	O
the	O
standard	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
Type	O
K	O
screen	O
(	O
3mm	O
split	O
image	O
rangefinder	O
and	O
1mm	O
microprism	O
collar	O
focusing	O
aids	O
plus	O
12mm	O
etched	O
circle	O
indicating	O
the	O
area	O
of	O
the	O
meter	O
centerweighting	O
)	O
could	O
be	O
replaced	O
by	O
Type	O
B	O
(	O
central	O
3mm	O
focusing	O
spot	O
plus	O
12mm	O
etched	O
circle	O
)	O
and	O
Type	O
E	O
(	O
Type	O
B	O
plus	O
a	O
grid	O
of	O
five	O
horizontal	O
and	O
three	O
vertical	O
lines	O
;	O
called	O
the	O
"	O
architectural	O
screen	O
"	O
)	O
screens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
lacked	O
,	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
MF-12	O
databack	O
(	O
time	O
or	O
date	O
stamping	O
on	O
the	O
film	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
Speedlight	O
SB-10	O
electronic	O
flash	O
(	O
guide	O
number	O
82/25	O
(	O
feet/meters	O
)	O
at	O
ASA	O
100	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
FE	O
accepts	O
all	O
lenses	O
with	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Architecture
F	I-Architecture
bayonet	I-Architecture
mount	I-Architecture
(	O
introduced	O
in	O
1959	O
)	O
,	O
with	O
certain	O
limitations	O
or	O
exceptions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Full	O
lens	O
compatibility	O
requires	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Aperture	O
Indexing	O
(	O
AI	O
)	O
feature	O
(	O
introduced	O
1977	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
thus	O
the	O
majority	O
of	O
Nikon	B-Architecture
lenses	I-Architecture
manufactured	O
in	O
recent	O
decades	O
will	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
contemporary	O
AI	O
lenses	O
for	O
the	O
FE	O
were	O
the	O
Nikkor	O
AI-S	O
,	O
Nikkor	O
AI	O
and	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
Series	O
E	O
types	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
feature	O
was	O
removed	O
on	O
FE2	B-Algorithm
(	O
and	O
FM2	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
pre-AI	O
lenses	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
converted	O
before	O
they	O
could	O
be	O
used	O
(	O
by	O
changing	O
or	O
modifying	O
the	O
aperture	O
ring	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nikon	B-Algorithm
's	O
most	O
recent	O
35mm	O
film/full	O
-frame	O
FX	O
digital	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
lenses	O
,	O
the	O
AF	O
Nikkor	O
G	O
type	O
(	O
introduced	O
in	O
2000	O
)	O
lack	O
an	O
aperture	O
control	O
ring	O
,	O
without	O
which	O
there	O
is	O
no	O
way	O
to	O
set	O
aperture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
AF	O
Nikkor	O
DX	O
type	O
(	O
2003	O
)	O
lenses	O
lack	O
an	O
aperture	O
ring	O
as	O
well	O
,	O
and	O
have	O
a	O
smaller	O
image	O
circles	O
sized	O
for	O
the	O
smaller	O
sensors	O
on	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
's	O
DX	O
digital	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
,	O
thus	O
projecting	O
a	O
black	O
vignette	O
circle	O
onto	O
the	O
FE	O
film	O
plane	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nikon	B-Algorithm
's	O
Vibration	O
Reduction	O
(	O
VR	O
)	O
image	O
stabilization	O
system	O
,	O
available	O
on	O
some	O
newer	O
lenses	O
since	O
2000	O
,	O
does	O
not	O
function	O
on	O
the	O
FE	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
IX	O
Nikkor	O
lenses	O
(	O
1996	O
)	O
,	O
for	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
's	O
Advanced	O
Photo	O
System	O
(	O
APS	O
)	O
film	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
and	O
very	O
old	O
"	O
invasive	O
"	O
Nikkor	O
35mm	O
fisheye	O
lenses	O
from	O
the	O
1960s	O
must	O
not	O
be	O
mounted	O
on	O
the	O
FE	O
,	O
as	O
their	O
rear	O
elements	O
will	O
intrude	O
far	O
enough	O
into	O
the	O
mirror	O
box	O
to	O
cause	O
damage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beginning	O
in	O
1977	O
with	O
the	O
advanced	O
amateur	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FM	I-Algorithm
,	O
there	O
was	O
a	O
complete	O
overhaul	O
of	O
Nippon	O
Kogaku	O
's	O
entire	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
SLR	B-Algorithm
line	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
1970s	O
and	O
1980s	O
were	O
an	O
era	O
of	O
intense	O
competition	O
between	O
the	O
major	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
brands	O
:	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
,	O
Canon	O
,	O
Minolta	O
,	O
Pentax	B-Application
and	O
Olympus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
industry	O
was	O
trying	O
to	O
expand	O
out	O
from	O
the	O
saturated	O
high-end	O
professional	O
and	O
advanced	O
amateur	O
market	O
and	O
appeal	O
to	O
the	O
large	O
mass	O
of	O
low-end	O
amateur	O
photographers	O
itching	O
to	O
move	O
up	O
from	O
compact	O
automatic	O
leaf	O
shutter	O
rangefinder	O
(	O
RF	O
)	O
cameras	O
to	O
the	O
more	O
versatile	O
and	O
glamorous	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
but	O
were	O
intimidated	O
by	O
the	O
need	O
to	O
learn	O
all	O
the	O
gritty	O
details	O
of	O
operating	O
a	O
traditional	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Nippon	O
Kogaku	O
enjoyed	O
a	O
sterling	O
reputation	O
among	O
professional	O
photographers	O
with	O
their	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
F2	I-Algorithm
of	O
1971	O
,	O
the	O
F2	O
was	O
far	O
too	O
massive	O
,	O
expensive	O
and	O
complicated	O
for	O
most	O
amateurs	O
and	O
beginners	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nippon	O
Kogaku	O
chose	O
an	O
unusually	O
high	O
standard	O
of	O
workmanship	O
for	O
amateur	O
level	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
kept	O
using	O
high-strength	O
alloy	O
parts	O
,	O
hardened	O
metal	O
gearing	O
,	O
ball	O
bearing	O
joints	O
and	O
gold-plated	O
electrical	O
switches	O
,	O
all	O
made	O
to	O
precise	O
tolerances	O
and	O
largely	O
hand	O
assembled	O
,	O
in	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
compact	O
F-series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FE	I-Algorithm
could	O
endure	O
conditions	O
that	O
would	O
cause	O
nearly	O
all	O
other	O
contemporary	O
non-professional	O
level	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
to	O
break	O
down	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FE	I-Algorithm
was	O
a	O
conservative	O
design	O
compared	O
to	O
its	O
competitors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
can	O
be	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
twin	O
of	O
the	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FM	I-Algorithm
mechanical	O
(	O
springs	O
,	O
gears	O
,	O
levers	O
)	O
camera	O
with	O
precision	O
electronic	O
controls	O
grafted	O
on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Nikon	B-Algorithm
FE	I-Algorithm
was	O
a	O
good	O
seller	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
as	O
popular	O
as	O
more	O
cheaply	O
built	O
and	O
less	O
expensive	O
competing	O
auto-exposure	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Canon	B-Algorithm
AE-1	I-Algorithm
(	O
released	O
1976	O
)	O
or	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
XD11	I-Algorithm
(	O
in	O
the	O
USA	O
and	O
Canada	O
;	O
XD7	O
in	O
Europe	O
;	O
XD	O
in	O
Japan	O
;	O
1976	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
design	O
and	O
functions	O
were	O
more	O
similar	O
to	O
contemporary	O
enthusiast	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
such	O
as	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R3	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Time	O
has	O
proven	O
that	O
Nippon	O
Kogaku	O
's	O
choice	O
of	O
simplicity	O
over	O
gadgetry	O
made	O
the	O
FE	O
tough	O
and	O
reliable	O
,	O
and	O
it	O
is	O
now	O
regarded	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
finest	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
of	O
its	O
generation	O
.	O
</s>
