Nikon FE/FM/FM2/FE2/FA - Mirror Vibration?

[GarageBoy]

So I always assumed they were all exactly the same, minus the timing mechanism, but I noticed the FE has a much better mirror damping system? (or at least the shutter/mirror is quieter?)

Is this your experience or is my FM dying?

[Nicholas Lindan]

There is a foam strip that stops the mirror at the end of its travel.

The foam has probably gone rotten and needs to be replaced. Might as well check the light seal foam - the foam in the channels around the back - as it has probably gone as well.

You can get re-foaming kits or you can order a sheet of foam - enough for several hundred cameras - from Microtools.

[GarageBoy]

I had just redone the foam
On the FM, it clacks with authority, but on the FE, it merely pops and clicks

[Aja B]

I won't pretend to have first-hand knowledge of the precise dampening mechanisms amongst the various bodies but have read (Nikon source and reliable 3rd party) that the FE2 has improved dampening over that of the FE. But that's exactly what one would expect from the 'new and improved' model, no?

[Kiron Kid]

When using longer shutter speeds with those cameras, I use the self timer. That activates the mirror lock-up mechanism.

Russ

[MFstooges]

So I always assumed they were all exactly the same, minus the timing mechanism, but I noticed the FE has a much better mirror damping system? (or at least the shutter/mirror is quieter?)

Is this your experience or is my FM dying?

That was my impression too. After I read your post I compared the two cameras and even recorded their shutter sound. Turned out they are almost the same except FE has chime-like sound at the end. On both cameras I used Nikkor 24mm at F22.

[Kiron Kid]

Activate the self timer, and all of your "mirror slap, vibration" issues will be resolved. Also, Nikon did a very nice job of dampening the mirror vibration issue on the F-100.

[Nicholas Lindan]

On the FM, it clacks with authority, but on the FE, it merely pops and clicks

Ah, quite possibly. I keep thinking of the cameras as twins - but they aren't as the FE has an electronic shutter.

The mirror and shutter sounds can be separated with the self timer as mirror/buzz/shutter. How do they compare then?

[Kiron Kid]

Ah, quite possibly. I keep thinking of the cameras as twins - but they aren't as the FE has an electronic shutter.

The mirror and shutter sounds can be separated with the self timer as mirror/buzz/shutter. How do they compare then?

I just fired my FM and an FE, and they sound identical at 1/15 a second shutter speed. And, the self timer activates the mirror lock-up on the FM, FE and FE-2.

[LJSLATER]

That was my impression too. After I read your post I compared the two cameras and even recorded their shutter sound. Turned out they are almost the same except FE has chime-like sound at the end. On both cameras I used Nikkor 24mm at F22.

Ha, my F2 makes that chime sound. But it does it even with the mirror locked up, which makes me think the sound comes from the shutter, rather than the mirror. I wanted to fire my FM2 to remind me of what it sounds like, but it has IR film in it right now.

I agree with Kiron Kid about the self-timer on the FM/FEs-- it's so convenient, it doesn't make sense not to use it when working with a tripod. That said, my photos have never shown signs of mirror vibration with my FM2 (I don't have experience with the FM), either with long lenses on a tripod, or hand-held at 1/15" (or slower). Mirror vibration issues commonly reveal themselves as "double-images" on film, correct?