Nikon F3 or FE2 -- which would you choose?

[Chan Tran]

I think the duration of the old flashes were much longer, so it didn't matter as much. You didn't have to synchronize the shutter being open all the way with the burst of flash. The flash lasted much longer than the shutter speed.

At lower power level modern flashes can have very short duration but at full power I think the trend is to make the duration longer rather than shorter. Typical full power flash duration of the 70's is around 1/1000 while new flashes is around 1/300 or so. I think that's because old flashes used higher voltage and less capacitance while new flashes use lower voltage and higher capacitance.

[fotch]

I think the duration of the old flashes were much longer, so it didn't matter as much. You didn't have to synchronize the shutter being open all the way with the burst of flash. The flash lasted much longer than the shutter speed.

AFAIK, electronic flash has always been faster than most, if not all shutters.

[skahde]

AFAIK, electronic flash has always been faster than most, if not all shutters.

This is correct only for compact, camera mounted flashes. Large, studio-strobes may be cutoff by fast leaf-shutters which can be compensated for by a larger aperture or longer exposure.

[TheToadMen]

First of all: invest in glass, not black boxes ....

I still have my Nikon EL2 and it works like a charm. Back to your original question: I would go for a nice F3.
Although, I would also consider the F4s. I love this camera, the way it lays in my hand, it's heavy (for me a plus)
and I just like the looks. I also have a F5 which I love also, but if I had to choose, I would take the F4s.
Both the F4s and F5 can be get cheap nowadays....

And remember Ansel Adams:
" ... avoid the common illusion that creativity depends on equipment alone ... "
(quote from his book: The Camera)