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Tech head-to-head

Nikon FE2vsOlympus OM-1

11 years between them: the 1983 Nikon FE2 at 8.2, the 1972 Olympus OM-1 at 7.9. The older one still holds Value and Design.

Nikon FE2

Nikon

8.2

The FM2's sibling with aperture priority. Easier to shoot, but it needs a battery for everything except 1/250.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.

Olympus OM-1

Olympus

7.9

The smallest, quietest full-size manual SLR. Its meter was designed for a battery that's no longer sold.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens current listings on eBay. eBay listings come from individual sellers: condition, battery health, and what's in the box differ from one to the next, so read the listing and the return terms before you buy.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Performance, Nikon FE2 ahead 8.8 to 7.6. They come closest on Value, 7.6 to 7.2. Left of center is Nikon FE2, right is Olympus OM-1.

Nikon FE2 versus Olympus OM-1 — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars for Nikon FE2 run left from the axis labels, bars for Olympus OM-1 run right. Nikon FE2: Performance 8.8, Value 7.2, Durability 8.4, Ease of use 8.6, Design 8.2. Olympus OM-1: Performance 7.6, Value 7.6, Durability 7.8, Ease of use 7.4, Design 9.2.Nikon FE2 (left)Olympus OM-1 (right)PerformanceNikon FE2 — Performance 8.8 out of 108.8Olympus OM-1 — Performance 7.6 out of 107.6ValueNikon FE2 — Value 7.2 out of 107.2Olympus OM-1 — Value 7.6 out of 107.6DurabilityNikon FE2 — Durability 8.4 out of 108.4Olympus OM-1 — Durability 7.8 out of 107.8Ease of useNikon FE2 — Ease of use 8.6 out of 108.6Olympus OM-1 — Ease of use 7.4 out of 107.4DesignNikon FE2 — Design 8.2 out of 108.2Olympus OM-1 — Design 9.2 out of 109.2Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Nikon FE2

Leads on Performance, Durability and Ease of use.

  • You want to set the aperture and let the camera pick the shutter speed
  • Long exposures, since the automatic mode runs as long as 8 seconds
  • You'd like the FM2's lens mount and shutter range with less thinking per frame

Take the Olympus OM-1

Leads on Value and Design.

  • Size and weight decide whether a camera comes with you
  • You want a bright, big viewfinder for focusing manual lenses
  • A soft shutter sound matters for quiet places

What each one gets wrong

Nikon FE2

  • You'll shoot in deep cold, where weak batteries leave only 1/250 and B
  • You want the fully mechanical body, which is the FM2

Olympus OM-1

  • You want an accurate meter without an adapter or a recalibration
  • You'd rather not deal with foam light seals on a 50-year-old body

Specs, side by side

SpecNikon FE2Olympus OM-1
ShutterElectronic, 8 s to 1/4000 s; mechanical 1/250 s and BMechanical, 1 s to 1/1000 s, B
ModesAperture priority, manual—
Flash sync1/250 s—
MeteringCenter-weighted, needle readoutCenter-weighted, match needle
PowerTwo SR44 cellsOne 1.35 V mercury cell (PX625), meter only
MountNikon F (AI)Olympus OM

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

Is the 1983 Nikon FE2 the safer pick over the 1972 Olympus OM-1?
Nikon FE2 leads on Performance, Durability and Ease of use. If Value and Design matter more to you, take the Olympus OM-1 instead. The 11-year gap shows in the totals as 8.2 against 7.9.
What does the 1972 model still win?
On Value and Design, yes. Those axes still go to the 1972 model. The 1983 one answers with Performance, Durability and Ease of use.
Which one ranks higher in "35mm film SLRs still worth buying used"?
Nikon FE2 sits at #2 in "35mm film SLRs still worth buying used", Olympus OM-1 at #3.