If I was buying my first film SLR, I’d seriously consider the Nikon FE. And I say that as somebody who owns a Nikon FM. The Nikon FE was released the year after the FM and is, essentially, an electronic version.
You see, the FM and FM2 are lauded by enthusiasts because they’re almost entirely mechanical and can therefore operate without a battery. The only reason they take a battery is to power the in-camera light meter. The Nikon FE and FE2, on the other hand, are not fully mechanical. Technically, they can function without a battery, but in a very limited capacity.
